Best layout/berth for family with 3 kids!

Juggler101

Probably been asked million times, but sure here goes 😉 I *think* I've finally persuaded the other half that a camper would suit us, so now to hone in on the perfect layout!

Is a 7-berth overkill for 2 adults and 3 young kids (<6 years)? I've never been in one, just wondering are you compromising on circulation space? I reckon something with two dinettes might be handy for sitting up if (hopefully!) the kids go to bed before us... Can anyone in a similar situation can share their experience?

Im always on done deal checking the latest offerings, where else is good for browsing?

Agent_47

Juggler101 wrote: »

Probably been asked million times, but sure here goes 😉 I *think* I've finally persuaded the other half that a camper would suit us, so now to hone in on the perfect layout!

Is a 7-berth overkill for 2 adults and 3 young kids (<6 years)? I've never been in one, just wondering are you compromising on circulation space? I reckon something with two dinettes might be handy for sitting up if (hopefully!) the kids go to bed before us... Can anyone in a similar situation can share their experience?

Im always on done deal checking the latest offerings, where else is good for browsing?

Hire one out and see if it is for OH and that the size suits. I thought same and met with a negative "No" when we tailed one slowly out of Galway recently!
Will still look to get a VW Cali and head off on my own.....

Agent_47

Try looking at the various models on Youtube - Practical Motorhome are very good. That will give you a good feel for the interior layout and size.

You also need to consider the "garage" aspect for luggage, bikes etc unless you intend to get a bike rack. Some MH have extenders where the exterior extends out to create more interior space.

finally, try and get to a MH exhibition, I believe there is one on at the NEC in February.

Juggler101

Cheers for that, yeah, it's just so bloody expensive to hire them out, I keep thinking "that's X weeks repayment on the motorhome loan"!!

I didn't realise there was a motorhome show, that would be very helpful. There aren't any traders close to me, so opportunities to nose around motorhomes are unfortunately limited!!! My budget is for a 10-15 year old

crabbypaddy

Juggler101 wrote: »

Cheers for that, yeah, it's just so bloody expensive to hire them out, I keep thinking "that's X weeks repayment on the motorhome loan"!!

I didn't realise there was a motorhome show, that would be very helpful. There aren't any traders close to me, so opportunities to nose around motorhomes are unfortunately limited!!! My budget is for a 10-15 year old

I you 'think' you've 'finally' persuaded her I would start with renting one for a weekend. If it's not going to work she'll have a face like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle on day 2.

Finding a layout that suits you absolutely requires physically looking at them. Remember to think about what it will be like when the kids are asleep the perfect daytime layout can be very inconvenient at night if you want to stay up.

Ireland isnt a large country if you're not prepared to travel to a dealer to look at them I think your chamces of finding the right van are pretty poor.

Juggler101

Ha, I like your analogy there crabbypaddy‚ You're right, I really should rent one, it just feels like throwing money away. But I guess it's better than throwing away 20k on something that's not going to be used.

Do you know any online sales other than Done Deal/ Adverts that has good traffic?

bridster007

I think a caravan with 3 bunks and a back section with a table for the kids that can be closed off with a door would be far more suitable with 3 young kids. Plenty of these layouts available.
Gives you 2 separate areas.
I wouldn't touch a MH with 3 young kids. The space is just not there and remember our weather makes staying inside a necessity quite often.

Head up to Tricam Caravans south of Belfast on the main road.
There is a MH company right beside it.
So you can see all options and layouts for both MH and Caravans in a single day.

Juggler101

Thanks for that suggestion, it would be one of my worries alright, although one of the reasons I'd like a motor home is to have the option of using the aires in France, which isn't possible with a caravan. I must check out some caravans in real life though, see how they compare to campers.

Macy0161

I would also suggest hiring one - not sure the camper life is for everyone! It's a big investment to find out later someone hates it.

It is harder when their younger (we started off in a 77 type 2). We now have a six berth, for the four of us, with rear lounge. The chaps sleep in the over cab, as the better half doesn't like sleeping up there, which really rules out bunks for us, and maybe something else to consider.

