Campervan vs Motorhome vs Caravan: Which is Best?
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2020
- Can't choose between a camper van, motorhome, or caravan? Then start here! Caravan Motorhome and Campervan journalist for over 20 years, Andrew Ditton (that's me!) has extensive knowledge and experience of all three kinds of vehicle, and lists top five pros and cons of each.
What size van can you drive and how much can you tow? Check out the Caravan and Motorhome Club Page about licence parameters here: www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-...
For my Camper Van vs Caravan video, filmed in February 2018 but still holding value today, please see:
• Camper Van vs Caravan ...
For my MOTORHOME and CAMPER VAN REVIEW playlist, please see:
• Motorhome and Van Conv...
For my CARAVAN REVIEW Playlist, please see:
• Caravan Reviews
Winter Tour in a Bürstner Motorhome (with James Popsys) - Wohnfühlen Tour:
• Wohnfühlen - Cosy Wint...
Winter Sun Tour of Portugal, Spain, and French Alps with an Airstream Caravan:
• DüsselVlog 2017 - The...
Summer Tour in an Etrusco Motorhome (with James Popsys) - Etrusco Road Trip Italia:
• Etrusco Road Trip Italia
Spring Tour in a Carado Van Conversion (with James Popsys) - 'Go with the Vlow':
• Go With the Vlow - Cam...
Summer Tour with an Adria Caravan PLUS model reports from Düsseldorf Show - 'DüsselVlog':
• DüsselVlog 2017 - The...
Winter Tour in a Sun Living Van Conversion - 'Scotland Winter Adventure':
• Scotland Winter Advent...
Check out these other RUclips Channels:
DIY VAN CONVERSION
Vandemonium: / @vandemonium
Nate Murphy: / nathanmurfie
VANS AND MOTORHOMES
A Bus and Beyond: / @abusandbeyond
Bob Earnshaw: / @bobearnshawmoho
Here We Tow: / @herewetow
CARAVANS
The Trudgians: / @thetrudgians
Lost Weekends Caravan: / @lostweekendscaravan
Thumbnail photo - James Popsys: / @jamespopsysphoto
Music track used : Lever de la Lune by Dan Zeitune ft Loren Noyman
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#andrewditton #campervan #caravan
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.
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.
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.
Advantage of caravan is you can keep it a long time and just change the mechanical bit (car) more frequently.
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!
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!
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!
A question many people are asking right now.. nice to see you both! 🐾😊
So lovely to see you and Dougal again - even though he never smiles, bless him!
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.
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.
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 😊
"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!
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!
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.
Great to see you, Andrew, not forgetting dear Dougal!
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! 👍
Thanks Andrew for another lovely video. You're getting even more articulate and watchable as time goes by! Excellent editing too.
Thanks Jeff!
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!
Great video,wisdom obviously, but some wonderful glimpses of your previous tours. Looking forward to seeing new adventures.
Priceless as always.....great 5/5 on all 3. You Nailed It!
Cheers Paul!
Thanks a lot for seeing you Andrew. Greetings from Germany
David
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!
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. 🙂👍
Thanks! I'm always watching out for me bits & pieces!
Tganks Andrew, we've missed you 👍
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.
Cheers for the mention, Andrew. Excellent video too! 😀
You're very welcome, chap!
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 :)
I found your channel through the original video, so this was quite nostalgic
Andrew, so glad to see you, missed you!
Very happy to see you again. Great work on the video. You look well rested.
Thank you!
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.
Thank you Andrew & Dougal - I liked the succinct nature of this video. Extremely informative!
Thanks Kirstie!
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.
Really well thought out dialogue, very informative. Good job you didn't compare a 5 star hotel into the mix. 🙂. Great information, thank you.
Brilliant Andrew just what’s needed. Thanks so so much. Hope you and Dougal well. Xx
Glad you enjoyed it
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!
Good to see you back 👍
"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!
Just loved your video straightforward straight to the point. Big thank you from Australia
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.
