5 motorhomes, 5 caravans over 30 years. Still couldn’t recommend one over the other. However, now we are 80, the motorhome is our van of choice for sheer ease of travelling, setting up and relaxing.
@@futureflow8645 Yes. Anything with max weight of less than 3 500 kg can be driven with B-licence. This includes almost all campervans and most of the small/mid-sized motorhomes.
I’m looking for the largest motor home for full time living that will still fit on most small town roads so that our exploration is not limited to highway.
Thank you...excellent analysis of the choices. Another huge advantage of both the camper van and motor home is the ability to move away quickly. For solo women travelers, this is a big one. Along with making sure nothing is ever left outside the vehicle overnight, the ability to pop out of bed at 3am, grab the keys and pull away when something sketchy seems to be happening outside brings a lot of confidence and enough peace of mind to go almost everywhere. Because yes, if you’re alone in a caravan at such a time, you’re basically trapped there when your neighbors in the travel park start a row at midnight, or worse....
Not familiar with the term "travel park", but I've never had a bad/scarey experience on a campsite (in Europe) and you can't really park up with a caravan, anywhere outside a campsite.
Excellent video Andrew as always. We had caravans for 29 years and used to laugh at campervans and motorhomes and I always said I would never buy a van. What a fool I was. We now have a very small campervan based on a Nissan NV200 and we have had more fun in less than a year than all those caravan trips. Its all about the freedom to roam and wild camp for us now. There are some steep learning curves and we have documented it all on our channel so if anyone wants to see how it works in a tiny van take a look. 🙂👍
Thanks for sharing this clear video! Liked your remark which is a great summary: "A motorhome is about travelling, a caravan is more focussed on the destination".
@@andrewjditton Same here. I wouldn't even have a campervan, if my little boss didn't exist. I would have a sailboat. But she doesn't like boats. So campervan is it.
Dear Andrew, you have been an inspiration to me as I was "shielding" in lockdown. Your move to Scotland made me think deeply about why I'm remaining in England. I am now hoping to move to Oban! I have been before and know what to expect. 70 is not too late to make a great change. Thank you so much. Love your informative site and beautiful pics. x
Jan Gale Dear Jan, Great to hear, that you make your dreams come true. And YES, Andrew was and is a great help for me too. After a heart surgery last year (56y) , I was thinking about, what to to with the rest of my life - without knowing how long it would last. A year before my heart surgery we visited Scotland by car. Visiting very beautiful B&B with lovely hosts. But travelling around we sometimes thought, “this is a nice place. What a pity, we can’t stay here. “ In the Hospital á found Andres and his “winter adventure” and I fell in love with Scotland, the way of travelling and Andrew. He was a really great help towing me out of my depressions having seen death. The only thing I wanted to say: live your dreams. Don’t wait. Youll never know when it’s over. Best wishes and love David from Germany
Mark Bennett, IMO there is absolutely no need for that comment. I don’t know where you live, what your politic are but it’s easy to make cases for and against any political party; similarly one can make arguments against and for independence. What one can say is that the Scottish Government has consistently and repeatedly said the Scottish population is declining and Scotland needs more people.
Well, 40 years of motorhomes, campervans and caravans and all have their merits which have suited me one over the others!! A lovely video Andrew. I gave up on motorhomes as I am a wanderer, an impulsive traveller that needs to go off on a whim, park up anywhere I can and explore. Motorhomes are too bulky, too immobile, too restrictive on where I can go. Then went small VW pop tops, mostly Californias, my main car, my camper, my home for weeks on end, hold their price incredibly well so expensive to buy but cheap to own but so restrictive in space and got fed up constantly moving everything around, and, virtually packing there van up every time I went to bed. Currently in a 5.4m Van, Hymer Ayers Rock, can go anywhere, fit in anywhere that doesn't have a height barrier, superb to sleep in and very easy to pack up and be on the road again .... and ..... my sister comes with me!! Her caravan, a Knaus sport and fun pulled by my Camper!! Best of all worlds!
Brilliant summary, as always. It was down to cost for us - we spent £2k on our first caravan and towed it with our existing car. As it turned out, it was the right choice anyway as we value the extra space and towing is no longer the horror show it initially was. Kev
Excellent summary. Its definitely a personal choice. We’ve had mohos, caravans, mohos and finally a caravan. Might change to campervan when we hit our 70’s just for ease of use.
For me..I had 3 important things when I made my decision...had to be small enough to legally park in a parking space...needs a bathroom...and was big enough to have everything you'd need...I bought a 19ft Toyota warrior with v6 dually rear end drives like a car.short and wide enough to fit in a parking space I love her
A camper van seems the most interesting option and I wouldn't recommend it to families, but it's great for people who could use an all around vehicle that you can live in for a small amount of time.
As a Motorhomer I must say that your comparisons were spot on. One thing though, when buying a Motorhome and the salesman says ‘They hold their price’ They don’t, not in my experience anyway. Another excellent video Andrew, thanks, we’re off on our first trip this year tomorrow and can’t wait. 👍
Trip duration is also a consideration. We plan to travel full time for a year or more, including work from home. This means we need more space, but larger vehicles have less access for exploration. A caravan gives you use of the tow vehicle to explore towns and open country on day trips. I plan to bring a motorcycle, but that would be less fun in rain, snow and cold temps.
Maybe I’m a skinflint but imho the caravan offers far better bang for buck. I had a large caravan once but that was a pig to tow and the car really struggled up hills (it’s a hybrid!). I have now decided to go for a smaller 3 berth caravan (a Bailey Discovery) which is only 1,000 Kg so should be far easier to tow and although not offering as much space , is still far more spacious than a camper van and even many motor homes. It also comes with a huge air awning to provide even more space. Your video was great and the comment about the comfort of driving when towing a caravan vs driving a camper van or motor home was particularly interesting. That’s a big plus for the caravan. Of course at at the end of the day it’s a choice for the individual and there is no right answer.
Great summary, Andrew. Thanks for that. In terms of price I think it's not only the purchase itself but also the yearly costs to consider. At least in Germany you'd need to have a complete (and that normally means expensive) insurance for your mortorhome/campervan (liability insurance?) and you would need to yearly pay taxes on it. Both isn't the case (as far as a I know) for caravans.
Informative and well explained as always. If you ever do another comparison video one thing which would help me to digest and remember it all is something like a structured chronological format. So compare the 3 types during storage at home, then compare the 3 types for setup before departing on journey, and so on all the way to when you finally arrive back home. Maybe give each type a tick or a score along the way for convenience. So comparing all 3 types (heck throw in camping too) could be something like: Buying vehicle > Storage at home > Setup before departure > The journey > short rest stops on journey > Overnight stops if a long journey > Finding somewhere to setup > Setup on arrival > Living in it > Travelling to local attractions > Packing up > The journey back home > Unpacking and storing the vehicle when back home.
When “building” the interior of your cargo van, you can have more insulation as you need and styled as fancy or simple as you choose. You can go more places and stay in place you can’t access with a larger RV - FREE In a cargo-van, you have to plan your stops for supplies and dump stations, unless you use cassette toilet, which can be dumped in a regular toilet.