Fixed beds are great, but there's no doubt they compromise space. Maybe not an issue if you stay on sites where more can be outside but if you're planning Aires and wild camping maybe you want more sitting space inside?

Again, if you mainly plan sites, I wouldn't rule out a caravan. Much less investment initially, IF you don't have to upgrade a vehicle too. I've often thought the ideal set up is a day van and caravan!

sunshinereggae

Hi Juggler101, the advice to hire is very sound advice but if you can't then it is definitely worth a trip to a dealership to help you decide on layout, even if it is a spin to get to one from where you live, there are quite a few scattered across the country and there are so many interior layout options, U lounge, bunks, garage etc that it is best to physically see them. To answer the question is a seven birth overkill for two adults and three kids? In our case we have a seven birth and two kids (now down to one) and we like the room and storage capacity it gives us especially on the not so good weather days. We went from tent to caravan to camper (all different sizes) so we knew what suited us best, do as much research as possible and physically sit into them, there are pros and cons to all. Even when we are down to just herself and myself I don't think we will downsize yet as we enjoy the extra space a seven birth gives us. A camper is usually quite an investment for people(unless money is no object) that in many cases sits outside peoples houses for most of the year idle, just an expensive garden ornament.
What I would advise anyone thinking of buying a camper is balance what you are willing to spend on it plus running costs - insurance, tax, servicing/maintenance etc against the use you will get out of it. Suits some people but not all, I've known a few people who bought a camper and regretted it afterwards - do the research, its time and money well spent, hiring one is possibly the best advice you will get. Good luck with whatever you decide

killalanerr

On days like this you better have the layout right , beer and box set day for me

Mountainsandh

Hi Juggler, we only have 2 kids, but we were in your situation 6 years ago.

We rented one in France (I'm French so a bit easier for me to deal with rental), it was very expensive, but confirmed that yes, we did like it.

Then we bought our first camper.

We went for a 6 berth, with fixed bed at back, and an over cabin double. The dinette converts into a double bed of course, but we never used it, and never intended to, we wanted somewhere to sit in the evenings and have a cup of tea, watch tv ... and we did just that. No faffing about with converting anything.

It worked out brilliant for us. Kids were 3 and 5 starting off, they slept either together down in the fixed bed at rear, or with a parent each in either doubles as the 3 years old woke up during the night, or when they still needed the overnight attention.
The fixed bed is very large and very safe for kids (it's perpendicular to the van so only small "doorway" type opening, no risk of falling !

When they grew bigger, off to the over cabin bed they went (with safety net), they loved their little nook, had all their toys up there, it'd be their kingdom for the trips, they loved it.

Now they're 8 and 10, boy and girl, and really, we had to upgrade so they can sleep separate for the next few years.

I think 2 double fixed beds would suit you for a good while, they're big enough for 3 kids in fairness, only thing is the messing

When your 6 year old gets bigger he/she might get a bit sick of sharing, so maybe at that stage you might start using the dinette area bed.

Other than that, go for a 7 berth like we're upgrading to : there's a single dinette that we set as a bed for one kid, we still have the 4 sitter dinette, so still no converting beds, and hopefully there'll be no fights.

I have to say the 7 berth is less compact than what we had before though, so maybe a bit less easy to drive and park around as a first camper.

Also, the 7 berth has less storage than our old one. Storage is more important when the kids are small in my opinion. You've to take all the paraphenalia that goes with kids, you might have a buggy, so you definitely want a good sized boot and plenty spots to store stuff inside the van. You need more spare clothes, bowls, etc... than when they're bigger.

Our camper has just gone up on Donedeal, it's beautiful if I may say so myself (we really loved it ), and if you'd like me to point you to it I'd be glad to via PM.

Have fun looking either way, but I do agree with the others that if your other half is not fully on board, it might be wiser to rent or borrow first, and you definitely have to see them "in the flesh" to make a decision. And not just once, make sure you look at several, or even revisit one that has taken your fancy if you can, you might think of things a second time around that you forgot first time.

