Matt - You make a really good point about the style of holiday/use of caravans and Motorhomes. After 25 years of caravans we changed to a Motorhome and it took us a while to understand that our aim now wasn’t to get to a booked campsite as quickly as possible and then go out from there, but to stop along the way and move from site to site. We bought a Motorhome because we wanted the space we’d enjoyed in our caravans, but quickly came to realise that manoeuvrability, speed and travelling comfort were more important to us than internal space, so we changed to a Ducato-based Campervan. We now use the van for about half the year, travelling around 9000 miles per year, often only doing an hour or so a day, stopping and seeing things along the way and enjoying the touring aspect - it’s a very different mindset from our caravanning days but we love it!
Get a 9 meter tag axel got lots room in them. Just as much as a caravan.. I'm looking at getting a tag axel 8 to 9 meters in 3 years time and yes I can drive one as iv got a HGV class one
Interesting discussion. I think part of the reason of the seeming demise of the caravan is that people want to holiday differently. Younger folk love the idea of being able to move about, covering wider geography and the 'excitement' of camping free. Then there is the lack of innovation in caravans in terms of design and style - still too many 'white boxes'. Add to that the hassle of towing, the cost of towing, and as you touched on, paying for storage as many new homes do not either have a drive or disallow caravans to be stored on a drive. Something else you didn't touch on, is that many more people now work at least one day of a weekend. So the traditional use of a caravan for a quick weekend getaway has fallen by the wayside. Which means you have an expensive item either sat on your drive or in (paid for) storage that is only used for dedicated holidays. A campervan, such as a VW T6 (just as an example) can be used as a daily driver instead of a second car and available for a quick weekend getaway, even if only one night. You mentioned that campsite fees couldn't possibly be an issue but they certainly are! Camping, in all its forms, is no longer a cheap holiday. In particular the cost of EHU has risen dramatically for various obvious reasons, and understadably, people are not prepared to pay upwards of £30 per night for a two week holiday. There has to be a drastic rethink across the entire industry, from campsite owners to leisure vehicle builders (and thus quality!) for the market to not die a slow death.
Great insights thank you for sharing. The point I made about campsites is they are not to blame for any slow down in the industry. Sure campsites have become more costly in many places. But I agree more innovation is welcome! Let’s see what is created…
Great episode Matt & Keith, Darren is wasted selling wobble boxes😂 We have camped since we married in 87 then moved onto trailer tents and folding campers touring Europe with our daughter but nothing wider than the car. We then moved on to a LWB VW T6 pop top camper van in 2017, then a new VW Cali in 2019 and now have a fixed bed CV40. Never been interested in a Caravan and now refuse to pay for expensive UK camp sites £35-45 a night mid winter is ridiculous. We had a recent 6 week holiday in France & Spain spending the grand total of 75 Euro on sites. Cheers K.
My wife and I thought we wanted a motorhome and hired a 7m Knaus in the south of France for a week in Octeober 2019 to confirm the size and layout of the vehicle we wanted. We were first time motorhomes. Our week long trip over 1000km included small and large campsites, and a couple of nights in France Passion sites. In October 2020 we ordered a new Coachman caravan. Why? Simply because we found holidaying in a motorhome a hassle because we wanted to stay in a beautiful location for 5-6 days and then move to another site. The lack of a car was the final straw as the provision of public transport was patchy and taxis expensive. Right decision as our Coachman caravan has the space of a £150K motohome and the we have our car for exploring. Most of our long holidays have been taken in France and Spain. Our principle concern is the impact of EVs and loss of a diesel tow car......
Brilliant case study for caravans thank you. The future of EV and caravans is uncertain. But it’s a sector that innovates and no doubt will do. The need to change is years away if you want it to be. Thanks for sharing
We’re motorhome owners - my key takeaway from this very interesting interview is this….if I were a house builder and my houses leaked, I wouldn’t be one for very long. So why have the Caravaning manufacturers been allowed to produce a product that doesn’t do the first tick box in “how to build a home”? Fundamentally the end of caravans lie with the manufacturers if they don’t do that primary task!
Fascinating watch and something we’ve been pondering recently. We can even see a drop in subs and views from Caravanners. Fingers crossed it’s just a blip but I fear it could be the beginning of the end….
Lovely to hear from you and thanks for watching and commenting. Is it the end or just a new dawn? With innovation and an increased appeal a caravan holiday is an amazing pastime. I believe its future is simply different to those caravan holidays from the 1960’s and the folk that took them. A huge number of factors are at play that will make and break the future for caravans. It’s an interesting time!
@@MotorhomeMatt yea, its its a new dawn and maybe a kit up the rear for the industry to do something different to stay alive. Was speaking to a local dealer (who was virtually all caravans a few years ago) and he said the pendulum has swung so much and motorhomes take up 70% of their sales now. Frightening (for a caravan owner/believer)
New to motorhoming and find this discussion interesting. With low-cost flights becoming readily available again and Airbnb offering an easier alternative to investing in a caravan, could this be contributing to the challenges facing the industry? Thanks for the informative videos.
Yes it could be absolutely. But low cost flights have been around for years and actually the family package holiday seems to becoming more and more expensive this year. That’s my experience having tried to book one! I think the type of holiday we crave could be a driving influence…? Is Caravanning craved? How do we keep the pastime popular? Was it ever cool? 😎 Thanks for commenting
Good discussion on caravans. I'm not with you on campsite prices though. I've previously done 60+ nights a year in my caravan. I always use sites, unlike my friends and relatives with motorhomes who often camp up outside sites. Costs have gone from low £20 a night to low £40 a night since Covid. Nothing else I buy has gone up 100% in that time. I've been at war with the caravan club in the last two years. I bought £600 of vouchers to help their cashflow during covid, without any idea how soon I'd be able to use them. Almost as soon as I went back out they forgot the support they had been given by their members and refused to help us through the cost of living crisis. I'm so unhappy with it that I spent most of September in France. I joke that I spent £2500 to save £20 a night on sites. We are spending all that money on caravanning, buying and servicing a caravan, insuring it, making sure we have a vehicle fit to tow it, paying recovery etc. All those sunk costs have some value if you are getting a lot of nights out of it, but they come much more into focus if those 60 nights shrink to 30 or 25.
Have toured the continent in two different Motorhomes before Covid great! Then used the Motorhome around the UK mainly on sites however we often stayed on a site 4-5 days at a time but eventually got feed up waiting for buses or trains and missed so many sights we wished we could easily get to. With the wife having a car and myself owning one the Motorhome was seen as a third expense, tax, insurance, service, habcheck we decided to sell the Motorhome and with the money buy a decent car and caravan. Now we tour the UK setup the van and make a list of all the. Little gems the Uk holds.