Great video Andrew as always. I bought a new Ford Transit Connect (Tourneo Connect in Europe)) I had a custom shop in Florida do the conversion for me. It is small, but I worked on the floor plan until I got just the essentials just right. After 1.5 years of using it for 4-5 days of monthly camping, I can say it is working well for me. I am a retired photographer and enjoy exploring with a camera. I always look forward to your videos.
That was a very informative video Andrew. A little late for us now but on our channel we are “living” the part you mentioned with regards to owning a VW Campervan (which we did love) and how we were attracted by the image of them when you first see one. Naive or otherwise, we are still happy to have experienced life with our camper but, with our 2 kids, we have found that changing (not upgrading as we agree with your views that each vehicle whether it be a camper, motorhome or caravan will suit different needs, differently) to a motorhome, albeit 5.99 metres in length has made all the difference. That and the full washroom facilities on board. Thanks again Andrew 🙏 and say “hi” to Dougal (he does smile, sometimes) 😊
I guess I should have mentioned - never stress too much to 'get it right' first time. Sometimes we don't know what is important to us until we go out there and start using our vehicles. Cheers!
In the U.S., all pull behinds are called Travel Trailers, so I know where that comes from. We do not call them Caravans at all. The umbrella term is RV (Recreational vehicle) with what you call a camper van, we call a Class B (NO idea why!). What you call a motor home, here is split into Class C (what you are calling a motorhome) and Class A (flat face, looks like a bus, often with motor in the rear). Again I have no idea why they are assigned the letters they are. Class As are the largest typically, so okay that makes sense, but Bs are the smallest (camper vans) and Cs are between the two. And some of the Cs are huge; called Super Cs. Still a nose out front, not flat faced, but massive rigs.
Hi Andrew, Wow. How brave of you to make this video. I had spent many years since 1973 caravaning until about 2005. Travelled uk and most of western europe way back then with my mum and dad, my sister and friend in a 1300cc ford escort towing a lump of heavy iron (Thompson glen) in the good old days without tolls and motorways. (when you saw a uk number plate you waved with genuine glee.) Fond memories. Then I flew the 'nest'. Got married. had two children. Bought a caravan with an awning. Had a divorce due to awning erection issues. God bless her. I can still see her now struggling with those poles in the pouring rain while I'm sat in my camping chair enjoying a couple of glasses of wine after all that driving. Hey Ho ! Two caravans and two wives later I bought myself a vw campervan. HOORAH !!! ,,,,,,,no more aqua roll filling in the rain. No more rushing to empty the grey water carrier. AND NO MORE AWNINGS !! But sold it a year later. too small. Very cramped. Very cold. Even in Spring an autumn. So in 2005 I retired and bought a two birth low profile fiat ducato based burstner fixed double bed. Solar panel. On board water tank and grey water tank. Seperate shower/toilet. Everything !! WOW!!!! Best thing I bought AND NO AWNING !!!!..Only the one that you wind out and takes 9.58 seconds to do. Lush!!! Sometime this year I am going to try and get it done in 9.57 seconds. However, you are correct. Driving down so called 'B' roads can be very stressful due to the width of it ie; Cornwall. Ceridigeon etc. (do I need to go on ? ). But hey. Much better than reversing in the lanes with a caravan. Also.. Yes. It is much quieter towing a caravan but then again you don't know how much crashing an rattling goes on in the van when towing it. Much more than a carefully prepared MH would be I would expect ? Anyway my point is......If you still love your wife don't buy a caravan or a campervan. P.S. I still just don't understand why I can't find a girlfriend. A tent ????
Some great points here Andrew, thank you. I can see the lure of a motorhome but it’s the space you lose compared to a caravan that means until kids are older it’s a no. I no find towing a van easy just some entrances and exits can be tricky.
Love your videos! They are well balanced, very well argued and a treat to watch! We bought our caravan in 2018 got it in 2019 and your videos helped a LOT in what to choose. Thank you!
Great Video Andrew and Dougal! When we were trying to decide between motorhome and caravan we hired for a week to give us a better idea of what was entailed rather than make an expensive mistake.
Xcellent report thanks . Also with a caravan there is some negatives eg the wear and tear on the vehicles that are towing the caravan. The breaks ,gear box ,clutch and lastly the motor . If it’s a fairly large caravan and the vehicle is fully loaded with people and baggage it’s going to work very hard
We have just bought our very first caravan - a tiny Freedom Jetstream. We have a sun canopy and it is the perfect size for 2 people. It is also easy to tow. We love it 😍
One minor thing you missed - with a caravan you can't tow another item. For example I tow a glider around, so a camper van was the best option. Also boats or bike on a trailer etc.
Good point! Sometimes (with a van or a pick-up) you can use the tow vehicle. 'Take One' was an hour long, so I had to whittle it down. But a very valid point made there, cheers!
Well I've used a caravan in the UK (NOT relaxing to tow etc,) where as I used to own a Motorhome (A small Autosleeper Bedford SV-100 ) And the main thing I liked which you have not mentioned is vision (which makes driving SO MUCH MORE relaxing) because you can see ahead of any problems etc. & see over UK hedges etc. so views you would mot see in a car. ( This is a VERY BIG plus ) And of course it's so much more relaxing to drive when you are higher of the ground. And if you wanted to stop for any reason in a Motorhome or Campervan usually much more easier & take a nap etc. And if you want to use a vehicle for your hobby a van type is great & you can stay for as long as you want normally. And most of the people with Caravans, maybe only use them a few times a year ( What a waste & possibly have to pay for storage & possibly get stolen, like friends of mine had a problem with ) Anyway thanks for your videos & a GREAT help.
For me, it's a caravan, although it is getting more difficult to find places to wild camp these days. with solar panels, a good fridge and freezer, a good shower and telephone internet it is comfortable enough to spend most of the summer in.
Stumbled on this video about a year later than everybody else. We have been caravanning for about 7 years now. And the feeling is that a motorhome one step up, a little bit better. So the feeling is that this is what we want. But every time we start to compare it ends up with that caravan suits us better. I would like to add one argument to you your video. We do a lot of wildcamping here in Sweden and as you said as caravanners we often stays several days in the same spot. We are also bringing our kayaks ( which is a bit tricky if you have a motorhome, but it can be done ) and take the car to a nearby lake. If you do that with a motorhome or campervan you risk that the spot is full when you come back after you paddle tour. Next winter we are planning for a several months trip to the southern part of Europe than we will see if the disadvantage of fewer places to stay will affect us. Great video! To many out there argues for what is the best choice. You can't do that is all about how you travel and what you want from your trip.
Our 45th anniversary is coming up this October. My 1975 dress is still in that heirloom sealed box..... I could never sell it. Our family will cut them up for christening gowns for our children or grand babies. I had boys. So mine is waiting. Lace can be reused to create such beautiful new things to hand down to future generations. Priceless.
Absolutely. It's about what YOU want. My advice to anyone who can't decide which is the best platform for them? Go and hire. Try each of them out and it should help you make a decision, but don't forget, you don't need to have deep pockets. There are always options of self builds and conversions.
Dear Andrew, I am planning on renting a motorhome now due to your advice. I cannot buy one since I do not have a place to keep it in. Thank you for the video. Very helpful.
