Caravan or Campervan: Our 25 year mistake !
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- Опубликовано: 26 апр 2023
- For 25 years, we thought we had it all figured out when it came to travelling and camping. But it turns out, we were wrong. In this video, we'll share our experience of choosing the wrong vehicle and how it cost us a fortune. We'll also reveal how switching to the right vehicle saved us a ton of money. If you're considering a caravan or campervan for your travels, you won't want to miss this!
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Great advice as always. Thanks for sharing your experience.
What I love about this video is you gave your choice of what you would go for within seconds. No messing about making us watch until almost the end. Good video mate.
We watch a lot of RUclips so we know that can be annoying 😁👍
Really enjoyed the comparison between a caravan and campervan from your own experience.
I've never had either but I would definitely go with a campervan it gives far more freedom, its bad enough driving a car on the roads these days without pulling a caravan and the stress which comes with that.
As ex caravanners and now campervanners, completely agree with you. Thanks, Em 💜
Total agree.followed the same path . great vlogs love your vids .
Cheers.
Another great video, one small but handy advantage of most motorhomes is that they can travel in the outside lane of motorways in the UK & Europe and travel at a slightly higher speeds.....useful when covering large distances perhaps?
Very informative Ken, thanks.
You gave some good insight into both choices. To each his own! Mary
Exactly 👍
good vid thanks lee
Well said...🌻🌻
Before deciding on our adventure vehicle we looked at all the options , from a boat to a demountable camper. We looked at the pros and cons of them all, no matter how ridiculous the option ( a boat seemed the most ridiculous option to me). We had lots of lists and eventually made our choice. We spent the last year kitting out our Land Rover Defender "Zen" for our first big trip. I'd say the elimination exercise was worth it, and a good laugh at times..."no, we're not getting 2 motorbikes". I enjoy your Channel, you make lots of interesting and informative videos. Thanks
The more you think about how you want to use the vehicle the more pleased you will be 👍
Hello from Colorado
We made the same mistake we went from a Class A Motorhome to a 30 foot camper/travel trailer to a 35 foot camper/travel trailer and back to a 30 foot camper/travel trailer all within a 18 year span. Now after having traveled Australia in a campervan we have decided that is the best choice for us so we are in the process of looking for a Class B campervan at this time.
All valuable experience. If only there was a way to put old heads on young shoulders. 😁👍
Ha ha! Great timing Ken. Thanks for that, we’ve currently got a caravan and a camper 🙈 best of both worlds although once we retire completely, we’ll probably need to make a decision and choose what we prefer. Probably a newer camper. We started off with a tent!
We started with a tent as well. We enjoyed them all 😁👍
I just changed from a converted van to a motorhome, so much better. X
Good comparison. We’ve had both too. Caravan was great with the kids as much more space. But we would never go back to a caravan now. Campervan all the way for us. 👍
@Life is too short
Hi Ken anf Carol, I have missedddidn'tlast 2 weeks. Very sick in thospital It's great to be back looking at RUclips.
Hello Rupert. Sorry to hear you have been unwell. I hope you are on the mend asap 👍
OMG! You just gave me an epiphany!
I have been unable to truly understand or communicate effectively why I’ve taken so well to the campervan, when I’ve always disliked most holidays… cottages/caravans/hotels etc.
It’s the touring! I’m not bored because I’m not staying in one spot for a week with a relatively limited radius of routes/trips out that fail to inspire me beyond a couple of nights.
Thank you! Thank you for finally making me understand my own WHY.
Total lightbulb moment and it really hadn’t clicked before. I’m so dumb. 😅❤😂
Don’t feel bad it’s taken us a while to learn why it’s so much better 😁👍
Some great advice and I totally agree with what you said but with one caveat, it’s perfect for us as a couple having the camper van and as I built it myself I used plenty insulation and each time I do more work and find a spot without insulation it soon gets the treatment. We had a weekend away in December whilst it snowed and I have to say our van was perfect though I must admit with the poptop lifted it does lose heat rapidly.
In our situation when our children were young then I would definitely say a caravan was far better. We have both said that much as we wanted a campervan whilst the kids were growing up it would definitely of been a nightmare going away with 3 youngsters.
We enjoyed our caravans and trailer tents and even considered a caravan before buying our VW as a panel van, the van was definitely the way to go for us and mostly for the reasons you gave Ken.
