Retread24800 Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Just a thought, During my recent foray onto several camp sites, something I try to avoid but needs must sometimes :-) I noticed that over half of the campers were in fact motor-caravanners and of the caravanners several looked suspiciously like 'travellers'. This set me to thinking. Is the caravan becoming obsolete? with prices advertised in the £25000 area, the need to pull it with a very heavy tow vehicle and for heavy read expensive and thirsty. For mid £30000 you can buy a new Motor- caravan and the rest of the year use a more pocket friendly car. Discuss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I think it's more a case of so many ex tuggers now changing to using a Motor Caravan - but the poor misguided souls have been so brain washed by the two big clubs that they only know how to camp on a site in a caravan - often complete with Aquaroll, goesunder waste water tank, windbreak, free standing TV and Sat aerials - and that always makes us smile - well it used to years ago when we were members and used the sites on very rare occasions! Does anyone still glued to club sites usage know if it still happens? (lol)(lol)(lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Not just on camp sites, last year in Cognac there was an elderly UK reg and built Camper complete with Roller ball and guzunda tank ...........................on the Aire parking! but maybe considering the vintage he had no option. Must admit that a large proportion of the Large A class Camping cars on the sites I visited were UK registered, the rest seemed to be Dutch, maybe its the ASCI factor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 According to the figures from the European Caravan Federation about the same number of caravans as motorhomes were sold in 2012, about 73000 each. Both show a decline on previous years with caravans showing a greater decline over a longer period. Looking at figures for Hobby, the largest supplier in Europe indicate that in 2007 they sold 20000 caravans and 2700 motorhomes, a factor of 10 to 1 in favour of caravans. Newer figures are not available, and I have not bothered to check others. However, the sales figures are for new units only and those in the 2nd hand market are unknown. Plus other factors that need to be considered are that many people are not changing what they have, usually due to costs, and therefore the actual number of each type on the roads, or even parked permanently on sites makes any comparison almost impossible to measure. Plus the figures for trailer tents are not included either. For example I know many caravans are stored in EU countries such as Spain and so do not appear on the roads anymore, but are used regularly for summers/winters. They are not even insured as the storage faciltity covers that. It is relatively east to store a caravan, not so easy for a motorhome. The age of the average caravan is now extending and especially in summer climes, the need to be damp proof is not such an issue anymore. Many caravans are well over 10 years old and still going strong. Possibly in time we will see elderly motorhomes permanently parked in fields, probably on bricks as the tyres may have perished, but not yet I think. Other factors that need to be considered are where people live, or move to in later life as in many cases being able to park a large vehicle at home may no longer be an option. I suspect the rise in sales of PVC types is a reflection of people needing to fit both leisure and daily use into a single vehicle. Some return to caravans as an option to get round this, store the van and use a car at home. Therefore I feel trying to suggest one is more dominant than the other is never going to be accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 The proportion of sales last year is fairly meaningless, what would be more telling is the proportion against say 10 years ago, Oh and the Hobby may not give a fair representation, all the large new vans on the site were either Hobby or Tabbert towed with big white vans.................:-) As you say in these times sales are hard to come by but its interesting that you say that Caravan sales have slowed at a greater rate i.e. Motor Caravans are holding up better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Retread24800 - 2013-09-23 5:10 PMThe proportion of sales last year is fairly meaningless, what would be more telling is the proportion against say 10 years ago, Oh and the Hobby may not give a fair representation, all the large new vans on the site were either Hobby or Tabbert towed with big white vans.................:-)As you say in these times sales are hard to come by but its interesting that you say that Caravan sales have slowed at a greater rate i.e. Motor Caravans are holding up better.I think you need to be a little less 'partisan', although I accept why. Caravan sales have dropped from a very large figure while motorhomes have never reached those giddy heights. Ironically the main driver of the change were the Dutch who have swopped wholesale from caravans to motorhomes and caused a number of makers to go bust. But as this happened a few years ago when all was rosy in Euroland and now the Dutch economy is in dire straits the future may change yet again. Vehicle taxation rates in Holland are an ever increasing source of concern and talking to a number of Dutch they have swopped from diesel vehicles back to petrol due to the tax regime. I also note that many motorhomes seen on sites are of several years of age, so are not being replaced for new ones. People are keeping what they have basically.While it is understandable for you to 'shout' the praises of motorhomes, I do not feel you can right off caravans just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 No not trying to right off caravans ATM, just astonished by the number of motor caravans on several French sites I visited last month, at the start of the off season. it may be that caravans have a lot shorter season, any number of reasons, just wondering as an ex caravanner what is happening?I thought that the largest market for R.V's of all persuasions was Germany? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Retread24800 - 2013-09-23 4:56 PM Not just on camp sites, last year in Cognac there was an elderly UK reg and built Camper complete with Roller ball and guzunda tank ...........................on the Aire parking! but maybe considering the vintage he had no option. Must be an age thing......... as we just tend to dribble quietly in the corner :D............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Retread24800 - 2013-09-23 5:47 PMNo not trying to right off caravans ATM, just astonished by the number of motor caravans on several French sites I visited last month, at the start of the off season. it may be that caravans have a lot shorter season, any number of reasons, just wondering as an ex caravanner what is happening?I thought that the largest market for R.V's of all persuasions was Germany?The French have a large motorhome industry as you will have seen by the number sold in the UK. They kinda went for them before other nations as they did not really have a major caravan industry. However i you go to Spain you will still find caravans tend to dominate and many stay for 6 months or more, which is why they have a separate car. In winter a caravan offers more living space plus awning, and as you are not moving, is the better option.It is horses for courses at the end of the day. One other thing we have noticed is that as smallish diesel cars get more powerful it is surprising what they can legally tow. A Golf diesel for example is quite a hefty tow car as say compared with only 5 years ago. Skoda's are also very popular and solo do 50 mpg, so why not cover your options both ways?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveH Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Could it be that many people are renting out their homes or selling up and buying their dream MotorHome and indeed "living the dream"?? Friends of ours surprised us and bought a MH and have just come back from a 3 month trip round France. Said it was great. They now plan to downsize house to make a more attractive rental proposition and go touring. I would like to think that many people are holding up two fingers to "normal retirement" and doing what I dream of doing. Meanwhile we have pulled off the seasonal pitch and gone back to touring - just had 5 nights in Milton Abbas Dorset - amazingly from the CL we were on the view was stunning and we could see Poole Harbour and the white cliffs of the southern IoW. We had the site to ourselves for four nights and then two Caravan Tourers arrived on the Friday that we left on the Saturday. I am tempted to buy a newer Discovery (that V6 diesel is superb) or i could trade the lot in and get a MH? But the latter does not totally suit our plans just yet. And if I like the Discovery as much as I like my current one I will not want to trade it in for anything. Decisions Decisions ................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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