Author Topic: Why tent over caravan ??  (Read 11197 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline steptoey

  • Sleeping Bag User
  • *
  • Posts: 40
Why tent over caravan ??
« on: August 22, 2014, 05:31:40 PM »
Community

I've had enough of the tent so I'm looking for alternatives. There are so many options its mind boggling but I often think as to why someone would spend 20k on a camp trailer instead of 20k on a poptop campers. When you look at the coromals and goldstreams which can be deemed as luxury compared to a camp trailer yet people spend the $$$ on the camp trailer. I'm interested to here peoples thoughts on the comparison, I myself will be going trailer due to budget and the fact that when the kids have grown up and gone I can then chase a little comfort.

Cheers   

Offline Stewart

  • Tent User
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
  • Thanked: 20 times
  • Gender: Female
    • Camping with a Cocktail
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2014, 05:43:06 PM »
We went  for our Cub camper trailer for ease of towing, storing and access to places caravans can't go. We were also not ready to cook and eat inside after so many years of camping. We also like that we can access the kitchen and pantry without having to open the trailer.
Prado 150 and Cub Supamatic Escape
https://www.campingwithacocktail.com/

Offline speewa158

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 12092
  • Thanked: 558 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2014, 05:45:19 PM »
l thought this was going to be " A Funny Photo " but well worth a Good pic  >:D   :cheers:
You can go your own way . Treg Up & Make Dust

Offline grafy82

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 825
  • Thanked: 41 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2014, 06:13:23 PM »
Coromals and Goldstreams cannot go where true off road campers can.
My Trailer Build
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=16864.0

You can't believe everything you read on the Internet. - Julius Caesar

Offline oldmate

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 496
  • Thanked: 1311 times
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2014, 06:15:53 PM »
Cool, this thread will be fun :)
Our Blog. A work in progress
https://www.facebook.com/UltimateAdventuresBlog/

bully

  • Guest
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2014, 06:28:05 PM »
My choice was because i like the Kimberley Kamper and i dont like the poptop caravans. Simple.

Offline oldmate

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 496
  • Thanked: 1311 times
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2014, 06:31:45 PM »
To answer the question,  we chose the ultimate as it suited us and the overall weight and design was something we liked. It comes down to what you like and what suits your family, not others, oh and we didn't have to worry about fitting in 2 adults, 16 kids and 2 dogs, and grandparents in our trailer with us.
Our Blog. A work in progress
https://www.facebook.com/UltimateAdventuresBlog/

Offline spinyeel

  • Learning the Ropes
  • *
  • Posts: 14
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2014, 06:40:44 PM »
We have a Cameron Concept trailer,which we love,but we still take a tent for shorter trips.
I'll never own a caravan. It's just not camping,is it? ;D

Offline Bad Scott

  • You dump, Scott and I pump
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 2983
  • Thanked: 221 times
  • Gender: Male
  • AKA "Bad Scott"
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2014, 06:45:57 PM »
We have the Ultimate as it suited us. We cook outside, but if for some unknown reason we can cook inside.  :cup:
Ultimate LC79 Combo

Offline nab

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 1940
  • Thanked: 377 times
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2014, 06:51:44 PM »
We had a soft floor camper for 5 years. We sold it 6 months ago and got a Jayco Dove poptop.

Main reason was that it was off the ground (away from the water and snakes we had previously experienced) and simple to setup up regardless of where it is parked.

As above, we don't like eating/living inside so I will be modifying it to have the cooker accessible from the outside.

I reckon the poptops take away some of the camping "feeling" but the sleeping setup works well for us.

Also a $20k softfloor camper would arguably be much stronger/tougher than a $20k poptop. Also would have a lot more room too.

Horses for courses!
2005 Jayco Dove - sold
2003 Coromal Pioneer XC

Offline GGV8Cruza

  • The Cable Guy
  • Global Moderator
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 11626
  • Thanked: 620 times
  • Gender: Male
  • If 1 turbo is good, 2 must be better. VK3GJG
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2014, 07:25:15 PM »
I have a soft floor and it suits the needs of my family at the moment. Have always liked tent camping and this is the next progression from a tent on the ground. We have a great kitchen which is outside which is important to us and the storage under the bed in the body of the camper fits all out gear and more even on extended trips.

I am sure one day when the kids are older and in swags/tents themselves we may upgrade to a hard floor or a cross over type but that is a way off at this time.

Everyone has different needs and wants and its up to you to fins out what you want

GG

Offline oldmate

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 496
  • Thanked: 1311 times
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2014, 07:27:08 PM »
We have the Ultimate as it suited us. We cook outside, but if for some unknown reason we can cook inside.  :cup:

 :cup:  and we have, when our camp was turned into a lake.  ;D
Our Blog. A work in progress
https://www.facebook.com/UltimateAdventuresBlog/

Offline JD-120

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 849
  • Thanked: 63 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2014, 07:36:34 PM »
yeah we have a soft floor. never even considered a van when we were in the market. Probably came down to price. Never really thought about it. Now that we have a CT, very happy, but even if we wanted a van, we wouldn't be able to store it anywhere.

