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

Tent to caravan

21 replies

cropcirclesinthefields · 08/09/2018 10:52

Me and dh have started thinking about upgrading from canvas to caravan.

What sort of things do we have to look for?
Any hints or tips?

OP posts:
KnotsInMay · 08/09/2018 11:48

‘Upgrade’ ?

Wink
GrumpyOlderBloke · 08/09/2018 13:42

Do you have a suitable tow vehicle? Preferably diesel, automatic and at least 400Nm (c. 300 lb.ft) peak torque. If not have you factored in the cost of buying one and the extra running costs when not using it as a tug? Cost of fuel when you are towing?

Do you have 'grandfather' rights to C1E and D1E licence classes or will you have to do the training and sit the test?

Have you got a commercial/towing Satnav or access to a proven app? Do NOT rely on in-car or dedicated satnavs or Google Maps on your mobile. There lies narrow roads, tight bends and no way out.

Have you ever towed before? I have towed everything from little 750kg garden trailers to 2700kg car transporter trailers and most things in between.

By far the most irritating and frightening to tow is a big empty 1900kg caravan. You will find cross winds, headwinds and gradients you never knew existed. Don't even think about going through any town.

Towing is unbelievably tedious and hard work over any reasonable distance.
You cannot 'make progress'.
You are limited to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.
You aren't allowed in the outside lane of three lane dual carriageways.
Many non-towing drivers don't know this so you get stuck behind middle lane day-dreamers.
You can rarely overtake on single carriageway roads.
You are stuck playing tag with the HGVs. Not fun at any time and downright scary in the wind and rain.

Where will you store the 'van? Parking it on your drive will attract the opprobrium of all your neighbours and may be banned by covenant, lease or bye-law. Storage and insurance can be high depending where you live. Have you checked?

Have you checked the cost of a reasonable 'van? Cheap they aren't!

Have you checked the cost and availability of 'camp-sites' in places worth visiting?

We used to camp when I was a child and have done so a few times with my own children some years ago. I have borrowed a 'van on two occasions. We worked out that now the children have grown and left home it would be cheaper for us to use B&B's once all the costs were figured in.

I have friends with 'vans.
One uses it at least twice per month as he goes fishing at the same stretch of river. He parks it up in a friendly farmer's field. He stores it back home in another friends farm yard. It's a scruffy damp mouldy old thing but for a few blokes for one or two nights it's fine. No need to take wellies and damp Barbours off before flopping down on the seating. It is better than a cheap tent and a sleeping bag on the groundsheet, so it all makes sense.
I knew another who got all enthused with the idea after a week in a static 'van. Spend several 10's of thousands on suitable replacement cat, 'van, awning and all the gubbins every invented. Lasted two long weekends away, parked the 'van up for a couple of years before admitting it was a big mistake!
For balance I know a family with primary school age children who use it several times a year and the youngsters love it. The mother hates it as it's just another small house to keep clean and she has simply moved the cooking duties from a proper kitchen to a diddy one! They doubt they will keep it once the children reach secondary school age though.

So, pays your money, takes your risk.

Of course to most other road users you will occupy that corner of Hell too extreme even for BMW and Audi drivers.

Finfintytint · 08/09/2018 13:46

Grumpy, you’ve certainly sucked the joy out of caravanning there!

GrumpyOlderBloke · 08/09/2018 16:03

Win!

Finfintytint · 08/09/2018 17:28

Ha!
OP, what's your budget and will you make good use of it nearly every weekend? I love caravanning but never did camping ( apart from freezing and wet weekends as a kid ).
Caravanning filled us with dread when my son was very little as it is too confined a space but have really got into it now he's left home. We never go anywhere further than an hour from home ( live in Mid Wales so plenty of fab sites). We've had seasonal pitches for the summer which we made very good use of but now go every few weekends away.
Towing concerns are valid but if you've got that sorted you'll be fine. Even if you have grandfathers rights I'd still do a towing course to refresh your skills.
You don't need the all singing and dancing kit. An awning is great but causes divorce on erecting it Smile so you can do without if need be.
Depending on budget, damp will be the major concern for buying second hand. Do your research and use your nose when viewing.

