Big van/ small car
Discussion
What is the perceived advantage of a big motor home towing a small o er a conventional car and caravan set up?
The way I see it is if you have a big motor home and park it on a site and then go out in the small car you've towed surely you are losing a major benefit over the caravan. If you go out in the MH you can stop look at the view, have a cup of tea and use the toilet all in comfort. You lose all that going out in the small car. You also have the problem of not being able to see the car being towed.
If you have a conventional car/caravan you put the caravan on the site just like the MH and go out in your bigger more comfortable car.
I can't work out what the advantage of the MH/car is.
The way I see it is if you have a big motor home and park it on a site and then go out in the small car you've towed surely you are losing a major benefit over the caravan. If you go out in the MH you can stop look at the view, have a cup of tea and use the toilet all in comfort. You lose all that going out in the small car. You also have the problem of not being able to see the car being towed.
If you have a conventional car/caravan you put the caravan on the site just like the MH and go out in your bigger more comfortable car.
I can't work out what the advantage of the MH/car is.
My parents had motorhomes and regularly towed a small car when in the UK.
Their reasoning was that Europe is set up for motorhomes with aires and municipal sites near towns, but not so accommodating of caravans.
Sites in the uk are often in places that require transport to get to the towns or tourist spots - so ideal for caravanners but not for motorhomes.
They had a motorhome as great for Europe trips and then towed a car when in the UK so they had transport from the UK campsites.
Their reasoning was that Europe is set up for motorhomes with aires and municipal sites near towns, but not so accommodating of caravans.
Sites in the uk are often in places that require transport to get to the towns or tourist spots - so ideal for caravanners but not for motorhomes.
They had a motorhome as great for Europe trips and then towed a car when in the UK so they had transport from the UK campsites.
A motorhome towing a car is quite a niche setup and not something you come across too often, it is certainly much rarer than a conventional car and caravan setup.
Can't speak for the UK but over here in Germany (and consequently thoroughout continental Europe) you do see larger motorhomes towing things like Smart cars. I think a lot of these people simply prefer a luxury motorhome and the quick convenience of a small car for visiting more inaccessible places. I also assume towing a Smart car is easier than towing a caravan of a size that correspondents to the luxury of the pulling motorhome.
Different setup and scenario, but we have a VW Cali and as the kids get older we are looking more and more at small caravans to provide some seperate sleeping accommodation.
Can't speak for the UK but over here in Germany (and consequently thoroughout continental Europe) you do see larger motorhomes towing things like Smart cars. I think a lot of these people simply prefer a luxury motorhome and the quick convenience of a small car for visiting more inaccessible places. I also assume towing a Smart car is easier than towing a caravan of a size that correspondents to the luxury of the pulling motorhome.
Different setup and scenario, but we have a VW Cali and as the kids get older we are looking more and more at small caravans to provide some seperate sleeping accommodation.
RedWhiteMonkey said:
A motorhome towing a car is quite a niche setup and not something you come across too often, it is certainly much rarer than a conventional car and caravan setup.
Can't speak for the UK but over here in Germany (and consequently thoroughout continental Europe) you do see larger motorhomes towing things like Smart cars. I think a lot of these people simply prefer a luxury motorhome and the quick convenience of a small car for visiting more inaccessible places. I also assume towing a Smart car is easier than towing a caravan of a size that correspondents to the luxury of the pulling motorhome.
Different setup and scenario, but we have a VW Cali and as the kids get older we are looking more and more at small caravans to provide some seperate sleeping accommodation.
Could the Cali tow a caravan?Can't speak for the UK but over here in Germany (and consequently thoroughout continental Europe) you do see larger motorhomes towing things like Smart cars. I think a lot of these people simply prefer a luxury motorhome and the quick convenience of a small car for visiting more inaccessible places. I also assume towing a Smart car is easier than towing a caravan of a size that correspondents to the luxury of the pulling motorhome.
Different setup and scenario, but we have a VW Cali and as the kids get older we are looking more and more at small caravans to provide some seperate sleeping accommodation.
We had a car converted this year to tow behind our not huge motorhome. It has advantages. Last time we went to Cornwall we used the bus a lot to get around - ok, but still involved a fair bit of walking. This year, had the car and could go down all the small lanes to coves and pootle around at our leisure. We've just been away for a long weekend and didn't take the car because we were staying walking distance to things we wanted. If we went on a "touring" holiday, we wouldn't take the car. Stopping for 3 or 4 days or more in one place makes it easier with the car. Horses for courses and all that, and I held out for a bit, but am generally in favour now.
