Should I upgrade to a caravan?

[pinemartina]

I am a single mum with 5 dc's ages 14,12,9,8 and 4 months.
We have been camping twice this summer,four nights each time.The dc sleep in a 6 person dome tent and baby and me in 2 person pop-up.That way,they sleep through,even if I don't,and I get a bit of sleep if they are up early and LO has gone back down.
Well,they love it and can't wait to go again!
I love it when they are all happy and always loved camping before children..
But when the dc are off playing, or asleep I feel like I want a tiny bit more comfort, especially in the rain.
I am wondering if an old 2 berth caravan plus awning,or tent might make the whole experience more comfy and less of a slog?
I wouldn't want anything high tech,just somewhere dry and light to sit and make a cuppa,and so we could play board games and read stories on a wet day - and dry out wet stuff.
Any ideas on what I might be overlooking?
I can tow - though not too good at reversing- and realise I would have to insure and maintain.
Would hitching up on my own be difficult?

You can get awning inner tents for the bedroom annex's you can put on so I suppose you could sleep 4 of the kids out there, plus one with you in a 2 berth caravan. In some 2 berths you can get 5 around the main dinette/table end (just), just have a look at what layout would suit you best. Have you got somewhere to store it? Otherwise on top of servicing and insuring that would be an extra cost if not.

UK Campsite is a good place to find out stuff and ask questions.

We've recently got a new 5 berth caravan for our family after camping for a couple of years. It is much more comfortable and easier to cook, etc when raining.

Sorry I meant to say you can get 6 around the main table/dinette area of a 2 berth.

Also hooking up a caravan would be easy, on of your elder children could guide you onto the caravan, that's all I do for my hubby, say right or left a bit and shout when he's under it.

I love the extra comfort of a caravan . Alternatively how about a folding camper or trailer tent?

I find hitching up solo is actually easier than when I get guided all I do is make sure I have roughly the same amount of the van visible in each mirror, 9 times out of 10 its right and my youngest dd just gives a bang on the boot when I'm over the hitch.
Awnings are great for drying washing when it rains although I did use my bathroom as a drying room this time out.
Make sure you check thoroughly for damp as repairs can be costly,check all the corners and under the cushions if possible use a damp meter.

Thanks for these helpful replies.
A friend has offered a corner of a field on their farm for storage.
The plan would be for me and baby to sleep in the van,with the others out in an awning or tent,coming in for meals and if wet.Once baby asleep,I would have somewhere dry to sip wine and read.
I think if I'm going to tow,I may as well have a caravan which doesn't need to be folded or popped up.
Is it easier to tow a light 2 berth than a 4/5 berth,or is there not much difference?
And would an old but dry 1970's van be longer lasting than a newer (more expensive)one?
I quite like the idea of decorating the interior of an old retro van,but would not really know how to be sure it was road worthy enough.
Would it be too risky to try ebay.Is under £1000 unrealistic?

I'm so excited for you . I think a caravan (I have one) is great, I promise you it will do all things that you have mentioned and you really won't look back. Go for it! p.s 1k is more than enough especially if you wait until after the school holidays.

Make sure the van is dry before you buy it and I think £1000 is do-able on ebay. Check your local paper also.

if you are worried about hitching look for a van with a motor mover they are fantastic its like having a remote control caravan ( i sue mine for reversing van onto my very steep and narrow drive) - I have just returned from 3 weeks in my first van - fantastic although I did spend quite a bit more on my van its 10 yr old and i paid £4k but that was with everything i needed aquaroll waste hog gas full awning etc etc etc - the most iumportant thing is if you get a caravan is get a dry one - one a van has had damp dont touch it it will fall apart. I looked at so many vans before buying my van all of which were allegedly dry but werent - go to a caravan dealer sweettalk them to show you how to look for signs of damp and then walk away and look at private sales as you will get a better deal. The awning option will gove yu extra space you need for dining and sleeping. If any friends family have a van ask them if you can have a few towing lessons first - I did they were invaluable and aparrantly Im a natural and have no problems reversing onto pitches /towing on motorway. Oh yes the other thing to have fitted onto a van is an ALKO stabiliser they can be expensive but will help save your life as they help reduce snaking - I went to devon and cornwall f rom the lake district and never snaked once despite having various lorries coaches pass me etc etc - also try not to drive above 60 -65 mph that also helps reduce snaking and check with your car manufacturer whats the max weight van you can tow with your car - I have a HONDA crv so I'm lucky but a car needs to be able to tow a heavy van fully laden. Hope that a ll helps - I love my caravan and am allready planning another week away they are fab - especially if you use the small sites - expect to pay up to £14 per night with hook up - How cheap is that for a holiday !!!! It could very well be the best investment you ever make!

taken4granted thanks for such a detailed and helpful reply.

I think I will go for it - especially as we were planning to camp this weekend ,but I just couldn't face it in the rain and dc were so disappointed.

Will have a good look after school holidays and then maybe get away in half term!

also try not to drive above 60 -65 mph
60mph is the speed limit on motorways and duel carraigeways 50mph on A roads anyway.