Buying a Camper Van

AdrianC

BOWFER said:

Surely there's an argument for motorhomes and caravans to be banned from certain roads.
They can easily be the same size as large commercial vehicles.

I presume you're a resident of a road like that?

Because, if not, it's none of your business.

If you are, then you shouldn't then complain when your bins don't get emptied, your house burns down, and you can't get supermarkets or couriers to deliver...

I live on a narrow, single-track, steep, twisty lane. The biggest stuff that comes past here is... tractors and trailers. Planning on banning those, too?

BOWFER

AdrianC said:

BOWFER said:

Surely there's an argument for motorhomes and caravans to be banned from certain roads.
They can easily be the same size as large commercial vehicles.

I presume you're a resident of a road like that?

Because, if not, it's none of your business.

If you are, then you shouldn't then complain when your bins don't get emptied, your house burns down, and you can't get supermarkets or couriers to deliver...

I live on a narrow, single-track, steep, twisty lane. The biggest stuff that comes past here is... tractors and trailers. Planning on banning those, too?

No, although I am thankful the deeds of our house/street bans caravans, motorhomes (and commercial vehicles, for that matter) from being parked in driveways.
Really awful when you see a street full driveways with these in them.
Tractors are essential, so I don't see that as a valid comparison.

AdrianC

Ah, so it comes down to what you see as "essential".

The groundworks guy who lives up the lane a bit doesn't have to come this way with his tractor and low-loader with a digger on it (or even his LWB crewcab 4x4 pickup with a mini digger on a trailer behind it), heading for a building site - he could go other ways, but it's a bit of a diversion with a bad junction. Should he be banned?

How about horseboxes?

Stubod

..I think one problem with motorhome ownership this year will be finding a decent site that actually has some pitches available??

Herzlos

Ibrahim5 said:

If towing was so dangerous car insurers would ask if a towbar was fitted and then charge loads extra. They don't.

It's not particularly dangerous, I just mean that if you crash a £30k caravan without specific caravan insurance you're not going to get it replaced. It's a pretty low risk because most people towing caravans are (a) older, (b) doing it pretty infrequently and (c) going pretty slow.

BOWFER said:

Insurance is a good point, motorhomes seem spectacularly easily stolen.
Caravans get nicked too, my BIL got his stolen, but needs a bit more logistics in terms of a towing vehicle.

Especially 20+ year old motorhomes that can probably be started with a screwdriver. Caravans require at least something to pull it away with (vehicle with a flatbed or towbar)

facade

BOWFER said:

Really awful when you see a street full driveways with these in them.

A while back, in a similar thread, someone posted that if ever there is a vehicle parked somewhere awkward, that restricts sightlines round a bend or at a junction, 9 times out of 10 it is a camper van.  I hadn't really noticed before that, but it is true! 

lordmountararat

I doubt there's any caravan/motorhome option with most navigation systems either.

Yes there are. My camper sat nav has the facility to put in length, height and width tailored to the vehicle. It also has a database of camp sites and a built it camera and an option to avoid single track roads where possible.