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

[Puddleduck]

My brother-in-law had a car and caravan combo which worked for them. They would have a week at Easter, two weeks in the summer and a week in the Autumn plus a few weekends away. They would pitch up and not move the caravan for the time on site.

The big disadvantage for him was having to run a big tow car all year - expensive on fuel and RFL and insurance and difficult to park. Now there are LEZs around that would have counted against it as well. His big tow car became such a pain for everyday use he bought a small run around and eventually decided just to get rid of the car and caravan.

As he and his wife preferred to pitch up and stay on one site for several days / weeks rather than tour a motorhome wouldn't have suited them. I like the freedom to move on when I am ready to do so.

At the moment our motorhome is used as our accommodation when caring and unable to stay at Mum's place. It's nice to get to a site and just have to press the level button and plug into the electric and be done.

 

[robnchris]

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.

Fair comment re the dogs, but why would anyone spend the money on having a tow bar fitted and buying an "A" Frame or trailer, I'm pretty certain they don't come cheap, you could hire a lot of cars for that amount.

 

[Gina M]

Our last trip we stayed on a pub car park and there was a couple who had a PVC and a caravan. Now then, what's tha got to say about that then folks

 

[Gina M]

Fair comment re the dogs, but why would anyone spend the money on having a tow bar fitted and buying an "A" Frame or trailer, I'm pretty certain they don't come cheap, you could hire a lot of cars for that amount.

It's only bloody money ya canna take it with ya when ya die

 

[robnchris]

It's only bloody money ya canna take it with ya when ya die

Correctamondo but I would prefer to spend it my Motorcycles and Guitars

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[busbuddy]

I can let you have motorcycles.....but guitars

 

[robnchris]

I can let you have motorcycles.....but guitars

Lots of my Bike mates play in a Band

 

[Odd-no-more]

Reading this thread the answer is: there is no right answer. We are all different and on top of that we have different needs at different times in our lives. So do what works for you now, and if it stops working change it.

 

[tonyidle]

I've swapped to a caravan and now in my 4th season I can set to caravan up in about 30 minutes, not much more than it took in the MOHO. People keep saying they arrive on site and put the handbrake on and that's all with a MOHO, but that ignores driving to the service point to fill the water tank and then back to the pitch. If you have a toad I think I'm probably quicker than you, as you have to remove the A frame and I just unhitch and level the caravan

I arrive with 4+ days of water on board - as do many (most?) others.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I run a Small family Fleet here in the UK. 2 cars, motorhome, caravan , van etc plus a car in Spain

Ive just had to buy, wait for it.........21 new tyres.

Not forgetting the insurance and tax.

Im not bragging or moaning but !

My plan in the next couple of years is to take the Caravan over to Spain and move there.

Keep the Caravan and replace all of the others with this...... to use as a daily and tow the caravan when needed.

Best of both worlds? what do you think ?

But then I am thinking I may not be able to with a Standard Spanish License ? gus-lopez

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[MR BLO]

1. Can’t argue with that point
2. My car goes inside the motorhome and is fully electric so no engine, I don’t pay road tax.
3. No fuel consumption as I charge it off solar
4. There is only 2 of us and a dog and the smart car is ideal for us, we get free parking in most European counties as the charge points are free to park
5. I have oceans of space

Really lovely setup that.

 

[MR BLO]

Normally jealousy, they cannot afford something so slag of others who have worked hard to afford what they like.
Same as people who slag off others with nice cars!!
Sad really I think

100% this

You have what you have in life just get on with it without being bitter over what others have, my best mate from school is worth over £150m but I don’t envy him good luck I say.

Is that because you’re worth £151m

 

[L' Hobo]

Our last trip we stayed on a pub car park and there was a couple who had a PVC and a caravan. Now then, what's tha got to say about that then folks

I personally, have always toyed with doing just that, a separate bedroom, toilet and telly. Sounds like everything would want for a Happy Marriage? but seriously, I have towed a friends caravan a couple of times when we have all been going to the same site for a few days away.

 

[MR BLO]

Personally I don’t and won’t tow, but to me it’s no different to having a bicycle on a rack or a scooter in the garage. If it makes your holiday more enjoyable for you then fill your boots.

 

[Gina M]

I personally, have always toyed with doing just that, a separate bedroom, toilet and telly. Sounds like everything would want for a Happy Marriage? but seriously, I have towed a friends caravan a couple of times when we have all been going to the same site for a few days away.

