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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Camping is getting too painful for DP😔

46 replies

MrsWembley · 02/05/2016 13:20

What with his gout and the recent cold snap, DP is starting to make noises regarding campervans. He doesn't think he could stomach a caravan...

We have always loved our tent, but have just tried glamping, in a wooden pod with the most amazing insulation that meant we didn't worry about the temperature overnight at all! But still, he wasn't comfortable on the futon, was too cold cooking and eating outside, and was just generally miserable.

Someone, please please, give me advice on these things! Will it solve his problem or just give him other ones?

OP posts:
MattDillonsPants · 02/05/2016 13:38

Can I ask his age?

Original poster
MrsWembley · 02/05/2016 19:22

He's going to be 47 on Wednesday.

Hmm
OP posts:
Original poster
MrsWembley · 02/05/2016 19:24

Oh, and when I say 'camper van', I probably should say, motorhome. To me the two things are interchangeable.Grin

OP posts:
usual · 02/05/2016 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grittzio · 02/05/2016 19:35

We have upgraded to a Campervan, VW California, no more sleeping on the ground with the cold coming up through my bones, 1st time away in it this weekend, so cosy, you need to do your research, we wanted a camper rather than a motor home as we will use our Campervan to extend days out just as much as using it to camp.

Wolfiefan · 02/05/2016 19:37

We have a folding camper due to my bad back.

Milliways · 02/05/2016 19:37

We went from tents to Mororhome, to humongous Motorhome and now have our perfect Camper (Autosleeper Kingham)
We are in it now, in Amsterdam having just done Bruges. We put the heating on at night and it's toasty. DH has bad knees but loves his van. He would never have a caravan either. We now go away loads, take off on a Friday night and back Sunday for work on Monday. Wouldn't do that with a tent that often. We did 2 weeks in France last summer, and 2 weeks in Cornwall year before. Currently on an 8 day tour and planning a 2 week summer break.
I would find it very hard to go back to tenting now, fully converted to our 'tin tent'. DH still cooks outside every day (his preference) and we have a drive away awning that friends will be sleeping in at a festival at end of this month.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 02/05/2016 19:40

The camping and caravaning club have some ready camp sites with pre erected massive tents featuring real beds, a sofa and a kitchen. Would that be better? It was £280 for us for a week in summer hols. Campervan can be cold as well (well ours was but it was a 60s VW one so new ones might be better) and are ridiculously expensive.

Worcswoman · 02/05/2016 20:03

MrsW if you're blessed with loadsamoney the yeah motorhome. You can get a really nice ex-hire for £26-30K. You fill up your water before you go and can be completely self-sufficient for a weekend. You've also got the ability to charge the battery by running the engine so don't need electric hook-up, although many motor homes do have solar panels (£600-1000). You will have to tax, insure and maintain this 2nd vehicle, and find space for it.

Alternatively you can get a really nice used caravan. My latest is around £5K. You can have awnings on both. The layout is often nicer in a caravan I think but you can't just jump in and go, you have to hitch up and then pitch. A caravan mover helps. Go to the show at the NEC or join a club for courses how to tow safely. The club's are very helpful.

I have a caravan and my sibling has a motor home. Caravans are more work. Hard work. My sibling sticks a hose on to fill up with water then jumps in and goes away for the weekend. Nice if you can afford it (sigh)

Remember you need a suitable vehicle to tow a caravan using the 85% rule. So you'll be running this all year even without the van. You could get a lightweight van like the one I'm selling at under a 1000Kg in weight so a family saloon could tow it. You don't need to tax or even insure a caravan. I'll be selling mine on EBay for less than £1000 so you can pick up some bargains. But hey, like I said, if you've got the money then buy a motorhome! I'd love one.

Unless someone gave me loadsamoney I wouldn't go back to a tent - even harder work! Nah, drive up, unhitch, steadies down, kettle on. Sorted! We feel so sorry for the poor sods in tents in a week of rain while we're snug as bugs watching vids, playing games, hot showers, central heating, dinner in the oven, glass of chilled wine. Excellent.

A family member has gout and we've found diet really helps. There's lots of books available. I can ask which are the most helpful if you like?

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 02/05/2016 20:10

Think about how you will use it when out and about.

Are you happy to go to a site and not need a vehical for the duration? Either stay on site, walk, or use public transport?

Or would you rather park up and then be able to head out in a vehical to get to places?

Scenario one suggests a motorhome would be ok, scenario two suggests you need a caravan.

I had an old vw campervan and the bed was still uncomfy but better than a tent. Not as good as a caravan. I'm sure a motorhome would have a better bed than a campervan. Even with a fairly small campervan I found it a major pita to drive somewhere for the day. You have to pack everything away, parking in towns is a nightmare, many carparks have height barriers which make them inaccessible to motorhomes. It's another vehical to service, insure, tax.

