LRCC

First weekend away...........and possibly the last . It was one of those weekends when you should just stay at home. The wife is now looking at caravans.

One of the wee men was ill, and I mean ill (all over the place at night). Skin missing off my finger and thumb. Feet are still cold. Very tired. And the roof had a little accident when I folded it down.

Well, I think you were brave to try it

Personally, although I love my Carawagon(s), I'm not convinced they are for everyone.
Indeed, travelling solo I think they are great; room to do everything you need to and nobody gets in anyone's way.
Travelling with a group of vehicles, as I tend to do most of the time, we tend not to 'live' in the vehicle - awning poles out, tarp thrown over, tables, chairs and firepit out and the vehicle is only used for sleeping.

Travelling as a couple gets a little more difficult, unless you use a rear awning as there's not really a lot of room inside, and that's where you want to be when it's cold outside - nice and cosy inside with the Eberspacher/Propex going.

Travelling as a family? I really wouldn't do it. I remember my parents having a VW Dormobile when I was a kid - my sister and me in the bunks and parents in the bed. We spent weeks away every holiday, sometimes with the awning to accomodate my grandparents and auntie as well!
It seemed to be accepted back then, but folk don't seem to want to camp like sardines these days - look at the size of modern 2 berth caravans! They are bigger than the 5 berth we had back in the 70s!

Three of us, all adults, went to Morocco in Patrick's Carawagon (Station Wagon version), but although the bunk is adult sized, most nights Patrick spent in a hammock slung between vehicles or trees or Susan & I put up a ridge tent rather than all sleeping in the vehicle.

As I say, you were brave to try it as a family, and I do know couples and families who regularly go on Continental trips in their LR Campers (both Dormobiles as it happens), but to me, a camper is perfect for one and ok for two

Oh, and what happened to the roof?

Cheers,
Robin.

We're happy enough it was just one of those weekends, I think , The roof didn't sit right as I folded it down and a few of the hinge screws came out of the wood, I'll get around to fixing it but I've got an operation next weekend on my shoulder so maybe a weekend or two after. Booked again though for in a months time, can't give up just yet........unless the wife finds a buyer

These things happen, don't listen to Robin the harbinger of doom... Two of us use my Dormi for weeks, not a problem, I lent it to my mate with two young kids, they loved it. For every bad experience (and they happen) you get ten good ones. I like it in mine, nice and cosy, drink in hand and portable DVD... Fab night in.

I did say it was ok for two Dan

When you lent it to your friend with the kids, was that in the summer? There's a world of difference between camping out when it's nice enough to stay outside, just using the camper for cooking and sleeping, and when it's cold and miserable and everyone wants to be inside where the heater is

As I say, we used to go away for weeks in the VW Dormobile as a family of four when I was a kid - I don't remember being terribly unhappy then so maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age

Cheers,
Robin.

It was cold and wet... Having camped in mine in all conditions I have no issue. What I am saying is don't put the guy off on one experience, it's just one experience. These vehicles are fine for two adults and two kids, regardless of weather.

Hope youre not going to be put off from one experience that wasn't perfect.
I had to convince my missus to not go camping in our caravan and to try the landrover. We haven't used the caravan for about 2 years now. I just bought my dormobile, so we still need to work out what the best setup is for us as a family of 4. I have got 2 girls of 10.
It's always best to try a first camping outing in a new vehicle when you have nice weather. At least you can get used to the whole thing and when you do get a bad spell, you have had some good experences to compare it with and then it doesn't look so bad.

Hope to see you on a ralley or show.


Michiel

HI Fletch

For a first trip, I think you should have waited until it got a little warmer. We love camping, but not at this time of year. Even with a cab heater in the vehicle, it is no fun as we go camping to be at one with the great outdoors.

We are family of three and love our Dormobile, but to make sure Louise continues to love it I normally head into France to try and improve the chances of good/warm weather. We also have a very solid rear awning, which connects to the side awning, making quite a large area to live in.

This did not happen overnight and I have been camping all of my nearly 50 years. Like Robin, I grew up in VW campers and had to get use to cramped spaces as there was 7 of us. We did take a trailer tent as well and us kids slept in the tent, with mum and dad in the van.

The trick with these vehicle is to take as little as possible. This type of camping is just like backpacking. The less you carry, the more you will enjoy the trip.

I have been relooking at the storage in my Dormobile, to try and have everything packed away. Luckily for me my next door neighbour is a retired Woodwork teacher with a joiners shop behind his house.

We need to have a camp where we can all meet up and share our experiences.

Looking forward to the warmer weather.

Cheers Mick

Sad story and I sympathise. But well done for going ahead with the trip.

An early holiday in my Dormobile in the Cambrian Mountains was so cold that I fitted a Webasto heater. Wife and I much more content.

Lent my spare Dormobile to my brother and partner to accompany us to Wales last summer on a beautiful weekend – wall to wall sunshine. Were they content? Nope!

Apparently the beds, both the fold done Dormatics and bunks, were too short for them. Wife and I are perhaps 3 inches taller than them and we don’t have a problem.

And the Land Rover was too noisy. Well it is a 2.25 diesel from 48 years ago.

So, some folks cannot put up with compact and older campers. Ho Hum.

Hope you give it another go.