Kia ora from New Zealand! Enjoy your channel Andrew. Currently own a caravan but am selling to buy a Van conversion or Motorhome for several reasons you mentioned. More choices for freedom camping, ease of travelling our narrow and windy roads etc. One downside to a caravan is security. As a woman travelling alone being able to launch out of bed at 2am when "outside' is turning 'pearshaped', jump into the drivers seat and leave is a huge reason for me not to be in a caravan. Can you imagine the nightmare that would entail ?....
Self build, mentioned earlier in the comments but another vote for Greg Virgoe. Glad to see from an earlier reply you are going to consider doing one on payload, it’s a good job some don’t have a lot of storage, and that includes caravans especially when you see them fully loaded with today’s accessories.
So lovely to see you back on the tube again. I’ve missed you and furry face being on my list! My Amber wants to give Dougal a lick. My choice of a caravan was purely practical. I needed space for a rapidly growing son, dogs and cat; I needed freedom when I get to my destination; AND a tiny budget. A caravan was the perfect solution but you do need to do your research and shop around to find the right one. My parents, on the other hand, with a massive budget and no growing child and only tiny dogs purchased an all bells and whistles top of the range motorhome. It’s very much personal choice and you are right that there is no better than the other. Every option is viable for the way you live.
Your information is very helpful, and I have already made my choice of a campervan, as a single person with one cat. I don’t need a lot of storage and have decided what I want to do for my retirement. What I am having some conflict with is, should I buy an older van and have it built with what I need -minimal trappings; or do I forego the expenses of a custom build and buy a used campervan that has the majority of what I need, and “make-do” with making some adjustments later? Would appreciate your advice! I am nearing the place in my budget where I am paying off the last of my debts, and can live on my Social Security Retirement after “down-sizing” myself out of my apartment and selling off things I really don’t need, including my 2010 Ford SUV - can’t drive 2 vehicles at one time!
"Still confused but on a higher level" as my professor in thermodynamics ended the course with, same here :) Excellent song you ended the video with btw, my fav song now!
Great video (as usual) 8) I have a caravan ay the moment, but have been toying with the idea of switching to a campervan or motorhome. One other annoying feature of the caravan for weekend use, is that most sites where I live, require you to vacate by 12:00, which means that you lose a big chunk of the weekend. You might be a couple of hours from home, by the sea, sunny day, and rather than leaving in the evening, you have to up and go before lunch! I find this to be a real bummer!
Now THAT is an excellent point! At least in a camper you can extend the weekend by going to the beach on Sunday afternoon. Thanks for sharing - I’m sure others will also find your astute observation useful. Cheers!
If you build your own camper van like I am doing then you build your own insulation into the internal walls and you simply build everything to your own design. Ventilation , heating, electric in all forms. Cupboard space. I recommend an old ambulance . But any big van is useful . Mine is a 2006 Renault Master MWB minibus . I have built cupboards . Kitchen sink and a wash sink . Portable flush toilet . It has a slide out double bed / seating with space underneath . Bed across the seats at the front and have a bed at the back. It drives smoothly with the same amount of noise you would get in a car ! 6 speed gear box and air conditioning. If I ever need to change vehicle then everything is easy to dismantle and re-use.
Has anyone mentioned water? Van/Motorhome's generally allow fir about 100L fresh and 70 - 80L Grey. Just lasted all weekend in a rental van and never had to fetch water once. And that includes two showers.
Great video as always Andrew - very useful. One thing you didn't mention, maybe someone has mentioned it below but I'm not going to scroll through c400 comments (sorry!)... PAYLOAD! Most modern caravans (we have one) have very small payloads so if you fill all the lovely storage with your holiday essentials the chances are you'll be over weight which can have serious implications. Many, but not all, motor caravans and camper vans have a larger payload allowance which could be handy if you're a family (more people, more stuff, more weight). The caravan payload issue is exacerbated by installing motormovers and aircon etc. We have both (aircon cos we spent several months in the south of France last year) and although its only my wife and I and we load heavy stuff into the car our caravan is still a little over weight. I'm worried about the problem but there's little I can do about it. Any yes our van has been re-plated but it only added about 20kg to the payload.
Good point Steven. I *did* talk about payload in 'Take One' but that went on for an hour! So I had to cut it down slightly. I think I could easily do a 'Part two' with info like that and some of the great info in the comments. Cheers!
Fantastic vlog Andrew.....You’ve covered every pro and con....very informative, lots of things I hadn’t considered. Keep them coming....your one of the best 👍
A really lovely and informative video. I own a VW California and what you say is very fair. For me it is the perfect vehicle. I can wild camp and take tracks that I would not dare to take with a larger vehicle. It is also better suited for driving through small streets. It is also my daily drive. A few things to add. Firstly the number of people you are travelling with makes a huge difference. As I often travel alone the Campervan is the perfect size for me. The second is that the online community, not just those that you mentioned, are a great source of support - for example the VW California Facebook community. I am now watching your back catalogue of videos.
Thank you Andrew, some really good points to consider. Another couple advantages, or equalizers, of a motor-home over a caravan is with a motor-home you have one lot of registration and insurance, with a caravan you have 2. you also have more tyres to to wear and replace and depending on your tow vehicle, more fuel used. With a motor-home, fuel economy can be as good as a large size tow vehicle (which only increases when you add the caravan) Motor-homes can carry bicycles for local exploring (either pedal powered or electric) and on the occasion you want to do a day trip, you can hire a small car with the money you saved on the other expenses so overall, there can be money saved with a motor-home. another advantage is arrival and set up. If you arrive late, you just park your motor-home and have a bite to eat, then sleep. With a caravan you physically have to get out of the car, unhook, set up and level, before you do anything else....and if it's dark or hammering down with rain, then it's really not a pleasant thing. But as you suggest Andrew, they both have good and bad points. For me, the motor-home slightly edges the caravan as far as convenience.
You can carry bikes on a bikerack on the back of the car (if it's a hatchback). Some people also carry them on the caravan. You can get a very nice car and caravan for the price of a similar spec motorhome. Not sure about fuel consumption on a motorhome, but I get around 100km/litre with my car and caravan. Like Andrew says in the video, the thought of towing can be scarey, but in practice (with a modern caravan) especially a small one is really easy. Reversing requires a bit of practice, as it's back to front, and there's always the nightmare of meeting someone on a narrow country lane, which is no fun at all! The main disadvantage of a caravan for me is that you have to go to a campsite and can't really stop anywhere else. A lot of sites where I live, won't take reservations in the high season, so you often have the worry of not finding a pitch when you arrive. Also, you lose spontaneity. I used to go camping (through Europe), and hardly plan anything. This is probably great with a motorhome too, but can be a really bad idea with a caravan. Once, coming back from Holland, I ended up driving for over ten hours before I finally found somewhere to stop. (The sites were all full).
Great intro for newcomers Andrew - Agree its down to the INDIVIDUALS what they end up in. My only observation (appreciate you cant cover every base in one hit) is that for extra space in a campervan / motorhome you can have a drive-away awning, whereas in a caravan awnings can be mostly static. Perhaps thats the topic for another video ? Cheers!