That’s a great use case for a caravan! Perfect. An alternative was to buy another small car and tow it…! More overheads! Glad you are making good use of your resources! Enjoy every moment to get away. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thank you! If you mean Warners shows yes, they are due to be filmed. Manchester show my talks will be filmed and hopefully we can use a snippet. At the NEC show they aren’t usually filmed
I’d say as a caravaner, the main issue they’ll have is that the models we have now, bar for their niggles are that good, why would I want to change. We changed our caravan in 2022 from our previous one as the kids had grown up so we decided to get one more suitable for us, ie fixed bed, mid wash room, its absolutely lovely, beautiful caravan, when ours is loosing money over years and the newer ones cost more and more, where will the incentive to change be when the one we have is everything we ever want. Obviously if it ends up knackered that’s a different kettle of fish, I honestly don’t see how they can better what we have.
Sounds like you’ve got the perfect one for you! Often the ‘shiny penny’ and ‘keeping up with the jones’s’ is the motivator but doesn’t sound like you have these traits! Keep it and enjoy it! Thanks for watching and commenting
I’ve been a camper for 33 years & 27 years for Andy and we have had folding campers & caravans and now our motorhome. Our reason for changing was two fold Andy wanted our Moho & my wheelchair. We found that the cost of a caravan after conversion just looked like an empty shell no luxury at all. Now you might say well how is the Moho different well some how it is - the chap who owned our van changed to a converted caravan and had big regrets. So my answer is if you are able bodied then yes I feel caravans are still valid but if not then the industry for both needs to have a long hard think as to how they can accommodate those in wheelchairs & especially electric ones from the base level up - why should there be an extra cost (sometimes double) to afford us the same kind of touring holidays - we have loved both styles but my electric wheelchair pushed us in one direction more than the other. X
I think some of the answers are over complicating things. From my point of view, and many of the opinions of friends I talk to on the issue, the main reasons for choosing one against the other, are; people do not fancy towing a caravan - it can fill them with dread, especially if you've never towed before/setting up a caravan on site can be time consuming & hard work, depending on the size of the caravan and your fitness levels. Pluses, as mentioned, would generally be more space/flexibility to use your towing vehicle to get around/cheaper to purchase & run. For me, the single biggest reason you would choose a motorhome over a caravan is towing because other than that, you would choose a caravan as there are lots of benefits. We have a motorhome & would not wish to tow.
Yes good point. I’ve owned both and they each have their merits. A direct comparison is foolhardy as they are totally different holiday experiences. I agree with you that towing itself can be a barrier for some. Thanks for your comment really appreciate it
I think there will always be a future for caravans. They are generally more affordable for families and offer a cheaper holiday option. 'Vanlife' is the buzz word at the moment, and it may last, or it may just be a passing trend. It all comes down to how you like to holiday and your budget. I'm a motorhomer, and caravan instructor as you know. My diary is filling up more with caravan courses than motorhome ones. Is that because people tend to just drive a motorhome, or is it because there are still lots of new caravanners to the hobby?
Looking to buy a motor home soon seen a nice Adria Coral XL very local to me I’ll be having a look at hopefully in the near future (awaiting exchange on house) anyway the helium bags are used and have been used in the classic cars for a world for a long time as helium is an inert gas so no corrosion 👍 listening for 6 months and going through your back catalogue, thank you for all the knowledge and realistic views/opinions
If you put you cycles in a sealed bag and fill it with helium will it take up less of you payload.??? I once thought of making a sealed suitcase and putting in 23kg of clothes. The filling it with helium to see if I could get it down to 20 kg to take on plane . Anyway you might gain payload with the bags but will cut down on storage space.
Yup that’s a common experience. For me the motorhome is more about the journey and flexibility to travel and not have to return to base. When we’ve had caravans we had flexibility to visit the area in the car which was great but nowadays in the motorhome if we want to do this we’ve simply hired a car and had it delivered to the campsite!
I thought long and hard about wether to purchase a small caravan or a camper, camper won as we do quite a lot of short trips currently and I sold my car to pay for the Van so I needed something suitable for a daily driver as well..
The trouble with the modern caravan is build quality...I had a brand new Explore 402 about 5 Yr ago it was a bag of rubbish leaks cracking rear panels you name it consequently I got rid
At the point of sounding negative, as a customer on the verge of buying another caravan, the longevity of caravans lay at both feet of dealers and manufacturers. My biggest grudge against them is the unfair treatment of customers . Dealers reluctance to repair caravans not purchased by them along with ridiculous leadtimes on repairs. Latterly manufacturers who churn out caravans with no QC checks and dump them on the dealers who pick up the flack. The future of my purchases will be determined by the quality of the next caravan and dealership support.
This is a frustrating reality isn’t it. I’ve tried to unpick this here and in the recent episode with two dealers. Did you see that one? Some explanation is offered. As a consumer we have the choice as to what we buy and from where. Vote with our wallet! Thanks for watching and commenting
the small caravans like the base camp and action sell to motorhoner type customers, I run the motorhomes at a joint caravan and motorhome dealership and if we lose a customer to the dark side from motorhoming half the time it's a basecamp or action they pick Then half the time come back to motorhoming as funky as they are they still habe all the same downsides as a full size caravan
That’s an interesting insight thanks so much! But it doesn’t surprise me. ‘Dark side’ 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for your insight and for watching. Which dealership are you at? Give it a plug!
@MotorhomeMatt lol thanks Matt I run the motorhomes at Highbridge Devon, I full time in a stealth campervan, also own a caravan and regularly still go away with the stepkid in my exes tag axle coachbuilt so can see things from all angles lol
I certainly agree that new cars will be harder to buy capable of towing. Which will surely make my old 4x4 more desirable?! The motorhome side of the industry is yet to catch up with the ‘eFuture’. Will it happen?
Lets face it, nothing has a future 🤣 I have a caravan, I'm not retired, I take it to northern spain every year for two weeks, it is my main holiday. Its kind of a raod trip since we have to stay in France a couple of times when on the trip. I personally value the ability to detach the vehicle so I can then go places (further than I'd go on a bike) without taking my entire outfit. But each to their own. I can see that caravans have hassles, particularly the hooking up etc, but I bet the motorhome also has it's own hassles unique to them. Its personal preference as to which hassles you prefer. When looking at motorhomes, as lovely as they are, I find you lose a third to half your living space for the drivers cab, so coming from my Buccanear Cruiser with all that space is a barrier for me, for the sake of hitching and unhitching. The EV issue will additionally screw up the caravan and motorhome market, it's already destroying the car market. None of this is good news for caravans, motorhomes or cars.
Great comments thank you! The future is certainly unknown on this. Innovation, stability and clarity is what’s needed. Enjoy the trip to Spain this year!
Had a motorhome for twenty years…same motorhome purchased new, from 2004 until 2024. Bought a nineteen year old Hymer caravan a year before we sold the motorhome and now just have that caravan. No MOT, no engine to worry about, no huge investment to look after but we are having just a good a time getting away. If we had if wanted another new motorhome we couldn’t have afforded it as they have gone up in price way too much but the quality of them has dropped too.