Juggler101

Really useful perspective there mountainsandh. One of the dealers we visited had the fixed rear double and the garage space is amazing to be fair!! As you say, im a bit worried about the messing that they'd be going on with ;-) Definitely send me on the link and I'll have a goo :-)

Juggler101

Thanks for done deal heads up, will pm you with a question or two if you don't mind.

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Hi Juggler, we only have 2 kids, but we were in your situation 6 years ago.

We rented one in France (I'm French so a bit easier for me to deal with rental), it was very expensive, but confirmed that yes, we did like it.

Then we bought our first camper.

We went for a 6 berth, with fixed bed at back, and an over cabin double. The dinette converts into a double bed of course, but we never used it, and never intended to, we wanted somewhere to sit in the evenings and have a cup of tea, watch tv ... and we did just that. No faffing about with converting anything.

It worked out brilliant for us. Kids were 3 and 5 starting off, they slept either together down in the fixed bed at rear, or with a parent each in either doubles as the 3 years old woke up during the night, or when they still needed the overnight attention.
The fixed bed is very large and very safe for kids (it's perpendicular to the van so only small "doorway" type opening, no risk of falling !

When they grew bigger, off to the over cabin bed they went (with safety net), they loved their little nook, had all their toys up there, it'd be their kingdom for the trips, they loved it.

Now they're 8 and 10, boy and girl, and really, we had to upgrade so they can sleep separate for the next few years.

I think 2 double fixed beds would suit you for a good while, they're big enough for 3 kids in fairness, only thing is the messing

When your 6 year old gets bigger he/she might get a bit sick of sharing, so maybe at that stage you might start using the dinette area bed.

Other than that, go for a 7 berth like we're upgrading to : there's a single dinette that we set as a bed for one kid, we still have the 4 sitter dinette, so still no converting beds, and hopefully there'll be no fights.

I have to say the 7 berth is less compact than what we had before though, so maybe a bit less easy to drive and park around as a first camper.

Also, the 7 berth has less storage than our old one. Storage is more important when the kids are small in my opinion. You've to take all the paraphenalia that goes with kids, you might have a buggy, so you definitely want a good sized boot and plenty spots to store stuff inside the van. You need more spare clothes, bowls, etc... than when they're bigger.

Our camper has just gone up on Donedeal, it's beautiful if I may say so myself (we really loved it ), and if you'd like me to point you to it I'd be glad to via PM.

Have fun looking either way, but I do agree with the others that if your other half is not fully on board, it might be wiser to rent or borrow first, and you definitely have to see them "in the flesh" to make a decision. And not just once, make sure you look at several, or even revisit one that has taken your fancy if you can, you might think of things a second time around that you forgot first time.

Mountainsandh

Juggler101 wrote: »

Really useful perspective there mountainsandh. One of the dealers we visited had the fixed rear double and the garage space is amazing to be fair!! As you say, im a bit worried about the messing that they'd be going on with ;-) Definitely send me on the link and I'll have a goo :-)

Juggler I'll send you the link so you can see the layout i mean but I think it's pretty much sold after today, one person has a deposit on it, and another is on a waiting list just in case sale falls through. Sorry I didn't think it would go that fast !

Yeah you'd be thankful for garage space for beach gear too, and if the inflatable toys and pop up shade tents don't quite fill it up you might even squeeze in a few boxes of wine if going to France ...

Juggler101

No worries at all, ignore my private message!!

T650

Best show in Europe for motorhomes is at the end of August each year in Dusseldorf.

Recommend it highly !!

Caravan Salon

niloc1951

We spent our first 15 years with a caravan and when the children stopped coming with us we changed to a motorhome and there is a big difference. Here are a few examples.