I used to love our old way of travel. I would follow in my car and have naughty barking dog in the van with OH and lovely old doggie in with me listening to my favourite music. Not every time we did it this way but OH says he loves the part of the journey when I am chatting with him and he says it's boring without me

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[busbuddy]

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

You and me outside

 

[Michael Rennison]

We rarely stop at any one place for more than a day or two when we are touring.
With our MH we pull up and park and we virtually setup as soon as we have stopped and the same when we move on.
Having enjoyed hours and hours of watching the comedy of tuggers setting up, there is no way on this earth would I put myself through that fiasco every time we moved sites.

You should see me attach my Isabella Air awning and annex. Two hours later and it's up.

 

[Gina M]

1. Can’t argue with that point
2. My car goes inside the motorhome and is fully electric so no engine, I don’t pay road tax.
3. No fuel consumption as I charge it off solar
4. There is only 2 of us and a dog and the smart car is ideal for us, we get free parking in most European counties as the charge points are free to park
5. I have oceans of space
View attachment 720724

That is lovely. I would love to know what the layout is like inside. We have kept our Frankia for 6 years the longest we have kept a MH as we love the layout and double doors to bathroom/bedroom area.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

100% this


Is that because you’re worth £151m

Yep got the £151 but missing a load of 000s on the end

 

[Bluemooner]

We now have a Caravan owned for 6 months which replaced a 7.6 m Fifthwheel which we owned for 7 years before that started with a Caravan then two Motorhomes loved them all (not including first Motorhome which was crap) now sat in Spain loving it everybody tours differently

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[Carpmart]

Very simple answer, there is no payload for all my important items I need to have with me in a caravan and no where to put everything. Unpacking the caravan (when we had one) was a proper pain in the butt!

I’ve got over 2.5T of payload for my essential equipment and toys. Can’t get all that ‘shizzle’ in any caravan I’ve seen.

I also tow a TOAD some of the time… it’s our daily car too and we have downgraded from running BMW M5’s for me and Range Rovers for her since we stopped working.

So not only am I a TOAD tow(er), I’m also saving the planet through my very green vehicle choices now.

Final point is I’m saving loads of money on just VED… less that £200 for the PHGV Motorhome and tax free (love this) on the little car.

 

[nicholsong]

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.

Advantages of car & caravan
Cheaper purchase cost
Only one vehicle with an engine, less to go wrong, lower road tax, lower MOT
Better fuel consumption
Much better car to drive around when you get there
More living space in the caravan (probably)

Disadvantages
Longer to set up, but then if you’re towing, you’re not moving on every day anyway.

I have not time to read 6 pages but one obvious reason is that one can leave the car behind on some trips but touring without a caravan?

 

[Gina M]

We now have a Caravan owned for 6 months which replaced a 7.6 m Fifthwheel which we owned for 7 years before that started with a Caravan then two Motorhomes loved them all (not including first Motorhome which was crap) now sat in Spain loving it everybody tours differently

We were very nearly seduced by a fifth wheeler 15 years ago but thank god the dealer had no interest in part chopping with our Rollerteam, known at the time as an "entry level" van

 

[Gingernuts]

Yes, you're right - Irish passport. But you can get one of those if you're Northern Irish - or - if you've lived in NI for at least 5 of the last 9 years, I believe.

Or have a granny who was born in NI

 

[Gina M]

What has happened to the OP. I haven't seen so many people watching a thread like this as I did this morning apart from Northernraider who gets the same amount of interest every time he posts. Jane And Rog are you still with us?

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[the1andonly]

Correctamondo but I would prefer to spend it my Motorcycles and Guitars

thats what i'm missing Guitars

 

[Bluemooner]

We were very nearly seduced by a fifth wheeler 15 years ago but thank god the dealer had no interest in part chopping with our Rollerteam, known at the time as an "entry level" van

We loved the Fifthwheel only changed because we fancied something different

 

[Gina M]

We loved the Fifthwheel only changed because we fancied something different

Yes, fantastic our neighbour had one and he showed us around it. But we decided we just couldn't afford it. So I was grateful the dealer in Scotland wouldn't take our van in part exchange as OH was totally hell bent on getting one.

 

[Bluemooner]

Yes, fantastic our neighbour had one and he showed us around it. But we decided we just couldn't afford it. So I was grateful the dealer in Scotland wouldn't take our van in part exchange as OH was totally hell bent on getting one.

I can guess the dealer ours was one that is made in Wales real quality build double floored etc

 

[Gina M]

I can guess the dealer ours was one that is made in Wales real quality build double floored etc

I didn't like the dealer anyway and wasn't prepared to go into debt for a sale with him. He looked down his nose at us from the get go

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