Hi,and Welcome

I was like you,and having had both,For Us a Caravan is definitely the way to go.

They both have their Pros,and Cons.

The main problem,with a Motor home,is you have to disconnect everything,

Unplug Power,Awning etc,to go out anywhere,as I am not able to walk very far,

this had to be done every time we went to a Club,or even to the Shops

for essentials,unless they were close.

With a Van,you have the car,or whatever,for transport.

 

John

.. and a welcome from me too ..

I've had a MH for the past 4 years and now changing to Tug & Van ..

As a solo traveller, I've had the benefit of just making decisions for myself only and not needing to consider a partners opinions ..

.. Loved having a Motorbike (towed behind in a bike trailer) to run about on when the MH was parked up .. but the love for a bike took 2nd place to common sense and had to go as a safety factor.

MH or Van ? .. very much a personal decision as we each have diferent wants and needs .. and the we choose accordingly !

 

Like a lot of people who are setting up first time or upgrading, we thought about the pros and cons of both as well.

The deciding factor for us to go the car/caravan route was when we saw a couple's whose motorhome had broken down. 

They where left stranded with no transport and no accommodation while the vehicle was being repaired. This they told us would take approx. ten days or more as the dealer (vehicle) did not have the spare parts required in Australia.

At least with the car/caravan combination you have accommodation still and the choice of getting rid of the troublesome vehicle without the huge cost of swapping a complete package.

But I do see certain advantages of a motorhome as well.

If we where touring and moving most days, I think we would go the motorhome way.

But for us, we will stay with the car/caravan combination.

Ken

 

-- Edited by Landfall on Thursday 5th of December 2013 07:53:40 AM

No matter what choice you make, it will always be a compromise. I thought about it a lot and decided a slide-on camper and ute was the way to go. If the ute breaks down, I can put the camper on jacks until the ute is fixed. A bicycle on the back is handy for short trips to town (or even a little sightseeing). I also carry a dome tent.

I really don't think it's a case of which is better ,more a case of which suits your needs.
We run a 7.6 meter MH and tow a small 4x4 Suzuki Grand Vitara on an A frame. Ten mins to unhook and drive away. So easy to set up the MH. Park, swivel seats. Done I think the breakdown thing is exactly the same if your MH breaks down you still need a motel/cabin whatever. Tug breaks down you still have to have a tow to a CP or wherever.
Flat towing behind your motorhome, I have seen everything from a small Barina, Getz even an Audi Quatro 4x4. The CP I am in at the moment has a huge double deck Coach with a trailer the same size. the trailer has a 4x4/Tinnie/Motorbike /Quad bike and goodness knows what else. That is at the extreme end of the scale though.
For me it's a Motor Home.

We sold our van with the intention of buying a 5th wheeler for the extra room.

After looking at a few we recognised the problem of what to do if the tug was ever out of action.
It's not as easy as just backing up anything else with a tow ball, no it has to be a vehicle with a compatible hitch.

After a close look at a Jayco Stirling with slide-outs I reckon our space requirements are met and the 5th wheeler is now not likely. Unfortunately we also had a look at a decent size MH and
are now not going to buy anything until we can rent a MH for a while and see if we can live without a car while touring. The idea of not having to unhitch is very appealing to my wrecked back.
To be honest the days of unhitching the car and storming off to visit the lighthouse or something are over, I'm fairly sure we'd be happy with the places a MH will get us into.

So we've been see sawing between a van and motorhome too Tomcat.



Time for a coffee now.


Cheers.

We went from Caravan to motor home. Reasons as we are full time on the road, more weight allowed for hobbies etc, carry more water, tow smaller 4WD which does twice as much travelling than MH, safer to drive (in my opinion), more comfortable  seating. Was  a problem when mechanic ran bus into a truck and we were waiting for repairs. Insurance paid accommodation costs. We had 8 times in the first 11 months with a new caravan that we were without accommodation whilst leaks were attempted to be fixed. Breakdowns happen with both vans and motor homes. We stayed in bus in workshop for 3 weeks whilst I had suspension upgraded which was different.

Basically it is up to the individuals on priorities of the pluses and minuses. Write down the item that are essential  and those not so important  and see what you come up with. What are the issues with the current caravan that you can't put up with.

 

Good luck

Neil

We have only towed caravan/camper-trailer till now, but met a couple who in the last 30 years had had five caravans, one 28ft long, and were now travelling in a little Hi-ace! they said they had more freedom now than ever before, you could take the Hi-ace to places you could never get a caravan, and everywhere they went, they had their food and bed, so no need to return to the caravan. No need to hitch up, no extra registration/insurance costs, 5 tyres less to worry about... But it wouldn't suit the people who like to go somewhere and stay a few weeks, they agreed a caravan suits better for that. Now I'm keen to get a smaller motorhome, but Mr D doesn't like small spaces..... another consideration.

Tomcat, ask yourself are you a migratory Nomad who goes North every winter and stays at the same place? Or do you like to continually explore?



-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 5th of December 2013 08:02:22 PM

Other people's opinions are just that, their opinion.

The only way for you to know what is right for you is to try both types.

You have a caravan so you know what that is about, I would suggest you hire a Motorhome and take it for a reasonable trip to see if that lifestyle suits you.