I can imagine with kids it’s easier with a caravan 👍
Ken can you come around and organise my home office. Yours looks great 😂. By the way it was a breath of fresh air to watch a van life video not selling a eco flow fridge
Yes there has been a few of them. Launch day 😁👍. PS my study does not always look like that
we had caravans for 10 years. I hated towing and with fuel being the price it is now plus like you said, not being tied down, I'd personally never go back to one. Bessy regs- Kenny
Having owned Caravans in the past we switched to Camper Vans about 15yrs ago and loved them. However as I got older I developed mobility problems and started to find the camper a bit of a problem when it came to visiting many locations. For three years we got over this by towing a little car around which was basically a car and caravan. I've tried to convince my wife that we should splurge on a little Nissan like yours which can go pretty much anywhere but at 5 feet tall she insists it would be way too small for us! Anyway we have now sold the little car and the camper. She's trying to convince me to buy a caravan but I'm holding out for now. Cheers.... 👍
Our van is smaller than it looks on video. We love it but you have to physically be in one before taking the plunge 😁👍
The thing we like and have done since our children were small now our grand children is we can go out for day trips and cook and have a toilet with us lots off pros and cons but would pick campervan over a caravan any day all the best donny
Yes campervans get used much more than caravans thanks to day trips. Great base when visiting shows etc 👍
Great advice - I'm guessing a caravan is a better option as a tiny home given the space, price and separate vehicle for towing ...
You are definitely a RUclipsr now, editing a video and doing a new one ❤
Good video xx
I was waiting for the latest Denmark video to render so thought I could kill 2 birds 😁👍
@@LifeistooshortCK why not :)
As the old adage goes Ken "There's no substitute for experience" you raised so many valid points! Ive never done either but have to say the way it looks & sounds to me a campervan is way better than lugging a caravan half way round the country & is far more useful in my eyes as you get around far more & see far more...BUT...It's horses for courses & one size doesn't fit all...everyone is different & thats what makes people choose what is best for them !! Very well explained Sir...here's to another cuppa tea 🍵 and dunking biscuits 🎉😅❤
Dunk one for me as I am being good 😁👍
@@LifeistooshortCK you know I will just for you 😁👍
Never had a caravan or considered it as couldn’t get past the thought of towing it and all that stuff …. Imagine me parking a caravan 😂
I would pay money to watch 😁👍
You don't have to, a motor mover does it at the press of a button.
@@stevezodiac491 ah that’s that solved I need one for my campervan lol 😂
I have a caravan and I tour between sites and I also wild camp. I brought my caravan for £19k and they are now selling for £25k. If I’m travelling alone on the continent I only stay on campsites I night in 4.
Everything has gone up after Covid. Never tried wild camping with our caravan on the continent but it would be easier there I think. In the UK quite a bit harder 👍
Fully concur with your conclusions, after tugging for over 15 years then 4 years in our Motorhome, MHoming is far better, you can get closer to your interest sites ( for me photography subjects) and stay for as long as you want. Yes sites have got more expensive but that is the same for both MHs and Tuggers, but you have the added ability to wild camp in a MH which costs nowt 👏👏👏
Absolutely 👍
Ken awesome keyboard on the desk, looks like something i could use, do you have any info on it please, cheers mate.
Checkout a company called Editors Keys. That is where I got mine. Has all the editor functions written on it 👍
Flexibility is a big big advantage being self contained in a Van. If you had 4 days available to go somewhere you can follow your nose & the good weather, travel overnight or night before & wake up at your chosen destination. A caravan or tent you would loose two days to travelling / setting up. Have to book & hope they have space regardless of site fees. It gets to the the point where you think it’s not worth the hassle of going or your sat in a caravan in the rain fedup because you can’t change plans. Had a nightmare last year when wanting to use a campsite on hayling island that we had used many times before to be told you cannot come on, you must book online 24hrs in advance. Last time I will even visit there.
Couldn’t agree more 👍
Hello Ken from the Den 👋
Might just be me but I am put off by lots of noise and people so campsites/ caravan sites aren’t for me 😮 😂
I’m just re-visiting your Wales trip whilst the weather is a bit iffy here in Hampshire.
Hi to Carol too. Take care both ❤
I am the same, so much noise on campsites now. Leaf blowers, lawn mowers its constant 😁👍
And not forgetting the Rowdies.
Caravan parks are so noisy...they always seem to be mowing the grass when we arrive.
It’s all a matter of choice depending on how you want to use the caravan or motorhome. Too many people buy a motorhome because they are fashionable and find out they’re restrictive. You blow the fears of towing a caravan out of proportion.
Well we had a caravan for 25 years and a van for nearly 5. I think I am qualified enough to give my opinion. What about you ?
@@LifeistooshortCK your tastes have changed in 25 years. Not everyone wants to go wild camping. Your decision suits you but may not suit others.
Need another short video please explaining the difference between a campervan and a motorhome.