Hi Andrew a very informative look at 3 of the main leisure vehicles for the UK Market. I could not agree more that it is personal choice and suitability for your family unit. This of course can change as you progress through life. Thanks for the shout out and hope all is well. Phil & Juliet. 🙂👍
I’m so glad your ball looks like mine! I have never had a shiny ball. I thought it better to let it be. I do check it but if it’s not greasy then I leave it! I love my little caravan. It’s easy when one is a cripple like myself! Thank you for sharing, nice to see you! ❤️❤️❤️
Grrat video, I don't have the funds for a professional build van so I have done a self conversion on my Iveco daily minibus to a dayvan/ campervan, it's very cosy for a picnic, I am hoping to get the mattresses for the bed this month then that is the last big thing to get. It's only me and my two children and as we are used to tent camping being in a van is an upgrade! No more worries of leaks in heavy rain! Stay safe and see you on the next one
Horses for courses and all that. For me I’ve got a camper car which is a Ford Tourneo connect and Amdro boot jump which folds out into a double bed and has a twin gas stove and storage etc.
Another cracking, informative video Andrew! Having just started using a vw crafter campervan I would agree with both the positives and negatives you mention here.
Very well thought out..I have a caravan would love a campervan, because with s caravan I find it's limiting. I would like just to go out for the day find a nice spot and not have to plan where we're going. All to often on sites you get off neighbours many don't speak..
My thoughts led to that i have a Campervan made out of an old very well insulated Ambulance (normal van chassi) and a caravan. Just made a 4 week tour without the caravan into the Baltic states and weather was awesome, except few days at Pärnu, Estonia, it rained 55mm in one day, 90 in total for 3 days, so we were soaked! Good part was that there was still 25 degrees. This trip was for probing the caravan sites. Now i know where to go, so next summer i go straight to the locations and leave caravan there for longer periods and make daytrips with campervan.
Had 4 mohomes, and now a caravan. Not trendy, but imho the caravan offers superior accommodation. Mohomes, unless you have an A class, do not have insulated cabs. In the UK shoulder seasons that makes them cold and draughty. Or stuffy if you turn up the heating. But caravans are a faff to attach, though setting up is no big deal with hydraulic levelling. Towing is no problem with modern stabilisation.
Hi Andrew, I watched your previous video which I found helpful as I was building my home,a vardo. Now, I'm in the latest iteration, a prairie waggon,built because of finances, ease and speed of build and well, I just needed to get it out of the system :) I'm closer to getting on the road, slower than planned but, hey, I'm still moving forward :) I now have a bull (much cheaper than a horse), Bill is almost eighteen months old and weighing in at three hundred kilos, his training is going well, I'm about to start getting him to pull things. But, the reason for this comment is my wagon is my home...the original motorhome? There are issues regarding what I can do, but, it's part of my lifestyle and I'm more than happy with it. To be honest though, my minimalist lifestyle has become addictive and I'm thinking about making the waggon into a 'tactical caravan', making it easier for Bill to pull (originally there was a Ted to go with him but, sadly he passed away and I'm not in a position to get a second bull at present). Anyway,jus to say great vid, it's just as pertinent to us primitives as you high falluting island kings ;) Now off to find your vid on the does and don'ts when it comes to touri g (the one where you recommend saying you are touring rather than travelling if stopped by the police). Take care, stay safe, say hi to Dougal. (And, who knows, maybe one day soon, I'll get organised enough to get my channel going properly :) )
A quick mention for the Fifth Wheel Company, North Wales. They manufacture trailers which hitches up to a pick-up like a HGV via the 5th wheel and although I have a Hymer Motorhome had I seen these when I was buying in 2017 I would have bought that instead. Yes I suppose you would call it a caravan but they make both tow bar caravans (Inos) and the 5th wheel trailers (Celtic Rambler & Dreamseeker) and worth a mention in your reviews. They have slide outs which greatly increase the living space. Their product is rather nice.
You did not bog people down with the extraneous details of each. Cost of operations, services and of course repairs. Nor depreciation considerations. 1 last consideration for those reading comments. If you are just traveling from 1 province to another or a couple day journey, it is more than likely your current family hauler will suffice. Staying at a hotel along the way will save you thousands of pounds a year and of course, no storage complications. No added insurance either. :).
5 motorhomes, 5 caravans over 30 years. Still couldn’t recommend one over the other. However, now we are 80, the motorhome is our van of choice for sheer ease of travelling, setting up and relaxing.
Is B category license enough to drive an average-smaller motorhome?
I am based in Europe
@@futureflow8645
Yes. Anything with max weight of less than 3 500 kg can be driven with B-licence. This includes almost all campervans and most of the small/mid-sized motorhomes.
same!!!
I’m looking for the largest motor home for full time living that will still fit on most small town roads so that our exploration is not limited to highway.
@@futureflow8645 You can drive up to 3500KG maximum authorised mass on a class B licence (car), so I'd say yes.
Thank you...excellent analysis of the choices.
Another huge advantage of both the camper van and motor home is the ability to move away quickly. For solo women travelers, this is a big one. Along with making sure nothing is ever left outside the vehicle overnight, the ability to pop out of bed at 3am, grab the keys and pull away when something sketchy seems to be happening outside brings a lot of confidence and enough peace of mind to go almost everywhere. Because yes, if you’re alone in a caravan at such a time, you’re basically trapped there when your neighbors in the travel park start a row at midnight, or worse....
Wow Elizabeth, what a pity you have to even consider these things.
Best wishes.
Not familiar with the term "travel park", but I've never had a bad/scarey experience on a campsite (in Europe) and you can't really park up with a caravan, anywhere outside a campsite.
Excellent video Andrew as always. We had caravans for 29 years and used to laugh at campervans and motorhomes and I always said I would never buy a van. What a fool I was. We now have a very small campervan based on a Nissan NV200 and we have had more fun in less than a year than all those caravan trips. Its all about the freedom to roam and wild camp for us now. There are some steep learning curves and we have documented it all on our channel so if anyone wants to see how it works in a tiny van take a look. 🙂👍
Great stuff! Cheers.
Thanks for sharing this clear video! Liked your remark which is a great summary: "A motorhome is about travelling, a caravan is more focussed on the destination".
Glad it was helpful!
Such a gentle man , the respect and consideration you show to your little friend is very touching 💜🐾👣
Well, he IS in charge! I'm just his PA :)
@@andrewjditton ✔😊
@@andrewjditton
Same here. I wouldn't even have a campervan, if my little boss didn't exist. I would have a sailboat. But she doesn't like boats. So campervan is it.
Advantage of caravan is you can keep it a long time and just change the mechanical bit (car) more frequently.
We chose a campervan; one reason, which you didn’t mention Andrew, is the number doors you can open to let the glorious outdoors in.
That’s one of the most informative videos I have ever seen on this subject, thanks Andrew.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank for the information
Dear Andrew, you have been an inspiration to me as I was "shielding" in lockdown. Your move to Scotland made me think deeply about why I'm remaining in England. I am now hoping to move to Oban! I have been before and know what to expect. 70 is not too late to make a great change. Thank you so much. Love your informative site and beautiful pics. x
Jan Gale Dear Jan, Great to hear, that you make your dreams come true. And YES, Andrew was and is a great help for me too. After a heart surgery last year (56y) , I was thinking about, what to to with the rest of my life - without knowing how long it would last. A year before my heart surgery we visited Scotland by car. Visiting very beautiful B&B with lovely hosts. But travelling around we sometimes thought, “this is a nice place. What a pity, we can’t stay here. “
In the Hospital á found Andres and his “winter adventure” and I fell in love with Scotland, the way of travelling and Andrew. He was a really great help towing me out of my depressions having seen death.