You could even look on some of the Re-location sites and you may get a movement handy to you so you can test drive for the cost of fuel only.

Cheers Neil

goldcoaster wrote:

---

We have always had a motorhome , at first it was a pain to go down the road or sightseeing , then we bought a Suzuki vitara 4wd to tow behind and now it is a breeze to go down the road. We have just sold our motorhome and are looking to upgrade to a bigger motorhome , they are so easy to set up and free camping is a breeze. Security at night if you just want to pull over and camp , no getting out of vehicle and if you get hassled just jump in the drivers seat and take off. You have the caravan experience so hire a motorhome and see if you like it but hire one that will accommodate your needs so you get a good idea. The bigger the motorhome the higher the licd.,and possibly inspection every 12 mths for the bigger rigs. When looking check the Tare weight against the GVM , some motorhomes are running around overweight with all the extras people have added after purchase, before you buy put it over a public weighbridge. Cheers

---

 I would never consider a caravan and tug for all the same reasons..

We tow a car and have no trouble getting around when we want..

We often travel with friends with a van and when we pull up for a cuppa we have the billy boiled and the coffee made before they are even in their van..

They are now thinking of changing over to a MH..
Ohhh and a Pee on the move also happens...lol.. as does a cold drink out of the fridge...

That Scooter is a great idea. Any chance of posting a pic of it on the back of you MH?

Maybe it's just me, but a couple of statements made by the MH fraternity don't make sense?

Security, "if you feel hassled just jump in the drivers seat and move on?"

Have you ever thought that if someone really wanted to rob you or cause you harm that all they have to do is park a vehicle right in front of you, let a couple of tyres down, etc.

Towing and unhooking?

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't towing a small runabout still towing? If it's on a trailer, as seen by me in a CP this year, you have to unload the car, unhook the trailer, park the MH, find a spot for the trailer if you are going to put out the awning, not enough room on the CP site. If you are flat towing, still unhook and then remove A frame.

"peeing and boiling the billy on the move" both illegal unless stopped, same as a caravan, maybe it will take 2 minutes longer to get out of the car and in the caravan? Are you in that much of a hurry?

As posted before, I agree there are advantages and disadvantages to both, but some of the statements don't stack up.

 

Ken

 

Up north years ago, I lived in a tent for nine months with wife and two Littlies, Loved it,

Lived Solo in a fully self contained 30 foot Caravan With all services connected, for four years on site, while I built my house, I Absolutely Hated it,

It had two bedrooms, One had two bunks either side and folded down into a lounge, shower and toilet, But I built a toilet on the outside of the rear bedroom, as you got the carpet wet every time you stepped out of the Dunny,

Floor was always wet in the Shower -Toilet Cubicle,

It Had a full kitchen and seated four at the table,

I was going to buy a big Mercedes Ex Bus and convert it myself to a motor home, I fully costed that all out, Including Rego and on the road Expenses,

So I bought one in from the states, Its got more Gizmo's in it than you can poke a stick at, But it all worked out a lot cheaper and better than any thing I could build myself here,

The reason I went motor home over Caravan, Is I like them, You can pull up in the main street, anywhere, and put the Kettle on, go to the toilet, wash your hands, come back, make your coffee, Hop out, stroll up the street, coffee in hand,

Or Place your coffee on the Dash and keep driving

Or The same in a supermarket carpark, Camp there over night, do your shopping, Etc,

Except for strolling up the street, and shopping, You can do it all inside your MH in your undies, Or Naked if your really keen, Hahahahaha,

Just the convenience of parking any where on the side of the road, Creeks, rivers, beaches, main streets, Carparks, Etc,

You dont even have to open your door once, Its all inside, Driving, relaxing, lounge, sleeping, toilet, Vanity, shower, Kitchen,

Towing is by an, A Frame, Unclip the Ball joint, pullout the connector for the lights and brakes, Clip the A frame up, Drive away,

I think M/Homers are more likely to be Free Campers than Caravans, So the thinking can be different,

Your heading for a camp some where in the sticks, You check the cupboards and fridge while your still in town, In front of the shops, Still inside your M/H,

Curtains drawn, It just looks like a truck parked there, your inside, and no one knows or suspects, Have a shower, Freshen up, Step our side and meet the day, In the middle of town, or lift the automatic levellors and drive away, A button inside my M/H.

I would find that a bit more difficult in a Caravan, It would be noticeable,

Security is the same for both, Common sense prevails there,

But is all down to personal preference, and what, YOU, will actually be doing with it, what ever you buy, It has to fit your purpose,

I find when free camping it pays to stop in town or way out of town,,

The M.H caravan thing may depend on where you are in your life??

You may have a workhorse 4WD etc and tow your caravan and if working ?? Only 4 weeks every year..

If more mature ? [older] the Motorhome may be better ??

You could be a truck driver or have licence to drive a heavy vehicle so the size, weight doesn't concern you ..

Having slightly more storage and room helps..

Cost wise ?? Depending on age etc there's not much in it..

If you keep under 9m parking isn't too much of an issue..

How each is set up and how you plan on using it is possibly "more important" !!

No point in having 120W solar for example if you plan on free camping for some time ..

Sheesh this is like the old Ford V Holden argument... Aha..

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 6th of December 2013 12:30:30 PM