Caravan, motorhome or built-in: differences, advantages and disadvantages
For maximum travel enjoyment, it's important to know whether a motorhome or caravan is better for you. In this article, we'll look at the main differences between motorhomes, or caravans. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
What is the difference between a caravan, motorhome and caravan?
The main difference is that a caravan is a self-contained living space towed behind a regular vehicle, whereas a motorhome is a separate vehicle that can be driven and therefore does not need to be towed.
Motorhomes and caravans are therefore built into the body, just like a bus, for example. The difference between a motorhome and a caravan is the size, with a motorhome being larger and more spacious and a caravan being more compact.
So which is better?
Unfortunately, we can't give you an answer as to which type of car is better for you, because it all depends on many variables - what you expect from the car, where you plan to drive it, or what your budget is. However, we can describe the advantages and disadvantages of each type of car to help you make your choice.
The biggest advantage of a motorhome is its flexibility. You simply park the caravan at the campsite and continue to use your car for day trips, shopping and other normal activities. For driving to different tourist destinations or busier cities, it is definitely a more convenient and less stressful option. Another advantage of caravans is their better insulation. While motorhomes always have to be converted to an existing chassis, which limits their ability to be fully insulated, caravans can be completely enclosed. This means that no heat, or in the case of air conditioning, no cold, escapes.
The disadvantage of the caravan is its higher handling requirements. Driving a caravan is a matter of habit, especially when reversing or manoeuvring on narrower roads. Adverse weather conditions or rain can also make it difficult to drive. So there's a higher chance of losing control than if you're driving a single vehicle.
By analogy, the advantages and disadvantages of motorhomes can be identified. The advantage of a motorhome or caravan is that it is a single vehicle, which makes it more comfortable to drive and easier to handle. In theory, you can use a motorhome every day, both for living and driving, so from a purely economic point of view it is a better investment.
But, as suggested above, one of the disadvantages of a motorhome that you need to be aware of is that you will have to drive it everywhere. So if you go on holiday and want to see some sights or attractions in the area, you will have to take the whole motorhome with you, which can be challenging due to narrower roads or parking considerations.
Be clear about the number of beds
Now that you know the pros and cons of both types of caravans, you need to ask yourself how many people will be travelling with you, with caravans you are guided by the number of beds, with motorhomes you also need to consider the number of seats with a seat belt.
New or used - that's the question
Neither a caravan nor a motorhome is cheap and not all campers want to buy new. The advantage of buying a new car is the warranty. In addition, knowing that the caravan or motorhome was previously occupied by other people can make some people uneasy. Of course, buying a new car is significantly more expensive than buying a used one.
In the latter case, you may save money, but you need to be 100% sure of the condition of the vehicle you are buying. We strongly recommend that you only buy from reputable and trustworthy dealers and never buy a car where you don't know the history
4 questions to help you decide
- What is your budget?
- What are your preferences?
- How will you use the car?
- How many people should it accommodate?
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us or visit one of our three Adria accredited offices in the Czech Republic.
