On owning a Caravan, CC'ers experience?

[screenman]

I find that our Rav4 actually tows better with a slightly higher nose weight I increase it to 90Kg which makes it more stable.

Slightly over your recommended,depending on your model. but if you find that safe and better then it is your choice. Our Mazda 6 estate is happy at about 55Kg.

 

[screenman]

@Hill Wimp and @Fab Foodie please to note, should you ever start talking like this...............

 

[Hill Wimp]

@Hill Wimp and @Fab Foodie please to note, should you ever start talking like this...............

 

[screenman]

Some people using laundry tablets.

 

[gbb]

[QUOTE 4770635, member: 259"]If only there were some way of hitching some sort of temporary accomodation to the car...[/QUOTE]
Killer

 

[Tin Pot]

OK, park the Caravan/Howard and Hilda jokes here.....

Me and @Hill Wimp have been discussing, camping (Tents her least fave unless Glamping, but my fave) and big FO Motohomes (Wimpers faves, but very expensive, though I'd love a small VW). And then we struck on the idea of a Caravan being more comfortable, warm and dry than a tent, and mostly as mobile as a Motorhome. Good compromise of worst of both worlds?
Anyhow, the Dacia is a lightweight (good for it's economy but limiting tow-wise, however there are small vans that it would pull.
So off we went to do some viewing and are a bit love-struck over a Sprite Finesse 2 s/h for less than 8k:
https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/caravans/reviews/caravans/details/sprite-finesse-2/898890
It's immaculate condition, has everything we need and a Vango inflating awning would cost ~£500 to give extra space.

As a rough budget (Apart from the purchase cost) we need:
Tow-bar for the car = £550
Tow hitch lock n/a
Wheel Clamp n/a
Annual Storage ~£400 (very local)
Insurance ~£350
Extra insurance for car?
Annual Service ~£250
Camping odds and sods such as water carrier/waste carrier, Spare Battery etc. Budget £250

So we're weighing-up the cost/use benefits. In 18mths, Wimpers will be retired so we'll get a lot more use from it.
So thoughts on usage:
Summer hols touring Europe
Long/BH weekends UK/EU (remember Dover is 8 miles away)
Spring Classics
Local weekends ~100 mile radius
Occasional trips when on business in EU
Cycle-chat Pie-cnics and socials
Visiitng pals


So, what's not to like???
What are CC'ers experiences? I caravan holidayed a lot as a kid, so mine are dated, but I'm happy to give it a go!!

What have we forgotten, ideas, pros/cons etc.
Good ideas
Bad ideas

Help!!!!!!!!

I lived in a VW Camper in 1988 for six months in Europe.

Comfort, good sleep and hygiene would not form part of my review.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

@Hill Wimp and @Fab Foodie please to note, should you ever start talking like this...............

Would you like to explain your experience & why people shouldn't?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

No.

So talking BS about which you know nothing?

 

[screenman]

So talking BS about which you know nothing?

It gets post counts up though.

 

[screenman]

You are quite correct, I don't know anything about caravans, nor do I want to.

That surprised me.

 

[Crackle]

ooooh, black streaks: Every van owners worst nightmare. Of course if they didn't make the things in camouflage white it might be easier to clean them.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

View attachment 348755
Aldi bargain.

Should be a good bike cleaner too, as the Fenwicks products always were

 

[Hill Wimp]

We have done it.

We are now the proud owners of a 2011 Sprite Finesse 2.

It's immaculate and quite obviously rarely used. It was the first one we liked but we did the research and went back to it.

 

[Dirk]

We have done it.

We are now the proud owners of a 2011 Sprite Finesse 2.

It's immaculate and quite obviously rarely used. It was the first one we liked but we did the research and went back to it.

Well done!
Photos please.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well done!
Photos please.