I have been caravaning for 32 years I had a motorhome for 8 years The fun has gone out of it weekends are impossible finish work on a Friday traffic is a nightmare site fees have shot up and then to finish it off campsites kick you off a 11am on Sunday morning £100 + £80 campsite it’s to much School holidays the site are full So spend ages ringing around Fun has gone
I’m sorry to hear that’s your experience but I understand. There are many ways to enjoy this pastime. Perhaps with the limitations you have the time is not now? We used to enjoy our static caravan when we were young children. Then as we had our own kids we would have great weekends on lesser known sites and days in the motorhome on the beach. Thanks for commenting
With caravans, I think it's been a bit of a boom and bust. During Covid, people wanted to stay at home, by that I mean not go abroad, so caravans were purchased. Manufacturers couldn't keep up with demand, and prices increased. This put a lot of people off. Caravans were never cool :-) It's hard to generalise over the type of person that owns a caravan. IMHO a lot of retired people buy a motorhome, it's aspirational, a caravan isn't really something one aspires to own (or maybe it's a less aspirational thing), a motorhome is.. A caravan isn't a hassle, it's the same old argument, "caravans are hassle, and Motorhomes you can't go anywhere once you're at a site, unless you use public transport.| Of course, neither is strictly true.. Caravan's do have a future, but they are getting more and more expensive, as are sites... It's 100% down to the price of the caravan and the site...( IMHO ) BTW if you think towing a caravan, or setting it up is hard work, then it's not for you and this has always been the case. You can make life easier with things like E&P, air awnings etc..
Good old Graham chipping in motorhomes alright if you got money to burn and so what if set up takes 10min more either way if you that restricted with time you got problems
You guys did not talk about self builds on vans as could that be killing of caravans as some the guys that's done self builds on vans are really good and they fit a full off grid kit where you don't need a camp site with hook ups
I think at the moment it looks more like the end of motorhomes as you can see EV vehicle towing caravans but I still can't see many options for EV motorhomes and then they are loaded to the top chassis weight with the coachbuild and batteries which will give a fraction of the original quoted range . So at the moment I think we will see a swing back to caravanning as the future or very near future holds and as ICE get financial squeezed off the road .
Interesting prediction. I hear you. Although remember a non ICE vehicle can already be 4250kg on a normal licence. I am a lot more positive than this viewpoint but it certainly could be true! Let’s hope for the innovation we need to survive
The demise of the caravan market will suffer a serious decline after new diesel and petrol traction vehicles are banned and only the second hand vehicles dwindling over time will maintain the use of caravans until we see the end of the caravan over time. I love going in my caravan, when the weather is better but during the winter, it is winter sun every time abroad. 3 lots of 10 days in southern Spain and tenerife this year. You can't beat getting out of our miserable weather, when it is abysmal in the UK, if you have the money to do it. The other downside to caravan stays is the petty rules and being treated like children by the pink haired, officious clip board Warriors, particularly in the Caravan and motorhome club. My last stay at bridlington Flamborough C@MHC, was like saying at stalag luft 15 prison camp. Don't these people realise that it is in their best interest to encourage people to come back again ? Something i will never do there again.
Blimey that’s great feedback! It made me laugh and cry! We are choosy which campsites we go to. And like you, if it doesn’t work for us we don’t go again. Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m off to grab my clipboard 🤣🤣🤣
We had a twin axel for 16 years and then over a year ago we (my wife and I) saw how easy it was to set up a motorhome and ease of use. In September last year we committed and bought a Coachman Travelmaster. I have to say we love it. No regrets.
Thank you for your warm welcome. I just wanted to add to the earlier comment. Moving from a caravan to a motorhome for us was a completely different mind set. Took a few trips to get used to the new format. All the best.
I’m glad you managed the shift. They are indeed very different holidays. I see so many people get this wrong because they don’t get it. There’s huge benefits to both. Thanks again
Have to disagree on your view of campsite charges. £42 a night in some club sites to place your van on a pitch ? Nah ! Not for me 20 euros (£17) average in France and Spain
@@MotorhomeMatt Agreed that high site fees alone won't be responsible for the decline of the industry but it could well be one factor if prices keep rising unchecked. I'm a motorhome owner and I've recently booked a night at a local CAMC site for myself, my wife and daughter. The pitch fee was £44.40... On a standard pitch in the dead of January! Sure I can afford it, it won't break the bank but it definitely does leave a slightly bitter taste. Certainly taking into account Michael's point of European sites being so much cheaper and often with fantastic facilities.
I do think campsites play a part in the decline.typical prices with the big clubs are now £40+ per night if you go away a few times a year it's ok but if you go away twice a month it's now too expensive ! It's another reason more motorhomes are selling you don't have to go on sites plenty car parks now city breaks the future
Absolutely club site are ruining the whole scene, and some private sites are too. I've a friend on Keswick ccc as I type, the sites empty, if they charged reasonable prices we'd be there too. We've just returned from a private site, £26 a night fully serviced with all new amenities and with the benefit of a harbour view and close to a town, wake up or the scene will continue to wither away
I must confess i was a caravan owner and i would point a stuck at motorhomes and say how do you go to the shop ?? Now i have bought a motor home i understand the attraction Its so easy none of the hassle connecting it to the car testing the electrics fitting mirrors then the hassle if getting to site parking setting up then the hassle of the water hassle hassle Now i pull up in my motorhome its warm i only need to connect the electric and relax
You can wheel the pig to the fill up point if you run out of water, you have to move the motorhome to fill up as the alternative. Watching the motorhomers getting about with taxis and buses etc. is quite hilarious as well. I've found my rig to be the best though. A transporter sized 5.4 metre lwb campervan pulling a caravan, the best choice for all scenarios and a better traction vehicle than a car by far. It can also get down single track roads much easier than a motorhome after the caravan is sited, still carrying camping facilities to cook and make a cuppa etc. That is if you take the caravan.
In reality caravans are cheaper for many, certainly at entry level but I think the question is both for caravans and motor homes. The ridiculous scam of net zero will ensure none of us can afford to travel even if we manage to hang on to our diesel vehicles .
It’s scaremongery but yes, a risk! I think we will always find a way to travel. I think the future is challenging and exciting… I suspect our ancestors said the same? Thanks for watching and commenting
I had a Bailey ranger GT50 caravan for 17years, which I bought second hand which was 9 years old when I got it. I sold it . And it was still bone dry when I sold it. I have since bought a motorhome when the girls left home. At two years old the door window was falling out and the dealer said it wasn't covered in the warranty. Its is a Autotrail. At 5 years old now it's got damp and brownhills won't cover it. Warranties aren't worth the paper it's written on .I do love the layout and like the lifestyle.
