Motorhome V Campervan : What you need to know!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2024
- Motorhome V Campervan : What you need to know!
Confused about which is best for you? We give you our comparison and weigh up the pros and cons of each. #AD Try Readly with our link, 2 months free which can be cancelled anytime: gb.readly.com/tow
Having had the use of four different size motorhomes and then a VW Campervan, we make a comparison between the two and explain how we got on. Dont forget, everyone wants something different from a leisure vehicle. Our experience is exactly that, our experience. Please add you comments about how you would compare the two, it may help someone else make the right decision for them. Happy touring everyone!
Great video guys , the wife & I are just starting to think about a campervan and you certainly have given us food for thought. Thank you for your tips & advice xx
Thank you for watching, all the best on your camper journey 😊
A caravan, campervan and motorhome are completely different animals. If you were to tour the NC500 for instance, a large motorhome would be extremely restrictive, not being able to get down single track roads, or attraction car
parks or fit in height barrier car parks either but I would say that I would always go for a long wheel base campervan, it makes an immense difference in space and access to cupboards etc. I would also always go for a 4 foot wide rib bed. A campervan also works best with just a couple. We use our campervan for this type of excursion and days out. We also have a 7.5 metre caravan and that is used for fixed place outings where it excels in this scenario, with more space and facilities. We like and enjoy both but for different scenarios and reasons. I must say though that the campervan you had was a particularly poor example, with no diesel heater and a thin bed which was a rock n roll bed instead of the much better rib bed, which is better for ease of use and access to storage beneath and much greater seperated for clean and dirty storage above and beneath the horizontal rear leaf also than a rock n roll bed and also a short wheel base. It had no high level or rear storage either. The other thing is that your experience of a campervan was very short. It takes time to get used to the smaller space and only take with you what you actually need. We always have a toilet in a bag in the corner but with the extra space of a lwb, it is no problem to leave it there as a foot stool and when travelling with the dual passenger seats facing forwards, bungeed to the seat frame. We also always carry a spare butane cylinder and a portable hob and gas cannisters as back ups. I am 64 with an enlarged prostate and I do need to get up through the night and it is absolutely no problem, in either vehicle but the rule is no no2's, do them in the facilities. As for showers, even in the caravan, we only use camp site facilities with both vehicles, so no problem there either. The fact that you can't park a large motorhome anywhere puts me off and the reason I bought the caravan to go with the car, which you can. Out of the three types of liesure vehicle, a motorhome is the one I would never consider buying it being the most logistically restrictive.
The other thing is distance to destination, we travelled 300 miles to bunree recently in one day, towing the caravan and the journey was quite stressful, even though we went via Stirling instead of Loch Lomond but in the campervan we have done the same journey numerous times with ease but once there on a 10 day single place stay it was better in the caravan, with the extra space but we weren't doing the NC500 for which the campervan would be the ideal tool.
Thank you for sharing your experience and the camper and caravan seem a popular choice for offering everything. It is also great that you have arranged your camper so it works for you, and I agree about the logistics around the motorhome. Thanks for the tips about the camper too..it gives other people ideas of how to deal with the space and toilet consideration. Thanks for leaving a helpful and detailed comment 😊
My turning point for a motorhome was a trip to mainland Europe when I was younger and while on a tenting holiday, I spoke to a some people in a motorhome parked up near a beach in Spain and they told me where they had parked mostly for free, I then realised it would give us the freedom and the cost could be reduced ,21 years later We still have the only motorhome we have ever brought and the wife and I still use it to to escape the winter and spend that time in southern Spain etc.
Fantastic to hear you are still out and about in your original motorhome.. we love touring too. Enjoy your travels 😊
Second comment, the small narrow roads are no issue, as lorries drive on them when they have a job to do in those areas, also waste collection is going on on weekly bases, so you will pick up the skills to handle larger vehicle
You are totally right about campervans in my opinion. I bought a New Camper King Conversion last August. After a couple of outings I realised that space and comfort was a problem. When It rained there was only the back seat ;which I found that you can’t relax on it. Then there is the toilet problem. Luckily I am a lone traveler,but it is still a problem. At the NEC I ordered a new campervan with toilet and shower ,full kitchen and plenty of room to sit in the rear. Trouble is the long wait before it arrives. But I think it will be worth it.
