The Caravans vs Motorhomes Conundrum

You just want to get out on the road and live the dream – and it’s something you’ve hankered after for ages. The freedom to take off from domestic duties and enjoy impromptu breaks and exciting holidays. Be in complete control of your own destiny for a weekend, or for a couple of weeks at a time, and all from the comfort of your own homely space, your own bubble. To make a swift escape – maybe in a Swift Escape! 

Obviously, then, owning some sort of leisure vehicle is the right way to go – but which type should you go for? A motorhome or a caravan? Here at Wandahome we have a vast stock of all different types of leisure vehicle – from Sprite caravans to Bailey motorhomes and everything in between.

We’ll explore this interesting conundrum in this edition of our blog. We’ll explore the things you need to know about motorhomes and caravans, and we’ll look at how each can help fulfil your dream of happy times on the open road! 

What is the difference between a motorhome and a caravan?

It might surprise you to learn that this is a question people sometimes still ask. 

The main difference is that a caravan is not self-powered. It’s a mobile home you have to tow with a motorised vehicle (a car, usually). A motorhome is, as the name itself suggests, a self-contained mobile home with its own motorisation (and therefore driving cab). 

When you have a caravan, it’s possible to reach your destination and ‘pitch up’ (i.e.. park) and leave the caravan in situ. You can tootle off in your car to explore the surrounding area on days out, if you want to, or use the car to run quick short errands (such as to the shops). A caravan provides a static base to return to. With a motorhome, you will take everything around with you everywhere, as it is self-contained. If you are taking longer trips and making several stops along the way this can be very useful – in this way, a motorhome can be considered as more of a ‘day-to-day’ vehicle.

Caravans are also generally cheaper to run than motorhomes. Obviously they don’t use fuel themselves (though the towing vehicle will), and they won’t need to be put through an annual MOT or the like. Caravans are also cheaper to buy, in the first place, than motorhomes.

Are caravans and motorhomes different inside?

At the absolute core of it, the ‘box that you live in’ bit is the same in a caravan as it is in a motorhome, in terms of functionality and the fixtures and fittings you are likely to find within. There will always be a door, windows and a living space (as in lounge seating of some sort, and probably a table) as well as a kitchen area and a washroom – and, of course, those all-important places to sleep. 

How these layouts configure will vary from vehicle to vehicle, and there’s a vast variety of options available which manufacturers make full use of. But the principle will always remain the same whichever type of vehicle it is – both caravans and motorhomes have been carefully designed to provide you with a home away from home. There can also be differences in terms of the way the utilities are managed – for example, caravans generally don't have waste water tanks – but, again, these will vary from type to type and model to model. It’s worth investigating the specifications of the individual caravan or motorhome you are looking at buying.

Are there different things I need to have or do to be able to drive?

There are, in fact, certain obligations and requirements you will need to do or obtain for either caravans or motorhomes. We’ll break them down, here.

Caravans:

• How much weight you can legally tow depends on whether you passed your driving test before or after January 1^st, 1997. It’s quite complicated, but the Caravan Club provides a brilliant simple-to-use reference which explains the technicalities clearly. 
• It’s very important to only use a towing vehicle which can handle the weight of your caravan. Any imbalance or mismatch and you could encounter serious problems. It’s not that you can’t tow a caravan with a small car – you can. But it must be a weight of caravan which the car is absolutely capable of handling.

Motorhomes:

• It’s legal to drive a motorhome under 3,500kg on a standard UK driving licence – but if you wish to drive a motorhome above that weight class then you must attain a new category (C1) on your licence. 
• Doing so will involve a practical test (the C1 7.5 tonne driving test) as well as undertaking a three-part theory test. The C1 category also includes lorries and HGVs, so drivers applying for it are expected to have a higher medical standard requiring assessment by a doctor. In addition there’s paperwork to complete but all of this is a relatively straightforward process. 

Here at Wandahome, we can supply you with either a caravan or a motorhome – the choice is, obviously, yours! We stock a wide variety of both types of vehicle, so the only barrier to you getting out on the road is you making your choice – and we can help you with this. If you would like to speak to one of our experts after you have browsed our website to compile your shortlist, then please feel free to contact us. We’re more than happy to help, whether you opt for motorhomes or caravans here in Yorkshire or further afield!