[Closed] I want a Caravan that's not a Caravan!

Quirrel.. that'd get the net curtains twitching 🙂

Winnebago do caravans...

Re. Fuel consumption with a caravan, for the average user (1 or 2 holidays per year in the UK) it doesn't matter too much does it? Especially seeing as it lives on site during the holiday.

If you are planning on jaunts to the south of France or using it every month then fair enough, but my camper tows a horsebox most weekends and 18-20mpg is pretty normal, I just try to avoid watching the gauge as even at 15 minute intervals you can see it going down! 🙁

Love the look of that Deseo, especially the open plan Transport version. There was a comment earlier about the twin axle being harder to tow, can't really see that as it will be much more stable as long as your tow ball height is vaguely correct. The hard bit would be maneuvering by hand (our box is 1400kg unladen and it takes three people with a lot of swearing to turn it in a short space) but on a lighter caravan you can just wind the nose up high to get the front axle off the ground to stop it scrubbing.

Fuel consumption with a caravan, for the average user (1 or 2 holidays per year in the UK) it doesn't matter too much does it?

Is that average?

We certainly are planing to drive a long way on our summer holidays, so yeah fuel economy is something we notice.

can't really see that as it will be much more stable

I asked about this, thinking that twin axle would be more stable. Consensus is that it isn't, it's just harder to manoevre by hand. Twin axle is only used when needed to handle the weight.

I reckon its probably average. Some don't get used at all some years! Others get stored onsite and tractored on to the pitch. Sometimes just used for one summer holiday per year.

My parents are guilty of all three, my in-laws have only used theirs for the odd couple of holidays and they must have had it three years.
We've some friends who used theirs fairly intensively for the first couple of years but less now.

I reckon many vans only do a few hundred miles a year, so for those users, a few mpg's difference is probably a tank of fuel per year.

You might be on to something with the twin axle thing, at speed when it all gets out of shape, the caravan is drifting side to side rather than pivoting on a single axle so two axles may not make a huge difference.

We drove ours all over France, must've done tens of thousands of miles. If we met people on sites, they were generally doing the same thing, so I must have a biased perception 🙂

I think the van does pivot, but not loads (unless you are in serious trouble). The only time I had an issue I'd just collected the van, it was on way too low tyre pressures (I hadn't chekced) and the toilet at the back was quite full (ergh) and it was sloshing from side to side. The only time I can feel anything now with the new van is when a lorry passes me and their bow wave on the rear of the van sometimes results in a slight tug on the wheel - hardly notice it tbh now.

The OP's van would suffer from that far less though, due to less leverage at the back. Plus continental vans have much longer A frames and the wheels are further back which makes it way more stable. Might make it tricky getting a bigger continental van it onto some of the CLs we stay at mind.

Wonder if this thread has the same potential as my Sick as dog Bivi thread...... 😆

Anyone else considered going the other end, ie, buy a cheap scabby one, abuse it til it dies? Bangervanomics. I'd love that for race days, quick weekends away etc, if I just had somewhere to park it.

The cost of the good ones and all that comes with that makes it pretty nonsensical unless you're really into Caravanning, rather than just going places and staying in a caravan- it's an end in itself I reckon.

[quote=Northwind a dit]Anyone else considered going the other end, ie, buy a cheap scabby one, abuse it til it dies? Bangervanomics. I'd love that for race days, quick weekends away etc, if I just had somewhere to park it.
The cost of the good ones and all that comes with that makes it pretty nonsensical unless you're really into Caravanning, rather than just going places and staying in a caravan- it's an end in itself I reckon.

Ours cost us £2000, from a local dealer. It came with a three month warranty, which was great as the front end was rotten with damp but was completely replaced. Sadly we didnt spot the damp at the rear until the warranty had run out so we had to pay to get that sorted ourselves.

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15132873378_dac1fe2b22.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15132873378_dac1fe2b22.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://flic.kr/p/p4eW2Y ]Clean caravan[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/93064031@N00/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr

you may consider £2000 to be expensive, I don't know, but the cheaper vans at the dealers were quite frankly horrible. you can get a better deal buying privately but you do need to consider issues like damp, and also what accessories you will get - we wangled a load of freebies like aquaroll, massive leisure battery and so on

We bought it for a specific trip, we took it round the scottish ski centres for a 2 week trip in March 2011: bit chilly first thing in the morning but the heater soon sorted that. Since then we've done a few more one week trips to various places (Wales, Long mynd, Quantocks) and two weeks in Scotland (Oban / Kye of Lochalsh), two christmas weeks in the Lake District, got another week in Wales coming up soon and then another two week trip to Scotland later this year (far north).

Having an awning helps massively if you are taking bikes.

500 quid, cant go wrong.