Thank you for watching and for telling us about your experience. Hopefully your new layout will work better for you and you can get out on more adventures. We have learnt from our own purchases which layout works for us best, but you don’t often get it right first time. Have a fantastic weekend 😊
Think they are all fair comments. We have had tents, trailer tents, mh and now have a campervan and a caravan. We use the camper for just us and then when all the family come we use caravan with camper. I love it!
Thank you for watching 😊
Best thing is to try it all, rent all the different types of vehicles and do a long weekend trip and also longer stay, over a week in each, that will give you good idea of what is what
We went straight for a motorhome and absolutely love it
A lot of research was done on layouts and base cabs etc and visiting dealers to see them and having recently taken ours for its annual inspection and looked at what was available at the dealership we know we’ve definitely got the layout that suits us. We plan our trips so we’re able to walk, cycle or use public transport from the site
Completely agree with your comments and advice and thank you for another great vlog
Thank you for watching and have a fantastic summer in your motorhome 😊👍
Hi.we had campervan and then bought a adria m/h we had it for ten years great m/h no trouble but parking it and going about fotget it.We bought a 4 berth bailey caravan and tow with a ford custom 6 seater van best thing we ever did best of both worlds.lf i had vw campervan i would by a trailer to put awnings etc and free up space in the campervan.great vlog Roger.
Thank you for watching Roger, several people have also commented about towing with a van and then having best of both worlds. It seems a good choice. Enjoy your travels 😊
We have gone from tent camping to a micro camper (Amdro boot jump), 6m motorhome and now a 5.4m campervan high top. All had things that were good and all had compromises. Take care Gill
Thank you for watching Gill..that’s a good variety and yes, always a compromise. Enjoy your camper 😊👍
I use to have a caravan and sold it to buy a campervan. Yes I miss some aspects of the caravan but I find the campervan so much more versatile on a day to day basis. I enjoy walking / hiking and also scuba diving and the camper allows me to carry what I need, park up and gives me somewhere warm and dry when I return. I can park in a normal space and it’s just like a normal car to drive. My conversion is based on a T32 Kombi van, so I’m not restricted to “van” speed limits on the road - something to watch for when buying a conversion as you don’t want to received speeding fines in the post and something you’ve not mentioned in any of your reviews on the campervan. When camping for a few nights, I look at the camper as a warm tent, I can either use the bathrooms on the site or just have a wash etc if “off grid”. I guess you pay your money and make your choice. Keep up the good work.👍
Thank you for watching and adding your experience. The lower speed limits only apply to motorhomes with a maximum unladen weight over 3050kg so many motorhomes are not effected by lower speeds. People often get confused when you start talking about speed and weights so I try not to go too far in to this unless its a specific vlog about that. But, it’s certainly worth knowing the restrictions for your own vehicle, so well pointed out. Enjoy your camper, there certainly are many pros to one, especially over a caravan as you can just get up and go. Have a fantastic New Year and thank you again for watching 😊
Great video. Currently a T6 conversion owner. Family of 4 and considering a caravan but the love the T6 aswel 🤯🤯
Thank you for watching..keep the T6 as your tow car if you can afford to do so and combine it with a caravan. I think that is a great combination then. Have a great weekend 😊
It comes down, as you say, to personal choice. Having had two caravans, a 6m motorhome, a 6.36m panel van conversion and currently a VW California Ocean and also having rented in the UK and Canada our experience is thus. In one of our caravans and our Motorhome we had water ingress issues - not major but this nevertheless prompted our move to a contained panel van. This was a brilliant vehicle conversion but for us it meant 3 vehicles sitting on the driveway (6m would have been better). While the California is absolutely a compromise, including the porta-potti, it is now a second car, a day vehicle as well as a camper and it has made us realise just how much superfluous stuff we took away with us! While we have used it in January and were very toasty with the diesel heater running it comes into its own in good weather. Also having recently rented a big 6.7m panel van conversion in Canada we appreciate just how much individual design also matters - the rental was great for 10days but longer term would have driven me nuts! As I say just my experience and observations.
