Car on a trailer

[PeteH]

Two Words:- Mobility, Disability.

As someone who started caravanning circa 1970. And went to a R-V, when they told my wife she should no longer travel long distances without regular breaks, which are more conveniently made in any Motorhome. Re-post from an earlier thread:- ""Having recently returned to the use of a Motor-home, after a 3 year break during which we had a Caravan, that which we discarded largely because neither myself nor my (disabled) wife could sit comfortably in the Seating, whereas now we have a "Captains" chair each with a leg-rest (side bench). I tow an old Punto on "A" frame. AND IT WORKS FOR US!."".

 

[jongood]

Thanks. We'll start by ordering the MH

Do you mean order a new MH? If this is your first MH I strongly recommend that you get a used one first, this is particularly appropriate if you are a tugger at the moment. You will probably end up using it differently and different aspects will become more important. IMHO it makes much more sense to buy a good used one with the features and layout that you think you want and give it a year, if it works out then happy days but if you then want something different the financial hit isnt as bad.

hth Jon

btw same applies to safari rooms.

 

[PeteH]

OR. even hire one?. Before I bought my first R-V. I had a weeks hire of one, (34ft Fleetwood). I loved it, but SWMBO took some time to get used to being in the "Suicide Seat" (as she called it!).

 

[Jo662]

Thanks. We'll start by ordering the MH

Then we'll find out if we need something else. The inflatable kayak is already in our mind. Motorcycle and paraglider are much less likely for us, but I fully understand all the fun they can be.

We are really in a mindset to use the MH as our car when traveling, and fully intent on using bus and taxis when more practical for cities. Car hiring for extreme cases is not ruled out.

We already have our day to day cars, SUV for her, estate for me, of course both way too big to put on a trailer.

Ebikes are a good way to get around if you have no other transport. With a Motorhome you can park so close to the places you want to visit you may only need to cycle the short distance in. We have folding ebikes which fit in the locker of our Motorhome so very convenient. We also have a scooter on the back for the longer journeys we want to do on our travels.

 

[StephDeLux]

Do you mean order a new MH? If this is your first MH I strongly recommend that you get a used one first, this is particularly appropriate if you are a tugger at the moment. You will probably end up using it differently and different aspects will become more important. IMHO it makes much more sense to buy a good used one with the features and layout that you think you want and give it a year, if it works out then happy days but if you then want something different the financial hit isnt as bad.

hth Jon

btw same applies to safari rooms.

Thanks for the advice.
Our MH history:
- rented a 6m Pössl 2WIN for a 2 weeks trip in France
- owned a Bürster Ixeo Time. Did 5 trips with it, but the dealer took it back because they could not fix the defective lowerable bed.
- rented again last October a Chausson for a 2 weeks trip in the Alps

Second hand prices are frankly discouraging. You still end up spending a lot of money for not getting really what you want and not having a solid warranty.

It looks like 90% of customers want things we don't want: awnings, satellite antenna, TV, heavy solar panels, etc... It means the vast majority of second hand MH on the market carry at least 100 kilos of things we'll never use, when it's not closer to 150 kilos, when there is the seemingly hard to avoid second lowerable bed that we want to avoid at all costs.

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[tonyidle]

Second hand prices are frankly discouraging.

I have a different view: you get more for your money. Most people start with a budget and look for something that matches their needs within it. If you look at second-hand within that budget you have a bigger choice, often with most of the desirable accessories thrown in as part of the deal. Second-hand isn't about saving money it's about getting the most from your budget. My most recent example: 2012 van with 3500 miles on it, virtually unused, and £40K less than new price (which would have been way outside my budget). Weight of accessories may not be an issue depending on vehicle and solar panels, for example, are essential if you want to do anything other than stay on caravan sites. But, as you said, you don't have the (longer) warranty.

I came to motorhoming from tugging: the difference for me is the ability to park almost anywhere and use all the facilities without (especially when it's pouring with rain) having to leave the vehicle to prepare it for use. Many more locations are available to over-night in a motorhome than a caravan. The assumption that most caravanners I've talked to make is that a motorhome is simply a caravan with an engine: it isn't - it's a totally different experience that can , when required, still be used as a caravan with an engine.