Reversing a caravan onto a pitch can be tricky. If you are strong enough it can be done manually if you cock up the reversing and if not a motor mover costs ££££.

Caravanners are on the whole a friendly bunch and will help each other out. When you tire of the Carribean I thoroughly recommend it.

actiongirl1978 · 08/09/2018 17:54

Ooh, we upgraded 3 years ago and I am really pleased we did.

We never take it anywhere less than 200 miles away really as otherwise what's the point - you could stay at home.

Be aware that they are all beige/poo brown (generally). We stripped ours (a 2006 crusader superstorm) and painted it all white, wallpapered the cupboard doors in some tasteful metallic wallpaper we had (looks better than it sounds!) Put decent 'fake wood' flooring over the shit vinyl floor and on anything else painted it in left over farrow and ball grey. Nice leather handles on all the doors and cupboards, white throws.

We put navy upholstering fabric on and made curtains from some old 'star's fabric in white, navy and red.

So a much more stylish van! (Though impossible to sell on maybe!)

The plus side:
A big fridge - I insisted on a full height model
A cooker - we only use the hob, I can't get used to the gas oven and if you oven cook the whole van stinks of food.
Running hot water - we only go to 'fully serviced' pitches where you can constantly hook up to a tap and drain. That way everytime you use water, it refills and you don't run out of water or have to shower in the shower blocks.
Bed - we have the full double at the back, about the same size as a king. We bought a thick duck down topper from JL so it's frankly amazing, I sleep well in our van. We also take feather pillows and duvet and our old white company duvet cover.
Kids - ours sleep in the awning in a 2 man tent each. They have fairy lights etc and stops the squabbling. We did try having them in the bunks over our bed but lasted 2 holidays and decided that 4 people so close together was a recipe for disaster!
TV - you can have one!
The caravan and motorhome club - the magazine is comedy gold, the letters page is the highlight of our month. Also if you join you get huge discounts on cross channel ferries and things like the M6 toll and Costa at service stations.

Downsides:
Caravan sites - are full of lots of older caravanners who clean their vans (actually saw one toothbrushes his window seals once)/plonk their 'easy recliners' in your direction and sort of watch you all the time. We get around this by very carefully selecting sites with big fields/fully serviced where you aren't penned into a caravan space just feet from your neighbours van.
Speed - it takes ages to get to your destination. We travel with ours from the south coast to cornwall or lake district or Northern France. You need snacks, stamina and dvd players for the car
False sense of comfort: You may be tempted to caravan before May: DO NOT. There is nothing so miserable as a campsite in the lake district on Easter Sunday with the rain sheeting down outside and the kids high on eggs. And no, going out for a walk doesn't help. Or Brittany in the same scenario. Just because you have water and a heater doesn't mean you won't have stuff to try and dry, sore skin and a possible divorce on your hands.

Also all the practical things the PP mentioned are valid. My husband did a course so I don't have to bother doing the test (he passed years before me so could drive it without retaking).

We have a twin axle (4 wheel) and pull with a land-rover range rover. It costs shed loads in diesel.

All of that said, we have lovely holidays and deliberately made it a space we would want to spend time. Next year it's going for the season to padstow/rock area. We can take all our kit down and the make the most of all our hols and spare weekends. With the van it's about 4.5hrs, without its 3.5hrs straight journey so v doable.

Hope this helps! Ps. We took the tent away last week as the children wanted to 'proper camp'. I was cold, grumpy and had a bad back all weekend and had to live in scruffs. Def made me grateful for the van!

actiongirl1978 · 08/09/2018 17:57

Yes yes on the awning election causing a divorce. We got rid of the inflatable one, found an isabelle pole one much easier and quicker.

CantankerousCamel · 08/09/2018 17:59

We have a folding camper, it’s a hard top and six berth when unfurled. It’s only 750kg so it is safe and legal to drive on a car license with our little Picasso.

It’s AWESOME. Makes camping a whole other joy. You get to a campsite, pitch up and can drive the car off. You can wee in them, they are lit, you can charge your phone

trashcansinatra · 08/09/2018 19:45

Don't listen to the doom and gloom.

Buy a second gabs one from a dealer (it should come with everything you need) and if you don't get in with it, it won't lose that much value. If you do like it, go to a caravan show (NEC us good), check them all out and maybe get a decent 0% finance deal on a new one.

