Caravan vs camper van

Thank you all very much for your expertise. I think i might go for a cheap caravan. Can anyone recommend a tow bar company? I have a mitsubishi asx 4wd 1.8td i assume this should tow a small two berth?

 

get one with a dedicated bedroom, so you are not having to make a bed each night.

 

Tow bar company, no two ways is Barnsley towbars at stairfoot, nobody to touch em. Check towing limits of your car and it's kerbside weights. Best free website is towcar.info

 

Just had a look and your car had a kerbside weight of 1750 kg so it would be a good towcar. Aim for caravan laden weight as an absolute maximum of 85% of kerbside weight. It would **** most four berths, so an end dedicated bedroom model would be fine. I have a sprite 6 berth but sprite alpines are ok and bailey or Adria are good value for money

 

Fixed bed are brilliant in my opinion. I have a Bailey Virginia and it's ideal for me and the wife and with a good awning you can easily sleep 6 people. I wouldn't go for an end bathroom with a fixed bed model as if you have visitors they have to walk through your bedroom to use the toilet.
Also Ray at Barnsley Towbars at Stairfoot is brilliant and very competitive.
Hope this helps.
COYR

 

VS

 

A neighbour of mine had a trailer tent, travelled all over the UK and continent with it. Easy to tow and manoeuvre and not too fuel hungry, he loved it.

 

I'm a caravan and motorhome dealer, and have been caravaning most of my life (still stay in hotels as well, mind). Two years ago I bought a motorhome and loved it, and wouldn't go back to a caravan. But, they are two different types of touring - a caravan is better if you like staying in one place most of the time, and a motorhome is better if you prefer to tour around more.

Modern caravans and motorhomes are like hotel rooms on wheels, and have their advantages and disadvantages, but it is not necessarily a cheap holiday anymore.

If you are considering buying an older caravan, make sure you buy one that has recently been damp tested and gas tested as a minimum, or preferably had a recent full service. Or at least take a damp meter with you. Ask to see everything working. Check the dates on the tyres (should be under 7 years old). If buying from a dealer, most of these should be already done, and they should be offering a warranty with it. Has the caravan been CRiS checked (like a HPI check for a car - check for write-off, finance, stolen)?

Sadly, we have serviced many caravans that the proud owners tell us they have just bought privately off ebay, only for us to find extensive damp or expensive repairs required.

There is a Glass's Guide for used caravans. PM me if you want to check any values.

 

Take the skinheads bowling take them bowling

 

Knew there had to be one. John Peel favourites both tracks.

 

Apologies. I hadn't seen your post. Saw this thread earlier while at work but didn't have chance to post until now.

John Peel's festive 50 1986. Like listening to heaven.

 

Standing on a golf course
Dressed in P.V.C.
I chanced upon a golf girl
Selling cups of tea
She asked me did I want one
Asked me with a grin
For three pence you can buy one
Full right to the brim
So of course I had to have one
In fact I ordered three
So I could watch the golf girl
Could see she fancied me
And later on the golf course
After drinking tea
It started raining golf balls
And she protected me
Her name was Pat
And we sat under a tree
She kissed me
We go for walks
In fine weather
All together
On the golf course
We talk in Morse

 

Many thanks for your reply, as someone who has never towed before and i passed my test in 2013 would i be able to tow a caravan legally and safely with no experience? I consider myself to be a decent driver, i drive a lwb transit regulary on public roads and tractor units on private land. Also as you are a dealer do you have any two berths in stock for around the 4k mark?

 

Can you pass me contact info for you mate in Bolton?

Cheers

 

Camper van Beethoven... class

 

On your license, you should be able to drive a combined mass of 3,500 kg, so a car plus a 2 berth caravan should come in at less than that. You can check any combination of car and caravan on the website towcar.info (input your towcar and any caravan you intend to buy, and the website will tell you if they are a good match). Basically, the caravan should weigh less than the towcar. Surprisingly sometimes a car has a towing limit on it from the manufacturer.

As you drive tractor units on private land, you will at least be competent with the articulation of a towed vehicle, so towing and manouvering a caravan shouldn't be a problem for you. Also, you won't need to stick to the 85% guideline (the caravan should weigh no more than 85% of the car's kerbweight).

I am somewhat short of stock at the moment as the season has ended - and I am buying more motorhomes than caravans - but I have a nice 2 berth Bessacarr Cameo 495 SL in stock (fully laden - MTPLM - weighs 1,550 kgs). Even cheaper, I have a really nice 4 berth 1998 Abbey Archway Royale 520.

My company is Cambridge Caravans, and these caravans are on my website, although can I say that I didn't reply to this thread to try to sell you anything. I was just trying to give some advice!

 

Have you thought about Viagra?