Oh god... DH is looking at buying a caravan. Tell me the good bits please!

[Florencenotflo]

Disclaimer - this is a light hearted thread.

DH is looking at buying a caravan. His reasoning is that with the pandemic, we aren't going to want to travel abroad for a while, we live on the South East coast and there are some lovely places within an hour of here. We can pack up on a Friday and spend the weekends with the kids having mini holidays all the time.

But am I wrong to think it's not a holiday in a caravan? Just same shit different place? We've still got to cook meals (unless we eat out, but we can't do that all the time). I'm the planner of the family so it'll be me packing for us all, making sure we have everything we need.

Please tell me the good bits of having caravan holidays with small kids (1y and 4.5y).

Ugh I’m so bloody jealous!!!!!!!!

We keep our campervan stocked and ready to go with bedding, non perishables, drinks, towels, board games, cards etc. Then when we want to go it's just clothes and the fridge to do which is easy. We've got a portable firepit which we use as a bbq so minimal cooking.

Sorry, I've been doing school runs and trying to work, I didn't realise how many people had replied. In answer to some questions, DH would be the one driving it. He has done his towing test through work and currently drives HGV class 1 so that's fine.

We'd be storing it in my Dad's yard, he's a builder so he has a massive fenced yard with containers for his plant, CCTV etc. I'm yet to ask him but he has one in there already, I'm sure he wouldn't mind!

I had some great camping holidays as a kid with my grandparents and their trailer tent but obviously my memories are going to be very different to theirs! Im sure they didn't have quite as much fun as I did.

I had a quick look and I am surprised how expensive they are! We'd need a 4 berth (and what is with the corner cut off of the double matress in a lot of them!). That will be DH's side!

In all fairness, DH does his fair share of the general house/kids/life tasks anyway so I'm sure he'd do his bit. But I am ridiculously organised (or try to be) so I don't think he realises how much work goes into some things because I've already done it, if you see what I mean.

Although I do like the idea of having a set of caravan stuff like plates, towels, toys, clothes etc. That would make it a lot easier. I envisaged having to cart all of that from home each time!

Please see below for the list of good things about owning a caravan:

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I love caravaning, not sure I’d have liked it so much with small kids. If it’s raining you’ll be cooped up in a small space. You’ll need a decent weathertight awning so the kids have somewhere to sprawl on the floor and play.

Touring caravan no - static caravan yes.
We have just got one and it has changed our lives.
2 bedroom, master with en-suite
Fully central heated
Very near a beach.
We throw a couple of things in a bag and off we go for the weekend - change of scenery, a walk on the beach.
We are a couple and eat out a lot or buy fish or meat from the local farm shop.
Touring caravan with young kids - not sure about that.

Lockdown has made everyone want tents, motorhomes and caravans. Prices for all have sky-rocketed this summer. A lot of sites have shut-off their facilities, too, due to COVID, so you may not have a choice about whether to use the bathroom / empty the toilet casette. I'd wait at least a few months to see what happens with prices / availability of pitches.

The best thing is that kids get so much freedom on campsites when they get a little older, to go off on their own and make friends. It isn't a holiday where you put your feet up and do nothing, but then once you have the van it costs next to nothing. On balance, I'd say it's harder work for typical 'man jobs' as it's all emptying and refilling water, waste, toilets and outdoor cooking.

Just don't get a fixed bed op, get fixed bunk beds instead, a fixed double bed is a total waste of space with 2 kids, and you'll have no living area once they're asleep. Bunks with a sliding door is definitely the way to go.

I'd look at the cost of a caravan including all other expenses. I would then translate that into how many hotel /b&b/Airbnb visits I could do for the same cost. Then bin the caravan idea.

I have a static on a tiny family owned site, I have enjoyed decorating it (70s style) only need to take clothes, tbh I have basically lived there since 4th july, my 4yo dgs counts down how many 'sleeps' he has until he can come back (every weekend) he says it is the 'best most lovely' place, this summer he has learnt to swim and ride a 2 wheeler bike on the site, the freedom he has there is fantastic and we think he will have fond memories for life.

