Campervan or caravan. Friday night poser.

[Barry Cade]

There may be a major fleet movement Norf of the Border. The V40 is going, I have no need for it and it's sitting in the drive shedding pounds daily. Mrs Cade needs a small runaround as her work is getting busy. That's easy. Panda. End of. We are of an age/time in life where the kids are self sufficient, and have some free time sometimes, so I fancy getting away at times, maybe once a year to that Europe. Hypothetical 4 grand.

 

Spunk 4 grand on a Bongo/Hiace type thing.

2.5k on a nice caravan +1.5k on a Cherokee or a Volver Estate

 

Wild Card*  I love Yank stuff+V8's+camping....  DAY VAN

 

I have 2 dogs and space on the drive for 2 things.

 

What say the massiv?

[eddyramrod]

Day van.  Oh yes!

[Cavcraft]

Day van or camper no good for a foreign excursion or more than a couple of days away imho. Motorhome better equipped, but you'll probably get pissed off taking things down/putting them back up again night/morning. Caravan ideal if you like going slow and towing.   

 

Verdict: motorhome.

[Barry Cade]

Day van.  Oh yes!

Can I have that in writing?

[Barry Cade]

Day van or camper no good for a foreign excursion or more than a couple of days away imho. Motorhome better equipped, but you'll probably get pissed off taking things down/putting them back up again night/morning. Caravan ideal if you like going slow and towing.   

 

Verdict: motorhome.

Remember, this will be a step up from a motorbike and a tent for 2 weeks on "the Continent"

[eddyramrod]

I've just had a look on ebay.  Within budget the only vans that showed up are three GMC/Chevy Astros, which might be a bit small for your purposes.  They are roughly Transit/CF size, which made excellent campers, but the larger Chevy G20/Ford Econoline would be more suitable.

[billyboy406v6]

_{Dogs in kennels and posh hotel ?}

[Barry Cade]

_{Dogs in kennels and posh hotel ?}

No way- I'm a shiter. don't do posh.

 

Have always had a massive want for a Dayvan, but not an Econoline. Pref an older stacked light GMC or G20. Astro would do the job, but they just don't have the soundtrack, but I suppose wouldn't say no.

 

This one is win king at me.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHEVROLET-ASTRO-VAN-CAMPER-VAN-DAY-VAN-4-3-V6-Silver/121743210413?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D7d180bc6e6214237863b2d733f037204%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D222041392244

[eddyramrod]

You've always wanted a dayvan.  You have the opportunity, and, it would appear, at least a tentative blessing from Domestic Management.  You have 4K waiting.  I see only one issue here: actually finding one.  Try some of the American-car clubs?

[mat_the_cat]

I prefer campervan/motorhome, but reckon if your plan is to get to a base and settle there for a week or two, a caravan is probably the best bet. It would be a pain to pack up everything just to pop out for the day, whereas if you tend to travel and move on every day (as we do), a motorhome gives you more freedom. You always have your 'home' with you, handy to have a fridge/cooker/sink, place to get changed etc.

[eddyramrod]

Actually yes, I have to agree with Mat there.  I had a motorhome trip in September/October, around New England, and hired a car at each site where we stopped for more than one night.  You could see that getting a trifle expensive as a lifestyle choice...

[Barry Cade]

I'll just leave this here Eddy... Record player too!

 

http://www.alexanderautos.co.uk/carview.php?view=318

[Pillock]

Cms's £200 Vito and a mattress.

[Skizzer]

...a motorhome gives you more freedom. You always have your 'home' with you, handy to have a fridge/cooker/sink, place to get changed etc.

This, plus if you have an awning/tent you can leave some stuff in it while it saves your pitch while you go out for the day. We went round Germany like that in a VW T25 when I was a wean.

 

Motorhome = MOAR WIN. Especially if it has a Talbot badge on the front.

[doug]

I'll just leave this here Eddy... Record player too!

 

http://www.alexanderautos.co.uk/carview.php?view=318

I can recommend Alexander Autos, I have had nothing but great service from them over the years.

[cort16]

as just posted in the ebay tat thread

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/camper-vans-motorhome-/172120362687?hash=item28132c4ebf:g:J1kAAOSwoudW1xzh

[eddyramrod]

I'll just leave this here Eddy... Record player too!