Caravan:
You pitch up on a site
There are usually play areas for children
You have a car to go to the beach, shopping, local attractions,
Bunks can be left made up during the day for smallies to have a sleep
At night the smallies area can be separated off
No worries about roadworthiness testing, insurance & tax, though caravan insurance is useful if it's stolen or comes off the hitch and lands in someones garden:eek:

Motorhome:
Good for Aires
Aires not good for children
Must find parking at beaches etc.
Must pack up if going to shops, beaches, local attractions
Model big enough for family may need C1 Driving Licence
Needs tax, insurance, testing and servicing.

I'm sure there are many who will say holidaying in a motorhome with small children is no problem, but I've done a lot in both and in my humble opinion a caravan makes more sense as a starting option. If your +1 likes it you can then consider changing if you feel a MH is better but like many who start with a caravan the transition may coincide with you becoming an 'empty nester'

Juggler101

Thanks niloc, yes there's pros and cons to each... Im swaying towards a motor home, but keep wondering should I wait for that empty nest, but the empty nest is a LONG way off ;-)

There are lots of aires near towns, playgrounds, beaches etc, but as you say, we would also using campsites, probably the majority of the time.

The caravan option is something we definitely need to give careful consideration to!

Macy0161

niloc1951 wrote: »

I'm sure there are many who will say holidaying in a motorhome with small children is no problem, but I've done a lot in both and in my humble opinion a caravan makes more sense as a starting option. If your +1 likes it you can then consider changing if you feel a MH is better but like many who start with a caravan the transition may coincide with you becoming an 'empty nester'

I wouldn't say no problem - there's a lot of unpacking with smallies, but that is relatively short term in our experience. Also, the driving on and off sites has become less of an issue as my own confidence driving a motorhome has grown.

We did consider a caravan when we upsized from a VW, but it would've involved a car upgrade too to get the appropriate towing capacity. A caravan does also give you the option of seasonal pitches if touring isn't for you (basically you set up the caravan at a site for the summer).

Juggler101

Just looking at the cars towing caravans in France, and they're usually a good bit bigger than ours. Like you Macy, I don't think I'd go for a caravan if it involved upgrading the family car

Macy0161

Juggler101 wrote: »

Just looking at the cars towing caravans in France, and they're usually a good bit bigger than ours. Like you Macy, I don't think I'd go for a caravan if it involved upgrading the family car

Well I'd check out the towing rating of what you've got - we had a 7 seater mpv at the time, but it had a rubbish towing capacity compared to some average sized saloons. Size doesn't seem to be the deciding factor.

Juggler101

Will do, might head for Newbridge caravans, they can probably advise.

What set up berth/layout do you have for the kids Macy?

niloc1951

If you're wondering what weight/size of caravan your existing car will tow click on THIS LINK where you can enter your cars details and a caravans details and it will tell you if it's a suitable match.
You can also enter your cars details in the Select Reviews section and see any reviews for how your model performs as a tow car.

CLICK HERE for an example of a 5 berth caravan which is a fairly good match for a Ford Focus 1.6 16v
CLICK HERE for an example of a 6 berth which is a good match for a Toyota Avensis 1.6 vvti

Macy0161

Juggler101 wrote: »

Will do, might head for Newbridge caravans, they can probably advise.

What set up berth/layout do you have for the kids Macy?

Currently we have a rear lounge 6 berth. Me and the missus sleep down the back, the girls (6 and 7) up top with a safety net. There is messing at night time, but no more than any other time they share a room, and normally just the first night as they're wrecked after that! If the weathers good we leave the rear lounge left as a bed, but it is handy if it's wet to have two sitting areas.

We're mulling over potential upgrade options - any layout is a bit of a pay off. If my wife would sleep up top, we'd probably go bunks as the motorhomes with that layout can be quite compact (can drop at least a metre off the length on some of them), which can be a bit of saving on ferry's and less hassle parking up in towns. Plenty of 7 berth options with 3 bunks, either as described earlier in the thread, or with 3 stacked on top of each other floor to ceiling!

I love the idea of the storage of a garage with a fixed bed, but then you lose the living space. It's all pro's and con's. We're not in a position to upgrade at the moment anyway, but we're always looking - they say your third van is the one you get right, and the next one will be number 3!