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Bargain for £500 quid. Look tidy. You could use it for a year and sell it for the same I bet.

Looks diddy them inside it's massive.

[quote=Tiger6791 a dit]Looks diddy them inside it's massive.

that pic is taken from outside, you can see the door frame on the left. But yes, "small" caravans can be surprisingly spacious inside. OUr caravan as above will comfortably seat 6 people, 8 if you're friendly. When we make up the bed it's bigger than the kingsize we have at home...

either this

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or

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We definately went the bangernomics route

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We paid 200 quid for this beauty, some water came in the top, but it ran out the bottom again so no problem there. Used it all over the highlands for nearly ten years and loved it.

When it finally deteriorated too far we stuck it on freecycle and had a queue round the metaphorical block.

We replaced it with this

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Which cost us a grand and is much posher, fridge, heater, hot water, bog and whatnot. Its much nicer in winter than the other one but its not the same.
We've had a bit of damp but we've half arsed repaired it and it'll last years, then we'll get another.

I'm surprised no one has posted up vw transporter towing a caravan with a wood burner installed.

A friend of mine has just finished building this and moved into it. Its got a woodburner, a shower and a composting toilet.

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I absolutely love it.

Good job! I guess it is just parked up somewhere?

How about this combo.

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Good job! I guess it is just parked up somewhere?

Had this bookmarked for a while

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Does the Bedford have the machine gun hatch for quick access to the bunk?

Anyone else considered going the other end, ie, buy a cheap scabby one, abuse it til it dies? Bangervanomics. I'd love that for race days, quick weekends away etc, if I just had somewhere to park it.

Yes, very much so. Mine cost £400 and has done a good few races and a couple of long weekends away without missing a beat. It is awesome. I don't give a crap about muddy bikers and dogs being in it, everything works and it doesn't leak. I can't believe I spunked so much money on diy van conversions... Embrace the uncoolness and drive like it's not there. It goes perfectly with my bangernomics A8.

Does the Bedford have the machine gun hatch for quick access to the bunk?

Spiral staircase. but you have to watch your head on the chandelier.

Anyone else considered going the other end, ie, buy a cheap scabby one,

First van was £1200, second and current was £1500. Had to fix damp myself in both of them, but otherwise everything in the second one is so far great. Hot water, shower, heater, fridge, the works. Needed a bit of casual tlc here and there too. Stuff like tap nozzles cracked, just replaces a couple of cupboards catches for a quid a time.

The original plan with the first van was for racing, after looking enviously into warm convivial caravans at cold wet 24hr races, but now with the kids we are planning on going to Sweden this summer 🙂

Older vans are much lighter than new ones, ours is 18or maybe 19 foot and only weighs 800kg empty, so easy to tow.

Lots of things to look out for in cheap old vans, but that's another post.

Looks diddy them inside it's massive.

It is diddy. The door at the side just goes into a walk in cupboard/home for porta bog. Main door is at the back. Has a fridge a hob and a sink plus beds for 3 though.

First caravan outing for us was a sleepless. Came in from a night lap, had a warm shower and slipped into crisp clean sheets for my 2 hours kip, it was magic 🙂

Thinking of getting another van - they are ace!

Got my eye on this one at the moment for under £10k

[img] http://i.autotrader.co.uk/merlin-image-server/view/57f9d43b-6873-4086-89a0-57e577e5033d/600 [/img]

[img] http://i.autotrader.co.uk/merlin-image-server/view/e2e46009-bb13-4dce-beea-3296e6cb5241/600 [/img]

[img] http://i.autotrader.co.uk/merlin-image-server/view/88aca499-9e78-44ee-bb33-db26d26b56cf/600 [/img]

This company seem to have slightly better interiors than the average caravan.

http://www.pinocaravans.co.uk/portfolio/bee/

That inshot stove would get old VERY fast.

And seriously? Those interiors look pretty dated if I'm honest.

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^Awesum for an overland trip to far away. Overkill for a week in Wales.

And seriously? Those interiors look pretty dated if I'm honest.

slightly better

I didn't say good.

You lot ever seen actual new caravans? They are less twee than they used to be. Although there are some howlers still, some companies seem to find it hard to let go of the florals.

Yes.

Even look at that nice expensive one TheArist...STR posted up. All nice and clean new van, all mod cons I bet but the interior is still not very nice.

Still better than the one you posted if I'm honest.

Although I would say that if you're using basic foil wrap it shouldn't be too difficult to get a more modern finish from the factory, Ikea manage quite fine. But then that's not the age group that buys a van new, that's what retirement lump sums are for...

That Landy with the poptop is still going to have about as much space in it as my fridge. Probably good for the job it's for, and probably coveted by lots of people who'll never do that job.

(also- bets money that all those cool boxes on the roof are empty)

Sean Conway's Landy is quite good in a simple 'dirtbag' way.