The only thing I wanted to say: live your dreams. Don’t wait. Youll never know when it’s over.
Best wishes and love
David from Germany
Wonderful! It is NEVER too late. I hope everything works out as well for you as it has for us Jan.
SNP might be the main reason to stay in England..
@@newbeginnings8566 because the Tories are a stellar alternative?
Mark Bennett, IMO there is absolutely no need for that comment. I don’t know where you live, what your politic are but it’s easy to make cases for and against any political party; similarly one can make arguments against and for independence. What one can say is that the Scottish Government has consistently and repeatedly said the Scottish population is declining and Scotland needs more people.
Well, 40 years of motorhomes, campervans and caravans and all have their merits which have suited me one over the others!! A lovely video Andrew. I gave up on motorhomes as I am a wanderer, an impulsive traveller that needs to go off on a whim, park up anywhere I can and explore. Motorhomes are too bulky, too immobile, too restrictive on where I can go. Then went small VW pop tops, mostly Californias, my main car, my camper, my home for weeks on end, hold their price incredibly well so expensive to buy but cheap to own but so restrictive in space and got fed up constantly moving everything around, and, virtually packing there van up every time I went to bed. Currently in a 5.4m Van, Hymer Ayers Rock, can go anywhere, fit in anywhere that doesn't have a height barrier, superb to sleep in and very easy to pack up and be on the road again .... and ..... my sister comes with me!! Her caravan, a Knaus sport and fun pulled by my Camper!! Best of all worlds!
Great stuff!
I settled on getting a campervan years ago, and this video solidified it again. Still can't afford it just yet, but definitely some day!
Brilliant summary, as always. It was down to cost for us - we spent £2k on our first caravan and towed it with our existing car. As it turned out, it was the right choice anyway as we value the extra space and towing is no longer the horror show it initially was. Kev
Nice one!
Excellent summary. Its definitely a personal choice. We’ve had mohos, caravans, mohos and finally a caravan. Might change to campervan when we hit our 70’s just for ease of use.
This is another of these channels where I have no special interest in the subject material but always greatly enjoy watching. Thank you Andrew!
That's a huge compliment, thank you Mark!
For me..I had 3 important things when I made my decision...had to be small enough to legally park in a parking space...needs a bathroom...and was big enough to have everything you'd need...I bought a 19ft Toyota warrior with v6 dually rear end drives like a car.short and wide enough to fit in a parking space I love her
A camper van seems the most interesting option and I wouldn't recommend it to families, but it's great for people who could use an all around vehicle that you can live in for a small amount of time.
I’ve had a good few of all of them. For me the camper van was the best. Get a big Fiat one with a nice bed and a decent shower.
As a Motorhomer I must say that your comparisons were spot on. One thing though, when buying a Motorhome and the salesman says ‘They hold their price’ They don’t, not in my experience anyway. Another excellent video Andrew, thanks, we’re off on our first trip this year tomorrow and can’t wait. 👍
Have a great trip Keith! A week Wednesday for me :)
Trip duration is also a consideration. We plan to travel full time for a year or more, including work from home. This means we need more space, but larger vehicles have less access for exploration. A caravan gives you use of the tow vehicle to explore towns and open country on day trips. I plan to bring a motorcycle, but that would be less fun in rain, snow and cold temps.
None of them are better or worse' They're all just different. That's the beauty of camping, be it wild or not, & caravanning.
So lovely to see you and Dougal again - even though he never smiles, bless him!
Maybe I’m a skinflint but imho the caravan offers far better bang for buck. I had a large caravan once but that was a pig to tow and the car really struggled up hills (it’s a hybrid!). I have now decided to go for a smaller 3 berth caravan (a Bailey Discovery) which is only 1,000 Kg so should be far easier to tow and although not offering as much space , is still far more spacious than a camper van and even many motor homes. It also comes with a huge air awning to provide even more space. Your video was great and the comment about the comfort of driving when towing a caravan vs driving a camper van or motor home was particularly interesting. That’s a big plus for the caravan. Of course at at the end of the day it’s a choice for the individual and there is no right answer.
What a coincidence. My friend is getting a caravan, while I am getting a new motorhome. We were chatting about the pros and cons literally yesterday.
Great summary, Andrew. Thanks for that. In terms of price I think it's not only the purchase itself but also the yearly costs to consider. At least in Germany you'd need to have a complete (and that normally means expensive) insurance for your mortorhome/campervan (liability insurance?) and you would need to yearly pay taxes on it. Both isn't the case (as far as a I know) for caravans.
Informative and well explained as always. If you ever do another comparison video one thing which would help me to digest and remember it all is something like a structured chronological format. So compare the 3 types during storage at home, then compare the 3 types for setup before departing on journey, and so on all the way to when you finally arrive back home. Maybe give each type a tick or a score along the way for convenience. So comparing all 3 types (heck throw in camping too) could be something like:
Buying vehicle > Storage at home > Setup before departure > The journey > short rest stops on journey > Overnight stops if a long journey > Finding somewhere to setup > Setup on arrival > Living in it > Travelling to local attractions > Packing up > The journey back home > Unpacking and storing the vehicle when back home.
Great idea! Sounds like a mammoth task though :)
When “building” the interior of your cargo van, you can have more insulation as you need and styled as fancy or simple as you choose. You can go more places and stay in place you can’t access with a larger RV - FREE
In a cargo-van, you have to plan your stops for supplies and dump stations, unless you use cassette toilet, which can be dumped in a regular toilet.
Great video Andrew as always. I bought a new Ford Transit Connect (Tourneo Connect in Europe)) I had a custom shop in Florida do the conversion for me. It is small, but I worked on the floor plan until I got just the essentials just right. After 1.5 years of using it for 4-5 days of monthly camping, I can say it is working well for me. I am a retired photographer and enjoy exploring with a camera. I always look forward to your videos.
A question many people are asking right now.. nice to see you both! 🐾😊
Tow a caravan with a VW campervan. Best of both worlds. Pitch up the caravan and use the campervan as a day van and everyday drive. Love it!
That was a very informative video Andrew. A little late for us now but on our channel we are “living” the part you mentioned with regards to owning a VW Campervan (which we did love) and how we were attracted by the image of them when you first see one. Naive or otherwise, we are still happy to have experienced life with our camper but, with our 2 kids, we have found that changing (not upgrading as we agree with your views that each vehicle whether it be a camper, motorhome or caravan will suit different needs, differently) to a motorhome, albeit 5.99 metres in length has made all the difference. That and the full washroom facilities on board.
Thanks again Andrew 🙏 and say “hi” to Dougal (he does smile, sometimes) 😊
I guess I should have mentioned - never stress too much to 'get it right' first time. Sometimes we don't know what is important to us until we go out there and start using our vehicles. Cheers!