It also depends on how you'll use the inside. The one we have has a satellite dish and TV fixings, which we've never used. When on site, we try to be outside as much as possible. Other families seem to have two screens going - one adults and one kids between diner and rear lounge. That isn't us, when we're "camping".

I'd still go back and caution that you both have to be committed to the holiday style it gives you. Even a 6 berth is a small space if one of you isn't enjoying it!

Also, just on caravans, don't forget you can nearly double the space with an awning. Caravanners seem to love an awning....

Juggler101

Great info and advice there, thanks Macy

Mountainsandh

I would recommend campsites too for the first few years juggler, rather than aires.

Mine were used to baths rather than showers when small, so the campsites' kiddies bathing rooms often saved us a lot of tears in showers. Of course we could use the van's bathroom, but I've always preferred using campsites facilities.

And of course all the playgrounds, safety, all singing all dancing pools, animations ...

It's true that it's not very handy for going into town centres, and if you are going to stay in one place any stretch of time, for shopping or visits outings you have to pack up.

But what we found, that's just ourselves now, is that we actually get itchy feet staying in the one place too long, 3/4 days would be the utmost we end up spending anywhere, usually it's just one or two nights. So we're able to shop and visit on the way to the next campsite.

Also, it means if you don't like the "vibe" of the place you're in, you can simply up sticks. There are campsites that look great online or in a guide, but the feel is very different when you get there.

It's not for everybody, and it does mean some driving (2 to 3 hours broken up with lunch and stops) nearly every day for the kids, but I think we all enjoy it that way in my family, everyone is always excited the next morning heading off.

I guess you have to suss out what would suit your family best, it is hard without a trial alright.

Juggler101

I think that would be our plan too mountainsandh, maybe the odd aire if it suited between campsites

Mountainsandh

Juggler101 wrote: »

I think that would be our plan too mountainsandh, maybe the odd aire if it suited between campsites

Yeah, some aires are good even for kids, like you said, near playgrounds etc...

I forgot to mention that as we always go visit my family down in the South of France, we have this sort of imperative to be heading there thus the 2/3 hours driving.

In your case you could hop from one spot to the other in a much narrower area with a lot less driving.

Benbecul97

With 3 young kids (<6 years) a caravan might be a better option. In a MH, when driving, one of them will have to be rear-facing. Will they be happy with that? Will all of them be happy together opposite each other when on the move? They wont be as close by for the non-driving adult to tend to their needs! None of this is an issue (potential issue) in a car/caravan. Just something to consider.

Regarding Aires many, if not most, are not suitable for young kids (<6 years) as they have few amenities and can be located in busyish areas. While you do get ones that are conveniently located near nice amenities alot of them are carparks in supermarkets, industrial estate areas, 2-3kms from the nearest town etc. At least the ones I've seen / seen in the Vicarious - All the Aires guide book. Will ye feel like ye are on "holidays" if ye overnight in a few of these over your 2-4 week holiday? Of course you can research and pinpoint suitable aires, but as they cannot be reserved what when you get there and its full? Again, just something to consider.

Juggler101

I guess the point of using aires is not for the kids clubs-type amenities that many people look for, but to get closer to towns, sightseeing etc. On my very limited trips to France, I've actually seen aires with much better access to towns than the campsites have, and some in quite scenic areas!Of course there are lots that are out of the way, not near anything of interest.

Having done some research on TowCar this evening, I think a caravan is not a viable option now, our car not being suitable for towing anything big enough to justify changing our plans from motorhome to caravan.

Benbecul97 wrote: »

With 3 young kids (<6 years) a caravan might be a better option. In a MH, when driving, one of them will have to be rear-facing. Will they be happy with that? Will all of them be happy together opposite each other when on the move? They wont be as close by for the non-driving adult to tend to their needs! None of this is an issue (potential issue) in a car/caravan. Just something to consider.