All nice and clean new van

That's not that new. Newer ones are classy.. Although tbh whilst it would look good as a hotel room I might not want it for my caravan. I like the decor of German vans but don't like their layouts

Went to RV World whilst on easter hols in Florida. Just to have a look around.

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Yours for £250k. About 7mpg.

Some lovely Airstreams too (about £40k)

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Say what you like about euro van interiors, but the Americans haven't updated the interior design since the 70's. Feel like I'd need a proper pen rash to fit in with the look.

We went to the biggest motorhome dealer I have ever seen in Germany. They had everything from small and compact to.. well.. some of them were articulated. HGV license required I think.

Say what you like about euro van interiors, but the Americans haven't updated the interior design since the 70's. Feel like I'd need a proper pen rash to fit in with the look.

To be honest outside a few urban center that is most of the US, they are very traditional in decor type ways, but in odd really obviously fake ways. You go into restaurants and its fake gas fires with concrete painted logs, fiberglass features. It is frequently brand new but very dated!

Ikea manage quite fine. But then that's not the age group that buys a van new, that's what retirement lump sums are for..

Even look at that nice expensive one TheArist...STR posted up. All nice and clean new van, all mod cons I bet but the interior is still not very nice.

It's a 2008 model, but yes, the interior still isn't classy - about as good as you'll get at that age though. Van interiors started getting quite a bit better around 2011 IMO

So we don't want dark wood, wood or any twee but we like the idea of a little bit of comfort we can drag along?

That's all we wanted 🙂

I only want to stay in Certified Locations which are fields in the middle of nowhere type places, but the irony is you have to join the Caravan Club in order to use them. The club membership seems to consist of people exactly like the stereotype.. The letters page in the magazine is hilarious at times. Bitter long running argument about if you should park your van parallel or perpendicular to the road in club sites...

Places which are pretty nightmarish.. Tarmac pitches and people crammed in, and they cost £35 a night...

Thats the kinda place we stay at as well, theres a good place outside Benderloch just off the beach that is as you describe. Just down the road from the static park hell hole. Not CC either so not stupid money.

I've got a large stash of carbon fibre fabric and nomex honeycomb I have been keeping hoping I will get time to kit out a camper of some sort with light weight interior. Preferably a transforming one that expands when you park up but it compact when driving.

Caravan club CLs are about a tenner a night, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less.

Squirrelking, interested in similar site recommendations and details if you have them 🙂

It was this one: http://www.benderloch.com/stay_benderloch/seaview_pages/seaview_ad.html

My folks have been up to Dunnet Bay a few times (long way to go but worth it apparantly), it's CC but a cheap one. Probably because of Dounreay 😛

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/applications/uk-caravan-sites-and-parks/SiteDetails.aspx?csid=21872

Got any tips around York/Leeds?

On the other hand, I like Caravan Club sites. We've stayed at a few non-club sites and frankly the facilities on club sites are far and away better, and I'm prepared to pay extra for that. I even notice the difference when staying on an affiliated site rather than a full club site. The bathroom in our van is OK, we have done a week on a site with no toilet/showers and survived, but I'd rather stay on a site with facilities

Good to hear Dunnet Bay is nice, we're passing to go up there later in the year, probably via Culloden Moor (Inverness). Morvich (Kyle of Lochalsh) was nice.

In terms of CLs, two have stood out: Brawby Grange near Pickering and Carr's Hill near Denny

How about this?

[url= http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=151655867214 ]http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=151655867214[/url]

I don't mind CC sites per se, I just don't see where the extra money goes for us personally. Shower block is nice but not a must.

Plenty of wee sites up the Road to the Isles around Morar, bit windy but stunning beaches.

How about this?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=151655867214

**** that I'm more interested in this from the "people also viewed link"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rover-Meteor-Mk-4B-1-27L-v12-like-merlin-spitfire-tank-engine-Rolls-Royce/121632543471?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131227121020%26meid%3D983e67d5cd144d63accae74842923b90%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D151655867214

This has to be one of the best sites in the UK

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/17254831446_e5b69de852_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/17254831446_e5b69de852_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/shKweU ]imag0230a[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

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[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/16660571043_6f47ce7e63_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/16660571043_6f47ce7e63_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/roeMjT ]imag0182b[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

Where is that? Wales?

I've been on a cracking site on the gower camping that took caravans, (Eastern slade farm) although the access is a bit tight alright with a small caravan but I think you would struggle to turn in the gate with 18'+ caravan.

That's Three Cliffs Bay, and I have to say my experience of it is not like that. Every time I've been there it's been rammed solid.. also it's quite a big site.

Does anyone use a caravan for accommodation while working away? This is the only reason I'm currently toying with the idea of a caravan. Seems nicer than hotel and cheaper if you can find somewhere that does not mind someone staying for a few months.