 

http://www.alexanderautos.co.uk/carview.php?view=318

You swine, I'm perfectly capable of tempting myself without your help!

[DSdriver]

/\ looks like you could sell ice creams out of that side window to subsidise your travels.

I suggest a F.off big motorhome and A frame the Panda for When you get to a nice location.

[mat_the_cat]

Another point with at least a smaller campervan is that getting off the beaten track for wild camping (if that floats your boat) is easier than towing a caravan.

 

[Barry Cade]

You swine, I'm perfectly capable of tempting myself without your help!

The pickup they have is giving me a fuzzy something. That is my major want, but too salty. Good point about the wild camping, perfectly legal here and brilliant.

[Justin Case]

I seem to be in the minority, but I would vote for the caravan. We had one for a few years, 15 ft   Bailey towed by a Saab 900 Classic. It was relatively cheap compared to an equivalent motorhome and was large enough to move around in, especially with the awning up. You  could leave the van on site and go off in the car for the day without having to pack everything up; we sometimes went with friends, parking the two vans on adjacent pitches and just using one car. Towing isn't difficult, we went all over the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales without any problems. Motorways are slow, it is difficult to average over 50 mph, but you probably wouldn't do much more into a motorhome. Final point, you can change either car or van independently without having to change the whole unit.

[mouseflakes]

 

Sorry, that doesn't help does it?

[chodweaver]

^^ living the dream!

@mat's post

Much envy if your LT is all wheel drive. Or did you reverse up to that wild camp?

 

+1 for a motorhome, setting up for us, involves driving onto levelling ramps (often CBA), connecting the gas bottle and - that's it. An awning is a nice addition, but a wind out one will be by far the easier one for quick setup and take down.

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

[mat_the_cat]

I wish the LT was 4x4, or at least had a locking diff. Yes, we reversed as far as I dared!

[danthecapriman]

This is my effort.

 

Lovely old thing, but I'm not sure it's big enough for much more than a week and even then you'd need a camp site with toilet and shower facilities. Depends on how much you fancy 'roughing it' really.

Mine is fairly basic but suits our needs.

 

What about getting a yank day van for shorter more local trips, and fitting it with a tow bar for a caravan if you want to go further or to Europe. That way you get a yank (always a good thing) and loads of room if it goes with the caravan!

[Noel Tidybeard]

 

there is only one shitters way

 

i give you Toppola

 

[mercrocker]

Why not have the best* of both worlds...... 

 

 

 

 

Day out/less than two nights - use the van.   More than two nights, hitch up the portaloo.    

 

Fleet Advantage 1 - You have a spare vehicle for when nothing else is working.  

Fleet Advantage 2 - You can still have that weekend away when the van isn't working. 

  

I seriously would suggest the Astro option, attractive as they are, is way too small for anything more than a full day out - you will end up trying to sleep on seat belt buckles, get dressed in a sitting position and have practically nowhere to cook/eat.   

[Barry Cade]

What about getting a yank day van for shorter more local trips, and fitting it with a tow bar for a caravan if you want to go further or to Europe. That way you get a yank (always a good thing) and loads of room if it goes with the caravan!

 

Genius!

 

 

I WILL NOT pay hippy tax for a VW.  Unless its a good original Westfalia Joker Syncro, but that's a years wages...

 

 

 

 

 

mmmmmmmmmmmmm......

[danthecapriman]

What about getting a yank day van for shorter more local trips, and fitting it with a tow bar for a caravan if you want to go further or to Europe. That way you get a yank (always a good thing) and loads of room if it goes with the caravan!

 

Genius!

 

 

I WILL NOT pay hippy tax for a VW. Unless its a good original Westfalia Joker Syncro, but that's a years wages...

 

 

 

 

 

mmmmmmmmmmmmm......

You must be the first person to call me a genius!

The only down side to this plan is the day vans fuel economy with it's big V8. Suppose you could always LPG it though?

[Barry Cade]

My Dodge pickup did 6MPG, so I know what I'd be letting myself in for! I'm talking myself out of it here.. back looking at caravans.. via Rover P6's Window shopping should be fun.