Thread: Motor home or Caravan?

You didn't say how many people will be using it. For me only 2 ppls I would buy a Ford Trader Jumbo and fit it out myself.
les

Hi

Yes good point, it will be just the two of us. Maybe very rarely 4 people but if we only have room for two no problems.

Unfortunately I don't have the facility to do the work myself, but having seen a few magnificent DIY efforts in NZ I do fancy doing one one day.. But for now buying one has to be the way.

Right now I'm more keen on the caravan option but it changes daily at the moment.

Cheers



Dave

Motor home:
Go where you like but every time you need milk in the morning the whole motor home has to go.

Caravan:
Not as convenient but you can park it and explore the surrounding area with the van as base.

My opinion:
Motorhome - if constantly moving.
Van - if jumping place to place and exploring.

Yeah thats the problem with a motor home, when you want to slip down the street you have to take the motor home with you. That would be a bit of a bind if its one of those big ones. Smaller one wouldn't be too bad I suppose. at least with a caravan you are free to drive around site seeing in the car. Just depends I guess. I think I would opt for the caravan.

Another consideration is fuel economy.

A motorhome is designed to go on a body that is capable of pulling a heavy load.

What ever you use to pull a caravan will half the normal vehicles economy.

Of course there is the "Motorhome towing trailer with small 4wd and boat on top" version which we see around here quite a bit. Usually not until after school holidays are over though. The flashest was a BIG 4wd truck chassis based motorhome towing a trailer with Rav4, boat on top of Rav and 2wd motor cycle as well.... all painted the same, airbrushing included!

I guess no one said it was going to be an easy decision eh.

They had some pretty impressive motor homes based on coaches at the NEC show. Quite a few of the massive ones had a garage at the back with a hydraulic door to drive your SMART car or Mini out on.

They were a little out of my price range though, between £98,000 (s/h) and £550,000 (new) not including the car.

The smaller stuff around £40k - £60k have a smaller garage at the back under the main bed. you can get a couple of motor scooters in some of them, so thats a sort of solution.

Fuel economy is an issue but if you aren't traveling on an almost permanent basis I don't think it's such a consideration. Also the investment in a Motor home is at least 4 times that of a Caravan (if you don't count the tow vehicle) and I would need to register and insure an extra vehicle. Insurance is shockingly expensive on anything here. Depreciation is shocking too.

Humor me for a minute but here is an example of how bad UK insurance is. Because I've spent 20 years in Australia I have no British no claims bonus. They would however accept an Australian no claims on presentation of a letter from your Australian insurer, who will only acknowledge no claims up to 6 years. With that proof in hand I approached Zurich insurance (my sister is a CEO there, so a 10% staff discount was possible) and asked for a quote on our new Hyundai Tuscon, they quoted £560 (with discount), I took it as it was just easier to do at the time. Next year I'll shop around I think.

Anyway I digress were was I...... oh yes, I can get a very nice caravan for about £15,000.

So at this stage the Caravan seems the obvious way for us to go.

Down side is that caravan owners are hated on the road here, but having driven trucks in Australia I'm used to that I guess.

Not saying we will end up with a caravan though.


Cheers




Dave

Down side is that caravan owners are hated on the road here, but having driven trucks in Australia I'm used to that I guess.

I thought caravan owners were universally hated!

How about an Elddis Shamal XL towed by a Kia Cerato.
(More parts on youtube if you go looking)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uW59398if8"]YouTube - Top Gear - Caravan Holiday Pt1[/ame]

Ah yes I remember that episode well.

Have to say I was a caravan hater, nothing worse then being behind a caravan in a truck. No real way of getting past them.

But my head has been turned, must be because I'm over 40 or something, one of those stages in life you go through. But i'm sure thats just a cliché.

Mind you that cardigan and pair of tartan slippers did look good in M&S the other day.........

Rentall motor homes are sold off here when they reach a point of their life. IMO they are good value, they may do the same in Europe.
les

Originally Posted by Christopha

Of course there is the "Motorhome towing trailer with small 4wd and boat on top" version which we see around here quite a bit. Usually not until after school holidays are over though. The flashest was a BIG 4wd truck chassis based motorhome towing a trailer with Rav4, boat on top of Rav and 2wd motor cycle as well.... all painted the same, airbrushing included!

Hey there yer dopey wombat!! You pinchin me idea or what??...

For my money mate the motor home is the go... my present thoughts are going from the above 4wd (or 6wd ) truck version as per Chris's comments or a Denning or Merc road bus/coach motor home with the trailer for 4x4 etc etc etc totally self sufficient

Pull up at a mates place or caravan park run the 4x4 off the trailer go walkabout come back to a good bed fridge stove and all mod cons

But that 4wd thought has great merit Chris will do some checking tonight long as its totally self contained and can handle a car trailer then no wukkers!!

Mind you for my needs it just has to cater to me... with one or two nippers visiting for a week at a time... so I dont really need to go BIG like Im thinking but then I do like to spread out and be comfy in me dotage

A caravan would drive me insane real quick... damned things... well no actually most of the time its the drop kicks that tow the things that get my goat goin nuts!!

But then if your in the UK then a caravan would be right on the money... buggar all off roading over there But whatever you get mate hope you have an absolute bloody ball

Cheers
Shane

Cheers
Shane

Originally Posted by Christopha

....I thought caravan owners were universally hated!

Only the inconsiderate ones.

A mate of mine has just turned up back in town after his converted bus burnt to the ground, nothing at all saved. Has found out that his insurance isn't nearly enough... He has the clothes he was wearing, a clunky 4wd, a motorcycle and a huge trailer the fit onto that he can't tow without at least a truck.
I guess it's not a good thing having all of your worldies in a rolling box.