A lot of normal sites don't want you staying there for months - they have loads of 'site rules' that are basically anti-traveller, and that seems to be one of them.

I think TAFKASTR did it for a while but he parked up on his building site.

Not been to Three Cliffs for a couple of years, but we must have always been lucky - fantastic weather and not busy.

Yes, I did use mine for working away - didn't actually park on (construction) site though molgrips. I always looked for a nice caravan site - spent a few months at a pleasant site in London, whilst on the Olympics, a couple of months in Bedfordshire and 6 months next to a lovely canal in Gloucestershire. The latter included a full winter and it was fine.

I loved it, having my own space, being able to cook and getting to know the locals in whichever pub you inevitably end up staying near

Always managed to get round the long term issue, usually by finding sites that didn't mind - even the CC site I stayed on in London, just let me shift the van off the plot and stick it in a corner for the weekend when my allotted time was up

Hmm could probably alternate between 2 0r three though. 3 week blocks.

ok^ that is encouraging.

Interesting TAFKASTR, I'd heard it was difficult but glad you had success with it. Not that I need to do it any more - I'm on expenses nowadays 🙂

Many sites will do a seasonal let, but not all. Definitely worth looking into. Sometimes the problem is that there are limited seasonal pitches and the site has a waiting list.

Regarding the antiquated decor in most old caravans, it's easy to get rid. I went to an old mill and bought up some cheap linen curtain fabric. They didn't take long to make new curtains (used the old ones as templates). lined them and it's made the caravan look fresh and clean again.
Now knitting some squares to make a cover to hide the hideous peach, floral, buttoned covered seating.

One thing that is quite noticeable is that in Canada, and I guess US as well it is a lot more common for young families or couples to have caravans. Its seen less as a older person thing. I'm not on about massive expensive 5th wheelers either, but tow hitch 2nd hand e.t.c My cousin in CA have one and it seems to be not uncommon amongst their friends.

Bunnyhop my wife is itching to do the same thing with the curtains. The cushions might be a bit too complex for her though. Fortunately they aren't too bad.

The bathroom was eye wateringly bad with mock Japanese pink floral wallpaper, but I covered it all up with white and blue sticky vinyl and it made a huge difference. Van really looks £1,501's worth now.

molgrips - that's such a good idea regarding the bathroom decor. Ours is a horrible peach and pink floral design. We'll get some sticky vinyl. Where's the best place?

Tell your missus to take down each curtain and use that as a template. All she needs to do is bag line them with right sides together (lining against fabric) and turn it through, press, voila. All good.

Sticky vinyl is in B&Q, made by DC-Fix. In ours it's hard to find though, behind the wallpaper on an end-cap. I did one wall in bright blue with a sort of water-droplet finish. Bit cheesy but a huge improvement.

She had trouble finding lining fabric for cheap so I thought she could un-pick the existing lining and use that directly.

Thanks molgrips.
Somewhere such as Dunelm shouldn't be too expensive for lining and fabric. Sometimes local market stalls sell it.
Our curtains were a delightful faded peach velour (not) and would have taken me hours, if not days to unpick. I did re-use the heading poppets though. They just ripped off with some quick sharp tugs (unpick the beginning and end though, where the machine has double stitched, otherwise it will rip).
I then donated them to the charity shop. It's amazing what people will re-use.

Head into the city and you'll find a fabric suppliers, I know Glasgow has two big ones so I'd imagine most cities will have them. You'll get all the linings and stuff you need, probably upholstery as well.

Dead pleased with it, changed the colour.

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It is now a 'Basecamp Trailer' 😀

That looks pretty good, but does make the D4 look almost aerodynamic!

We've had ours 4 years from new, probably the best thing we've ever bought. Always tent campers but with the caravan we go with the kids all year round. It is started to look well used in places though, carpets need replacing, some veneer needs sorting and a few minor issues after a major repair last year. Despite all that its great. Starting to think about the next one though as the kids are getting a little big for easy access to their bunks.

surely the easiest thing to do with curtains is stitch an extra layer onto the existing ? better for thermal insulation and blackout...

That looks pretty good, but does make the D4 look almost aerodynamic!

MPG seems to drop by about 2-3 MPG with it on which I can live with. Disco pulls it with ease, it's pretty light at 800kg

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Finished the interior now, happy. Not a brown button cushion or a net curtain in sight!

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Bunks for the kids, bottom bunk folds up and you can store bikes 😀

*kinda want

Shame there's not a 3 bunk version.

Like. What van is that?

It's a Knaus Deseo

It's been wrapped in Matte Silver

Changed the flooring and painted the interior white

Crikey, that looks great, will be trading in my camper next month, I could be persuaded into something like that.