It helps that it's also my daily driver, so not another vehicle to tax, insure etc.
It helps that it's also my daily driver, so not another vehicle to tax, insure etc.
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Err, very easily, it's a T6.1 (150hp) with a towing capacity of 2,500kg which I suspect covers pretty much any caravan on the market. I'm looking at an Eriba or similar, they are generally around 1,000kg at the most and often much less.
I tow a caravan with my T6.1 150, they make a great tow vehicle. I must admit to being perplexed by the enormous motorhome towing small car combo.
The way I see it, you’ve got:
Campervans (VW transporter sized) offer a more comfortable *camping* experience - the clue’s in the name! You’ve got the advantages of being able to fit in a car sized parking spaces, navigate height barriers and access most of the tight/twisty lanes. The disadvantages are that they’re very small and don’t have a toilet.
Then you have the motorhome - larger, self contained “homes” on wheels including toilet/shower, often cooking facilities including oven and/or microwave. More comfortable and spacious than a campervan, but larger size has its disadvantages in terms of access and they are very expensive for what they are.
Car and caravan combo gives you the “home” part of a motorhome and a good sized comfortable car to get about in once you’re pitched up. All of the comfort of a large motorhome but much less of the expense of purchase cost and maintenance and none of the compromise of having a “cab” in the front.
The motorhome towing a small car lot seem (to me) to be making a compromise to make up for a compromise, at huge cost. Take a hugely expensive motorhome, nice and comfortable but very expensive and discover it’s quite inconvenient to get about in whilst on holiday. Then buy a totally separate small car and towing rig to give you a convenient vehicle to get about locally whilst pitched up. You’d get a less compromised and much cheaper “home” aspect with a caravan, and all the convenience of a good sized and comfortable family car that you already own to drive about locally on holiday…?!
For me it’s either campervan or car/caravan. Motorhome is an expensive compromise, towing a small car behind is absurd.
Possible shout out to the “high top” but still van (non coach built VW crafter/renault master vans) that have most of the convenience of a camper and far fewer of the disadvantages of a full sized motorhome.
All very obviously IMO, YMMV!
The way I see it, you’ve got:
Campervans (VW transporter sized) offer a more comfortable *camping* experience - the clue’s in the name! You’ve got the advantages of being able to fit in a car sized parking spaces, navigate height barriers and access most of the tight/twisty lanes. The disadvantages are that they’re very small and don’t have a toilet.
Then you have the motorhome - larger, self contained “homes” on wheels including toilet/shower, often cooking facilities including oven and/or microwave. More comfortable and spacious than a campervan, but larger size has its disadvantages in terms of access and they are very expensive for what they are.
Car and caravan combo gives you the “home” part of a motorhome and a good sized comfortable car to get about in once you’re pitched up. All of the comfort of a large motorhome but much less of the expense of purchase cost and maintenance and none of the compromise of having a “cab” in the front.
The motorhome towing a small car lot seem (to me) to be making a compromise to make up for a compromise, at huge cost. Take a hugely expensive motorhome, nice and comfortable but very expensive and discover it’s quite inconvenient to get about in whilst on holiday. Then buy a totally separate small car and towing rig to give you a convenient vehicle to get about locally whilst pitched up. You’d get a less compromised and much cheaper “home” aspect with a caravan, and all the convenience of a good sized and comfortable family car that you already own to drive about locally on holiday…?!
For me it’s either campervan or car/caravan. Motorhome is an expensive compromise, towing a small car behind is absurd.
Possible shout out to the “high top” but still van (non coach built VW crafter/renault master vans) that have most of the convenience of a camper and far fewer of the disadvantages of a full sized motorhome.
All very obviously IMO, YMMV!
timbob said:
I must admit to being perplexed by the enormous motorhome towing small car combo.
The way I see it, you ve got:
Campervans (VW transporter sized) offer a more comfortable *camping* experience - the clue s in the name! You ve got the advantages of being able to fit in a car sized parking spaces, navigate height barriers and access most of the tight/twisty lanes. The disadvantages are that they re very small and don t have a toilet.