I dunno why, but most vans the missus and I walk in make us feel a bit dizzy or disorientated.. weird :)
Cheers

Justin

Offline Bad Scott

  • You dump, Scott and I pump
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 2983
  • Thanked: 221 times
  • Gender: Male
  • AKA "Bad Scott"
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #13 on: August 22, 2014, 07:51:59 PM »
:cup:  and we have, when our camp was turned into a lake.  ;D
Thats the Ultimate options  :cup:  ;D
Ultimate LC79 Combo

Offline vicandug

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 548
  • Thanked: 17 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Get ready. Get set.......
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #14 on: August 22, 2014, 08:05:47 PM »
We have a soft floor camper trailer.  We had one previously and sold it.
We were looking at a full van as hubby doesn't like pop tops... Too much wasted space he tells me.

Anyway....  Looking in all the vans and then closing the door they felt very claustrophobic to us.   Our camper with the annexe is way bigger than any camper so enough room for the grand kids without the squish.  It can go more places, tows easier, stores easier and is much much more open and the biggest thing of all is that we love it!!!

Vicki
The dream - to travel like a snail with my home behind me, seeing every inch of Australia.

Life is a gift and too short to waste.

Offline speewa158

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 12092
  • Thanked: 558 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #15 on: August 22, 2014, 08:26:44 PM »
This is a HUGE Can  O Worms     :cheers:
You can go your own way . Treg Up & Make Dust

Offline grafy82

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 825
  • Thanked: 41 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #16 on: August 22, 2014, 08:35:03 PM »
Mods, please move this thread over to the crossover / caravan section where it belongs.  ;D
My Trailer Build
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=16864.0

You can't believe everything you read on the Internet. - Julius Caesar

Offline speewa158

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 12092
  • Thanked: 558 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #17 on: August 22, 2014, 08:39:07 PM »
Not yet ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or ever ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,let it run , its more fun   .     :cheers:
You can go your own way . Treg Up & Make Dust

Offline 2010banditsa

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 646
  • Thanked: 24 times
  • Cheers- It's 12 O'clock somewhere
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #18 on: August 22, 2014, 09:11:32 PM »
I see enough tent type campers when im free camping in our pop top, I dont see many tent type campers when im off adventuring around. Whats that telling me? The accessability angle is a bit of a crock in my opinion and restrictions on where you can camp is more limiting.
Isuzu MUX
2013 Goldstream 16' poptop with bunk
Van- http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=31445

Offline Bad Scott

  • You dump, Scott and I pump
  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 2983
  • Thanked: 221 times
  • Gender: Male
  • AKA "Bad Scott"
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #19 on: August 22, 2014, 09:20:47 PM »
This is a HUGE Can  O Worms     :cheers:
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :cup: :cup: :cup:
Ultimate LC79 Combo

Offline Discoduck

  • Tent User
  • ***
  • Posts: 190
  • Thanked: 21 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #20 on: August 22, 2014, 09:28:55 PM »
Well, I bought a caravan (Evernew 16' poptop) a year ago. I'm 60+ and previously only ever used a 2-man tent. Now I have the van (& a G/shepherd) so plenty of room for both of us out of the weather and more importantly, the flies. Stopping for a cuppa is now freedom from all that. Funnily enough though, I'm considering a hardfloor in a year or two so I can do Gibb River etc. Cross-over type off road vans are extortionate prices. Full off-road caravans are generally cheaper. And the weight; my goodness some of them are very heavy. Anyway I don't run to big $$$ so that kind of puts controls on ones thinking. As said, horses for courses. Cheers
Nissan Patrol GU 4.2TD
Trakmaster Nullarbor, Air suspension

Offline tourin n fishin

  • Tent User
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #21 on: August 22, 2014, 09:43:51 PM »
Wish I had 20K to spend ;D ;D ;D

My little lightweight build goes everywhere as if its not there, I guess that's why CTs are ideal for some.
Matt

2003 GRj-120 Prado GXL
Custom trailer, oztrail camper 7 top

Offline weeds

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2149
  • Thanked: 164 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #22 on: August 23, 2014, 06:27:46 AM »
Working full time, three kids in school I just couldn't justify $20k + sitting in the garage just for weekend trips and potentially four weeks holidays.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Offline speewa158

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 12092
  • Thanked: 558 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #23 on: August 23, 2014, 07:14:26 AM »
Weeds  Do it anyway  8)
You can go your own way . Treg Up & Make Dust

Offline NewieCamper

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 520
  • Thanked: 38 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Why tent over caravan ??
« Reply #24 on: August 23, 2014, 08:11:34 AM »
We stepped out of a tent into a camper trailer to drop the packing and unpacking times, at home especially. From collecting the camping gear out of the garage, loading everything into the car etc took ages. Now only having to throw clothes and food in and hook up a trailer it is a lot better for getting away for a weekend.

For the dollars a soft floor was the only solution, $5k for enough room and features for all of us. A van would have cost at least 5 times that, plus the additional towing weight and space required at home. Sure sometimes it would be nice to open a door and climb into bed at the destination, especially when raining, but can't justify the dollars.