Grrrrr this frustrated me to hear this so much! I had a Bailey Ranger yr 2000. Sold it 4 years ago bone dry. It still is! Yet just had to spend thousands £££ on a motorhome damp repair just 5 years old. I feel and share your pain believe me! I am intrigued why your damp repair wasn’t covered. Ours was because despite an annual hab check it wasn’t a manufacturer approved one so warranty void. If it had been it would have been covered. Thanks for sharing your experience
@@MotorhomeMattthey say that it's because the service engineer was mobile not a dealer. He is registered so I don't know what to do, they won't get a single penny out of me again! It doesn't invite confidence in dealerships generally. I had a gas tank fitted and they caused a gas leak. I was a gas safe engineer ( qualified to work on caravans etc,now retired) when I told them that I repaired it and reported it, they weren't happy.
Have had caravan for 12 years started off with Swift changed to Bailey Vigo 4 years ago. To be honest I wish I had never bothered, the build quality is absolute crap, 4 years old and already have damp on the corners. How on earth the vehicles pass quality control is astounding I wonder how Bailey even has the honesty to provide caravans to customers. Shameful.
Been Caravanning Since 1990, Certainly Won't Go To A Motorhome Now, Yes I've Also Heard About Bailey Problems, Have A Coachman Now, So Far So Good..back it onto chosen pitch, unhitch, level up, plug in electric, fetch water..get the chairs out & the Beer!!.. lovely jubbly😂xx
Motorhome I'm in Australia 60k for a caravan plus another 60 to tow it the tassels of towing the van another insurance rego maintenance wake up the next day and leave easier to find a park when travelling motorhomes for the win
Thanks for commenting. That feels like a sweeping statement. I agree we are a cottage industry in the sense of a small network of well connected people often reluctant to change and unsure sometimes how to innovate. There’s a lot more to this than simply your statement but I appreciate your comment
@ I worked in the car industry for 40 years with a prestige manufacturer and hence my comments reflect where the caravan industry is at present. A lot are or have been family business and in today’s market they do not have the resources to survive or compete.
Move to EVs will kill caravans. No mention on this video which is just odd given the title. Cant charge without uncoupling (which is totally impractical) and towing absolutely murders the range anyway.
We touched on EV for a minute. It’s a big topic in itself. I wanted to keep the focus on the product. I think the towing aspect with EVs is a big issue as we alluded to. But I didn’t want to get into EV useage and their challenges. That cannot hike has been well dug and will no doubt be explored some more in future episodes. Thanks for watching and commenting guys
Totally miss the main problem with caravans. They might be cheaper but there are fewer and fewer cars that can tow them. Most cars, apart from the massive landrovers etc, have reduced in weight to save on emissions while caravans have got heavier and heavier due to people wanting larger fridges etc. Plus electric cars. Yes caravans are cheaper at £20k but you need a £40k huge car to tow it.
We did touch on this. Small caravans are an option too though. Like a Barefoot or Adria Action. But I agree. I think consumer demands are part of the problem ‘mix’. Thanks for watching and commenting
That’s a fair comment. Although the supply chain costs all went up too and now dealership running costs are going up again in April with new NI costs. Do you think this pastime has a future? Or will people just pay the increased costs?
Manchester show is a joke…..a shadow of its former self. Was there Thursday - no manufacturer stands, a couple of dealers. Really really poor. Industry is broken…..
It’s a small show with a range of stuff to look at… and free bar a small booking fee. I’m at the show until Sunday and we’ve had some great conversations with dealers and exhibitors. If you want to see loads of product displayed by manufacturers then the NEC is much larger. Maybe see you there?
They say big plus about motorhome travelling to/through europe etc and i get it stay on aires etc but look at price of them from £50k upwards we just back from 7 wk in wifes convertable stayed on campsites static caravan /hotels booking,com averaged £40 a night not the ritz but nice places how often are you really going to europe caravan all the way for UK and a bit of planning you can do europe big plus then youve got your car for freedom but sayin that i wouldnt mind trying a M H good guest in Darren by the way his channel is great
Lovely story thank you! We did 1200 miles in a week in a BMW Z4 around Holland and Belgium staying in some amazing and cheap places. A great trip away but I still love the adventure, convenience and memories of our motorhome trips.
I'm curious to know: How many of you have a caravan and how many have a motorhome?
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Well for motorhomes you can check the CAMpRA webpage as they have data from DVLA on registered vehicles in UK.
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Caravan ,but looking to change to Motorhome but the price of um are frightening 2017 plate £48k come on its too much
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Matt - You make a really good point about the style of holiday/use of caravans and Motorhomes. After 25 years of caravans we changed to a Motorhome and it took us a while to understand that our aim now wasn’t to get to a booked campsite as quickly as possible and then go out from there, but to stop along the way and move from site to site. We bought a Motorhome because we wanted the space we’d enjoyed in our caravans, but quickly came to realise that manoeuvrability, speed and travelling comfort were more important to us than internal space, so we changed to a Ducato-based Campervan. We now use the van for about half the year, travelling around 9000 miles per year, often only doing an hour or so a day, stopping and seeing things along the way and enjoying the touring aspect - it’s a very different mindset from our caravanning days but we love it!
This is such helpful feedback for anyone considering both and stuck on a decision, thank you! I agree with you. Really appreciate you sharing this
tried 2 different motorhomes over 3 years, gone back to a caravan mainly for the comfort, space and visiting
Fair enough. Love that you’re watching my Channel! Thanks for commenting too
Get a 9 meter tag axel got lots room in them. Just as much as a caravan.. I'm looking at getting a tag axel 8 to 9 meters in 3 years time and yes I can drive one as iv got a HGV class one
Absolutely 👍
Excellent and honest over view of the industry, customers and changing times we now live in.
Thank you. It’s a complicated dilemma !!
Thanks for watching and commenting
Interesting discussion. I think part of the reason of the seeming demise of the caravan is that people want to holiday differently. Younger folk love the idea of being able to move about, covering wider geography and the 'excitement' of camping free. Then there is the lack of innovation in caravans in terms of design and style - still too many 'white boxes'. Add to that the hassle of towing, the cost of towing, and as you touched on, paying for storage as many new homes do not either have a drive or disallow caravans to be stored on a drive.
Something else you didn't touch on, is that many more people now work at least one day of a weekend. So the traditional use of a caravan for a quick weekend getaway has fallen by the wayside. Which means you have an expensive item either sat on your drive or in (paid for) storage that is only used for dedicated holidays. A campervan, such as a VW T6 (just as an example) can be used as a daily driver instead of a second car and available for a quick weekend getaway, even if only one night.
You mentioned that campsite fees couldn't possibly be an issue but they certainly are! Camping, in all its forms, is no longer a cheap holiday. In particular the cost of EHU has risen dramatically for various obvious reasons, and understadably, people are not prepared to pay upwards of £30 per night for a two week holiday.
There has to be a drastic rethink across the entire industry, from campsite owners to leisure vehicle builders (and thus quality!) for the market to not die a slow death.
Great insights thank you for sharing. The point I made about campsites is they are not to blame for any slow down in the industry. Sure campsites have become more costly in many places. But I agree more innovation is welcome! Let’s see what is created…
Motorhome owners for 10 years. Never had a caravan but often intrigued about the option of having a caravan in the future.
