Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
£40k-50k options - Campervan vs Caravan+Car
Good afternoon all.
I'm looking at options for early Spring next year and am going back-and-forth in my mind between either buying a nearly-new campervan or a nearly-new caravan alongside a newer tow vehicle. I can see benefits of each.
Budget is about 40-50k so that will get me a decent choice. I need:
4 berth (2 adults 2 kids). I'd love a permanent double, I.e. not a fold-down or poptop
Not too large as it needs to park to the side of my house, which is a hardstanding about 3.5m wide
Shower and loo
Easy to take out on a whim, say for a single night here or there if I fancy it.
The benefits of a campervan (not a motorhome - too large) and the ease of operation, just put the key in and go. Also I suspect easier to handle long distance? The benefits of a caravan are principally cost and comfort - a spanking 'van can be had for less than 20k which would leave another 20k+ for a decent tow vehicle. They're also larger inside and I can leave the 'van at the destination and go about having fun in the tow car.
I've never owned either but with kids now 4 & 6 years old I can see the benefits of being able to get away together once a month or so.
I'd love your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 268
Like you, I've never used either, although my wife has just bought a small VW campervan. I've always been more a tent-in-the-wilderness sort of guy.
When I've used camp sites in the south of France, I've noticed that most of the folks with camper vans are reluctant to drive out for the day - it's not relaxing/convenient to drive the van on the back roads and they have to take steps to reserve their space for when they get back. The caravan folks are gone all day without much thought. Also, where I am off to the local town for a supermarket or bistro, the van folks tend to be stuck with the camp-site shop and chips.
Generalising hugely here, of course, but it did make me wonder about the downsides of the campervan life!Previously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
30th Sep 2023 1:23 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2210
Hi,
as you have never owned either before, I would suggest Hire first for a few days as the layout You think will be best you may well find is not quite what you thought and you now want a different layout
we have all done it, every layout has a compromise somewhere, what suits one does not suit someone else.
quirky campers have individual owners hiring out their own vans (some built to hire out mind)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
Thanks. Agreed re. the reluctance to leave a site in a campervan, that's something I've put in the 'downsides' list for those. The upside though is the ease of transport, those I've been looking at are no bigger than a LWB panel van so the roads are easily accessible. Can't imagine the pain of dragging around a caravan and having to stick to A roads all the time.
That said being able to leave a 'van on a site for a few days whilst we explore is very much advantageous. Hence the dilemma!
I've stayed in many caravans over the years and find them very comfy, and my wife and I spent 4 months travelling around Australia on honeymoon, in a Britz campervan. We absolutely loved it, the freedom of being able to travel and bed down anywhere we saw fit was liberating. Our only gripe is that we didn't get one with an on board shower/loo, so relied on sites and public lavs.
I'm still erring toward a campervan, but will keep an open mind when I go to see a few options.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
You've, unfortunately, picked the "winning" arguments for each.
Once at site, caravan stays put and you can wizz about freely in your car at a moment's notice.
Whilst at home, campervan means you can wizz off camping at a moment's notice.
Also, if you were in Manchester and they ever get round to applying the ULEZ rules, you're possibly looking at £10 per day to use the campervan as daily transport..
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
30th Sep 2023 2:42 pm
Worms
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 268
Re: £40k-50k options - Campervan vs Caravan+Car
DIY Ace wrote:
4 berth (2 adults 2 kids). I'd love a permanent double, I.e. not a fold-down or poptop
Shower and loo
Is all that possible in a LWB panel van?Previously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
30th Sep 2023 3:17 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
Hoefully, but not sure, this one is close albeit the bed will need making up each day..
https://www.marquisleisure.co.uk/auto-sleepers-fairford-550332022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 28 Sep 2023
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 3
We have a Merc 609d (ex ambulance) converted to a camper. We travel with 2 plus one kid and one dog. The camper for holidays is great, but we are now going on a 5 or 6 month trip that will include work and school and the van is just too small (its a 5.5m with three front seats and two beds).
For holidays is great.... but if you want space and some adventure capabilities then your choices are huge vans with C license or a 4x4 with an adventure caravan.
We have the exact same budget as you and decided for lr3 plus an off road caravan after months of research.
