Why do people tow cars behind motorhomes, rather than have a caravan?

[pelican]

Bow thrusters have taken some of the fun and skill away.

Sky hook is very clever

 

[TonyEmm]

I say each to their own. Live and let live. I don't laugh at people tugging caravans

Except when watching them park!

 

[Larrynwin]

Except when watching them park!

They cheat now with motor movers

 

[Gina M]

Except when watching them park!

We gave a campsite a laugh once when OH crashed the caravan into a concrete post whilst turning in. Best laugh of all was we were there as he was going on a caravan driving/safety course the next day I was laughing, he wasn't.

 

[Gina M]

They cheat now with motor movers

Yeah, we had one. We still couldn't get it right

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[TheTwoOfUs]

The OP asked "why do people tow cars behind motorhomes"
The answer: Because they want to and can. End of.

 

[Gina M]

I think towing cars looks silly to some people who just don't get why we do it. I think that is all the OP was asking.

 

[TonyEmm]

We gave a campsite a laugh once when OH crashed the caravan into a concrete post whilst turning in. Best laugh of all was we were there as he was going on a caravan driving/safety course the next day I was laughing, he wasn't.

Years ago I ran a towing/trailer workshop. 1 customer had his caravan booked in for service.
i was quite taken aback when he offered to reverse it into the workshop…it wasn’t long before we heard howling from outside, the driver was being directed by his wife… sadly, between them, he missed the 12ft doorway and pinned his wife against the wall!!
no serious damage done, she was well padded!

 

[busbuddy]

If I pass a big 9m tag axle motorhome towing a smart car/aygo/etc I just think "fair play"
At xmas I overtook a pvc towing a qashqai that's just weird

 

[Clive Mott]

I passed a coach doing 80 mph in the middlelane on the motorway then wondered why I got hooted at when we pulled back in after passing. Our Merc based Autotrail at the time was flying, with a twin motorbike trailer at the rear that I had forgotten about. Oops!!

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[minesapint]

Another advantage for the car and caravan - that car can be your only motorised vehicle. Whereas if you have a motorhome and tow a small car, that car may well not be enough for your daily use at home. So you end up with three motorised vehicles, 3 lots of tax, 3 MOTs, etc.

We have tried both tugging and Motorhoming. The are many downsides to caravaning, one of the most important ones for us is that when we get to a site on a cold day the MoHo is warm as we have been driving with the cab heating on, so we would not have to wait for an hour for the van to warm up, as you do in a caravan. All the messing about setting the caravan up, filling tanks, placing waste water carriers etc, etc.
As for two vehicles the small car we tow is my wife's daily use car, so it is not an extra we need it. And I also need a daily car so no problem.
We have tried tugging but the running of the larger vehicle needed to tow the caravan cost more than the cost of the MoHo and the small car. And with the convenience of a moho when touring it is a no brainer. Moho on site, hand brake on EHU plugged in pitched, simples.

 

[Balbybob]

Hi. We have a scooter that we put in the motorhome garage. Over the years of van ownership we and it have been all over the place, really makes sense. I've always had one 'knackered' leg and have had no problems 2 up up and down dale. Recently another failed op has left me with another bad knee. I have a massive decision to make soon as to whether to get shut of the scooter. The thought of a 'toad' horrifies me as it is back to front caravanning, but it might be that if in this country only I find myself away without a good public transport service, I think as walking or ebiking is also a no no I might have to consider a small car behind the van. Another thing to think about is all the ULEZ zones that are springing up. With a 4 tonne 20 year old ULEZ unfriendly van it could be a way of seeing some cities. Sorry for the long winded msg.

 

[Aucheorn]

Yes you are certainly missing something, most campers have a Motorhome because they prefer that way of life to caravanning, a lot of Motorhomers who like myself prefer this, have mobility issues and need transport close to hand ️ as they are unable to walk a mile or even less to shops restaurants etc, & to go sightseeing, and don't want the hassle of trying to find a parking space for a 7m or 8m Motorhome when away camping, seems like the people who ask this question are caravaners and Don't understand our pastime, I hope this answers your question......
Just sayin...

I have a "Toad", it's a trailer with a large mobility scooter on it.
It's what you need or want that matters. Horses for courses I say.

 

[mofurt]

Pulling a toad, you really aren't trying hard enough. And try doing this with a car and caravan...

 

[Gina M]

Another advantage for the car and caravan - that car can be your only motorised vehicle. Whereas if you have a motorhome and tow a small car, that car may well not be enough for your daily use at home. So you end up with three motorised vehicles, 3 lots of tax, 3 MOTs, etc.

