Why do people tow cars behind motorhomes, rather than have a caravan? (1 Viewer)

[Jane And Rog]

I just don’t get it. If you’re going to tow, surely it makes more sense to get a really decent car, and tow a large caravan. I must be missing something.

Advantages of car & caravan
Cheaper purchase cost
Only one vehicle with an engine, less to go wrong, lower road tax, lower MOT
Better fuel consumption
Much better car to drive around when you get there
More living space in the caravan (probably)

Disadvantages
Longer to set up, but then if you’re towing, you’re not moving on every day anyway.

 

[Hagstrom]

Advantage - you can officially use European Aires as a MH tugging a car. Cars tugging caravans not usually allowed at Aires.

 

[Jane And Rog]

Advantage - you can officially use European Aires as a MH tugging a car. Cars tugging caravans not usually allowed at Aires.

Agreed - but it seems illogical. If caravans are banned, then anything towing should be.

 

[Two on Tour]

We rarely stop at any one place for more than a day or two when we are touring.
With our MH we pull up and park and we virtually setup as soon as we have stopped and the same when we move on.
Having enjoyed hours and hours of watching the comedy of tuggers setting up, there is no way on this earth would I put myself through that fiasco every time we moved sites.

 

[Jane And Rog]

True, hadn’t thought of that one.

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[Reallyretired]

We used to take a toad when (very rarely) touring in UK due to sites being inconveniently situated. Never abroad as it was just a hindrance. Some aires do specify no trailers of any sort.

 

[martin2603]

I take a car in the U.K. if we need transport from isolated ‘sites’ , otherwise it’s e bikes .

 

[Jane And Rog]

I take a car in the U.K. if we need transport from isolated ‘sites’ , otherwise it’s e bikes .

But you could use the car of your car and caravan, so not an argument either way?

 

[L' Hobo]

I just take my PVC and an e-bike. Park the van up close to town and travel in by bike or bus, lot less hassle than finding parking etc.

 

[Jane And Rog]

Another advantage for the car and caravan - that car can be your only motorised vehicle. Whereas if you have a motorhome and tow a small car, that car may well not be enough for your daily use at home. So you end up with three motorised vehicles, 3 lots of tax, 3 MOTs, etc.

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[Jane And Rog]

I just take my PVC and an e-bike. Park the van up close to town and travel in by bike or bus, lot less hassle than finding parking etc.

Yes, I’m not arguing that a car and caravan is better than a PVC, or even than any motorhome. The argument is: if you tow a car behind your motorhome, why wouldn’t you have a car and caravan instead? The argument seems to be mostly about use of aires and set up speed - but it seems to be that you are paying a lot for that fairly minor convenience.

 

[funflair]

Agreed - but it seems illogical. If caravans are banned, then anything towing should be.

The reason that caravans are not allowed is that they usually don't have all their self contained own facilities, basically toilet and waste tanks.

 

[funflair]

I think the point being made that you don't always have to take the car if it's behind the MH but you do if it's in front doing the towing is a valid one, we see a MH with a car behind but don't know how often that happens.

We have friends with a car in the back of the van but they don't always take it with them but the van is still the same size so you could argue that a trailer or A frame would be better.

 

[TinaLes]

If Toads or cars on trailers have to take up valuable space on any Aire they should not only be barred, it should be enforced with a fine.
But our continental friends don't take any heed of this with their selfish behaviour, and some will take up 2 spaces even on a small 5/6 van aire, 3 places if they also put their awning & chairs out We have all seen the pictures on here, plus "reserving" their spot by leaving items out to try and stop someone else getting a place whilst they tour arround for the day.
I am hoping this selfish attitude will be addressed with many aires becoming paid aires & better policed/supervised under the new camping Car Park management in France.
LES

 

[Shrimp]

We have a MoHo and a ‘toad’
We tow the car in UK-can get out and about, but leave it behind when we go to France as we only use Aires and move around.
The car only costs us in MoT, insurance-low and Road Tax-nil.
The MoHo costs us in MoT, insurance-low and RT-low.
Plus the fact neither of us fancy towing a big lump behind and a big vehicle just to tow a C’van…..not our lifestyle.

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[Jane And Rog]

If Toads or cars on trailers have to take up valuable space on any Aire they should not only be barred, it should be enforced with a fine.
But our continental friends don't take any heed of this with their selfish behaviour, and some will take up 2 spaces even on a small 5/6 van aire, 3 places if they also put their awning & chairs out We have all seen the pictures on here, plus "reserving" their spot by leaving items out to try and stop someone else getting a place whilst they tour arround for the day.
I am hoping this selfish attitude will be addressed with many aires becoming paid aires & better policed/supervised under the new camping Car Park management in France.
LES

If I could give that a hundred likes I would.

 

[Manic]

We tow a car in uk , so we can go visit places and get shopping.
Our tow car is zero tax, cheap insurance and does 60mpg and our Motorhome is £165 tax and does about 25mpg.
When touring in Europe we don’t take the car because we use aires and move every day or so ( Aires are normal in towns/ villages.
It would be difficult, no impossible to take just a caravan touring in Europe, also if have a reasonable size caravan the tow car would need to be bigger with higher road tax and lower mpg.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

We take a car behind our Motorhome, because we like the flexibility of being in a Motorhome regarding moving on every couple of days without the faff of setting up a caravan. Also towing a small car behind the bigger vehicle I.e. MH, I would think is far more stable than a relatively light box on wheels that is bigger than the car towing it. But the main reason for us is that my wife has reduced mobility, so it just gives us more flexibility to enjoy our surroundings and as I previously said along with the freedom of moving about every few days.