I now have a caravan and much prefer it.

Worcswoman · 02/05/2016 20:56

Actually you can tow a small car on an A frame behind a motorhome. Which kind of negates the point of a motor home for me but ok, it does allow your own transport from site.
Some sites do hire vehicles by the hour but not many.

Original poster
MrsWembley · 02/05/2016 22:33

Thanks everyone for all the responses! Lots to think about...

Hello, usual! The pod was basically the bedroom, though putting the futon up in the day meant we could go in when it was really bad, or when DP needed to rest up.

DP's brother and his two DCs were with us in their caravan, which is, I think, what got DP thinking. With what everyone has said, I don't think a caravan is such a bad idea...

OP posts:
soap34 · 03/05/2016 18:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

petitpois55 · 03/05/2016 19:01

We have a folding camper which we love, but i'm dreaming of getting a Camper van or Motorhome in a few years, when DD is at Uni.
I have visions of taking off on Friday for the weekend as the fancy takes us Smile

ChicRock · 03/05/2016 20:00

We've just sold out motorhome to go back to a caravan. Having to pack up the motorhome if you want to drive off-site was a faff, as

ChicRock · 03/05/2016 20:02

Oops posted too soon!

As was finding a double parking space if we drove anywhere. Not to mention coming back to site to find someone had taken our pitch. DH doesn't 'do' public transport Hmm so we always had to make sure the site we chose was within walking distance of civilisation.

Caravan every time for us!

RTKangaMummy · 03/05/2016 20:23

DH has just taken early retirement and we have just bought an A class MH and we love it SmileSmile

We love the independence of just driving off somewhere and seeing a lovely spot to stay overnight without needing Power or water as we have solar panels and water tanks also gas tanks so we can go wherever we like 365 as we have heating, power & running water

Also, if on long trip you can just pull over to use toilet or make snacks without needing to get out of MH, especially great if raining Smile

RTKangaMummy · 03/05/2016 20:34

Also, if you get a MH join BRITSTOPS where you stay all over UK for free Smile

Original poster
MrsWembley · 03/05/2016 22:42

I do love the idea of being able to pop into the back when you park up...

However, my DP is like yours, ChicRock, and the idea of having to pack up and take the whole shebang just to pop to the supermarket is, quite frankly, absurd!Grin

DP has now suggested a moped. I am about to remind him of how much he buys when we go away...

OP posts:
ApocalypseSlough · 03/05/2016 22:48

I love camping and hope and at nearing 50 I've got a good few years at it still. But it aches! Not so much the sleeping but the constant bending and never sitting on a soft high and supportive chair. Things improved a lot last year as I got a proper travelling kitchen and I insist on clothes staying in the car rather than having to crouch and scrabble everything I need something. And a table inside and outside. So yeah- stuff is the answer!

RTKangaMummy · 03/05/2016 23:01

You can fit moped in the garage cupboard at the back, I think

Also, we have full size fridge with freezer so you can fill up before you leave home or use local shops enroute or when you arrive in the area you are going to

I think you can have online shop delivered to campsite (not done that ourself) or use campsite shop for bread and milk etc

We used to have tent for many years but after my fall couldn't cope with sleeping on floor (well air mattress)

Our friends have a caravan which they love so whichever option you decide will hopefully bring you lots of funfunfun SmileSmile

LikeAbatOutOfHell · 03/05/2016 23:01

We have a small self build camper van, it's a vito so easy to drive off site, fits in most car parks, classed as a car on euro tunnel and toll roads in France. Best thing we have ever done. Had caravan and tent in the past. Caravan was ok but we lost our storage so sold and got a tent. Decided we were getting a bit creaky for it.

Only thing now is not being able to stand up when cooking but we are having a pop top fitted next month Smile

ootsideinbacktaefront · 03/05/2016 23:11

Aw I loved my camping but Im a full convert to caravanning now, home comforts 😁

Newquay · 03/05/2016 23:30

We've had camper vans but upgraded to Motorhome as now have 2 under 5. The con of Motorhome is that we have to park it at a farm away from the house - and pick up/drop off at a reasonable time of day so that kinda makes things less carefree. I still miss the camper van (vw t4 and t5). If it were only us 2 or if the kids were older I would go with camper van as you can park it anywhere. If you go Motorhome route do look into storage/parking as it isn't a given and can be a real pain.

Milliways · 04/05/2016 09:54

We plan our routes so can stop staring supermarket between sites. With bikes on the back we can go further, but we do plan sites that have easy walks or public transport. Currently in Amsterdam with a site next a 2 minute walk to a metro station so in the city centre in 15 mins.

In the uk if not going too far I sometimes takes the small car as well (DH goes and sets up on Friday and I join him after work). Considering an Afrane to tow but not sure how much it would get used.
The joy of being at a festival and returning to a heated van though is utter bliss!

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