Caravan to Motohome

…..others are available😂😂😂

Jules, Waste a few hundred pounds to hire a motorhome and see if it works for you rather than waste a few thousands to uncover the problems.

You will see from the answers that opinions differ. What one person finds ideal others don’t - though personally I have never been tempted in the slightest by any size of motorhome whatsoever.- they just seem cumbersome, expensive financial millstones to me. And we always wanted to go further than any motorhome could take us. 

Enjoy your travels.with whatever suits you best. All good wishes to you.

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Thank you so much everyone.  You have really given us something to think about.  We will certainly hire one before we make our final decision.  We have been torn thinking a PVC would be better for us especially as we love the Lake District and for most of the time it will be just us 2 and the dog.  My son is 16 going on 17 and he loves his one man tent and my daughter is 18 going off to uni.  We thought when they did come along with us, we could either have a drive away awning for them to stay in or book a pod when possible.  At least then we would have the ability to go out and about most places and still have our own facilities.  We also like to stay in a hotel for one night sometimes which we have done when we are away with the caravan for a birthday treat etc and that would be easier with a PVC.  We currently tow with a VW Transporter. The financial burden of owning a Motorhome is also a huge worry as we know from having the caravan, water ingress, maintenance is also a concern.  Think we might keep the caravan rather than trading in (not that they give you a great price anyway) and use the caravan for longer stays while we search for or convert our own PVC.  Think that will be money better spent.  Thank you again and any further thoughts much appreciated.  

Doesn't the size of motorhome/ PVC/campervan also depend on how long you will be away in it on each trip. I can imagine us "roughing it " for a weekend in a campervan but wouldn't entertain a long holiday in one.

JD - you won’t have a water ingress/damp problem with a PVC but you might with a coachbuilt. You seem to have thought things through well 👍

Mikey - 6 weeks in a PVC with no space issues at all. Our 6m van had more kitchen space than many a caravan. There’s quite a difference between your average pop top VW rock’n’roll bed type of camper and a fully fitted PVC. 

+1 EuroT👍🏻. It makes great sense. Driving on the open road in a big Moho is living the dream, realising you need to visit an area in an emergency with a vehicle that barely fits the narrow roadways can be daunting. It should be the 1st thing folk should do is hire(try before you buy) I’ve driven a pick up & log trailer around rural roads for years but I’d not consider it in towns.

As has been said most things are doable with good planning.  Check payloads as some longer coach built LV’s can be very low so ensuring a 3rd seat belt and that you will have enough  payload for all you will carry is important IMO.   

Think we might keep the caravan rather than trading in (not that they give you a great price anyway) and use the caravan for longer stays while we search for or convert our own PVC.

and you can always tow a caravan with a PVC.

peedee

I suspect the  only  benefit of  the OP  hiring a motorhome is if it is very similar to what he intends to purchase. It's not much point hiring a 7.5 metre coachbuilt if the OP wants to buy a PVC. Also distance from home might be an issue if you have to hire a vehicle hundreds of miles away, especially if you want to test it out in an area like the Lake District. I think for a hire test to be worthwhile you have to try and find a hire vehicle as close in size and layout to what you want to buy for it to be useful. Better still try and find a dealer that also hires and are willing to refund the hire cost against the purchase of a new motorhome. 

David