We have had a caravan for over 30 years, now got a camper van as the dc have dc (and a caravan!) of their own.

It's a self catering holiday, so yes there will be tidying and meal prep, how much of a chore this is depends on your DP tbh. Does he pull his weight or not?

We loved it- caravaned all over the U.K. and France, Spain and Italy.
Choose your site carefully- there is something for every taste from a basic field with a tap up to huge sites with a club and swimming pool.

The dc and now dgc all enjoyed it too.

Practicalities.
Modern vans are fully equipped with everything you need- a loo, shower, heating, fridge freezer the lot. New one cost ££££££££
Second hand ones are cheaper,but check them very carefully for damp.
Will your car tow it? There are safe and legal limits- check on the Caravan and Motorhome club website what is possible.

We used to keep the van pretty much packed and ready to go- a box of food, few clothes and off!

Leah that's what went through my mind too.

DH decided we should have a caravan. We even put a deposit on one. Thankfully he had 2nd thoughts. It was for technical reasons to do with the size of car we have: big, expensive but apparently not strong enough to tow the humungous van he'd set his heart on, especially not once he'd added all the extras he wanted.
Now he's thinking we should get a motor home instead 🙈 (they are 3 times the cost!)

You drive down on a Friday, get overtaken by lorries, called a part time gypsy and get stuck in traffic. You spend the rest of Friday setting up once on site with everybody else watching you as there's nothing else to do. Once you're set up you watch tv just like at home.
On Saturday you have a look round the local town, maybe go to the beach and then go back to the site, watch others setting up, maybe watch some tv. On Sunday you spend most the time packing up, driving home, getting overtaken by lorries, probably getting called a part time gypsy and get stuck in some more traffic then you're home where you watch tv

That's light hearted but it is caravanning in a nutshell too lol

I've said until the kids are old enough to actually help there is no way in hell I am camping!

Just tell DH that camping is anything that isn't bricks and mortar - but if he wants to buy you a nice holiday cottage somewhere it might be different....

DH and I have been RVing (USA) for over 20 years now. Our DC were older than yours when we started although we did tent-camp from when they were babies. We love caravanning and now that we're retired we do 6000+ miles/6wk long trips all over the Country.

Figure a 'who does what' chore list and tailor it to the caravan. Don't base it on 'who does what' at home. Your DH should pitch in on chores he may not do at home and vice versa.

Lots of 'outdoor cooking'. DH bbq's and all I do is throw together a few simple 'sides'.

Ramp down your 'dietary expectations'. This doesn't mean eat crap, it just means to keep meals simple and 'no cooking' as much as possible. It won't hurt anyone to have cereal for breakfast or a sandwich for lunch for a week.

Batch cook and freeze meals that can easily be reheated (caveat: we have a full kitchen and microwave).

Relax your standards. Kids &/or pets will get dirty. They'll track stuff in. Get some cheap throw rugs and give them a shake at the end of the day. Save any 'big clean' for the morning you're leaving.

Above all, with 2 littles your DH needs to be an equal partner when it comes to actively watching and 'shepherding' your DC. If he won't, stay home. My DH was always good with this, we referred to it jokingly as being the 'PIC' (Parent in Charge) and although I probably was PiC a bit more than him it was never lopsided enough that I felt put upon or taken advantage of. But camping means that kids are harder to 'corral' and there is much more mischief to get into. This does decrease as they get older and are able to make friends in the campground and go off 'exploring'.

But a friend's DH (now ex) was a shit and would just sit and drink beer, giving her no 'down time'. One day (this was during our 'tent days') she got fed up with it, packed herself and their son up and drove home.

We have a motorhome, rather than a caravan, so slightly different but some similarities.

I keep a set of crockery, cutlery, bedding, and clothing in it. No black or white clothing allowed so I can bung everything in one wash, fold it and put it back in the van. I have a rotation of simple meals so there’s minimal thought involved. Food goes from one fridge to the other and back again. I keep a store cupboard of basics in the van. I have a checklist that I glance through. Once you get organised it runs very smoothly.

We have a dc with asd and it’s fabulous for him, as he has lots of familiarity (even his bedding smells right) and then can cope with all the new places and experiences. He’s gained loads of confidence at trying new things.