Thank you for your detailed and helpful comment. The diesel heater seems to be a more efficient choice from other comments too. Happy travels 😊👍
Good vlog guys. Very helpful in the decision making process. I tend to call them ‘compravans’ as every one is a compromise in some way or another.
😊😂🤷🏼♀️ That sums it up very well…have a great weekend and thank you for watching
Great video guys and good to see you explain the different perspectives. We sit in the middle as have had the VW T5 camper for 12 years and love it, however have slightly outgrown and as we plan to move to our next phase in life of longer travel with potentially more stuff, we are looking for something a little bigger, however still like the option of 'driving that small mountain road' or still 'going down that narrow Cornish country lane' or 'parking in that single space', so we continue to search out the compromise, which is the larger campervan conversion such as the MWB crafter / sprinter.
Thank you for watching both of you and happy van conversion hunting..thats always the exciting part 😊
I’ve been full time in a 6m motorhome for 3 years , and I’m finding it’s getting harder to find park ups ( height barriers/ restrictions etc) so I’m about to swap for a caravan and small camper. I have a seasonal pitch so I won’t be towing often, but I think a camper will be way more versatile than the m/h as a daily drive and weekends away. I’ll also have more space for full time living with a caravan coz I can go bigger with the seasonal pitch 😊 I’ve battled with the decision for a while but now I’m excited for a new chapter. Best of both worlds
Thank you for watching and I think that sounds a practical choice. The caravan will give you the space for living but you can still have the freedom to explore with the camper. We have found the height barriers have made it more difficult to park on days out. Even when you check car park websites, many of them haven’t been updated with new height barriers. Enjoy your new set up 😊😊
Agree or disagree - doesn’t matter - it’s the fact these reviews make people think - thank you. I must admit not sure a Motorhome is the best tool for the uk. I use a vw transporter lwb for the uk - short surf trips and the like plus it’s my main vehicle. Thinking about retirement and we want to head off to Europe for 3 months which is where I feel the motorhome comes into its own. Would your views differ if you were looking at longer trips in Europe? Thanks love the channel
Thank you for watching and you are absolutely right, choose the vehicle that works for you. I find a motorhome works really well for us, but the compromise is the practicality which you mention with your VW. I just plan differently depending on the leisure vehicle. Europe is much more motorhome friendly, you even see caravans being towed in to supermarkets so they can go shopping. 🤷🏼♀️😂 Have a lovely weekend and thanks again for watching 😊
Good advice about making a choice. I prefer space and so prefer a larger Motorhome. Camper’s certainly have their benefits as every day and dual purpose vehicles. Depends what works for you and I think hiring is a good bit of advice. Enjoy your weekend both of you, you are looking very well.
Thank you for watching and you have a great weekend too 👍🏼
Many Thanks again for a great Vlog . We have just sold our 22 year old Niesmann A class and are looking for its replacement for next year . My Husband never minded driving the old truck from place to place but it worried me that it was too wide and seemed to fill the roads . We did use public transport quite a lot once it was parked up .We have been looking at the Adria Compact that you had as a possibility for its space but narrower profile , or a 6.36m van conversion such as the Malibu .We have decided it now need to be an automatic gearbox ...we are at that age where life's to short to change gears ! Your findings about space and compromise are our concerns , having had a very comfortable space in the past , especially with dogs sharing that area , and if the weather is grotty . We plan to go the the October show , for a second time , to look more deeply at our selection .