It’s always an option and a different experience. My tongue is in my cheek re caravans as I’m sure you realise but don’t tell anyone 🤣🏆👍🏻
Great episode Matt & Keith, Darren is wasted selling wobble boxes😂 We have camped since we married in 87 then moved onto trailer tents and folding campers touring Europe with our daughter but nothing wider than the car. We then moved on to a LWB VW T6 pop top camper van in 2017, then a new VW Cali in 2019 and now have a fixed bed CV40. Never been interested in a Caravan and now refuse to pay for expensive UK camp sites £35-45 a night mid winter is ridiculous. We had a recent 6 week holiday in France & Spain spending the grand total of 75 Euro on sites. Cheers K.
Brilliant feedback thanks for sharing. You are like a text book camper with that ownership journey! Love it. Thanks for watching and commenting
My wife and I thought we wanted a motorhome and hired a 7m Knaus in the south of France for a week in Octeober 2019 to confirm the size and layout of the vehicle we wanted. We were first time motorhomes. Our week long trip over 1000km included small and large campsites, and a couple of nights in France Passion sites. In October 2020 we ordered a new Coachman caravan. Why? Simply because we found holidaying in a motorhome a hassle because we wanted to stay in a beautiful location for 5-6 days and then move to another site. The lack of a car was the final straw as the provision of public transport was patchy and taxis expensive. Right decision as our Coachman caravan has the space of a £150K motohome and the we have our car for exploring. Most of our long holidays have been taken in France and Spain. Our principle concern is the impact of EVs and loss of a diesel tow car......
Brilliant case study for caravans thank you. The future of EV and caravans is uncertain. But it’s a sector that innovates and no doubt will do. The need to change is years away if you want it to be. Thanks for sharing
We’re motorhome owners - my key takeaway from this very interesting interview is this….if I were a house builder and my houses leaked, I wouldn’t be one for very long. So why have the Caravaning manufacturers been allowed to produce a product that doesn’t do the first tick box in “how to build a home”? Fundamentally the end of caravans lie with the manufacturers if they don’t do that primary task!
It’s a valid point! Ridiculous! Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it!
I've had 5.motorhomes now I. Have a go pod
Love the GoPod. We store a couple for customers. Somehow they always make me smile when I see them!
Fascinating watch and something we’ve been pondering recently. We can even see a drop in subs and views from Caravanners. Fingers crossed it’s just a blip but I fear it could be the beginning of the end….
Lovely to hear from you and thanks for watching and commenting. Is it the end or just a new dawn? With innovation and an increased appeal a caravan holiday is an amazing pastime. I believe its future is simply different to those caravan holidays from the 1960’s and the folk that took them. A huge number of factors are at play that will make and break the future for caravans. It’s an interesting time!
@@MotorhomeMatt yea, its its a new dawn and maybe a kit up the rear for the industry to do something different to stay alive. Was speaking to a local dealer (who was virtually all caravans a few years ago) and he said the pendulum has swung so much and motorhomes take up 70% of their sales now. Frightening (for a caravan owner/believer)
Interesting insight thank you! See you in Brum?
@ We are in Brum for at least one day. Be nice to say Hi!
New to motorhoming and find this discussion interesting. With low-cost flights becoming readily available again and Airbnb offering an easier alternative to investing in a caravan, could this be contributing to the challenges facing the industry? Thanks for the informative videos.
Yes it could be absolutely. But low cost flights have been around for years and actually the family package holiday seems to becoming more and more expensive this year. That’s my experience having tried to book one!
I think the type of holiday we crave could be a driving influence…? Is Caravanning craved? How do we keep the pastime popular? Was it ever cool? 😎
Thanks for commenting
Cracking video guys
That’s very kind thank you! Thanks for watching. So what do you think?
One of your best videos yet, but it would be as it was about caravans 😂
Ha ha thanks! Love that you watched it and commented 🧡👍🏻🏆
Good discussion on caravans. I'm not with you on campsite prices though. I've previously done 60+ nights a year in my caravan. I always use sites, unlike my friends and relatives with motorhomes who often camp up outside sites. Costs have gone from low £20 a night to low £40 a night since Covid. Nothing else I buy has gone up 100% in that time. I've been at war with the caravan club in the last two years. I bought £600 of vouchers to help their cashflow during covid, without any idea how soon I'd be able to use them. Almost as soon as I went back out they forgot the support they had been given by their members and refused to help us through the cost of living crisis. I'm so unhappy with it that I spent most of September in France. I joke that I spent £2500 to save £20 a night on sites. We are spending all that money on caravanning, buying and servicing a caravan, insuring it, making sure we have a vehicle fit to tow it, paying recovery etc. All those sunk costs have some value if you are getting a lot of nights out of it, but they come much more into focus if those 60 nights shrink to 30 or 25.
Great insight thank you
So have the club responded to you?
Have toured the continent in two different Motorhomes before Covid great! Then used the Motorhome around the UK mainly on sites however we often stayed on a site 4-5 days at a time but eventually got feed up waiting for buses or trains and missed so many sights we wished we could easily get to. With the wife having a car and myself owning one the Motorhome was seen as a third expense, tax, insurance, service, habcheck we decided to sell the Motorhome and with the money buy a decent car and caravan. Now we tour the UK setup the van and make a list of all the. Little gems the Uk holds.
That’s a great use case for a caravan! Perfect. An alternative was to buy another small car and tow it…! More overheads! Glad you are making good use of your resources! Enjoy every moment to get away. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Can't make the show, can I ask are the theatre talks being video-ed or streamed?
Love you show and the humour 😅
Thank you! If you mean Warners shows yes, they are due to be filmed. Manchester show my talks will be filmed and hopefully we can use a snippet. At the NEC show they aren’t usually filmed
I would say most young families like we did are focusing thier expenditure on daily living costs.
That’s very true. There’s no doubt a caravan or motorhome is a luxury purchase. Thanks for watching and commenting
I’d say as a caravaner, the main issue they’ll have is that the models we have now, bar for their niggles are that good, why would I want to change. We changed our caravan in 2022 from our previous one as the kids had grown up so we decided to get one more suitable for us, ie fixed bed, mid wash room, its absolutely lovely, beautiful caravan, when ours is loosing money over years and the newer ones cost more and more, where will the incentive to change be when the one we have is everything we ever want. Obviously if it ends up knackered that’s a different kettle of fish, I honestly don’t see how they can better what we have.
Sounds like you’ve got the perfect one for you!
Often the ‘shiny penny’ and ‘keeping up with the jones’s’ is the motivator but doesn’t sound like you have these traits! Keep it and enjoy it! Thanks for watching and commenting
I’ve been a camper for 33 years & 27 years for Andy and we have had folding campers & caravans and now our motorhome.
Our reason for changing was two fold Andy wanted our Moho & my wheelchair.
