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

[Bluemooner]

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

One off me mates bought from him loads of problem’s

 

[bigtwin]

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?

Yep, it’s somewhat obvious but some are struggling with it.

Ian

 

[Jane And Rog]

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

This comment and some others seem to think that seeking to understand others is “judging”, rather than an interesting conversation that could possibly* change my mind.

* It has.

Also, others have told me to just go off and buy a caravan. Where, exactly, did I say I wanted to do that? I don’t tow anything, amd don’t want to. I’ll not repeat my OP, but I think it’s quite clear that my question was about IF you tow, why not tow a caravan. A premise, that I thought might lead to an interesting discussion, not a kicking. I’m done now.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

This comment and some others seem to think that seeking to understand others is “judging”, rather than an interesting conversation that could possibly* change my mind.

* It has.

Also, others have told me to just go off and buy a caravan. Where, exactly, did I say I wanted to do that? I don’t tow anything, amd don’t want to. I’ll not repeat my OP, but I think it’s quite clear that my question was about IF you tow, why not tow a caravan. A premise, that I thought might lead to an interesting discussion, not a kicking. I’m done now.

It was an interesting discussion, not a “kicking” just because other people gave their opinions. It is a motorhome forum, what did you expect? Ask the same question on a caravan forum and you will get a different set of answers.

 

[tonyidle]

We run a Smart as our only car and take it on a trailer when we need to. We do as many trips without it as we do with it. Hiring sounds good but it's hardly spontaneous - sometimes all we need is pop to the shops. We tour and/or spend time on sites with a group of friends who include taggers and mh'ers so the car is taken with us as needed. The van is 8M and some things are easier done with a car. This isn't the first time this subject has been raised and the conclusion is always the same - we each do what works for us.

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[Silver-Fox]

Do people tow the cars because it’s difficult to push them in front of a Moho

 

[andysam]

I've read all of the replies re toads, the only ones making sense to me is the medical need and the on board car (that's not a toad anyway), otherwise I just don't get it. There again I don't understand why anyone would put a MH on a site for a period of time other than one or two nights and then state that they "need" a car to get around...baffling.

 

[Gina M]

Look, it is just down to personal preference

 

[pelican]

Caravanerds have no problem with the amount of time it takes them to set up camp. It's all part of the fun like setting up a dolls house getting all the bits and pieces out for all to see.

 

[simbadog]

I tow my car behind my motorhome as it's a competition car!

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[Reallyretired]

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

Many of us always travel with a full tank so no need for water when arriving. It is literally just putting on the handbrake.

 

[Spriddler]

I don't understand why anyone would put a MH on a site for a period of time other than one or two nights and then state that they "need" a car to get around...baffling.

It's easier to park a car than a m/h right outside Wetherspoons.

 

[Odd-no-more]

Many of us always travel with a full tank so no need for water when arriving. It is literally just putting on the handbrake.

Yes but how many times have you seen a MOHO arrive on site, fill with water then go to a pitch and get the ramps to level the the MOHOand spend 10 minutes trying to get it right.
We are all different and whatever works for you is good and what works for me is also good.

 

[Gina M]

No problem for us we have E&P levelling system, just pull up, handbrake on and press remote

 

[punto338]

Caravanerds have no problem with the amount of time it takes them to set up camp. It's all part of the fun like setting up a dolls house getting all the bits and pieces out for all to see.

Ouch!

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[Adrian140974]

Because caravans are crap compared to motorhomes! Towing a tiny car for convenience is not even noticed. I have done both the car/caravan and motorhome/toad and caravan does not come close.

 

[pelican]

Yes but how many times have you seen a MOHO arrive on site, fill with water then go to a pitch and get the ramps to level the the MOHOand spend 10 minutes trying to get it right.
We are all different and whatever works for you is good and what works for me is also good.

Sounds like us

 

[Jolak]

I'm sitting on the fence with this one. I've recently bought my first motorhome having been a caravanner for 25 years or so. We are due to go to France 1st April and haven't been away in it yet. With the caravan, we would set up and go visit somewhere most days in the car or go walking. As we've aged and both have mobility issues, we have tended to hang around the caravan most of the time, reading and generally chilling out. We still relied on the car for shopping and sometimes eating out. The motorhome was a bit of an impulse buy prompted by my wife's fear of towing a big lump behind the car. She has seen a couple of tipped over caravans and this has caused her to fear this happening to us - perhaps exacerbated by the fact that she does not drive. I can't help feeling apprehensive about not having a car for shopping etc and keep drifting to the idea of having a toad. I dismiss these thoughts as it means going bac to towing in effect and I want to keep my Honda CRV. If the worst comes to the worst, the motorhome will go after the first holiday in April and I'll get a caravan to suit my Honda as I don't want a bigger car. I've got to do my best to make it work as I'm bound to lose money on the motorhome, having paid top price from a Dealer. Also the motorhome is a new toy and I love driving it so far. I'll leave the toad option open and might end up looking for a Hyundai i10, which could be my next toy to play with. I've just sprung a hernia anyway, which would make caravanning a bit less desirable and I don't wish to become an object of amusement for you motorhomers when I'm setting up.

