Caravans
- Thread starter lancsdave
- Start date
We've got a tourer. All I know is you can't pull a big heavy van with a teeny weeny car.
Hidden costs? Maintainence, insurance that kind of thing.
We store ours where Busman works so that doesn't cost us anything.
I recommend you get an awning. It gives you twice as much room (or more) and somewhere to hang wet coats etc. Wet clothing inside caravans is not good. We have breakfast in the awning and also an extension with an inner tent. Some sites charge more for awnings and some don't permit them so you need to check up on that first. We use decent (long heavy duty) tent pegs to anchor it down and one of those over the top things too because we go to some flippin windy places!
Hidden costs? Maintainence, insurance that kind of thing.
We store ours where Busman works so that doesn't cost us anything.
I recommend you get an awning. It gives you twice as much room (or more) and somewhere to hang wet coats etc. Wet clothing inside caravans is not good. We have breakfast in the awning and also an extension with an inner tent. Some sites charge more for awnings and some don't permit them so you need to check up on that first. We use decent (long heavy duty) tent pegs to anchor it down and one of those over the top things too because we go to some flippin windy places!
When my family were small we had a tourer, used it for 20 years nearly every weekend, you don't have too go far, its fantastic, if you go to small sites its only a few pounds per night. We had great holidays and the kids love it. Just be careful as you say you need the correct car to tow it.
My parents have a tourer which they have sited at Three Rivers in West Bradford, its fantasic just having the choice to go away at the weekend, although it isnt far away it feels like it! They have it in storage from October to march, they looked around first until they found a reasonbly priced place to store it, and some places were after charging a fortune, not sure of the place or the price, but when i find out ill post it on here.
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Whatever is the point of spending a fortune on something that when you're not using it you have to find somewhere to store it, when you are using it you have to pay to put it on a site, also you are a potential danger or 'traffic calming measure' to other vehicles on the road, and you always have to be 'self catering', which means you don't have any real time off?
You are using a computer, search the net for trips away that only involve taking the car, (cheaper running costs), and if you book into a hotel no cooking and cleaning.
Of all the vehicles that should be banned caravans will always be my first choice.
You are using a computer, search the net for trips away that only involve taking the car, (cheaper running costs), and if you book into a hotel no cooking and cleaning.
Of all the vehicles that should be banned caravans will always be my first choice.
For years the kids and I spent Easter half terms and the six weeks summer holiday in the caravan. Mostly in the same location near Carnforth, cheap and cheerful. When they were younger a field, a farm, a marsh, some mud, a beach and walking were all the entertainment they wanted. Now they want swimming pools, club houses, 'turns' etc etc.
We have also been as far afield as Torquay and Blue Dolphin near Filey.
Certainly been value for money for us. We'd have never have had as many holidays otherwise.
We have also been as far afield as Torquay and Blue Dolphin near Filey.
Certainly been value for money for us. We'd have never have had as many holidays otherwise.
Whatever is the point of spending a fortune on something that when you're not using it you have to find somewhere to store it, when you are using it you have to pay to put it on a site, also you are a potential danger or 'traffic calming measure' to other vehicles on the road, and you always have to be 'self catering', which means you don't have any real time off?
You are using a computer, search the net for trips away that only involve taking the car, (cheaper running costs), and if you book into a hotel no cooking and cleaning.
Of all the vehicles that should be banned caravans will always be my first choice.
Hotels are expensive if there is any deviation from 2 adults sharing a room. I hate holidaying in rip off Britain at the best of times so I thought having my own place might make me feel better about it
Hotels are expensive if there is any deviation from 2 adults sharing a room. I hate holidaying in rip off Britain at the best of times so I thought having my own place might make me feel better about it
If that is what you believe, then pay a ridiculous amount for a room that you will have to tow and feel uncomfortable in, pay extra for transport costs, pay for winter storage, pay for hire of a site to put it on when you finally arrive, but please, please, pay extra road tax, don't ruin the roads for the rest of us unless you are prepared to pay.
If that is what you believe, then pay a ridiculous amount for a room that you will have to tow and feel uncomfortable in, pay extra for transport costs, pay for winter storage, pay for hire of a site to put it on when you finally arrive, but please, please, pay extra road tax, don't ruin the roads for the rest of us unless you are prepared to pay.
If I decide to do it I will give your thoughts some consideration Victor
If I decide to do it I will give your thoughts some consideration Victor
Feel free to buy a caravan if that is in your heart to do, I have seen many happy moments in them that would not have occurred if they did not exist!
It would actually be a loss to life if caravaner's did not exist we would have to take the urine out of Reliant Robin owners instead!
We had a 14' tourer for nearly 20 years. We used it regularly from Spring to Autumn, away most weekends, and at home it sat on the drive hooked up to the house electrics and made a very handy "flatlet" for up to 5 guests (complete with loo, cooker, gas fire, electric kettle and telly and a little hoover - took a lot of work off me when unexpected relatives turned up).
My husband was very particular about loading and stability, having seen so many wobbly caravans (and a few disasters) on the roads. His pride wouldn't let him be classed as just another "bl**dy caravanner" by other road users - let's face it, we all see the ones who hold everyone up and tow like prats. You need to get the loading right and invest in a stabliliser bar.
