Camper trailer to Caravan or hybrid ratios

[Wol]

Does anyone have the stats as to what the ratio of sales of camper trailers to caravans to hybrids and motorhomes are and how (if at all) those ratios are changing?
Regards.

[JimS]

No info for you Wol , but my casual observation would say that caravan ownership has skyrocketed and camper trailers have nosedived.
Is it because the baby boomers have moved on from camping to comfort ??

Cheers
Jim

[Bird]

No info for you Wol , but my casual observation would say that caravan ownership has skyrocketed and camper trailers have nosedived.
Is it because the baby boomers have moved on from camping to comfort ??

Also how many companies that used to make camper trailers now sell only hybrids...

[Wol]

That seems to match my prejudices to seeing old camper trailers and new hybrids in sites. 

I struggle with the point of hybrids but could be just me.

[Rowlie]

That seems to match my prejudices to seeing old camper trailers and new hybrids in sites. 

I struggle with the point of hybrids but could be just me.

We started our camping life with a camper trailer. With 3 kids and a single income it was all we could afford. The main problem with it was if we packed up wet we couldn't unpack it at home to dry it out. When the kids moved out (eventually !!) we upgraded to a hybrid. The wet weather pack up was resolved and we had a hard roof, lights, still "go anywhere", lots of storage etc etc. As our bladders aged it beacame apparent we needed to make the final transition. We are now on our "shakedown" trip to discover the joys of a caravan.

We reminisce the camper trailer for its manouverability, simplicity and all round practicality. I still say they are the most practical option for families and don't understand why they have gone out of vogue. The caravan is luxury beyond our dreams but you definitely don't forget its there when driving.

Sorry have to go. The washing machine has just finished spinning and the coffee is ready !!

Rowlie

[GeoffA]

Caravan & hybrid sales went through the roof during, and in the aftermath, of Covid.
Those that would normally travel o/s were forced to holiday locally.

I expect to see a lot of lightly-used caravans and hybrids on the market as people return to their preferred holiday style.

IMO, camper trailers are still the best option for young families (and those that are still fully fit and mobile) due to price, space, and towing.
The attraction diminishes as user age increases....

 

[Wol]

We moved to a forward fold from a soft floor for all of the above reasons too.  And eventually we might need to head to a caravan too.  I get the advantage of no wet canvas in the hybrid for sure.

Maybe tent camping has also declined?

[Bird]

I struggle with the point of hybrids but could be just me.

I sort of understand the point...
Im light years away from understanding the price of them..

[Fizzie]

I expect to see a lot of lightly-used caravans and hybrids on the market as people return to their preferred holiday style.

Leafz & I had this conversation while we were away seeing the number of full-size vans & also motorhomes on the roads & in parks everywhere, & it's also been mentioned on here several times over the last few years as well.

But when

By all accounts, o'seas travel is taking off () again, but the number of vans doesn't seem to be diminishing! We visited the Outdoor Expo at Maryborough while we were there & it was massive, with quite literally acres of mainly vans, but also CTs & Hybrids on display.

[GeoffA]

While there might be an increase in the number of lightly-used units on the market, I wouldn't expect to see much difference in the number on the road.

[WilSurf]

It definitely seems that camper trailers are on the way down in numbers.
We went from a CT to a hybrid and love it.
It is small enough to fit in our garage, but it the comfort of hard walls and roof, no more canvass.
Plus we can sit inside on a normal seat.

[Wol]

But you have a all cooking and fridge outside.  A sort of geriatrics camper trailer?     I think I get it, and probably warmer in winter too.


Does anybody still use tents in campgrounds?

regards

[WilSurf]

Correct, but sink and hot/cold water inside, and don't forget the cabin heater.
As we cook on induction, we can cook inside easily.

One daughter has a tent, the other a swag.

[JimS]

[
Does anybody still use tents in campgrounds?

[/quote]

Not many.
I used to see Burleigh Heads Rudd Park ( called Mud Park by the locals) fill up each holidays with hundreds of tents , all heavy canvas , dozens of rough ropes and wooden pegs. They all had a great time.



Cheers
Jim

[Wazza999]

The biggest downside of the hybrid offerings is the ridiculous weight of the Chinese imports. Tare weights over 2T for a 16' for goodness sake.

Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk

[Wol]

Love the tents.  We had a big heavy canvas marquee when I was a kid.

Induction inside, what a clever idea.

Even Cub’s C16 is 2 1 ton tare , albeit a genuinely offroad hybrid.

[MattNQ]

Maybe tent camping has also declined?

Reckon the rooftop tents have picked up a good number of tent users now you can get them fairly cheap like Kings etc

Seems every 3rd 4wd up here has a big chonky rooftop tent.
Must do wonders for everyday fuel economy     Or maybe doesn't matter so much around town perhaps.

[GeoffA]

But you have a all cooking and fridge outside.

Some do, but ours has both internal and external cooking and sink.
The internal fridge/freezer can be accessed from the van door.
We have a second fridge on an external slide, but the slide could be used for other things.

A sort of geriatrics camper trailer?     I think I get it, and probably warmer in winter too.

Yep, you've got it.
Nice when you have to get up for the early morning tinkles....

 

[Wol]

Some do, but ours has both internal and external cooking and sink.
The internal fridge/freezer can be accessed from the van door.
We have a second fridge on an external slide, but the slide could be used for other things.

Yep, you've got it.
Nice when you have to get up for the early morning tinkles....

 

I resemble that remark.  🙂🙂

[WilSurf]

The biggest downside of the hybrid offerings is the ridiculous weight of the Chinese imports. Tare weights over 2T for a 16' for goodness sake.

Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk

Not only the weight, but when we were looking at those Chinese models at a show, we didn't like them. They were all the same, too heavy and not the layout we wanted.
The only ones we liked were Australian built.

[loanrangie]

The biggest downside of the hybrid offerings is the ridiculous weight of the Chinese imports. Tare weights over 2T for a 16' for goodness sake.

Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk

That is the biggest turn of for me, our 17ft jayco only weighs 1150kg as opposed to a 13ft hybrid that is nearly 2t.

[nab]

Really depends on your style of camping, your views on security etc. Time plays a bigger role with everyone's busy life too.

We used tents years ago, then moved to a soft floor camper, then a Jayco Dove and now a Coromal XC poptop. Our camping varies from staying in one place for a week to traveling and moving every 1-2 days.

With the soft floor you always had to set everything up - bed, kitchen, table and anything else you wanted. A pain in the ass when you are moving most days and a lot of time tied up in setting/packing up.

The Coromal is bloody fantastic for us now. For example, we got delayed in our travels in January and pulled up around 8pm when it was dark and we were buggered. We just popped the top and that was it. In bed in a few minutes if needed.
Years ago when we had the soft floor camper we got lost somewhere around Katoomba and finally found our camp around 8:30pm. It was raining so we cooked under a gazebo we found. Didn't stop raining so we just slept in the car and it was crap. Wished for a caravan that night!!!!

I still enjoy boys trips in the swag, got a 3 night-er coming up in a few weeks. Swag on a stretcher under the awning, simple and quick packup while on the 4x4 tracks.

I must admit, the soft floor camper really felt like camping. Having the van takes that feeling away a bit but the van allows us to get away more so it's a win for us.

[Fizzie]

finally found our camp around 8:30pm.

Try 11.30pm!

After coming off the (running late) Spirit last year, that was the time that we got to our spot at Geelong Showgrounds!

Didn't even unhook, & don't even think we plugged power & water in, just crashed.

[austastar]

Hmm,
          We honeymooned on a 250cc Kawasaki, cardboard suitcase on the rack and 2 hand sewn canvas panniers.
Went from Melbourne up through the Snowiest for 2 weeks. We had a small hike tent with basic bushwalking gear .
The lilo was pure luxury!
Cheers

Typed with phat fumbs

[WilSurf]

Hmm,
          We honeymooned on a 250cc Kawasaki, cardboard suitcase on the rack and 2 hand sewn canvas panniers.
Went from Melbourne up through the Snowiest for 2 weeks. We had a small hike tent with basic bushwalking gear .
The lilo was pure luxury!
Cheers

Typed with phat fumbs

Done that. Two motorbikes, wife's Yamaha Fazer and mine Yamaha Thundercat, through France with tent and all.
Great holiday.