We found that the cost of a caravan after conversion just looked like an empty shell no luxury at all.
Now you might say well how is the Moho different well some how it is - the chap who owned our van changed to a converted caravan and had big regrets.
So my answer is if you are able bodied then yes I feel caravans are still valid but if not then the industry for both needs to have a long hard think as to how they can accommodate those in wheelchairs & especially electric ones from the base level up - why should there be an extra cost (sometimes double) to afford us the same kind of touring holidays - we have loved both styles but my electric wheelchair pushed us in one direction more than the other. X
Thanks for commenting guys. This is a huge topic and one to keep campaigning on! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing you in Birmingham x
@@MotorhomeMattdon’t worry you won’t miss us 😜x
I think some of the answers are over complicating things. From my point of view, and many of the opinions of friends I talk to on the issue, the main reasons for choosing one against the other, are; people do not fancy towing a caravan - it can fill them with dread, especially if you've never towed before/setting up a caravan on site can be time consuming & hard work, depending on the size of the caravan and your fitness levels. Pluses, as mentioned, would generally be more space/flexibility to use your towing vehicle to get around/cheaper to purchase & run.
For me, the single biggest reason you would choose a motorhome over a caravan is towing because other than that, you would choose a caravan as there are lots of benefits.
We have a motorhome & would not wish to tow.
Yes good point. I’ve owned both and they each have their merits. A direct comparison is foolhardy as they are totally different holiday experiences. I agree with you that towing itself can be a barrier for some.
Thanks for your comment really appreciate it
I think there will always be a future for caravans. They are generally more affordable for families and offer a cheaper holiday option. 'Vanlife' is the buzz word at the moment, and it may last, or it may just be a passing trend.
It all comes down to how you like to holiday and your budget.
I'm a motorhomer, and caravan instructor as you know. My diary is filling up more with caravan courses than motorhome ones. Is that because people tend to just drive a motorhome, or is it because there are still lots of new caravanners to the hobby?
Caravans scare people! And you’re good at what you do. 🏆🏆🏆
Looking to buy a motor home soon seen a nice Adria Coral XL very local to me I’ll be having a look at hopefully in the near future (awaiting exchange on house) anyway the helium bags are used and have been used in the classic cars for a world for a long time as helium is an inert gas so no corrosion 👍 listening for 6 months and going through your back catalogue, thank you for all the knowledge and realistic views/opinions
That’s great thank you very much! Enjoy the back catalogue as there’s a lot there! We have an Adria Coral XL for sale too! Let me know if interested!
@ it’s yours I was referencing 🤣🤣 I live in Weston village just over the motorway 🤣🤣
Let’s do this! This is my old Coral XL. Amazing motorhome. Drop me a call when you’re ready
If you put you cycles in a sealed bag and fill it with helium will it take up less of you payload.???
I once thought of making a sealed suitcase and putting in 23kg of clothes. The filling it with helium to see if I could get it down to 20 kg to take on plane . Anyway you might gain payload with the bags but will cut down on storage space.
Thanks for commenting. This is a science experiment now!
We have a roller team motorhome and love the life. Most holidays and every 3rd weekend we go away. Would not change to a caravan.
Love this! I’m envious! Bet your diy task list at home is building up?! Thanks for commenting
Had a caravan for 5 years. Now on mty first motorhome and orefer it. Quicker to prep for departure and leave. Towing a caravan is a pain.
Yup that’s a common experience. For me the motorhome is more about the journey and flexibility to travel and not have to return to base. When we’ve had caravans we had flexibility to visit the area in the car which was great but nowadays in the motorhome if we want to do this we’ve simply hired a car and had it delivered to the campsite!
OMG embarrassing,who'd buy a caravan after this podcast.Hardly an advert to buy one.
Well done Matt 10 nil to motorhomes.
🤣🤣🤣 love this! Thanks for commenting. 🏆
I thought long and hard about wether to purchase a small caravan or a camper, camper won as we do quite a lot of short trips currently and I sold my car to pay for the Van so I needed something suitable for a daily driver as well..
Sounds like the right outcome for you. Enjoy it! Thanks for commenting
The trouble with the modern caravan is build quality...I had a brand new Explore 402 about 5 Yr ago it was a bag of rubbish leaks cracking rear panels you name it consequently I got rid
It’s shocking what some consumers have experienced. But would you buy another caravan?
At the point of sounding negative, as a customer on the verge of buying another caravan, the longevity of caravans lay at both feet of dealers and manufacturers. My biggest grudge against them is the unfair treatment of customers . Dealers reluctance to repair caravans not purchased by them along with ridiculous leadtimes on repairs.
Latterly manufacturers who churn out caravans with no QC checks and dump them on the dealers who pick up the flack.
The future of my purchases will be determined by the quality of the next caravan and dealership support.
This is a frustrating reality isn’t it. I’ve tried to unpick this here and in the recent episode with two dealers. Did you see that one? Some explanation is offered. As a consumer we have the choice as to what we buy and from where. Vote with our wallet! Thanks for watching and commenting
The same applies to motorhomes.
top lad he is
He is! Bit short tho.
Brilliant Matt interesting question having had a caravan now motorhome we see more Motorhome’s than caravan’s
There’s certainly an apparent market trend shift. Thanks for the kind words and comment. Here’s to great holidays on wheels engine or not!
the small caravans like the base camp and action sell to motorhoner type customers, I run the motorhomes at a joint caravan and motorhome dealership and if we lose a customer to the dark side from motorhoming half the time it's a basecamp or action they pick
Then half the time come back to motorhoming as funky as they are they still habe all the same downsides as a full size caravan
That’s an interesting insight thanks so much! But it doesn’t surprise me. ‘Dark side’ 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for your insight and for watching. Which dealership are you at? Give it a plug!
@MotorhomeMatt lol thanks Matt I run the motorhomes at Highbridge Devon, I full time in a stealth campervan, also own a caravan and regularly still go away with the stepkid in my exes tag axle coachbuilt so can see things from all angles lol
I often pass you on our trips. I’ll pop in and say hi sometime
EV are killing the caravan market
Motorhomes seem to be impervious to the diesel ban
I certainly agree that new cars will be harder to buy capable of towing. Which will surely make my old 4x4 more desirable?! The motorhome side of the industry is yet to catch up with the ‘eFuture’. Will it happen?
@@MotorhomeMattif we do manage to hang on to our tow cars or motor homes, they will tax us so it’s too expensive. People need to wake up and quickly!
Lets face it, nothing has a future 🤣 I have a caravan, I'm not retired, I take it to northern spain every year for two weeks, it is my main holiday. Its kind of a raod trip since we have to stay in France a couple of times when on the trip. I personally value the ability to detach the vehicle so I can then go places (further than I'd go on a bike) without taking my entire outfit. But each to their own. I can see that caravans have hassles, particularly the hooking up etc, but I bet the motorhome also has it's own hassles unique to them. Its personal preference as to which hassles you prefer. When looking at motorhomes, as lovely as they are, I find you lose a third to half your living space for the drivers cab, so coming from my Buccanear Cruiser with all that space is a barrier for me, for the sake of hitching and unhitching. The EV issue will additionally screw up the caravan and motorhome market, it's already destroying the car market. None of this is good news for caravans, motorhomes or cars.
