Mike Harding wrote:

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I have no axe to grind here - my house settlement occurred yesterday and I'll be taking to the road once my caravan is built - you will, I'm sure, understand it is of no consequence to me what you choose to do, I simply offer advice from my research and thought on this matter because it will affect me too.

The first thing to consider is that there is a *world* of difference between people who *live* in their vehicles and those who use them for holiday purposes and I suggest you treat with caution advice from the latter group in this regard - they have a home to fall back on. For them vehicle failure is a problem... for people who live in their vehicle it's a crisis.

The problem with having your home and motor car combined is that *any* breakdown of your motor car potentially robs you of a home whereas a caravan is unlikely to breakdown in such a manner as to prevent its transport to a caravan site and/or use. It *can* happen but it's unlikely.

If the tow car breaks down it is a simple matter to have the van (your home) transported to a caravan park and await repairs or replacement of the car.

It is hard to think of anything, outside a road accident, which would make a caravan incapable of being transported to a park in order to provide a home.

A motorhome, with it's built in engine and other complex systems, may suffer myriad failures which would render it unusable.

Check back a few months on this forum for the woman who posted from Perth desperate for help as her, newish, motorhome had suffered a gearbox failure and was going to take six months to repair.

Or you could chat with my friend Mike who had to lodge in a caravan park for six months as the motor in his aged motorhome was repaired.

I would have thought all this was blindingly obvious.

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 I know this is a very old post, but I felt compelled to reply to Mike (read I'm bored) 

While you have a point in thinking that with a caravan, a break down would be less of an issue, I can also see that you have never been involved personally on a motorhome breakdown..

First thing is: have you ever heard of Motel/Hotels/Pubs, Caravan Park Cabins??? They all offer accommodation, and in my experience they are also willing to help once the problem has been explained..

Second: I'm a retired diesel mechanic (mainly trucks), and I can assure you that in the 30+ years, in the last workshop I was working, we had several times people living/staying in their vehicles (bus conversion, 5th wheeler pulled by truck and small Iveco/Fiat/Mercedes motorhomes) while been repaired in the workshop.

Some workshop (like our) also did offer to these customers, power (as their solar panel were not in the sun and shower and toilets if need it).. So there is another side of the coin that Obviously you have never experienced.

Some workshops are very strict on this matter, but in my experience, once in the rural areas, things get a lot more relaxed and workshop owner are nice and accommodating people, with customers with the right attitude!

If your concern, is about your precious possession, and think that any workshop will have people stealing your stuff, I'm sorry for you, I can't help you there.. Not all mechanics are thieves or dishonest people!

A motorhome, with it's built in engine and other complex systems, may suffer myriad failures which would render it unusable.

Sorry, but you lost me here. Not sure of what complex system are you referring too..

What would happen if your caravan has a severe issue (frame work), and you need to take it to a caravan place to sort it out? How is that any different from a motorhome breaking down???

So yes, while I can see your point of view, it is not as bad as you have tried to paint it! Perhaps, that's why there are so many motorhomes on the road.. 

I think both caravan and Motorhome have their purposes, and there are also 5th wheelers that offer something between..