Our tow car is my daily car too. I sacrificed my Mercedes for a Kia Picante, all for the love of our Frankie.............................................. (I'm a liar, I am still sulking)

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[Gina M]

No jockey wheel on the A frame so I hold it up and use hand signals for the "docking" with whoever is driving the car. Takes about a minute

Hand signals is my job but you don't want to see the hand signals I make

 

[Conniedriving]

Because we can

 

[jordy74]

I had a scooter rack fitted when we bought our wanderer and carried a zip 50 scooter it was excellent and a lot of fun easy to park and so economical unfortunately now because of my wifes health we cant do that anymore though we rode it all over europe now we still have the van and are restricted to sites with nearby bus stops so a caravan for me mjght be a good option but i will miss the MH that we have had from new for almost 24 years.

 

[dunnah01]

I passed a coach doing 80 mph in the middlelane on the motorway then wondered why I got hooted at when we pulled back in after passing. Our Merc based Autotrail at the time was flying, with a twin motorbike trailer at the rear that I had forgotten about. Oops!!

You know you just said that out loud on a forum

 

[Speve]

I just don’t get it. If you’re going to tow, surely it makes more sense to get a really decent car, and tow a large caravan. I must be missing something

We are all different and have differing requirements?
we have towed our 4x4 Fiat Panda on a trailer for over eight years to lots of EU countries the reasons are we like birdwatching and need to get to places not accessible by motorhome or even electric bikes( which my wife could not ride anyway?)

When we had our dogs they were able to come with us and if hiring a car very often no dogs allowed.
it’s our everyday car so not stood at home doing nothing for three months.
It’s certainly easier to tow a car on a trailer with a 4.5 ton motorhome than a small car towing a large caravan? Regarding Aires we do use them when transiting through France and Spain choosing carefully where we stop and ensuring there is room to park without taking up others parking space and never encountered any problems? Those suggesting we should be banned or fined are tarring everyone who tows a car with the same brush?

Finally we do it because we can and want to? For those that don’t get it? like the OP they need to not judge others but just get on with what they want to do and leave others to do their own thing

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[the1andonly]

The real question is why would anyone tow a caravan.
If not a Motorhome the Folding camper /trailer tent is more versitile and even fits in the garage can be towed by sensible cars not a 4x4 no licience issues. My 3 boys even had separate bedrooms.
To me versitility/ i want it is more important than money, why would i have 7 motorbikes? because i can,

Only the white ones still exist. One engine had to go. Made the wrong decision. sold the Bongo should have got rid of Audi because later had to swop it out for an estate to cary my sons tribe and shopping. Using the bongo would have lead to more single nights out.
you have what you want but think about it do you really want a caravan.
Pherhaps i should be looking for another Bongo or Elgrand.
My choices different, not wrong.

 

[Gina M]

deleted posted on wrong thread.

 

[Odd-no-more]

O

 

[Gina M]

Wrong thread?

I just waffled on about wood burners then realised I was on here instead so I deleted it

 

[Langtoftlad]

We tow a road legal quad

Presumably on a trailer???

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[robnchris]

I know we all have a different approach to our touring, we have never understood why anyone would go to the expense and inconvenience of buying a small car to tow or trailer behind their motorhome.
We have found it so much easier when we are away to just pick up the phone and hire a car, they deliver it to your door and then when you are finished with it they come and take it away.
None of the hassle of towing and ownership etc etc.
What's not to like.

 

[haganap]

Read all the replies..
Only 1 make sense..

Because you can is the correct answer.

No one has to justify it, weigh up the benefits of said action or even describe it.

A bit like asking why do I have an 8m Hymer and not a VW camper.

Because its what I want ..

Nothing more Nothing less..

And as soon as that guy reduces the price of that rather nice Abarth 595 I'm on it.

 

[TonyEmm]

I know we all have a different approach to our touring, we have never understood why anyone would go to the expense and inconvenience of buying a small car to tow or trailer behind their motorhome.
We have found it so much easier when we are away to just pick up the phone and hire a car, they deliver it to your door and then when you are finished with it they come and take it away.
None of the hassle of towing and ownership etc etc.
What's not to like.

That’s my approach too! It amazes me how many folk buy a new, or nearly new car, have an a-frame fitted (which can now be approaching £3.5k) then flog it again within 12 months or so…. . That sounds a very expensive way to go!

 

[Gina M]

I know we all have a different approach to our touring, we have never understood why anyone would go to the expense and inconvenience of buying a small car to tow or trailer behind their motorhome.
We have found it so much easier when we are away to just pick up the phone and hire a car, they deliver it to your door and then when you are finished with it they come and take it away.
None of the hassle of towing and ownership etc etc.
What's not to like.

Not so easy when you have two dogs to do that and I why would we spend money hiring a car when we use my everyday car to tow tug it is really easy and quick on an A Frame.

 

[Grianan]

Pre kids we had a tent which was great. Then when kids arrived they didn’t like the tent when it rained so we got a caravan that was great when they were young and we stayed a week or more on a site.
We now have a PVC with bikes on the back that suits though at times I’d like a bit more lounging comfort.
I used to wonder about the huge RVs pulling toads too but we spend a fair bit of time in the Highlands and it seems to work well so folk stay put for a few days and do day trips out in the toad then move on (or not).

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