There’s no freedom like the ability to get on the road on a whim and find a comfortable place to sleep hundreds of miles away, surrounded by nature’s beauty, maybe not even in the same country. To really get the most of that requires a vehicle that’s been custom-built for the purpose – but which one? The argument will always be there.
The Difference Between Campervans and Caravans
Here at Escape Campers we’re obviously a little biased toward campervans, but we also know that it’s more a question of your needs and preferences than one always being better than the other.
The main defining difference between caravan and campervan is that a caravan is a towed trailer, while a campervan builds living space into the vehicle itself.
The knock-on consequence of this is around space. There will always be more living space in a caravan than a campervan (although clever ways of doing things with a campervan can mean the difference is less than you’d think), but a campervan will always be more manoeuvrable (especially a converted campervan, as those have the same profile as the van or people carrier they’re built from ) and needs less room to park up.
The Case for Caravans
For larger groups (big families in particular) a caravan can be helpful to give everyone their own space. (With that said, there are some ‘van life’ influencers out there who make two parents, two kids, and five big dogs work in a campervan, so there’s some wiggle room.)
The other advantage can be flexibility within the holiday. Once you’ve parked up wherever you’re staying and set up the caravan, you have whatever you towed it with to travel around, without needing to pack your breakfast things away.
The Case for Campervans
It’s surprisingly common that when someone buys a caravan, they find that their current vehicle isn’t suited for towing it. This can mean more complications before you’re able to drive, where with a campervan the moment you have possession you’re ready to go.
Caravans also take longer to set up and take down when arriving at or leaving campsites. For touring holidays, or just to save time on arrival and before departure, a campervan means less to do before getting going or on arrival. If you’re planning to do famous routes like the NC500 or spend weeks exploring Europe, this gives campervans an advantage.
The more compact frame and lack of trailer also means that campervans can be better when going off the beaten track, especially in the rural UK where single-lane roads can get even narrower. They’re also easier to drive – and not only that, they feel easier to drive, which can be a satisfying feeling.
Find Out for Yourself
If you’re not sure, why not put it to the test? Our campervan hire service means you get a top-of-the-line professionally converted Ford, Volkswagen, or Renault campervan to try. You’ll soon see if its space suits you and yours, and discover how great the experience can be. On top of that, our vehicles are equipped with an assortment of great technology to make van life more enjoyable.
Just drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help with any other questions you may have.