Great comments thank you! The future is certainly unknown on this. Innovation, stability and clarity is what’s needed. Enjoy the trip to Spain this year!
Had a motorhome for twenty years…same motorhome purchased new, from 2004 until 2024. Bought a nineteen year old Hymer caravan a year before we sold the motorhome and now just have that caravan. No MOT, no engine to worry about, no huge investment to look after but we are having just a good a time getting away. If we had if wanted another new motorhome we couldn’t have afforded it as they have gone up in price way too much but the quality of them has dropped too.
Sounds like you’ve found the answer for you. Make the most of every opportunity to get away. Thanks very much for watching and commenting
I have been caravaning for 32 years I had a motorhome for 8 years
The fun has gone out of it weekends are impossible finish work on a Friday traffic is a nightmare site fees have shot up and then to finish it off campsites kick you off a 11am on Sunday morning
£100 + £80 campsite it’s to much
School holidays the site are full
So spend ages ringing around
Fun has gone
I’m sorry to hear that’s your experience but I understand.
There are many ways to enjoy this pastime. Perhaps with the limitations you have the time is not now? We used to enjoy our static caravan when we were young children. Then as we had our own kids we would have great weekends on lesser known sites and days in the motorhome on the beach. Thanks for commenting
With caravans, I think it's been a bit of a boom and bust. During Covid, people wanted to stay at home, by that I mean not go abroad, so caravans were purchased. Manufacturers couldn't keep up with demand, and prices increased. This put a lot of people off.
Caravans were never cool :-) It's hard to generalise over the type of person that owns a caravan.
IMHO a lot of retired people buy a motorhome, it's aspirational, a caravan isn't really something one aspires to own (or maybe it's a less aspirational thing), a motorhome is..
A caravan isn't a hassle, it's the same old argument, "caravans are hassle, and Motorhomes you can't go anywhere once you're at a site, unless you use public transport.| Of course, neither is strictly true..
Caravan's do have a future, but they are getting more and more expensive, as are sites...
It's 100% down to the price of the caravan and the site...( IMHO )
BTW if you think towing a caravan, or setting it up is hard work, then it's not for you and this has always been the case. You can make life easier with things like E&P, air awnings etc..
Good old Graham chipping in motorhomes alright if you got money to burn and so what if set up takes 10min more either way if you that restricted with time you got problems
@ 👍🏻😆
It’s great feedback thank you.
You are obvoiusly not living in Aus, the caravan will never die.
Correct, we definitely do not live in Aus!
You guys did not talk about self builds on vans as could that be killing of caravans as some the guys that's done self builds on vans are really good and they fit a full off grid kit where you don't need a camp site with hook ups
That’s true we didn’t. I guess this is a factor too. Thanks for watching and commenting
I think at the moment it looks more like the end of motorhomes as you can see EV vehicle towing caravans but I still can't see many options for EV motorhomes and then they are loaded to the top chassis weight with the coachbuild and batteries which will give a fraction of the original quoted range . So at the moment I think we will see a swing back to caravanning as the future or very near future holds and as ICE get financial squeezed off the road .
Interesting prediction. I hear you. Although remember a non ICE vehicle can already be 4250kg on a normal licence. I am a lot more positive than this viewpoint but it certainly could be true! Let’s hope for the innovation we need to survive
The demise of the caravan market will suffer a serious decline after new diesel and petrol traction vehicles are banned and only the second hand vehicles dwindling over time will maintain the use of caravans until we see the end of the caravan over time. I love going in my caravan, when the weather is better but during the winter, it is winter sun every time abroad. 3 lots of 10 days in southern Spain and tenerife this year. You can't beat getting out of our miserable weather, when it is abysmal in the UK, if you have the money to do it. The other downside to caravan stays is the petty rules and being treated like children by the pink haired, officious clip board Warriors, particularly in the Caravan and motorhome club. My last stay at bridlington Flamborough C@MHC, was like saying at stalag luft 15 prison camp. Don't these people realise that it is in their best interest to encourage people to come back again ? Something i will never do there again.
So true 😂
Blimey that’s great feedback! It made me laugh and cry! We are choosy which campsites we go to. And like you, if it doesn’t work for us we don’t go again. Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m off to grab my clipboard 🤣🤣🤣
We had a twin axel for 16 years and then over a year ago we (my wife and I) saw how easy it was to set up a motorhome and ease of use. In September last year we committed and bought a Coachman Travelmaster. I have to say we love it. No regrets.
Welcome to the light side 🤣🤣🤣🏆🏆🏆
Enjoy your travels
Thank you for your warm welcome. I just wanted to add to the earlier comment. Moving from a caravan to a motorhome for us was a completely different mind set. Took a few trips to get used to the new format. All the best.
I’m glad you managed the shift. They are indeed very different holidays. I see so many people get this wrong because they don’t get it. There’s huge benefits to both. Thanks again
Have to disagree on your view of campsite charges. £42 a night in some club sites to place your van on a pitch ? Nah ! Not for me
20 euros (£17) average in France and Spain
Fair enough but would this mean you wouldn’t buy a motorhome and would therefore be responsible for the demise of an industry? That’s my point!
@@MotorhomeMatt Agreed that high site fees alone won't be responsible for the decline of the industry but it could well be one factor if prices keep rising unchecked. I'm a motorhome owner and I've recently booked a night at a local CAMC site for myself, my wife and daughter. The pitch fee was £44.40... On a standard pitch in the dead of January! Sure I can afford it, it won't break the bank but it definitely does leave a slightly bitter taste. Certainly taking into account Michael's point of European sites being so much cheaper and often with fantastic facilities.
Yes I accept that. I must say we use Britstops more and more but then that turns a free night stopover into a £100 night in the pub!! Thanks again
I do think campsites play a part in the decline.typical prices with the big clubs are now £40+ per night if you go away a few times a year it's ok but if you go away twice a month it's now too expensive ! It's another reason more motorhomes are selling you don't have to go on sites plenty car parks now city breaks the future
Absolutely club site are ruining the whole scene, and some private sites are too. I've a friend on Keswick ccc as I type, the sites empty, if they charged reasonable prices we'd be there too. We've just returned from a private site, £26 a night fully serviced with all new amenities and with the benefit of a harbour view and close to a town, wake up or the scene will continue to wither away
It’s a big conversation and a valid point. I must say we are using campsites less and less in our motorhome
I must confess i was a caravan owner and i would point a stuck at motorhomes and say how do you go to the shop ??