Never had a motorhome, maybe one day. 😁👍
Before we changed to a motorhome we towed over 80,000 miles with various caravans all over the UK and Europe and have now done about 29,000 in the two motorhomes we have owned. A motorhome is obviously different to what you refer to as a camper van as its larger and as fully equipped as most caravans although unless you go over 7 metres usually not as much room. We basically changed because we got fed up with all the checking before setting off and never sure we would have room to get car and caravan out on the road. From travelling point of view we find a motorhome much easier. We can shop on route. We do still use campsites and usually find sites near to either walking into towns and villages or public transport. We generally don't take the van off site although we have been to a couple of country houses either from the site or en route between sites. We find the setting up and leaving very much easier than a caravan. I suppose all types of leisure vehicle have their pros and cons and I suspect none are perfect by as you say you need to decide how you want to use what you have and that should help the decision. You have to think long and hard as you can make a very expensive mistake!!!
Exactly we made those expensive mistakes 😁👍
Could you recomend a camper van insurance company
We use www.justkampersinsurance.com/
Yes, it is a dichotomy, we have had a new campervan for 1 1/2 years now and it is good for doing what you say and we enjoy it but a caravan is good for a more static comfortable holiday, which we also enjoy, so we have just bought a fixed bed 4 berth caravan as well as the campervan. You can please all of the people all of the time lol. What I would not buy though, is a motorhome, they are not one thing or the other and really not as good at doing what the other options can do, for their particular purposes. A jack of all trades but a master of none !
I agree with all of that 👍
Campervan definitely, all of the advantages you mentioned but the campsites now are way more expensive than they were. I did years of holidays in dad's caravan and then he decided to buy a Campervan. Much more enjoyable, even with less space available.
Campsites used to be a cheap option but these days they rob you blind. 😁👍
Campervan is the best😁 Have had a caravan 😁 More freedom with a campervan 😁
I prefer the campervan anyday 👍🏻 Although we do spend the night on campsites every now and than. Just love a good shower 😂
At some point we will start doing that again 😁👍
For a moment I thought you had a book about my father, George Cross.
😁👍
👍👌
Good video but I don't think it is a fair comparison. A motorhome v Caravan would be a choice a lot might be considering. I would have a campervan AND a caravan. The campers are ok for 2 people but with a kid or two and a dog, its caravan or motorhome all the way.
I understand your reasoning on the comparison, but I am not fully in agreement with you. I started with a small motorhome, a Swift Sundance 530, with which we toured the outer Hebrides and the north of Scotland twice. I changed to a caravan then for a number of years for tours of the West Country. The first trip was horrendous with the caravan getting dragged around by commercials, I fitted shock absorbers, problems went away. It was good to have the base camp in Tintagel or Looe. Towing with the Volvo S60 was so easy. The caravan was replaced with a six meter motorhome towing a Smart car on a trailer, very useful and plenty of space. I converted my Vivaro van to a camper so now have both a camper and motorhome, since retirement five years ago I keep both and both get used. It seems like the camper goes north and the motorhome goes south. I feel the ideal is caravan and camper. But could not reduce to one or the other yet. I no longer have a big car for towing so I will stay with the present setup and even go down to motorhome only in a few years. (As age catches up)
Sounds like the perfect setup 😁👍
Yank, I'm getting that "Caravan" means "Trailer", possibly "Class A" or even "Class C". Do you have the huge (45' and more) 5th wheel trailers like we do?
There are one or two that people have imported but mainly people go for large motorhomes. Brave choice though with our tiny roads in the UK
I guess not, cos that's stupid. You may as well tow your house along for the ride.
Hari OM
Yay for campervans! I'll get there eventually... just some delay going on at the government end of the EV grant thing...YAM xx
Fingers crossed they sort that out 👍
After 25 years what actually made you decide to change & how long had you been thinking about it?
Carol tried to book campsites in advance for a trip along the Rhine in Germany. Some sites refused bookings and we just couldn’t risk being left high and dry with a caravan. That clinched it for us as well as seeing some French sites refusing caravans. Didn’t consider it before then. We regret not going for a motorhome/camper at the start.
Stick with the Campavan. From what I listened to, wheres your mistake? You did what you needed to at the time. I kinda reckon C.B. would agree m8 Thanks! Stay with Stick and linkages, don't go with cables and an ergonomic c*a*!
At some point in every trip we sigh and wish we had bought a campervan first. We would have seen so much more.
Thanks so much for the Super Thanks 🙏 🙂
👍🙏🌹
For me i would disagree with your comment that you can go out for the day in a camper van , we have a brand new vantage sol 6m value around 85k theres no way in hell would i leave that in a car park for some idiot to hit it with there doors , we have a motorbike on the back which we use for going out , cheap to run gets through the traffic and free to park .when im older ill probably go for a caravan and use the car to tour.
You are not really using it as intended then. 85K to just leave it on a camp site you would be much better off with a caravan and a car. A campervan is designed to travel from point to point and that is what makes them more useful (and fun) than a caravan.