For the last 5 years we used to put it on a site next to the beach at Ainsdale for the whole of August and go along for weekends/weeks or let other family members use it. The site had electric hook-up and a toilet/shower block but, sadly, that site has now gone. We were also members of the Caravan Club and able to use their small sites - usually up to 5 caravans with sanitation facilties.
It was great fun, while it lasted, and a comfortable way to see the British Isles. Go for it - you can always sell it if you don't like it.
My husband was very particular about loading and stability, having seen so many wobbly caravans (and a few disasters) on the roads. His pride wouldn't let him be classed as just another "bl**dy caravanner" by other road users - let's face it, we all see the ones who hold everyone up and tow like prats. You need to get the loading right and invest in a stabliliser bar.
For the last 5 years we used to put it on a site next to the beach at Ainsdale for the whole of August and go along for weekends/weeks or let other family members use it. The site had electric hook-up and a toilet/shower block but, sadly, that site has now gone. We were also members of the Caravan Club and able to use their small sites - usually up to 5 caravans with sanitation facilties.
It was great fun, while it lasted, and a comfortable way to see the British Isles. Go for it - you can always sell it if you don't like it.
we started touring last year and its brilliant..just wish wed have done it sooner ..
like you westender hubby tries to be very aware and respectfull to orther road users and whereever poss pulls in to allow the traffic to pass and he is also very cautious with the weight distribution .he puts most of the heavy stuff over the axle weve just come back from our first holiday day of this year with many more weekeends away to come..
touring ...bring it on ..we love it.
like you westender hubby tries to be very aware and respectfull to orther road users and whereever poss pulls in to allow the traffic to pass and he is also very cautious with the weight distribution .he puts most of the heavy stuff over the axle weve just come back from our first holiday day of this year with many more weekeends away to come..
touring ...bring it on ..we love it.
For a family it's a lot cheaper than hotels. It does depend on how much you pay for the caravan to start with but remember that when/if you get fed up you can always sell it and if you've looked after it you can get a good return. I've even known people to make a profit.
I am resurrecting this thread because caravan owners might decide to air their views about this-
This morning my neighbour has parked his caravan on the street.
He removed it from a summer site last Autumn and it was parked on his daughters drive until today. He told neighbours that that arrangement could only be temporary because his daughter's house was for sale.
So we expect it to be parked on the street at least until Easter, when he will, hopefully, clear off to a site for the summer.
It is an unwashed mucky eyesore.
It is parked 4ft behind my car, facing downhill, and he has not put chocks on the wheels.
I have looked at regulations governing street parking and found this-
Is it illegal to park a caravan in a quite cul de sac when it isn't causing an obstruction? — The Roadside Lawyer
This street is a quiet culdesac, with a large 'turn around' parking area at the end, but is narrow by most street standards. I expect that the coach which comes past every Wednesday for the school baths run may find it obstructive. (My wing mirror was knocked out of line, but not damaged) recently.
We often have tractors with trailers passing on their way to the allotments, and grass cutting equipment visiting the field.
I would like members who own caravans to express their opinions and relate their experiences of situations similar.
This morning my neighbour has parked his caravan on the street.
He removed it from a summer site last Autumn and it was parked on his daughters drive until today. He told neighbours that that arrangement could only be temporary because his daughter's house was for sale.
So we expect it to be parked on the street at least until Easter, when he will, hopefully, clear off to a site for the summer.
It is an unwashed mucky eyesore.
It is parked 4ft behind my car, facing downhill, and he has not put chocks on the wheels.
I have looked at regulations governing street parking and found this-
Is it illegal to park a caravan in a quite cul de sac when it isn't causing an obstruction? — The Roadside Lawyer
This street is a quiet culdesac, with a large 'turn around' parking area at the end, but is narrow by most street standards. I expect that the coach which comes past every Wednesday for the school baths run may find it obstructive. (My wing mirror was knocked out of line, but not damaged) recently.
We often have tractors with trailers passing on their way to the allotments, and grass cutting equipment visiting the field.
I would like members who own caravans to express their opinions and relate their experiences of situations similar.
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I have a sort of similar situation with my neighours Margaret, although they only park it on the road for a couple of nights, a few times during the summer, before they go away/come back off a trip, to unload or do maintenance. I have absolutely no objection to this as live and let live I say. It doesn't appear to cause too much of an obstruction, and no heavy plant vehicles come into my cul-de-sac. My road appears to be about the same width as yours.
That was interesting though about 'must be lit at night' .. does your neighbour do this, and how would he do it ? Don't suppose many caravan owners know this.
My other neighbour parks a large horsebox also on the road occasionally .. again no objections.. except can't always see properly what is coming down the road tp get put of my drive, but not busy so not bothered .. wonder if this should be lit too ?
That was interesting though about 'must be lit at night' .. does your neighbour do this, and how would he do it ? Don't suppose many caravan owners know this.
My other neighbour parks a large horsebox also on the road occasionally .. again no objections.. except can't always see properly what is coming down the road tp get put of my drive, but not busy so not bothered .. wonder if this should be lit too ?