Now i have bought a motor home i understand the attraction
Its so easy none of the hassle connecting it to the car testing the electrics fitting mirrors then the hassle if getting to site parking setting up then the hassle of the water hassle hassle
Now i pull up in my motorhome its warm i only need to connect the electric and relax
Park up, level up, hook up, open up a beer. And relax. 🏆👍🏻🤣
You can wheel the pig to the fill up point if you run out of water, you have to move the motorhome to fill up as the alternative. Watching the motorhomers getting about with taxis and buses etc. is quite hilarious as well. I've found my rig to be the best though. A transporter sized 5.4 metre lwb campervan pulling a caravan, the best choice for all scenarios and a better traction vehicle than a car by far. It can also get down single track roads much easier than a motorhome after the caravan is sited, still carrying camping facilities to cook and make a cuppa etc. That is if you take the caravan.
In reality caravans are cheaper for many, certainly at entry level but I think the question is both for caravans and motor homes. The ridiculous scam of net zero will ensure none of us can afford to travel even if we manage to hang on to our diesel vehicles .
It’s scaremongery but yes, a risk! I think we will always find a way to travel. I think the future is challenging and exciting… I suspect our ancestors said the same? Thanks for watching and commenting
I had a Bailey ranger GT50 caravan for 17years, which I bought second hand which was 9 years old when I got it. I sold it . And it was still bone dry when I sold it. I have since bought a motorhome when the girls left home. At two years old the door window was falling out and the dealer said it wasn't covered in the warranty. Its is a Autotrail. At 5 years old now it's got damp and brownhills won't cover it. Warranties aren't worth the paper it's written on .I do love the layout and like the lifestyle.
Grrrrr this frustrated me to hear this so much! I had a Bailey Ranger yr 2000. Sold it 4 years ago bone dry. It still is! Yet just had to spend thousands £££ on a motorhome damp repair just 5 years old. I feel and share your pain believe me! I am intrigued why your damp repair wasn’t covered. Ours was because despite an annual hab check it wasn’t a manufacturer approved one so warranty void. If it had been it would have been covered.
Thanks for sharing your experience
I used to work there and I knew the after sales department was always busy with complaints
@@MotorhomeMattthey say that it's because the service engineer was mobile not a dealer. He is registered so I don't know what to do, they won't get a single penny out of me again! It doesn't invite confidence in dealerships generally. I had a gas tank fitted and they caused a gas leak. I was a gas safe engineer ( qualified to work on caravans etc,now retired) when I told them that I repaired it and reported it, they weren't happy.
Have had caravan for 12 years started off with Swift changed to Bailey Vigo 4 years ago. To be honest I wish I had never bothered, the build quality is absolute crap, 4 years old and already have damp on the corners. How on earth the vehicles pass quality control is astounding I wonder how Bailey even has the honesty to provide caravans to customers. Shameful.
I’m really sorry to hear this. I trust you can get these issues resolved under warranty?
Been Caravanning Since 1990, Certainly Won't Go To A Motorhome Now, Yes I've Also Heard About Bailey Problems, Have A Coachman Now, So Far So Good..back it onto chosen pitch, unhitch, level up, plug in electric, fetch water..get the chairs out & the Beer!!.. lovely jubbly😂xx
Motorhome I'm in Australia 60k for a caravan plus another 60 to tow it the tassels of towing the van another insurance rego maintenance wake up the next day and leave easier to find a park when travelling motorhomes for the win
They are indeed very different types of holiday. There are big fors and against for both! Thanks for commenting
Caravan build quality is so poor nowadays and the caravan dealer network are still operating in the 1960 s not surprised they are in decline.
Thanks for commenting. That feels like a sweeping statement. I agree we are a cottage industry in the sense of a small network of well connected people often reluctant to change and unsure sometimes how to innovate. There’s a lot more to this than simply your statement but I appreciate your comment
@ I worked in the car industry for 40 years with a prestige manufacturer and hence my comments reflect where the caravan industry is at present. A lot are or have been family business and in today’s market they do not have the resources to survive or compete.
Move to EVs will kill caravans. No mention on this video which is just odd given the title. Cant charge without uncoupling (which is totally impractical) and towing absolutely murders the range anyway.
We touched on EV for a minute. It’s a big topic in itself. I wanted to keep the focus on the product. I think the towing aspect with EVs is a big issue as we alluded to. But I didn’t want to get into EV useage and their challenges. That cannot hike has been well dug and will no doubt be explored some more in future episodes. Thanks for watching and commenting guys
Totally miss the main problem with caravans. They might be cheaper but there are fewer and fewer cars that can tow them. Most cars, apart from the massive landrovers etc, have reduced in weight to save on emissions while caravans have got heavier and heavier due to people wanting larger fridges etc. Plus electric cars. Yes caravans are cheaper at £20k but you need a £40k huge car to tow it.
We did touch on this. Small caravans are an option too though. Like a Barefoot or Adria Action. But I agree. I think consumer demands are part of the problem ‘mix’. Thanks for watching and commenting
Van
I assume campervan!? Thanks for watching
Electric only after 2030 will bring a long period of reflection and stagnation especially in the motorhome segment.
I guess that’s a risk. Hopefully this won’t happen. Let’s see… I’m watching closely.
New caravans cost too much, manufacturers increased prices since covid and they just arent worth the money.
That’s a fair comment. Although the supply chain costs all went up too and now dealership running costs are going up again in April with new NI costs. Do you think this pastime has a future? Or will people just pay the increased costs?
Motorhome
Yup good call! Thanks for watching
Motorhome.
Yup good call! Thanks for commenting
Manchester show is a joke…..a shadow of its former self. Was there Thursday - no manufacturer stands, a couple of dealers. Really really poor. Industry is broken…..
It’s a small show with a range of stuff to look at… and free bar a small booking fee. I’m at the show until Sunday and we’ve had some great conversations with dealers and exhibitors. If you want to see loads of product displayed by manufacturers then the NEC is much larger. Maybe see you there?
Dumb question for an American audience! We will always have motorhome!
Ah in the US it’s a trailer or RV!
Had both here tho never had a 5th wheel… hmmm might have to think about that
Trouble with this podcast is that’s it’s virtually one long advert.
A 50 min video has 39 mins of plugs,waffle and ad’s.
Impossible to take seriously.
Really? I don’t think so! But that’s your opinion.
They say big plus about motorhome travelling to/through europe etc and i get it stay on aires etc but look at price of them from £50k upwards we just back from 7 wk in wifes convertable stayed on campsites static caravan /hotels booking,com averaged £40 a night not the ritz but nice places how often are you really going to europe caravan all the way for UK and a bit of planning you can do europe big plus then youve got your car for freedom but sayin that i wouldnt mind trying a M H good guest in Darren by the way his channel is great
Lovely story thank you! We did 1200 miles in a week in a BMW Z4 around Holland and Belgium staying in some amazing and cheap places. A great trip away but I still love the adventure, convenience and memories of our motorhome trips.
Motorhome
Yup good call! 🤣🏆
Motorhome
Excellent! Thanks for watching