Motorhome or Caravan???

[Caractacus]

Hi All,

At some point in the next six months I'm going to be hitting the road for an extended holiday/road trip and I'm wondering what'll be best...

Option one is this -

I have a really superb Defender 300Tdi 110 that could tow a caravan with no issues at all and also be able to do a spot of greenlaning should the mood take me there. Something a bit like this, I suppose - http://caravans.autotrader.co.uk/used-caravans/bai...

Option two -

I've been looking at half decent motorhomes that I could tow a small car behind (hopefull a fun small car!)

Something like this - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4132705.htm or this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4169107.htm

So, what do the PH masses think? Has anyone tried both?

TIA

C.

[Perd Hapley]

[R0G]

What licence categories you got? - that could make a difference in what your possible choices are

[Caractacus]

R0G said:

What licence categories you got? - that could make a difference in what your possible choices are

All the usual stuff. If I need to do training in order to get a different rubber stamp on my DL, I'll do it

[R0G]

Caractacus said:

All the usual stuff. If I need to do training in order to get a different rubber stamp on my DL, I'll do it

Depends what you mean by usual - usual before 1997 or usual after 1996

[Perd Hapley]

I want to point out that my joke post above was from when this was in General Gassing, I don't just pop into the motorhome section to be a tit

[FiF]

Have you read this thread, similar question, different budget but some of same questions / points apply.

Read that then come back with more questions.

To my mind, a lot depends on how long you will be staying in one spot or spots. If it really is a road trip, moving on every day or so, and lots of sightseeing en route then a caravan is not for you. A motorhome towing a small car, would be my choice fwiw. But please check the FAQ in SP&L first.

HTH

[Caractacus]

Thanks for the info, Fif

I think I'll be buying a motorhome as I also plan to head over to France. If I do indeed go the motorhome route I'd be towing a trailer just like this http://www.indespension.co.uk/Car-Transporters/CT2... with a car aboard it.

No issues with that, I hope! The DfT guff reads interestingly!

Cheers,

C

[R0G]

Caractacus said:

Thanks for the info, Fif

I think I'll be buying a motorhome as I also plan to head over to France. If I do indeed go the motorhome route I'd be towing a trailer just like this http://www.indespension.co.uk/Car-Transporters/CT2... with a car aboard it.

No issues with that, I hope! The DfT guff reads interestingly!

Cheers,

C

If the campervan is under 3.5 tonnes GVW then you will need a B+E licence
If over 3.5 tonnes GVW then a C1+E will be needed

Also, the campervan towing capacity needs to be quite high to accomodate the weight of the trailer and car

[Caractacus]

R0G said:

Caractacus said:

All the usual stuff. If I need to do training in order to get a different rubber stamp on my DL, I'll do it

Depends what you mean by usual - usual before 1997 or usual after 1996

Hi ROG,

My 1st DL is from NZ, so some things were transferred, while others not (C1, for example...never did get to the bottom of that with the DVLA.

I have B, BE, B1 (wtf???) fkp, 115 and 122 on the back of my plastic card and A, C, C1 and GHLN on the paper (under provisional entitlement).

Cheers,

C.

[R0G]

Caractacus said:

Hi ROG,

My 1st DL is from NZ, so some things were transferred, while others not (C1, for example...never did get to the bottom of that with the DVLA.

I have B, BE, B1 (wtf???) fkp, 115 and 122 on the back of my plastic card and A, C, C1 and GHLN on the paper (under provisional entitlement).

Cheers,

C.

Then with a B+E it must have a max GVW of 3.5 tonnes

What is the towing capacity of the mootorhome?

[Caractacus]

R0G said:

Then with a B+E it must have a max GVW of 3.5 tonnes

What is the towing capacity of the mootorhome?

Yep, got that

Just browsing the ads atm...so it'll be under 3.5T or over and some training for me!

[R0G]

Caractacus said:

Yep, got that

Just browsing the ads atm...so it'll be under 3.5T or over and some training for me!

Why will you need training???????

[Caractacus]

R0G said:

Why will you need training???????

If I opt for a motorhome that is over 3.5T, I will need a different license, will I not?

[R0G]

Caractacus said:

If I opt for a motorhome that is over 3.5T, I will need a different license, will I not?

Yes you will

That will be at least a LGV C1 or C licence which means a medical, theory tests and a practical test

No need for initial driver cpc modules 2 and 4 as they are only required if using the licence for commercial driving

ADD - also a second test to get C1+E or C+E in order to tow a trailer over 750 kgs plated MAM

The cost is likely to be aroung £3K !!!

[R TOY]

Look carefuly at motorhome tow capacities before you buy, some have suprisingly little..
I think i am correct that the models that use the origional van chassis tend to have more allowance than ones on Alko type chassis.
I viewed some with under 1000kg allowed
Mine (Swift Suntor 630g)
Max allowable mass = 4005kg lukily i have the required catagories on my license
Gross train weight = 6505kg allows for a healthy 2500kg towing capacity, as long as i dont exceed the axle limits, front = 2100kg / rear = 2400kg.
Vans will have a plate with these figures on,