Andrew Ditton your video was totally right. We just learn like everyone does. Apparently we learn through failure 😂
In the U.S., all pull behinds are called Travel Trailers, so I know where that comes from. We do not call them Caravans at all. The umbrella term is RV (Recreational vehicle) with what you call a camper van, we call a Class B (NO idea why!). What you call a motor home, here is split into Class C (what you are calling a motorhome) and Class A (flat face, looks like a bus, often with motor in the rear). Again I have no idea why they are assigned the letters they are. Class As are the largest typically, so okay that makes sense, but Bs are the smallest (camper vans) and Cs are between the two. And some of the Cs are huge; called Super Cs. Still a nose out front, not flat faced, but massive rigs.
Hi Andrew,
Wow. How brave of you to make this video.
I had spent many years since 1973 caravaning until about 2005. Travelled uk and most of western europe way back then with my mum and dad, my sister and friend in a 1300cc ford escort towing a lump of heavy iron (Thompson glen) in the good old days without tolls and motorways. (when you saw a uk number plate you waved with genuine glee.)
Fond memories.
Then I flew the 'nest'. Got married. had two children. Bought a caravan with an awning. Had a divorce due to awning erection issues. God bless her. I can still see her now struggling with those poles in the pouring rain while I'm sat in my camping chair enjoying a couple of glasses of wine after all that driving. Hey Ho !
Two caravans and two wives later I bought myself a vw campervan.
HOORAH !!! ,,,,,,,no more aqua roll filling in the rain. No more rushing to empty the grey water carrier. AND NO MORE AWNINGS !!
But sold it a year later. too small. Very cramped. Very cold. Even in Spring an autumn.
So in 2005 I retired and bought a two birth low profile fiat ducato based burstner fixed double bed. Solar panel. On board water tank and grey water tank. Seperate shower/toilet. Everything !!
WOW!!!! Best thing I bought AND NO AWNING !!!!..Only the one that you wind out and takes 9.58 seconds to do. Lush!!!
Sometime this year I am going to try and get it done in 9.57 seconds.
However, you are correct. Driving down so called 'B' roads can be very stressful due to the width of it ie; Cornwall. Ceridigeon etc. (do I need to go on ? ). But hey. Much better than reversing in the lanes with a caravan.
Also.. Yes. It is much quieter towing a caravan but then again you don't know how much crashing an rattling goes on in the van when towing it. Much more than a carefully prepared MH would be I would expect ?
Anyway my point is......If you still love your wife don't buy a caravan or a campervan.
P.S. I still just don't understand why I can't find a girlfriend.
A tent ????
Ha ha! I enjoyed reading your comment, cheers! :)
Some great points here Andrew, thank you. I can see the lure of a motorhome but it’s the space you lose compared to a caravan that means until kids are older it’s a no. I no find towing a van easy just some entrances and exits can be tricky.
Great to see you, Andrew, not forgetting dear Dougal!
"Liked" instantly. Lots of useful information - no surprise considering who's at the helm. Cheers to you and Dougall!
Glad you enjoyed it, cheers Gordon!
Love your videos! They are well balanced, very well argued and a treat to watch! We bought our caravan in 2018 got it in 2019 and your videos helped a LOT in what to choose. Thank you!
Thank you! I find that being honest, transparent, and totally open allows me to sleep better at night. Hope you're enjoying the caravan :)
Andrew Ditton
Due to Corona we have used it mainly as a guest room this year. But last year was great fun. Thanks again 😊
Great Video Andrew and Dougal! When we were trying to decide between motorhome and caravan we hired for a week to give us a better idea of what was entailed rather than make an expensive mistake.
Excellent idea, cheers Ann!
A caravan for me has the great advantage of setting up and having the car free
Xcellent report thanks . Also with a caravan there is some negatives eg the wear and tear on the vehicles that are towing the caravan. The breaks ,gear box ,clutch and lastly the motor . If it’s a fairly large caravan and the vehicle is fully loaded with people and baggage it’s going to work very hard
We have just bought our very first caravan - a tiny Freedom Jetstream.
We have a sun canopy and it is the perfect size for 2 people. It is also easy to tow. We love it 😍
Have fun! Awesome little vans :)
Interesting comparison. Here in South America, the pros of vans easily overcoming the cons. By far, the versatility make vans the best choice for me.
As a family that has decided to start this hobbie, we found this video really good and created discussions among ourselves. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
One minor thing you missed - with a caravan you can't tow another item. For example I tow a glider around, so a camper van was the best option. Also boats or bike on a trailer etc.
Good point! Sometimes (with a van or a pick-up) you can use the tow vehicle. 'Take One' was an hour long, so I had to whittle it down. But a very valid point made there, cheers!
If anyone’s interested in building their own panel van conversion then Greg Virgo is the Master!, hands down the best on RUclips!
Lots of votes for Greg!
Tganks Andrew, we've missed you 👍
Well I've used a caravan in the UK (NOT relaxing to tow etc,) where as I used to own a Motorhome (A small Autosleeper Bedford SV-100 ) And the main thing I liked which you have not mentioned is vision (which makes driving SO MUCH MORE relaxing) because you can see ahead of any problems etc. & see over UK hedges etc. so views you would mot see in a car. ( This is a VERY BIG plus ) And of course it's so much more relaxing to drive when you are higher of the ground. And if you wanted to stop for any reason in a Motorhome or Campervan usually much more easier & take a nap etc. And if you want to use a vehicle for your hobby a van type is great & you can stay for as long as you want normally.
And most of the people with Caravans, maybe only use them a few times a year ( What a waste & possibly have to pay for storage & possibly get stolen, like friends of mine had a problem with )
Anyway thanks for your videos & a GREAT help.
Good points! Cheers!
Great summary, and thanks for the mention. You do have to stay tidy in a Motorhome so it doesn't take too long to pack up.
For me, it's a caravan, although it is getting more difficult to find places to wild camp these days. with solar panels, a good fridge and freezer, a good shower and telephone internet it is comfortable enough to spend most of the summer in.
Stumbled on this video about a year later than everybody else. We have been caravanning for about 7 years now. And the feeling is that a motorhome one step up, a little bit better. So the feeling is that this is what we want. But every time we start to compare it ends up with that caravan suits us better. I would like to add one argument to you your video. We do a lot of wildcamping here in Sweden and as you said as caravanners we often stays several days in the same spot. We are also bringing our kayaks ( which is a bit tricky if you have a motorhome, but it can be done ) and take the car to a nearby lake. If you do that with a motorhome or campervan you risk that the spot is full when you come back after you paddle tour. Next winter we are planning for a several months trip to the southern part of Europe than we will see if the disadvantage of fewer places to stay will affect us. Great video! To many out there argues for what is the best choice. You can't do that is all about how you travel and what you want from your trip.
Thank you for a video that finally gets down to the factual pros and cons when it comes to deciding which platform to purchase...this is rare.
My pleasure!
Our 45th anniversary is coming up this October. My 1975 dress is still in that heirloom sealed box..... I could never sell it. Our family will cut them up for christening gowns for our children or grand babies. I had boys. So mine is waiting. Lace can be reused to create such beautiful new things to hand down to future generations. Priceless.
Absolutely. It's about what YOU want. My advice to anyone who can't decide which is the best platform for them? Go and hire. Try each of them out and it should help you make a decision, but don't forget, you don't need to have deep pockets. There are always options of self builds and conversions.
Excellent advice, cheers! 👍
Dear Andrew, I am planning on renting a motorhome now due to your advice. I cannot buy one since I do not have a place to keep it in. Thank you for the video. Very helpful.