Good things to look for: hob with an electric element (so don't need to use gas on a powered site), external bbq point, external power point (Good for external wine fridge), solar panel (helps keep battery topped up when not being used), big fridge

If buying private, check for damp.

Have fun, you won't regret it!

trashcansinatra · 08/09/2018 19:45

Second hand of course!

RoxanneMonke · 08/09/2018 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RoxanneMonke · 08/09/2018 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ninemillionbicycles · 08/09/2018 20:00

It's amazing, we love caravanning! It's weather proof, luxury camping! Most important advice - if buying privately take a damp reader with you and check around and above the doors and windows.

Millybingbong · 08/09/2018 20:03

Ha! We've been towing for years and I know nothing about any of the questions grumpy asks.

We had a towbar fitted and bought an old 5 berth. And off we go. We go to Europe in the summer and UK rest of the time and we love it.
We don't get wet when it rains and can pee in the night. What is not to like?

C0untDucku1a · 08/09/2018 20:08

Dont listen to grumpy. You can keep the same cat. Poor Tiddles being threatened with being replaced...

NicoAndTheNiners · 08/09/2018 20:09

I did this a few years ago and never looked back.

Never had an issue towing. Went on a caravan club one day tow course (didn’t need a licence upgrade) just so I could practice reversing it really and learn to hitch up. Quite enjoy towing and am a whizz at reversing onto a pitch.

It’s warm, it’s dry, it’s sound proofed more than a tent, I have my own loo and shower, comfy bed, fridge, microwave, oven, tv, can charge my iPad up. I love it.

If you buy a second hand one it’s damp you need to look out for. Get a damp meter and use it everywhere. I wouldn’t buy privately unless it’s been frequently serviced and they’re happy to show you the service reports. I got my first one for about 3k from a dealer but even that was damp when I sold it back to them 12 months later as part ex for an upgrade and I’m 99% certain it was damp when they sold it me.

There’s some good caravan fb groups who would recommend local dealers.

FrancesFryer · 08/09/2018 20:20

Just to give a slightly different point of view

we have had a caravan for the last 18 years. We have a seasonal pitch in a camp site 12 miles from home. Our youngest was 2 when we first got the seasonal pitch. They've grown up spending their weekends and holidays camping.
I liked it so close as they could still go to their sports clubs and activities at the weekend.
They had much more freedom than they perhaps wouldn't have had at home.

They're grown and independent now and we still spend most of our free time during the summer at the caravan. Although we do now venture onto different sites in the winter

Feckitall · 08/09/2018 20:37

Another caravanner here....decent tow car is a must...I still have nightmares about our first trip 10 years ago...finding out that although on paper it was a match the reality was the car did not like it...we soon got a new car!
I admit to getting wobbles if it gets caught in wind/overtaking lorries...but it gets better...I also drove at night to start with so there was less traffic and pulled in laybys for decent rest breaks...

We have just bought our second van, 10 years after the first..it is comfort on wheels...going away in 10 days time...4th time this year..and cant wait..

Mkaiser1 · 12/09/2018 15:29

Intrigued by the 0% finance reference above! Do many dealers offer that?

Deadbudgie · 14/09/2018 08:56

Following with interest we are about to do the same. Have loved camping upto this year. Took 8 hours to pack down on second camping trip, car rammed. Was cold, on a slope, miserable. On first canp trip of season tent leaked massively and was swaying alarmingly in gale force winds with poles gaffs taped. Ended up sleeping in the car. Looking round at vans and tow cars now. We’ve found settling in the layout hard. We have one DS. Going for a 5 Berth double dinette so we can use the back as his area and hoping the double bed will last as he grows. Thought about fixed beds but decided took up too much room

actiongirl1978 · 14/09/2018 17:49

We make up a double bed at the back from the area that would sleep 4 normally (two sofas and two bunks). The area has a pull across door. We never unmake the bed and the children aren't allowed in - this is our room. The sofas near the kitchen remain sofas at all times - I shudder at the thought of sleeping next to the kitchen! Children sleep in the awning, we all prefer it.

Deadbudgie - think about the size of fridge and be careful you have a separate shower - the Europeans like showering over the loo which I find tres odd!

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