Equipment

http://www.lunarcaravans.comI am often asked motorhome v caravan and which caravan. Over the years I think we have tried and tested most units. It all depends on what type of camping you are going to do. Its a bit like cars-everything is a compromise. Motorhomes are fine for weekends away/touring France for a week it two but for us they are a no no. The most obvious one is the second form of transport to get into towns etc. So you pull a car why not get a car and caravan in the first place?! You put a bike/motorbike on the back? Great until you need a weekly shop or its pouring down with rain. Ahh people say you can 'wild camp' Having personally been broken into in France and woken up to look down the end of a shotgun I would say "never!" Surely if you can afford a motorhome you can afford 9 or 10 euros a night to sleep relitavely safely?! I have seen motorhomes parked besides beautiful beaches particularly in Portugal. It looks idyllic but would you dare leave your motorhome in such a remote spot to go on to the beach and not expect it to have been broken into?. Derrr! I have very little sympathy!
So Caravan it is for us then. We have had all makes,layouts and designs and given the mileage that we do we certainly test them!
By far the best caravan that we have ever owned was an Avondale. We think we did about 18000 miles with her and she never let us down. We never as much had to change a light bulb! Lightweight and well built. We were going to tow her until she dropped but a tornado but pay to that!
Hurriedly we needed a new caravan as we were just about to lead a big tour for the Caravan Club. It took me 3800 web pages but I found our new van and bought her on line!
OK if there are any caravan designers out there-listen up! The caravans with the front roof window -are you totally mad?! Do you caravan?! If you are in sunny countries we spend most of the day trying to keep the sun out of the unit! We also need locker space! Deer! They leak as well! Who had that brainstorm?! So that knocks out several manufacturers straight away. Bye bye Swift,Coachman,Bailey and a lot more besides!
When doing a lot of miles mpg is important. A lightweight van is fab without too many gadgets ( they always go wrong and break just out of warranty!) I knew the layout that I wanted ( fixed bed a must) so my choice of manufacturer was very limited.
After the tornado wrote off my Avondale in France I spent hours and found just what I was after at Campbell's Caravans in Preston. They had less than three days to get it out and ready for the road-no two days as there was a bank holiday but all credit to them they did it! The caravan that I chose was a dealers special with a few extra goodies ( not gadgets!) On it. To cut a long story short I would recommend a Lunar and Campbell's to anyone! I took it straight on tour as far east as Bracov in Romania. 12 countries in 50 days over some unmade roads,through mud,sand, wind rain and minus 2 and its all been fantastic.
I'm not on commission for Lunar or Campbell's but think I should be!

R.I.P our beloved "FRIDAY" The name of our Avondale. Thank god for the Ssang Yong. Lifted five feet in the air and no injuries and no damage! www.campbells.ltd.uk

Thanks Campbells are Lunar-youve done a great job!
ssangyonggb.co.uk   maplegarage.co.uk