Hope this helps. We have chosen a turkish made caravan called jaggervan.
30th Sep 2023 4:28 pm
GLYNNE
Member Since: 06 Oct 2006
Location: KENT
Posts: 4648
I’m fortunate enough to have both so can try and give you some advice
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For your needs and the fact you have a young family then caravan and car all the way
The price of the vans are hugely inflated compared to a caravan and car. You then have the hefty insurance on a van, tax, mot services etc. with a caravan the insurance is cheaper and if you can service it yourself then that’s a large saving. Be careful with lots of van conversions as the cab and chassis are often the cheaper marquees with low BHP engines made to look lovely.
With a young family you can grow into your caravan and extend with awnings etc and fill inside with bikes and toys which you’ll always be limited with a van.
I’ve had caravans for over 30 years and had many family holidays away with the kids and my parents. You cannot beat them to explore some beautiful places. We have been all over Europe every year.
Here’s one I bought new in 2012
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Lovely camper with everything on costing 75K. Compare that to a 14K caravan leaves you 60K for a great car
Anything you want to ask then feel free
30th Sep 2023 5:59 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
Cheers Glynne, very helpful.
I'll happily take on board your advice; I'll look at a decent caravan and see how it goes. My D3 is in pretty decent shape for its age, new MOT last week, so perhaps I ought to use that for a few months of trials and then judge from there. If caravaning proves enjoyable for us all then I can buy the extras - I hadn't thought about awnings and side tents which I can see make it all the better. I can also stick some cash into a newer tow vehicle perhaps, depending on the D3's performance.
The lure of a campervan is still strong. I really like the idea of having it ready to roll, picking the kids up from school on a Friday and just heading off for the weekend. Unless I'm mistaken, it feels like a caravan might be a bit more effort. But, perhaps, effort well worth invested if they're easier and better to use once at the destination. The extra space in a decent caravan is a huge bonus of course.
This one looks superb, it's a small apartment inside... https://www.marquisleisure.co.uk/coachman-acadia-660-xtra-549242022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2439
Food for thought.
Considering a twin lounge A class in a few years but the caravan + car would save 80k+. The only issue I would note is that some campsites dont allow caravans due to access.
We have a VW Calfornia and its a compromise and good at all but not prefect at any one of its traits . I wouldnt recommend it as a 4berth
30th Sep 2023 11:31 pm
Worms
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 268
pjm-84, my pet peeve about campsites these days is that with the onward march of campervans, pods and fixed cabins, nobody really wants either the one-night passing trade or tents. Arrive with a small tent and no need for a hook-up and you get shoe-horned into the worst possible places, the bits of the site that are too difficult or boggy to maneouver a camper van into! ...but I digress!
The point above about luggage is a really vital one. For a family holiday you end up with a lot of "stuff" and no matter how big the van, there will always be more "stuff" than there is storage. This is particularly true if you are already accustomed to a vehicle with acres of space. With the car and caravan you can have a tidy caravan and all the wellies, rucksacs, pushchairs etc in the car.Previously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
1st Oct 2023 6:50 am
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
This one hits a surprising number of 'must haves' for such a small caravan. Especially with the awning for times we're away longer than a couple of nights.
Coupled with the D3 and it's massive storage options, bikes on the roof, etc, it could be a good option. I like the bunk facility particularly, i plan on doing a fair bit of solo travel too so that would save wasted space when I've not got my two kids with me.
And, travelling solo, it is plenty small enough to maneuver and not excessive when I'm off on my own mountain biking or hiking etc. Best of all worlds? It'll shimmy down the side the house easily too, in the car port, and with a rear door I can back it up to my workshop and perhaps put a tunnel/canopy there so I can get from the workshop into the caravan with level access etc. I can tinker to my heart's content...
2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 882
This is the car port I'm in the process of building. If I lift the pitch up just a little the van will slide in there beautifully.
It is also small enough to put through the entry angle, which is something I'll need to be careful about with a larger van.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
I have had both and to me with kids a caravan would be my choice.
Just remember if in a carvan you can just leave, without touching anything and go out for the day, if in motor home or camper van you have to put everything away to go out for the day, this is especially harder with kids.
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... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
...but I digress!