I think renting is a great idea! It saves a lot of worry.
Im in new zealand, and i love a campervan , because when its hot , you can open it up and cool it down
I found your channel through the original video, so this was quite nostalgic
Very happy to see you again. Great work on the video. You look well rested.
Thank you!
Cheers for the mention, Andrew. Excellent video too! 😀
You're very welcome, chap!
Thank you for the great plus & minus between rigs.
Our pleasure!
Really well thought out dialogue, very informative. Good job you didn't compare a 5 star hotel into the mix. 🙂. Great information, thank you.
Kia ora from New Zealand! Enjoy your channel Andrew. Currently own a caravan but am selling to buy a Van conversion or Motorhome for several reasons you mentioned. More choices for freedom camping, ease of travelling our narrow and windy roads etc.
One downside to a caravan is security. As a woman travelling alone being able to launch out of bed at 2am when "outside' is turning 'pearshaped', jump into the drivers seat and leave is a huge reason for me not to be in a caravan. Can you imagine the nightmare that would entail ?....
Great point. Although it's one of the reasons I cite caravans as 'less well suited' to wild(free) camping. Cheers!
Medium Wheelbase Campervan for me. Best middle ground. Pick up a Boxer Autosleeper soon. Can't wait! Will replace my swb Trafic.
Self build, mentioned earlier in the comments but another vote for Greg Virgoe. Glad to see from an earlier reply you are going to consider doing one on payload, it’s a good job some don’t have a lot of storage, and that includes caravans especially when you see them fully loaded with today’s accessories.
Thanks a lot for seeing you Andrew. Greetings from Germany
David
So lovely to see you back on the tube again. I’ve missed you and furry face being on my list! My Amber wants to give Dougal a lick. My choice of a caravan was purely practical. I needed space for a rapidly growing son, dogs and cat; I needed freedom when I get to my destination; AND a tiny budget. A caravan was the perfect solution but you do need to do your research and shop around to find the right one. My parents, on the other hand, with a massive budget and no growing child and only tiny dogs purchased an all bells and whistles top of the range motorhome. It’s very much personal choice and you are right that there is no better than the other. Every option is viable for the way you live.
Your information is very helpful, and I have already made my choice of a campervan, as a single person with one cat.
I don’t need a lot of storage and have decided what I want to do for my retirement.
What I am having some conflict with is, should I buy an older van and have it built with what I need -minimal trappings; or do I forego the expenses of a custom build and buy a used campervan that has the majority of what I need, and “make-do” with making some adjustments later?
Would appreciate your advice! I am nearing the place in my budget where I am paying off the last of my debts, and can live on my Social Security Retirement after “down-sizing” myself out of my apartment and selling off things I really don’t need, including my 2010 Ford SUV - can’t drive 2 vehicles at one time!
Andrew, so glad to see you, missed you!
"Still confused but on a higher level" as my professor in thermodynamics ended the course with, same here :) Excellent song you ended the video with btw, my fav song now!
Cool, thanks!
Lovely treat to watch this during my lunch hour. Pros and cons of each, very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good, no nonsense no bullshit review mate. Well done.
Great video (as usual) 8)
I have a caravan ay the moment, but have been toying with the idea of switching to a campervan or motorhome.
One other annoying feature of the caravan for weekend use, is that most sites where I live, require you to vacate by 12:00, which means that you lose a big chunk of the weekend.
You might be a couple of hours from home, by the sea, sunny day, and rather than leaving in the evening, you have to up and go before lunch!
I find this to be a real bummer!
Now THAT is an excellent point! At least in a camper you can extend the weekend by going to the beach on Sunday afternoon. Thanks for sharing - I’m sure others will also find your astute observation useful. Cheers!
If you build your own camper van like I am doing then you build your own insulation into the internal walls and you simply build everything to your own design. Ventilation , heating, electric in all forms. Cupboard space. I recommend an old ambulance . But any big van is useful . Mine is a 2006 Renault Master MWB minibus . I have built cupboards . Kitchen sink and a wash sink . Portable flush toilet . It has a slide out double bed / seating with space underneath . Bed across the seats at the front and have a bed at the back. It drives smoothly with the same amount of noise you would get in a car ! 6 speed gear box and air conditioning. If I ever need to change vehicle then everything is easy to dismantle and re-use.
Sounds good to me!
Has anyone mentioned water? Van/Motorhome's generally allow fir about 100L fresh and 70 - 80L Grey. Just lasted all weekend in a rental van and never had to fetch water once. And that includes two showers.
Great video as always Andrew - very useful. One thing you didn't mention, maybe someone has mentioned it below but I'm not going to scroll through c400 comments (sorry!)... PAYLOAD! Most modern caravans (we have one) have very small payloads so if you fill all the lovely storage with your holiday essentials the chances are you'll be over weight which can have serious implications. Many, but not all, motor caravans and camper vans have a larger payload allowance which could be handy if you're a family (more people, more stuff, more weight).
The caravan payload issue is exacerbated by installing motormovers and aircon etc. We have both (aircon cos we spent several months in the south of France last year) and although its only my wife and I and we load heavy stuff into the car our caravan is still a little over weight. I'm worried about the problem but there's little I can do about it. Any yes our van has been re-plated but it only added about 20kg to the payload.
Good point Steven. I *did* talk about payload in 'Take One' but that went on for an hour! So I had to cut it down slightly. I think I could easily do a 'Part two' with info like that and some of the great info in the comments. Cheers!
Great video,wisdom obviously, but some wonderful glimpses of your previous tours. Looking forward to seeing new adventures.
Fantastic vlog Andrew.....You’ve covered every pro and con....very informative, lots of things I hadn’t considered. Keep them coming....your one of the best 👍
Thanks Colin! 👍
A really lovely and informative video. I own a VW California and what you say is very fair. For me it is the perfect vehicle. I can wild camp and take tracks that I would not dare to take with a larger vehicle. It is also better suited for driving through small streets. It is also my daily drive.
A few things to add. Firstly the number of people you are travelling with makes a huge difference. As I often travel alone the Campervan is the perfect size for me. The second is that the online community, not just those that you mentioned, are a great source of support - for example the VW California Facebook community.
I am now watching your back catalogue of videos.
Thanks for your comment and tips, and Welcome Aboard!
Thank you Andrew, some really good points to consider. Another couple advantages, or equalizers, of a motor-home over a caravan is with a motor-home you have one lot of registration and insurance, with a caravan you have 2. you also have more tyres to to wear and replace and depending on your tow vehicle, more fuel used. With a motor-home, fuel economy can be as good as a large size tow vehicle (which only increases when you add the caravan) Motor-homes can carry bicycles for local exploring (either pedal powered or electric) and on the occasion you want to do a day trip, you can hire a small car with the money you saved on the other expenses so overall, there can be money saved with a motor-home. another advantage is arrival and set up. If you arrive late, you just park your motor-home and have a bite to eat, then sleep. With a caravan you physically have to get out of the car, unhook, set up and level, before you do anything else....and if it's dark or hammering down with rain, then it's really not a pleasant thing. But as you suggest Andrew, they both have good and bad points. For me, the motor-home slightly edges the caravan as far as convenience.
Some great points there, thanks for sharing!
You can carry bikes on a bikerack on the back of the car (if it's a hatchback).