 

[L' Hobo]

Yes, I’m not arguing that a car and caravan is better than a PVC, or even than any motorhome. The argument is: if you tow a car behind your motorhome, why wouldn’t you have a car and caravan instead? The argument seems to be mostly about use of aires and set up speed - but it seems to be that you are paying a lot for that fairly minor convenience.

Totally agree, to my mind it is illogical which is the reason my PCV is my 'daily runner' but have an elderly VW Camper if needs be.
When I did have a caravan, many years ago, I could reverse and set up the caravan (with the help of a cordless heavy duty impact wrench) in the same time as my PVC. ( the awning, IF I used it, took 10mins longer, again with the help of my screw in pegs and impact wrench)
I was much younger/fitter and driving artics in those days.

 

[Shrimp]

Yes, I’m not arguing that a car and caravan is better than a PVC, or even than any motorhome. The argument is: if you tow a car behind your motorhome, why wouldn’t you have a car and caravan instead? The argument seems to be mostly about use of aires and set up speed - but it seems to be that you are paying a lot for that fairly minor convenience.

To make a big enough vehicle, capable of towing a caravan, road legal must be quite expensive and of course you’ve got to have your caravan insured as well!
Some of these big towing cars have expensive RT!

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[dpsuk999]

Advantages of car & caravan
Cheaper purchase cost
Only one vehicle with an engine, less to go wrong, lower road tax, lower MOT
Better fuel consumption
Much better car to drive around when you get there
More living space in the caravan (probably)

1. Can’t argue with that point
2. My car goes inside the motorhome and is fully electric so no engine, I don’t pay road tax.
3. No fuel consumption as I charge it off solar
4. There is only 2 of us and a dog and the smart car is ideal for us, we get free parking in most European counties as the charge points are free to park
5. I have oceans of space

 

[Steve and Denise]

I just don’t get it. If you’re going to tow, surely it makes more sense to get a really decent car, and tow a large caravan. I must be missing something.

Advantages of car & caravan
Cheaper purchase cost
Only one vehicle with an engine, less to go wrong, lower road tax, lower MOT
Better fuel consumption
Much better car to drive around when you get there
More living space in the caravan (probably)

Disadvantages
Longer to set up, but then if you’re towing, you’re not moving on every day anyway.

To some it is not about money but more about convenience.
It would be unfair to judge others on what is of important to one’s self.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

We tow a car in uk , so we can go visit places and get shopping.
Our tow car is zero tax, cheap insurance and does 60mpg and our Motorhome is £165 tax and does about 25mpg.
When touring in Europe we don’t take the car because we use aires and move every day or so ( Aires are normal in towns/ villages.
It would be difficult, no impossible to take just a caravan touring in Europe, also if have a reasonable size caravan the tow car would need to be bigger with higher road tax and lower mpg.

Likewise, we are going to France later in the year and won’t be taking the car. We’ll stay in villages etc. and have booked a couple of sites were we May rent a car for a couple of days etc.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

To some it is not about money but more about convenience.
It would be unfair to judge others on what is of important to one’s self.

Well said…..

 

[dunnah01]

Yes, I’m not arguing that a car and caravan is better than a PVC, or even than any motorhome. The argument is: if you tow a car behind your motorhome, why wouldn’t you have a car and caravan instead? The argument seems to be mostly about use of aires and set up speed - but it seems to be that you are paying a lot for that fairly minor convenience.

Agreed so sell the caravan and book into hotels - win win - no caravan costs and defo only one car cost

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[TOAD on Tour]

1. Can’t argue with that point
2. My car goes inside the motorhome and is fully electric so no engine, I don’t pay road tax.
3. No fuel consumption as I charge it off solar
4. There is only 2 of us and a dog and the smart car is ideal for us, we get free parking in most European counties as the charge points are free to park
5. I have oceans of space
View attachment 720724

Now that’s just showing off very nice indeed.

 

[Steve and Denise]

If Toads or cars on trailers have to take up valuable space on any Aire they should not only be barred, it should be enforced with a fine.
But our continental friends don't take any heed of this with their selfish behaviour, and some will take up 2 spaces even on a small 5/6 van aire, 3 places if they also put their awning & chairs out We have all seen the pictures on here, plus "reserving" their spot by leaving items out to try and stop someone else getting a place whilst they tour arround for the day.
I am hoping this selfish attitude will be addressed with many aires becoming paid aires & better policed/supervised under the new camping Car Park management in France.
LES

Are you making a comparison with the free airs we have in the UK ?

 

[bigtwin]

Hmm, not that difficult to figure out, with a caravan you always have to take the car with you, with a MH you dont. Furthermore, with a MH you can use aires/car parks for overnight stops and you cant do this with a caravan.

I’ll put it down to it being an early morning post.

Ian

 

[dpsuk999]

Now that’s just showing off very nice indeed.

other than price, it’s the perfect solution, plus if we don’t take the car we have a massive garage for loads of crap to take (a ton on payload )