Regarding Aires many, if not most, are not suitable for young kids (<6 years) as they have few amenities and can be located in busyish areas. While you do get ones that are conveniently located near nice amenities alot of them are carparks in supermarkets, industrial estate areas, 2-3kms from the nearest town etc. At least the ones I've seen / seen in the Vicarious - All the Aires guide book. Will ye feel like ye are on "holidays" if ye overnight in a few of these over your 2-4 week holiday? Of course you can research and pinpoint suitable aires, but as they cannot be reserved what when you get there and its full? Again, just something to consider.

crabbypaddy

Benbecul97 wrote: »

In a MH, when driving, one of them will have to be rear-facing. Will they be happy with that? Will all of them be happy together opposite each other when on the move? They wont be as close by for the non-driving adult to tend to their needs!

Regarding Aires many, if not most, are not suitable for young kids (<6 years) as they have few amenities and can be located in busyish areas. While you do get ones that are conveniently located near nice amenities alot of them are carparks in supermarkets, industrial estate areas, 2-3kms from the nearest town etc. At least the ones I've seen / seen in the Vicarious - All the Aires guide book. Will ye feel like ye are on "holidays" if ye overnight in a few of these over your 2-4 week holiday? Of course you can research and pinpoint suitable aires, but as they cannot be reserved what when you get there and its full? Again, just something to consider.

In laws hymer had 3 forward facing seats, although the third was in the back corner behind the axle which for reasons of physics isn't ideal. Parent can always sit in the back with the smallest.

We had no trouble finding picturesque aires all along the coast indeed some of them were right on the beach so you could go up and down to the van and keep an eye on the kids whereas in the campsite the beach was usually screened off by fences and trees and everyone had to hike up and down together. If you are prepared to pay a few euro there were private ones that even had wifi for the teenager.

We were there in July last and while some prime aires would fill up we never had to travel more than a few km to find one that had vacancies.

Juggler101 wrote: »

On my very limited trips to France, I've actually seen aires with much better access to towns than the campsites have, and some in quite scenic areas! Of course there are lots that are out of the way, not near anything of interest.

+1 we were constanty surprised at the quality and location of some aires especially in smaller towns where the mayor is working hard to attract visitors.

On the subject of caravan vs camper. People always seem to buy based on the 2 week holiday they might take in France, what about the other 50 weeks of the year.

Our van goes to festivals, day trips, fishing trips, long weekends, weddings, stag parties, new years parties, christmas and easter at the inlaws, hiking trips, kayaking trips. We often decide at noon to head away to the beach for the night. If we had a caravan it would sit outside the door, in the way, depreciating and gathering algae and leaves for 49 weeks of the year or worse we'd be paying the price of a holiday to store it somewhere while we didn't use it..

Juggler101

If I could thank you twice i would crabbypaddy ;-) The aim of the motor home is for family friendly festivals, odd nights away when the Irish weather plays ball and longer trips around Ireland.

shaunr68

Just a couple of points from me. A 7 berth motorhome will inevitably be a big beast, 7-7.5 metres perhaps. Are you confident driving a large vehicle? For all I know you might be a trucker in your day job so please don't take it the wrong way, but just something to consider. Nothing too intimidating, but it takes a bit of getting used to and general awareness of your size, rear overhang, avoiding tight spots, height barriers and so on. A reversing camera will be worth its weight in gold.

A fixed double bed and garage space eats up the daytime living space massively. Even in a large MH you could end up sat around a poky little dinette. We like to stretch out and relax in the evenings so preferred a large U-shaped lounge which converts into a double bed, takes literally seconds though of course you then have to faff about with your bedding.

Each to their own of course, just a couple of things to consider.

I'd echo what others have said and advise going to a show to get a feel of different layouts and an idea what might suit you. Best of luck, once you find something that suits you, you won't regret it!

Benbecul97

Sound, you've considered those points then and everyone is happy. Good luck with your search.

Juggler101

The other half has experience driving minibuses, so we're nearly there.

What's the trade off with a u-lounge? Is there less storage space? They look extremely spacious alright.