Lovely treat to watch this during my lunch hour. Pros and cons of each, very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am so blessed to have found you and your website and RUclips channel. You are a wealth of knowledge and have such a tremendous giving spirit. Thanks for sharing your journey and wisdom and for sharing Dougal. Barb, USA
Thank you so much Barb! Nice to have your company :)
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
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 :)
Fantastic vlog Andrew, extremely thorough and lots to think about . Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
@@andrewjditton very much so, thanks again
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.
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!
Great video, I have a camper van and absolutely love it.
Informative video! Thanks so much for the mention.
Really balanced piece, great summary on the subject.
A very clear, sensible and very generous piece.Thank you
You are very welcome
Thank you a lot for this video. This is very interesting and informative. Keep posting like those amazing videos, this is awesome.
Really just what I needed to hear. Thank you... Love your quirky side too 😁
You are so welcome
Thanks Andrew. Really informative.
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.
None of them are better or worse' They're all just different. That's the beauty of camping, be it wild or not, & caravanning.
Brilliant video Thank You !! Really informative and so helpful for people to make a choice of what they would like Xx Best Wishes to you both 😘
Really enjoyed this vid. Great expiation on all 3 😃👍
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 😂
Thank you for the great plus & minus between rigs.
Our pleasure!
Very good detailed comparison. Thanks.
Really enjoyed your video. Informative, honest and fun. Just like your good self.
Keep up the good work
Thanks, will do!
Excellent video, thank you so much! It was perfect for our current needs 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Another fantastic video Andrew. I currently have a VW T4 but I'm looking to upgrade to either a larger campervan such as an adria twin or a caravan and this video has raised some points I didn't consider! Thanks again.
You’re welcome. I hope you saw my review of the Auto Camper MRV as that threw up some unforeseen issues about taking the bike on board. Thanks for watching!
Likewise, incredibly balanced and informative. Love the quirky sense of humour and also your co-star doggie 😍. Thanks for the info
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another quality vid on the subject from you and Dougal.
Thank you!
Great Andrew another great insight into the world of leisure time away. Love the way you give honest reflective information drawing on your vast experience with all these options. As you rightly say it is about the individuals wanting to undertake the journey as opposed to the glitz of the vehicle. Personally I would hire in first instance and at least in Scotland is we would experience all the weather options to see what it is like across the board. All the best to you both.
Cheers Roger! YES, do hire first, even a few times. My friend has hired about 10 times and still can't make up his mind! :)
Absolutely brilliant, thanks so much for your insight. Cheers June
Glad it was helpful!
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!
Good, no nonsense no bullshit review mate. Well done.
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.
Andrew, great summary, watching from my Motorhome during a stop in a trip south.
Brilliant, have fun!
Great video, informative and lighthearted, Doogle is lush x
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
Simply the most concise set of ideas well presented .
Thank you!
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 :)
You are brilliant Andrew , your vlogs are always the best .
You explain things so well !
Love 💕 this one , we have had caravans, MH's swapped back and forth and currently back with a lovely twin axle caravan but always dreaming 💭 of another MH in the future.
Thank you! 😃
@@andrewjditton and now we are back to a Motorhome 😂😂 at least we never get bored 👍😊
Great blog Andrew, see you on the road. Mick & Mo x
That was simple and informative! Thanks for putting it together!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video and some good points, thanks for sharing
Enjoyed every minute of your video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts to make right decision. Stay safe and blessed 🙏
Thank you! You too!
Good to watch you again.
Welcome back!
Thank you - a very thoughtful overview.
Thanks Andrew for the valuable information.
Glad it was helpful!
Enjoyed watching that, thank you. And for all the links. 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi Andrew - Great Vlog as always! Should definitely be required viewing for all those planning to enjoy "Van Living". Also say Hi to the star of the show for us!!
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
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 :)
Great video, this is something I have promised myself this is something I'm going to get into to see more of the amazing UK
Sounds like a plan to me!
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!
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.
Thanks Andrew, lots of useful information.
Glad it was helpful!
You forgot about your own channel. Loads of interesting and fun information with a right star.... and his associate, Andrew. :P
Medium Wheelbase Campervan for me. Best middle ground. Pick up a Boxer Autosleeper soon. Can't wait! Will replace my swb Trafic.