Thank you for watching.. I prefer the automatic too, especially on a larger vehicle, it makes the driving more enjoyable. The Malibu is a good quality choice, part of Carthago. Going to the show is a good idea, draw up a short list and see how you feel when you get inside the vehicles. Have a great weekend 😊
We started in a tent as a family, and to be fair it probably had a bigger usable area then the caravans and campervan that followed... BUT that and the campervan didn't offer all the comforts and bathroom requirements to make it easier. Now back to a caravan again which gives us the option to go to places in the car, which if we are honest is exactly what a lot of councils only cater for in their car parks, which is a massive oversight on their part. The stay cation boom should of shown them that people want to holiday in the U.K. and make it more accessible for motorhomes and campervans, these people bring money into these areas. Sticking with a caravan for now, but would love to try a motorhome further down the track.
Fantastic, enjoy your caravan and yes, it is much easier with the car. That is the compromise we have made with the Motorhome, finding where to park. Have a lovely week and thank you for watching 😊
I keep thinking about this. I want something for just one or two nights max. Mainly for hiking and outdoor activities. I agree about the fixed toilet. There are a few that do them, but not many and those vans have a compromise for storage space. I feel like I'd get more use out of a little camper.
Thanks for watching.. a camper is great for a couple of nights and getting use out of it is important as they are a big investment. Have a lovely week 😊
Hi both, very good advice for people to think about! Me personally, I don't fancy a campervan, as you say if the weather is ok, then it's fine but if you pick the wrong week and you're there for longer than a few days then it's just the same as sitting in a car in a car park! I don't know how people do it with small kids too!! Trying to keep them occupied in that small space! No, not for me. A panel van , now they can have the same facilities as a MH just smaller! Great vlog you two and Karina! Look as though you've been to the caribbean!! Great tan! I'm up to Scotland again next week, can't wait! Take care both, see you next time! xx 🥰😀
Morning Anne, I think a van conversion or small motorhome would be perfect for you. Have a fantastic time in Scotland, it sounds like you are enjoying your trips. Have a lovely weekend 😊👍
We got our adria Dl in March and love it, we rented a few to see how small we could go, glad we settled in the Dl.
That is fantastic to hear! Our DL was fantastic down in Devon and Somerset..it was very agile. Enjoy your travels 😊😊
Great explanation, I agree with you very much, I am going to buy the Volkswagen California, because I only want to use it for no more than 3 nights, which can completely include the weekend. You can usually use this car as a commuter car to and from get off work.
Fantastic, enjoy your California, and yes you can use it to commute. 😊 Thank you for watching
Great video. The only problem I have with our campervan is height barriers, in car parks & picnic places. It's my nightmare. I have to check places before we go.
The recent mass installation of height barriers since 2021 has made things more difficult…
I currently own a VW T6 that we had coverted. Even though it's a LWB it can still feel restrictive with the two of us and now two dogs. Without the drive-away awning it would be very difficult. I think we will purchase a caravan and tow it with our T6 to have the best of both world's. The MH isn’t going to be the right choice for us due to the restricted parking. We travel around North Wales and the Lake District often and go for walks where the parking is difficulty in a car, let alone a MH, and public transportation just isnt an option.
I'd rather have all the extra space a caravan provides and the option of the T6 if we would like to pop off for a few nights. I really like the Adria Tiber, it seems the best value for money compared to most others in it's class.
Thanks again for you content. Excellent as always.
Thank you for watching Jamie, it seems quite a few people have a caravan too. I think that is probably the best of it all. I agree, parking with a motorhome is restrictive. I have to plan how to get where I want to visit and parking. The Tiber is very nice…all the best with your choice 😊👍
I currently have a T6 conversion. As a family of 4 it’s pretty tight 😂 we are considering buying a caravan and towing with the T6 but I’m worried it’s not powerful enough, I have the smaller 110hp engine.