Another thing that you or someone else might know Shaun, are there any local shows or are they all UK/Europe?

shaunr68 wrote: »

Just a couple of points from me. A 7 berth motorhome will inevitably be a big beast, 7-7.5 metres perhaps. Are you confident driving a large vehicle? For all I know you might be a trucker in your day job so please don't take it the wrong way, but just something to consider. Nothing too intimidating, but it takes a bit of getting used to and general awareness of your size, rear overhang, avoiding tight spots, height barriers and so on. A reversing camera will be worth its weight in gold.

A fixed double bed and garage space eats up the daytime living space massively. Even in a large MH you could end up sat around a poky little dinette. We like to stretch out and relax in the evenings so preferred a large U-shaped lounge which converts into a double bed, takes literally seconds though of course you then have to faff about with your bedding.

Each to their own of course, just a couple of things to consider.

I'd echo what others have said and advise going to a show to get a feel of different layouts and an idea what might suit you. Best of luck, once you find something that suits you, you won't regret it!

Macy0161

Juggler101 wrote: »

What's the trade off with a u-lounge? Is there less storage space? They look extremely spacious alright.

Nothing has the storage of a fixed rear bed with garage. For rear lounge - ours has storage under the seats, and a full width locker underneath that (accessed from the outside both sides). Others I've seen just have under the seats (either accessed outside or in only).

nailer8

We have 3 small kids (2/4/5) and use a 6 Berth motorhome with fixed rear bed and garage.
It certainly can be tough going. The 3 kids sleep together over the cab but its hard to get them to sleep and the 1st to wake wakes the whole van. The storage is great under the bed and a must if you ask me. (we carry bikes, gas BBQ, surfing gear, extra cooler box, etc. etc.).
The kids dont mind the travelling setup, two forward and one back. You will usually get 3/4h out of them without too much hassle.

Id defo recommend trying a few days in a rental before parting with the €€€. Its great but it is Very hard work, and you really need to love it!

We have had a MH's for 9 years or so and originally always wild camped. However with 3 tots wild camping is pretty much out now and i would advise good quality sites with lots to entertain kids.

Having camped with other families in caravans in camp sites i would say they have it a bit easier. A lot more inside space and the availability of the car to pop into town. With a MH it is some hassle to pack up half your stuff, fix 3 car seats, wind in awning and head off.

All that said i dont think i will be selling the MH any time soon. As the kids have got older it has got easier. You cant beat the flexibility of the MH. Pull up just about anywhere, have a cup of tea or use the toilet (especially with kids). If you get caught falling asleep on a long journey or arrive after closing time at a campsite just pull in and go to sleep. You cant really do that in a caravan.
We also use it for day trips to the beach etc. And we have gone away during the winter and stayed in a B&B but used the camper to drive there, carry all our stuff and have a day van when out and about.

Best of luck.

Juggler101

Great perspective there Nailer, cheers

oinkely

Hey Juggler,

We would love to get a MH but the cost is a major factor. You can get a much nicer caravan for a hell of a lot less money than a camper. As such we went with a caravan as it suits our needs perfectly. We have a 6 berth triple bunk caravelair which is 1250 kg max so can be towed by a lot of family cars. 3 kids, 7,5 and 2 use the bunks, leaving the side dinette free for cold morning brekkys while the large dinette is still made up as our double bed.

Just back from 3 weeks tipping around Brittany and delighted with the caravan and car set up. The freedom of having the car and and not having to up root everything after arriving at a campsite to go to the shops was great. We did only stay at campsites, didn't consider aires. My sister has a 7 berth MH, which we have borrowed for trips in Irleand before, and it was great fun. On the whole, for a trip to france, I prefer the caravan at the moment with the ages of our kids.

As others have said, there is more freedom with a MH, especially around Ireland, but for us, our budget and our young kids it's a caravan for the time being, and absolutely loving it.

Juggler101

That sounds like a really great holiday oinkely :-) Our car only seems to tow around 1100-ish, so pulls the smaller vans mostly!!! Not sure which way we'll go now, there's very few motor homes in the nearby dealers at the moment, so we can't even go browsing!

record

Hi Juggler,

We were in the same boat as you a few years back.