With the dc, I personally prefer self catering, as I’ve found it much less stressful. I can feed them when they’re hungry, what they want to eat, make sure it’s nutritious etc. In motorhome I have the convenience of having all my own kitchen equipment.

When the dc cover history or geography topics in school we can pop off and visit places they’re reading about.

We’ve seen the equinox sunrise in a megalithic cave and been back in time for school. We’ve driven to great dark skies spots for eclipses and meteor showers that we’d barely see in the city.

BBQ’s, s’mores, cooking on open fires.

There are loads of fabulous locations within a short drive - the dc hike, climb, snorkel, surf. It’s not all stodgy campsites.

Travelling through Europe with the dc in the summer has been fantastic. We’ve been able to afford longer holidays and see more of the countries we’ve visited. The facilities in France and Germany for this kind of travel are incredible. I know that might not be relevant post-covid though.

I love the cosiness of having everyone tucked up together. We have our movie nights and board game marathons in the van. So far we’ve kept electronics out. At home they are busy with homework, activities, friends and gaming. But the van is family time.

All that said, if it’s not for you, just don’t do it! There are as many down sides as up sides. And I think it’s something people either love or hate without much middle ground

I hate them. Being in them, being stuck behind one. Hate them.

Sorry.

Do not buy a fixed bed if you have kids, you need that space

Buy a side dinnet that turning into bunks and a front bed made from the front seats.

Fixed beds don't suit family's very well

I always wanted one when DC were little but we never got round to it.
I think they suit sociable people, which we are not, who go in groups and their DC have a whale of a time with all the other children.
Recently went on a short break in the Dales and DS 22 came for a couple of nights. We went for a walk which took us through a caravan site.. Ive never seen anything like it. Massive caravans with equally large tents attached, a whole different world.

I’ve got a little touring caravan (and by “little”, I mean tiny!) and I use it loads. It’s really old and I’ve done it up inside to be comfortable- changed seating cushions to memory foam mattresses, we’ve got a proper little fridge, duplicated all my favourite cooking utensils etc. I use it mainly for weekends away with friends who have the same vans, plus rallies and usually a week over summer with 14yo ds, who isn’t as enthusiastic about it as I am

I did camp and have a trailer tent before my van though, so I knew what I was letting myself in for! I enjoy it, but it can be hard work if the weather’s shit.

You will never be stuck behind queues. You will always be ahead of them.

Seriously - go for it. Be prepared for some physical knocks. If you drive to the west coast of Ireland you may also manage to take out a half tonne rock on a tight corner and write the caravan off. But if you go to Scotland the roads are a little easier. Go to France and the world is your oyster.

I never understood the meaning of that phrase.

At Woolacombe, there is a long dirt track above the beach which is pretty awesome for daily parking and walking.

We got one two years ago
Two adults only
I went along with it...but now I actually enjoy it once we are set up !
Ours has a proper bathroom big sitting area and smart kitchen ...we use a smaller awning for short trips and a massive one for longer which gives some extra space
We only go to adult only sites too !!

Love it. You have caravan things - think picnic type plates and only a couple of saucepans. Therefore you can't prep same meals than at home. Get a cadac and the man will cook on that. However, there is NO stock in caravan shops at the moment because the factories have only just come back so there's been no stock. Tons of people buying vans for the first time so no part xs. I would counsel waiting a few months for new models to come out. You need a full damp check on a used van plus all the bits - aqua roll, grey waste, electric hook up, gas. You need to factor in insurance and the nose weight, towing capacity of your vehicle. You can tow 80% of the MPTLM so no point looking at a heavy van if you haven't the right car - don't make assumptions about size = towing capacity.

I love caravanning, but only now my kids are a bit older....good luck!

We had a touring caravan when my dd was young, as my oh was a cricket fanatic we used to travel 10 miles down the coast to a country park and he used to go off and do his thing! Dd and I spent hours in the woods picking wild strawberries or paddling in the sea . I'd take a whole cooked chicken and various other bits for food. We were accompanied by our elderly Irish setter who slept in the awning.
We loved every minute of it