This video was very helpful. Thank you
Thank you for watching…glad it was helpful 😊
Hmmm I need to do more research. Thank you for your advice
Thank you for watching…if you are unsure definitely rent and try, and do lots of looking..you dont need to rush. Good luck in your search 😊👍
I have a camper van which is an high top it’s only for me & my dog I love it & it’s my daily drive it suits me not sure how it would be with 2 people though 😊
Thank you for watching Christine.. the best vehicle is the one that works for you..it is great to have the freedom to travel 😊🐾
Great vlog again. You have a adria at last lol . We love are adria adora seine. We go away in October and that's it normally but this year we are going away in the Christmas period this year .
Thank you for watching.. our friends have a Seine and love it too. Enjoy your Christmas 🎄 trip 😊👍
We tow our touring caravan with our VW T6 Caravelle, whilst not a camper it makes an awesome day van with heating, room to eat at a table, change at the beach etc. The VW is too small to sleep in for the 3 of us plus the dog. The Caravelle and the Caravan combination for us suits our lifestyle perfectly.
That sounds a good combination Nick, it gives you space in the caravan and the practicality when you are out for the day. Have a good weekend and thank you for watching 😊
Hi - thanks for the info, just starting to get our heads around the idea of camper or MH :) A simple question - if you have a pitch somewhere, what do you do to keep that pitch if you're out & about in the van? Thanks
Thank you for watching, most people use a sign like this in the link. Some caravan sites allocate you a specific pitch so no-one should then go on it, but it’s always best to be safe and leave a sign 😊👍 www.amazon.co.uk/Xtremeauto-Motorhome-Campervan-Reserved-Yellow/dp/B081NP5TLK/ref=asc_df_B081NP5TLK/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696452099252&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1506191170775055107&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007017&hvtargid=pla-930241099350&psc=1&mcid=da495fd9ef2f300b974054ec7fa56758&gad_source=1
Great video as always. I wonder about an Adria twin - maybe the best of both worlds. Would be great to see a similar comparison video on that
Thank you for watching…if we can get away in a van conversion we would be pleased to do a comparison. One thing I have noticed with a van conversion is the benefit is you get all the comforts of the motorhome, such as shower/toilet/kitchen/heating etc but the compromise is certainly internal floor space and somewhere to relax inside. I would like to try a van conversion, like the Twin, to see how we got on with it. Have a lovely week 😊👍
This is one your best reviews .enjoyed it
Thank you for watching 😊
Adore your channel
Guys - Thankyou.
Thank you for watching 😊😊
I retire soon and I’m going down the camper van route.I want it as a everyday vehicle, also I’ll be traveling on my own most of the time and the other thing is I want to wild camp, the thought of paying out a small fortune for a campsite fills me with dread, although that will happen if my other half is traveling with me.😂
😂🤷🏼♀️ Enjoy your retirement.. once you get out there you can see what works best for you. I prefer sites as I feel more relaxed, I have done pub stops before and car parks that allow overnight. It is always best to do what works for you. I find the CS and CL sites are still good value and if you are travelling alone The Camping and Caravanning Club sites are good value too. Happy travels 😊👍
@@HereWeTow thank you 👋
I've always been a motorhome owner since 2005 and have enjoyed travelling Europe using Aires, the NC500 and just completed the Wild Atlantic Way. Camper Vans are my worst nightmare for one reason, the sliding door. The campervan sliding door is very noisy opening and it appears it always needs slamming shut. At a recent motorhome show I asked several sellers if there will ever be a silent open and soft shut campervan door and met with silence.
Thank you for watching and the door was something I was really conscious of when we had one to try. VW do offer an electric side door on their very own top end models..or they did a few years ago..but that is top end. It sounds like you have had some great trips recently, happy motorhoming 😊👍
@@HereWeTow see you in a couple of weeks.
See you soon 😊👍
We have a 5.99m Vantage Sol van conversion which came with an optional Hartal door, also a rear pod, so it looks more like a motorhome with no sliding door.
We started with a tent, so the next thing was a campervan. In the next few years we want to upgrade to a better van like an Autotrail or Autosleeper. Still a van but a little bit bigger.