After much deliberation, we went for a campervan with the following layout:

• U-shaped lounge down the back, which converts to large double bed.
• Mid-section two-opposite-two dinette, which converts to small double-bed.
• Over-cab bed, which can sleep three small kids, or else two adults.
• External bike rack for up to 3 bikes.
• Good storage compartments all round the camper at the back.

Our reasoning was:

• Fixed double-bed was too limiting in terms of layout options. The benefit of a fixed double is that you don't need to make up a bed every night. But, if you have a convertible bed, you can just leave it made up anyway.
• The kids were small when we bought the camper, so we could get them up top no problem. However, we needed an option for when they grew a bit, so the mid-section bed now gives us that.
• The u-shaped lounge down the back, plus dining area in the middle, gives you two seating sections when out on day trips, which we find to be very good. (You wouldn't have that with a fixed bed.)
• We had considerd a layout with bunk beds. Again though, this limits your options regarding flexibility.

The awning gives you good usable space when overnighting with the camper. Having said that, it is not enclosed so does not keep things dry when it rains. As such, we are getting a 'day room' (kind of like a gazebo) for our main holiday this year. This will allow us to set up tables and chairs, and give us somewhere to put stuff if we are going off for the day.

Regarding being on holiday and having to pack up everything if you need to go into town, etc. - bikes mitigate against this for groceries, etc. When you do need to take the camper, it probably takes about 20 minutes to get moving, but we have found this isn't a major inconvenience. The trade-off is that we love taking the camper on day trips from home when we are in Ireland, which you wouldn't really do with a caravan.

Regarding the risk of splashing out on a camper and possibly not liking it - this is certainly a risk, but in my view worth taking if you can afford to buy a camper in the first place. We debated it for years, eventually went for it and of course regretted not getting it years ago. I agree that it is too expensive to rent out to see if you like it. Plus, it's only when it's your own that you can really enjoy it - putting your own stuff in, etc. We rationalised that, if we didn't like it, we could sell it after a year and it would only have cost us the price of a family holiday at most.

Aires - we used these the first year we were in France. They are great in one way, being very cheap. However, while adequate, they aren't great to be honest, especially with kids. A nice compromise that we found was good was going to a municipal campsite, which cost about €20 per night. We thought it was worth the extra few quid for the comfort and space it gave you (for example, you're supposed to only use the 'footprint' of your camper in the aires - meaning no awning, no setting up a table outside, no barbeque, etc.).

Best of luck with your decision.

Juggler101

Thanks a million for sharing your experiences Record, it really is very helpful :-)

now online

Hi juggler

We've recently bought our 1st camper and totally love it! !! Heading away again this weekend.

We've worked our way up tent/caravan/ camper and honestly in my opinion you'd be better off investing some of your money into upgrading your car and going to the UK to buy a decent caravan.

We've done france in both the caravan in previous years and the camper this year but this year our kids are that bit older so it's getting easier!

A caravan doubles your options when the kids are young, we had a hobby with a fixed bed and bunks and the center dinnete converted to a decent double .

We did plenty of long stay holidays in it in Ireland, we had a decent awning which doubled our space. We could put the kids to bed and sit outside.

The weather is against us in Ireland for campervans, it can be cramped on rainy days .

I realise that doesn't sound very positive for our camper but we totally love it now that the kids are older Im not sure it would have worked for us when they were ankle grazers!

Best of luck with your decision

Juggler101

Thanks for your input now online, how old are your lot now?

now online

Juggler101 wrote: »

Thanks for your input now online, how old are your lot now?

8 and 9 juggler, we've been doing this since they're babies.

Juggler101

Ah they're big kids now! Yeah we've been tent camping with them all along, just need something more mobile and less time consuming now :-)

Alkers

Would getting a transporter or bongo or something of that size be an option? You could use that for the Irish trips and then get a caravan for the trips longer afield. It's smaller than a proper camper sure but perfect for day trips or overnights and then you don't need as big a caravan to get the same living space. You also can get awnings for both!