Caravan or camping trailer?

[Rake Aboot]

Caravan , absolutely no doubt.
Trailer tents are an absolute faff
Roof tents ?. Yeh cause climbing down a ladder in dark bad weather for a pee is awesome fun.

Motor home? Brilliant, and I’m moving to one for using abroad, but for the UK, a caravan every single time.
My advice? Get the biggest one you can. I’ve a 7 mtr 8 ft wide twin axle and it’s as east to tow as a van half that size. Probably easier to reverse

 

[nic531]

I have had tents, trailer tents, caravans and now a motorhome.
in your situation I would plump for a caravan. trailer tents are easier to park up but only marginally, nicer to able to just stop, get out of car and into the caravan rather than pitching up. When it's wet, do you have anywhere to put it up to dry out?
never tried a rooftop, although being daft, I still use a tent on the back of a motorbike even in winter and have been known to say sod it and just use a 'basher' from my army days

 

[VSS]

Roof tents ?. Yeh cause climbing down a ladder in dark bad weather for a pee is awesome fun.

You don’t.
You have screw-top pot in the tent.

 

[John Gryphon]

You don’t.
You have screw-top pot in the tent.

Thermos flask with nice big top opening is the go,just advise the missus though.

 

[VSS]

Thermos flask with nice big top opening is the go,just advise the missus though.

The tubs that I buy lamb colostrum powder in are perfect for the job.
I never thought of a thermos. That's a pretty good idea!

 

[John Gryphon]

The tubs that I buy lamb colostrum powder in are perfect for the job.
I never thought of a thermos. That's a pretty good idea!

handwarmer in the stand too

 

[Skogsmannen]

Definitely noticing more compact caravans on the road behind much smaller cars than was once the norm and as much as it pains me to say it, I can half see why they are popular. the ones that are almost like a bigger teardrop trailer look like they'd be a good thing, maybe with a small awning if space was a bit short.

After years of packing away wet tents and having to spend time drying everything out when we got back, I'd definitely agree with everyone elses views on the idea of a trailer tent being the worst of two worlds.

We currently have a mwb sprinter that sits somewhere between a day van and a camper but is just a bit too big and heavy on fuel to daily drive, but not by much, but something mor transporter sized (again with a small awning) might tick your boxes, especially if you were looking to change your car for something a bit bigger anyway?

 

[FrenchieBoy]

After reading all of the replies we are being swayed more to a small(ish) - Around maybe 16 or 17 foot long 2 berth caravan and getting something like another Freelander (I used to love driving my previous Freelander) to tow it with - Not too expensive to insure, maintain and run. That would give us the best of both worlds - A "family car" for local driving, shopping etc, and the Caravan which we could leave all the bedding etc in and just hook up whenever we fancied a few days away!

Many thanks for all of your advice and thoughts guys, you came up with some thoughts and pros and cons that I hadn't thought about! And after a lot of "discussion" SWMBO is more than comfortable with the idea of "caravan holidays" or "short breaks" whenever we feel like them - And like they say "A happy wife is a happy life"!

 

[Overlay]

We’ve used both types and it’s a big thumbs up for a caravan, when we had the trailer put u up type it’s crap in the rain and damp at night with no real or any security, they both take up the same room on your drive anyway, you get can get some very light ones now which are so much easier to handle, the newer models have an all in one structure so no worries about leaks or damp getting in. Good luck

 

[bowji john]

Caravan

Comfortable- pain to tow - requires a site

Trailer tent

As above but more ‘off roady’

Roof tent

No towing - easy set up - off roady but noisy in wind

Van kitted out with bed and stove

Park anywhere- instant set up - dry - loads of space - can’t off hitch and go exploring

My choice having traveled extensively all through Africa in both roof tent and van?

Van for me - every lay-by is your home

You can keep the rest

 

[JockStalk]

Caravan - you can park it as a base and explore areas by car. So much less faff than a motorhome. And more room inside, all mod cons. If you know how to tow, towing is not an issue.
And there is a model for every need.

 

[Lever357]

Why not hire a caravan and motor home for a few weeks and see which you prefer??

Then when you decide, surely it would be a lot cheaper to hire in the future. for when you wish to go away.

 

[eldon]

So much nicer in a motorhome and just about stop where you want.

 

[JoJo15]

Tentbox ! Comfortable and easy to setup and put away. Also a cheaper option than buying a kitted out campervan !

 

[pendle]

I have a camper van. Last year It's spent more time sitting outside the house.
I have been away in it 3 times
Stalking fair.
Shooting show at Harrogate
Where @miffy Forgot his tent and ended up on the floor of my van. . I am sure if he asked one of the group of lady stalkers we were with for a bed they might of agreed Then a few days down at @VSS Looking at his deer drinking cider eating venison.
Just thinking of starting jt up again

 

[Dazb1967]

I have a camper van. Last year It's spent more time sitting outside the house.
I have been away in it 3 times
Stalking fair.
Shooting show at Harrogate
Where @miffy Forgot his tent and ended up on the floor of my van. . I am sure if he asked one of the group of lady stalkers we were with for a bed they might of agreed Then a few days down at @VSS Looking at his deer drinking cider eating venison.
Just thinking of starting jt up again

Absolute money pits but I still wouldn't be without my Motorhome, Just jump in when you feel like it and head off, Most of the time it's just me and the dog with my fishing gear because the wife still has to work much to her disgust

 

[miffy]

I have a camper van. Last year It's spent more time sitting outside the house.
I have been away in it 3 times
Stalking fair.
Shooting show at Harrogate
Where @miffy Forgot his tent and ended up on the floor of my van. . I am sure if he asked one of the group of lady stalkers we were with for a bed they might of agreed Then a few days down at @VSS Looking at his deer drinking cider eating venison.
Just thinking of starting jt up again

Can't say it was my best nights kip, but very kind of Kevin.

 

[John Gryphon]

best of both worlds

 

[sauer]

caravans are way cheaper than a motorhome/ campervan.... prices of them are bl00dy mental !
plus too many home done conversions that been absolutely bastardised

caravans are cheaper but drink yer fuel mpg when hooked up .... you need somewhere to keep the bu55er if no drive way etc and lot of older ones suffer damp

tents just a faff and need to erect ...usually in pi55ing rain

i always fancied a rooftop tent in a hard shell but id forget i was up high in middle of night when get up for a pee

if you have the cash to go something decent campervan style then go for it...failing that a small but useable caravan of newer vintage and well looked after


Paul

 

[wheelie]

Hi Demountable camper is the way I went .Can still use the pick up as intended and toilet shower and cooking facilities in the Demountable.