Some people also carry them on the caravan.
You can get a very nice car and caravan for the price of a similar spec motorhome.
Not sure about fuel consumption on a motorhome, but I get around 100km/litre with my car and caravan.
Like Andrew says in the video, the thought of towing can be scarey, but in practice (with a modern caravan) especially a small one is really easy.
Reversing requires a bit of practice, as it's back to front, and there's always the nightmare of meeting someone on a narrow country lane, which is no fun at all!
The main disadvantage of a caravan for me is that you have to go to a campsite and can't really stop anywhere else.
A lot of sites where I live, won't take reservations in the high season, so you often have the worry of not finding a pitch when you arrive.
Also, you lose spontaneity.
I used to go camping (through Europe), and hardly plan anything.
This is probably great with a motorhome too, but can be a really bad idea with a caravan.
Once, coming back from Holland, I ended up driving for over ten hours before I finally found somewhere to stop. (The sites were all full).
Great intro for newcomers Andrew - Agree its down to the INDIVIDUALS what they end up in. My only observation (appreciate you cant cover every base in one hit) is that for extra space in a campervan / motorhome you can have a drive-away awning, whereas in a caravan awnings can be mostly static. Perhaps thats the topic for another video ? Cheers!
Wow, you're back!!! I was so surprised to see you and Dougal again! Awesome!!!
We've not gone anywhere Paulette, merely posting once a fortnight instead of once a week. It means I can focus a little more on quality :)
Hi Andrew a very informative look at 3 of the main leisure vehicles for the UK Market. I could not agree more that it is personal choice and suitability for your family unit. This of course can change as you progress through life. Thanks for the shout out and hope all is well. Phil & Juliet. 🙂👍
Excellent video!! I still have no idea which one I want 😅😆
It's not an easy decision AT ALL!
Dougal is a great Jack Russell . Thank you for all the tips. We are about to start our search for a campervan. It is rather exciting.
It IS exciting! Enjoy :)
I’m so glad your ball looks like mine! I have never had a shiny ball. I thought it better to let it be. I do check it but if it’s not greasy then I leave it! I love my little caravan. It’s easy when one is a cripple like myself! Thank you for sharing, nice to see you! ❤️❤️❤️
Oh yes, life is too short to polish my ball... ;@)
Hi, with a rusty tow ball you are wearing out the hitch head stabilizer pads faster.
Grrat video, I don't have the funds for a professional build van so I have done a self conversion on my Iveco daily minibus to a dayvan/ campervan, it's very cosy for a picnic, I am hoping to get the mattresses for the bed this month then that is the last big thing to get. It's only me and my two children and as we are used to tent camping being in a van is an upgrade! No more worries of leaks in heavy rain! Stay safe and see you on the next one
I knew everything he talked about. I just didn't know I knew it, so now I know I know. Very useful. You'll agree I know.
I never know what I know...
@@andrewjditton That's 'cause you ain't reel smurt lik mee
Horses for courses and all that. For me I’ve got a camper car which is a Ford Tourneo connect and Amdro boot jump which folds out into a double bed and has a twin gas stove and storage etc.
Journey Vs Destination. Very good analysis.
Thanks Andrew :)
A very clear, sensible and very generous piece.Thank you
You are very welcome
Thanks Andrew for another lovely video. You're getting even more articulate and watchable as time goes by! Excellent editing too.
Thanks Jeff!
Another cracking, informative video Andrew! Having just started using a vw crafter campervan I would agree with both the positives and negatives you mention here.
Priceless as always.....great 5/5 on all 3. You Nailed It!
Cheers Paul!
Like you I prefer a 4x4 pick up, handy for muddy sites & winter driving & a 15 foot affordable used Caravan
Very well thought out..I have a caravan would love a campervan, because with s caravan I find it's limiting. I would like just to go out for the day find a nice spot and not have to plan where we're going. All to often on sites you get off neighbours many don't speak..
My thoughts led to that i have a Campervan made out of an old very well insulated Ambulance (normal van chassi) and a caravan. Just made a 4 week tour without the caravan into the Baltic states and weather was awesome, except few days at Pärnu, Estonia, it rained 55mm in one day, 90 in total for 3 days, so we were soaked! Good part was that there was still 25 degrees. This trip was for probing the caravan sites. Now i know where to go, so next summer i go straight to the locations and leave caravan there for longer periods and make daytrips with campervan.
Awesome stuff!
Had 4 mohomes, and now a caravan. Not trendy, but imho the caravan offers superior accommodation. Mohomes, unless you have an A class, do not have insulated cabs. In the UK shoulder seasons that makes them cold and draughty. Or stuffy if you turn up the heating. But caravans are a faff to attach, though setting up is no big deal with hydraulic levelling. Towing is no problem with modern stabilisation.
It’s all swings and roundabouts, eh Tony? Thanks for watching.
Hi Andrew, I watched your previous video which I found helpful as I was building my home,a vardo.
Now, I'm in the latest iteration, a prairie waggon,built because of finances, ease and speed of build and well, I just needed to get it out of the system :)
I'm closer to getting on the road, slower than planned but, hey, I'm still moving forward :) I now have a bull (much cheaper than a horse), Bill is almost eighteen months old and weighing in at three hundred kilos, his training is going well, I'm about to start getting him to pull things.
But, the reason for this comment is my wagon is my home...the original motorhome? There are issues regarding what I can do, but, it's part of my lifestyle and I'm more than happy with it.
To be honest though, my minimalist lifestyle has become addictive and I'm thinking about making the waggon into a 'tactical caravan', making it easier for Bill to pull (originally there was a Ted to go with him but, sadly he passed away and I'm not in a position to get a second bull at present).
Anyway,jus to say great vid, it's just as pertinent to us primitives as you high falluting island kings ;)
Now off to find your vid on the does and don'ts when it comes to touri g (the one where you recommend saying you are touring rather than travelling if stopped by the police).
Take care, stay safe, say hi to Dougal.
(And, who knows, maybe one day soon, I'll get organised enough to get my channel going properly :) )
Travel trailer or trailer is the US term. We never call the caravans. Thumbs up for the Jessica reference too. Love her videos.
A quick mention for the Fifth Wheel Company, North Wales. They manufacture trailers which hitches up to a pick-up like a HGV via the
5th wheel and although I have a Hymer Motorhome had I seen these when I was buying in 2017 I would have bought that instead. Yes
I suppose you would call it a caravan but they make both tow bar caravans (Inos) and the 5th wheel trailers (Celtic Rambler & Dreamseeker)
and worth a mention in your reviews. They have slide outs which greatly increase the living space. Their product is rather nice.
Yes, I keep meaning to get to Wales to go see them. Lovely vans.
You forgot about your own channel. Loads of interesting and fun information with a right star.... and his associate, Andrew. :P
You did not bog people down with the extraneous details of each. Cost of operations, services and of course repairs. Nor depreciation considerations. 1 last consideration for those reading comments. If you are just traveling from 1 province to another or a couple day journey, it is more than likely your current family hauler will suffice. Staying at a hotel along the way will save you thousands of pounds a year and of course, no storage complications. No added insurance either. :).
Andrew nice to see you back, great review, the cost of a camp site could be more than a cheap hotel !!!!
Very true!