Then you have the motorhome - larger, self contained homes on wheels including toilet/shower, often cooking facilities including oven and/or microwave. More comfortable and spacious than a campervan, but larger size has its disadvantages in terms of access and they are very expensive for what they are.
Car and caravan combo gives you the home part of a motorhome and a good sized comfortable car to get about in once you re pitched up. All of the comfort of a large motorhome but much less of the expense of purchase cost and maintenance and none of the compromise of having a cab in the front.
The motorhome towing a small car lot seem (to me) to be making a compromise to make up for a compromise, at huge cost. Take a hugely expensive motorhome, nice and comfortable but very expensive and discover it s quite inconvenient to get about in whilst on holiday. Then buy a totally separate small car and towing rig to give you a convenient vehicle to get about locally whilst pitched up. You d get a less compromised and much cheaper home aspect with a caravan, and all the convenience of a good sized and comfortable family car that you already own to drive about locally on holiday ?!
For me it s either campervan or car/caravan. Motorhome is an expensive compromise, towing a small car behind is absurd.
Possible shout out to the high top but still van (non coach built VW crafter/renault master vans) that have most of the convenience of a camper and far fewer of the disadvantages of a full sized motorhome.
All very obviously IMO, YMMV!
That's like saying you're a bit perplexed someone lives in a 6-bedroom house. As a single person, 2 beds is ample, so why bother with the additional council tax and maintenance?The way I see it, you ve got:
Campervans (VW transporter sized) offer a more comfortable *camping* experience - the clue s in the name! You ve got the advantages of being able to fit in a car sized parking spaces, navigate height barriers and access most of the tight/twisty lanes. The disadvantages are that they re very small and don t have a toilet.
Then you have the motorhome - larger, self contained homes on wheels including toilet/shower, often cooking facilities including oven and/or microwave. More comfortable and spacious than a campervan, but larger size has its disadvantages in terms of access and they are very expensive for what they are.
Car and caravan combo gives you the home part of a motorhome and a good sized comfortable car to get about in once you re pitched up. All of the comfort of a large motorhome but much less of the expense of purchase cost and maintenance and none of the compromise of having a cab in the front.
The motorhome towing a small car lot seem (to me) to be making a compromise to make up for a compromise, at huge cost. Take a hugely expensive motorhome, nice and comfortable but very expensive and discover it s quite inconvenient to get about in whilst on holiday. Then buy a totally separate small car and towing rig to give you a convenient vehicle to get about locally whilst pitched up. You d get a less compromised and much cheaper home aspect with a caravan, and all the convenience of a good sized and comfortable family car that you already own to drive about locally on holiday ?!
For me it s either campervan or car/caravan. Motorhome is an expensive compromise, towing a small car behind is absurd.
Possible shout out to the high top but still van (non coach built VW crafter/renault master vans) that have most of the convenience of a camper and far fewer of the disadvantages of a full sized motorhome.
All very obviously IMO, YMMV!
I think Essel hinted at it above, it's all about versatility. Sure, on that one 3-week trip to one location the car + caravan combo wins, but if you usually do trips that work better in a motorhome and have a small car for commuting, then overall it just opens up your options.
Alex9 said:
That's like saying you're a bit perplexed someone lives in a 6-bedroom house. As a single person, 2 beds is ample, so why bother with the additional council tax and maintenance?
I think Essel hinted at it above, it's all about versatility. Sure, on that one 3-week trip to one location the car + caravan combo wins, but if you usually do trips that work better in a motorhome and have a small car for commuting, then overall it just opens up your options.
That’s probably because I’m coming at it from the perspective of someone who’s never going to be able to afford a six bedroom house…I think Essel hinted at it above, it's all about versatility. Sure, on that one 3-week trip to one location the car + caravan combo wins, but if you usually do trips that work better in a motorhome and have a small car for commuting, then overall it just opens up your options.
For me, growing up, caravan holidays were the way my parents could afford to take us on holiday 2-3 times a year - usually a week at Easter, a short break at May half term and the full two weeks in the summer holidays. We’d never have afforded a month away per year in hotels, but, certainly with the cost per night prices in the 90s, it was very doable in a caravan.
At the end of the day, you’re having a cheap holiday in a field. A £100k gets you a lot of holidays in very nice hotels. Having that much tied up in a large motorhome/small car combo seems - to me, I very much emphasise (and ymmv) - a very expensive way to have a cheap holiday in a field.
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