I tow a small car on a trailer. We had the car as our only form of transport long before we considered taking it with us. I don't have any need for a larger, more comfortable, car so it is still our only car. Longer trips are always undertaken in the MH anyway even when not part of a 'holiday'.

Caravans suited us when on holiday with the children and when I had need of a family-sized car for commuting and at work. Once we no longer had those ties and the need for a larger car disappeared along with work 20-odd years ago we bought a motorhome. Everyone hopefully does what matches their needs / desires at the time. There's no right or wrong way to enjoy "camping".

 

[busby]

Why wouldn't that be OK with me? And why would that be relevant? I have no intention to imply anyone should change anything. I'm just being curious.

You have to be careful what you say on this Forum now..lot of Snowflakes about..Very easily upset.BUSBY

 

[busby]

Having a small motorcycle either on a towbar mounted rack (if under 125kg) or larger bike on a trailer makes a lot of sense when touring, and not relying on campsites. Easy to do your shopping or sightseeing.

You may find yourself just hanging around the camper, not doing much if you have no other transport. (depending where you are parked of course) I used to use a pushbike but having a motorbike is sooooooooo much better.

Push bikes or Shanks Pony for us,,keeps us fit.BUSBY

 

[steve 6644]

There is another benefit in buying second hand, especially from a dealer, and that is the discovery and ongoing mission to get everything that is wrong put right.
This is almost like a second hobby and can add a whole new dimension to the experience that can sometimes feel like studying for a degree in disappointment.

Hang on though if you bought a new one....

I would get a caravan and have an engine put in it, much more sensible.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Push bikes or Shanks Pony for us,,keeps us fit.BUSBY

Don't you find you get mistaken for a Gypsy keeping a pony near your campervan?

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[jongood]

I have a different view: you get more for your money. Most people start with a budget and look for something that matches their needs within it. If you look at second-hand within that budget you have a bigger choice, often with most of the desirable accessories thrown in as part of the deal. Second-hand isn't about saving money it's about getting the most from your budget. My most recent example: 2012 van with 3500 miles on it, virtually unused, and £40K less than new price (which would have been way outside my budget). Weight of accessories may not be an issue depending on vehicle and solar panels, for example, are essential if you want to do anything other than stay on caravan sites. But, as you said, you don't have the (longer) warranty.

I came to motorhoming from tugging: The assumption that most caravanners I've talked to make is that a motorhome is simply a caravan with an engine: it isn't - it's a totally different experience that can , when required, still be used as a caravan with an engine.

I so wish we could get this point more widely appreciated, especially by our councils.

 

[Wellington]

For us, I didn’t want a big car for day to day use. It also seemed to make more sense to tow a smaller vehicle with a much bigger one, than to try and manage the caravan with a mid size saloon. I had planned to have a toad, but haven’t got round to it yet. We manage with buses and electric bikes, but we’ve been really lucky with the weather.

The other big plus for me is the quicker set ups and pack downs, and the way things are designed to be stowed away more. This means you can just stop, and fall into bed, without having to climb over the awning, aquaroll, wastemaster and so on. Then you can get up make a cuppa and some breakfast, wash up and be off again. (Or not, if you so choose). It’s so much quicker. There’s a certain trade off in needing to move the van to do tanks, but it’s more than made up for by quicker pitching, for me.

 

[Christoph]

We hire a car if needed. Just had one for 8 days for £124. Taxi to town £5. Suits us fine.

 

[Louis]

We hire a car if needed. Just had one for 8 days for £124. Taxi to town £5. Suits us fine.

Same here ?

 

[simbadog]

Hi

When I see on the road a motorhome with a car on a trailer, I do not understand how that is better than having a confortable car with a caravan.
Can someone explain that to me?
Thanks!

Stéphane

I tow a car on trailer behind my motorhome as I found that said motorhome was very uncompetitive in motorsport!

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[davejen]

We tow a car because we are both disabled and therefore need it to get around once set up
Cheers, Dave
ps have done caravans but decided it was just too much hassle.