You are both great ambassadors for the Campervan 😊 I think you progress through leisure vehicles as you go on. Have a lovely weekend 👍🏼
I’m just not getting the “Van is easier to drive thing”, most motorhomes are the same width as a van - 2.3m. There are many decent size campers that are the same length as a LWB van - just under 7m. I’d like to see the weight comparison because a lot of vans seem to use domestic kitchen furniture which is going to be much heavier. They aren’t necessarily cheaper unless you do a real budget build, but then you could put the same time and effort into an older camper van. What am I missing?
Thanks for watching
@@HereWeTow good channel, thanks!
@trewjohn2001 Thank you.. have a good weekend 😊
Very good topic. Interesting views and some good tips. Caravans, MH, CVS, as you quite rightly say is down to practicality. So, Karina .are you MH or Caravanning ?.😉😉😉
Thank you for watching and I can’t see myself going back to a caravan now. With the Motorhome I can shoot off by myself (which I am doing quite a bit over summer). I wouldn’t be able to do that so easily with a caravan. Have a fantastic weekend 😊
Very helpful thanks!
Glad it was helpful 😊👍
Great video. I saw your Van video and what bothers me about vans is not being able to stand up in a lot of them. You spend your time sitting or crouching. That sounds like torture on a rainy day.
Thank you for watching and yes, one of the compromises of the camper is the space, although it does have its own benefits. It certainly is a case of knowing what is important to you when you make a choice to buy. Have a great weekend 😊👍
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I wouldn't but I can see camper vans with the pop top more attractive for the younger generation. Some camper vans are bigger than the one you took out, I could see me using on of those.
Thank you for watching and yes, there are some longer ones which would certainly give you more space and probably facilities on board too.
very useful information, thanks.
Thank you for watching 😊
@@HereWeTow Have you ever done a general video on the various Adrian models, not just the models, but all the variants such as SC, DC, SL, DL, etc - it's very confusing!
No but to break the codes down..S is the L shaped lounge area with a side seat (the one we had in our Coral motorhome) The C is the centre island bed ( same as our Coral and Matrix) D is the Dinette lounge with the two sofa seats that face each other (like our Compact) and L is for longitudinal beds again like our Compact. If the Motorhome has no fixed bed and just a drop down it has a T (like the DT and ST).
So, the first letter is the lounge layout D or S and the next is the bed type, L or C. There are other letters for caravans but I wont start on that! 🤣
@@HereWeTowthat kind of make sense now you have explained it. There are so many variations aren't there?
Hi Both, really enjoy listening about motorhomes/campervans, currently towing and like the sound of a motorhome, but wow so much money and so confused, which layout, which length, which make and so on ? Any advice on hiring would be appreciated, thanks Rob .
Thank you for watching Rob..yes, it is a minefield and their so so much choice. If you are in the north then Preston Caravans have a huge range of layouts to choose from. Their hire website is motorhomerentuk.com or there is justgo.uk.com in London and Scotland or motorhomeholidaycompany.com in the southwest and tasteoffreedommotorhomes.co.uk near Leeds. If you are elsewhere let me know and I will come back with some more..👍😊
Hi what mpg do you get on average with motorhome
Hi Kevin, depending on the size and weight, my average has been about 28mpg. That is on the Fiat Ducato, I get better mpg on A roads than motorway runs I find too. I hope that helps..
You don't mention van conversion so much they have it all shower toilet oven gas hob and more even heating 😁
Thats right, van conversions are another type of leisure vehicle and we wanted to keep this to campers and motorhomes. But, maybe one for another day..it is a huge market now and there is so much to choose from. A van conversion will give you much more storage and generally the shower and toilet..Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for watching 😊👍
Yes that would probably be a fairer comparison - van conversion vs mh- would be interested to see that
Campervans don’t keep their money as well as motorhomes? Or do they?
They seem to hold quite well but no, not as good as Motorhomes. It will be interesting to see how values hold as the market slows and more used stock comes available.. thank you for watching 😊👍
Motorhome: younger people, Campervan: older people. As you get older, driving is getting harder, let alone towing.
Thank you for watching
This is a good point