 

[Gina M]

When Mr Ginam said he wanted a toad I was like "I thought you hated towing that's why we got rid of the caravan" but he says towing a small A Frame behind a van our size is nothing you forget it is there. He loves it and the fact that toad is now my daily car and smaller and cheaper than what I usually have, he is chuffed I agreed to it

 

[G-RMPS]

Interesting debate. When kids were young we caravanned, and relocated it to Geneva when we moved there. Interesting, and fun, times touring the Alps in a caravan.

A generation later we use the motorhome AND a car driven by my wife to take grandkids on holiday in the UK. Need both due to weight limitation on the moho, but the car gives us day-to-day flexibility.

When as a twosome we mostly just use the moho in Europe.

This year, overwintering in one location in Spain we hired a car. £20 a day including full insurance.

So we do everything except tow a car behind a motorhome

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[faz55]

Yes, I’m not arguing that a car and caravan is better than a PVC, or even than any motorhome. The argument is: if you tow a car behind your motorhome, why wouldn’t you have a car and caravan instead? The argument seems to be mostly about use of aires and set up speed - but it seems to be that you are paying a lot for that fairly minor convenience.

We recently gave up caravanning after 35yrs. It was becoming quite stressful as we had a very large caravan(island bed as a climb over bed was also becoming a problem due to age too) we didn’t want to completely give up the life just coz we are in our 70s so decided on a motorhome and tow a small fiat 500 … to go to small villages etc and also so we didn’t have to secure everything down each time we wanted to explore. Towing a small car behind a motorhome is definitely easier than a large car and even larger caravan! Let’s face it the roads are getting any bigger

 

[Gina M]

We recently gave up caravanning after 35yrs. It was becoming quite stressful as we had a very large caravan(island bed as a climb over bed was also becoming a problem due to age too) we didn’t want to completely give up the life just coz we are in our 70s so decided on a motorhome and tow a small fiat 500 … to go to small villages etc and also so we didn’t have to secure everything down each time we wanted to explore. Towing a small car behind a motorhome is definitely easier than a large car and even larger caravan! Let’s face it the roads are getting any bigger

Yes, you cannot just jump into your MH and drive off like you can in a little car. You have to unhook, secure everything and take chocks away etc.

 

[Realist]

Anyway the bottom line is who cares, I don’t.

Had a caravan.
Had a MoHo.
Now a caravan.

As long as we all enjoy this holiday hobby and we’re all happy with what we all have then no arguments from me.

Me, my caravan is sited 12 months of the year and when we decide to go away we just hook up and go and always have a space to park the home from home.

Anyway, enjoy it all it’s becoming a very expensive treat these days.

Wishes.

 

[DerryW]

Personally I could never see the point of towing a car behind the MH, however we are all different (thank god) to me you might as well have a car and caravan.

 

[bigtwin]

Personally I could never see the point of towing a car behind the MH, however we are all different (thank god) to me you might as well have a car and caravan.

Well, 204 posts in, that makes two, or is it three of you.

Ian

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[DuxDeluxe]

No problem for us we have E&P levelling system, just pull up, handbrake on and press remote

Same here

 

[bobnick]

Got bored after page 3 so don't know if anyone mentioned.......................some say it is illegal to A frame a car in most European country's anyway.
I am still toying with the idea of a toad.

 

[stewartwebr]

I towed for years, and now have a car garage in the motorhome. Best justification I heard came from our friends, "because we want too and can afford too" basically says it all!

 

[mofurt]

I was on a site in the Cotswolds last year and saw a motorhome with a toad, and thought to myself that the owner was doing it right. It was a lovely summer weekend, and they'd brought along a classic two seater open top sports car (think 1950s, wire wheels etc.). No chance of towing a caravan with that, and a beautiful area and time of year to enjoy the roof down motoring.

 

[ashley 1340]

Presumably on a trailer???

yes, but it's small and light weight

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