Caravans remain one of the most popular kinds of holiday homes, as they are more affordable than other options and offer you a lot of freedom. If you love caravan holidays, you may be considering the possibility of buying one, rather than having to pay to stay in one. Then you have the freedom to take off on holiday whenever you like.
However, as there are two main kinds of caravans, you are faced with the dilemma of which is best – static caravans or touring caravans. Like most things in life, if you look closely at both, you will find that each has their pros and cons and deciding between the two will come down to which fits in with your own lifestyle, schedule and preferences.
To help you figure out which is best for you we are going to break down the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Static Caravans
First, we are going to look at static caravans. As the name suggests, static caravans are the type that can’t be moved once they have been built and are normally found at caravan and camping parks where they remain. They tend to be a bit bigger and more spacious than most touring caravans, but for that advantage, there are a few downsides you get in return.
Advantages of Static Caravans
- First and foremost, static caravans feel a lot more like a proper home from home
- They are usually fully kitted out with all the standard appliances and accessories you need for a relaxing time away. All you need to do is pack some clothes and buy some food.
- They are often very spacious, at least compared to touring caravans
- The bedrooms may be smaller than they are back home but are almost as comfortable.
- As they are generally located on caravan parks, you normally have access to all the amenities and facilities that the park offers, as this is included in your pitch fee.
- You don’t need to worry too much about your caravan being safe with a static model as the caravan park where it is located will look after it for you.
- Rather obvious, but worth noting is the fact that you don’t need to worry about towing it and manoeuvring it along busy roads.
- If you were interested in making a side income, you could rent it out while you are not using it.
Disadvantages of Static Caravans
- Aside from the obvious fact that wherever you chose to have it placed, that’s generally where you will need to go for your holidays.
- One of the biggest disadvantages of static caravans is that the majority of caravan parks tend to close for at least a couple of weeks a year, so you can’t stay in them for 365 days every year.
- If you wanted to move your caravan from one park to a different location, you would need to hire special and very expensive transportation equipment.
Touring Caravans
Now let’s look at touring caravans. These are obviously more flexible and offer greater freedom as they can be towed easily, as long as you purchase one that your car can tow (or buy a new car that’s capable of towing the caravan you are interested in). If you are interested in visiting multiple places during one holiday, touring caravans are a better option.
Advantages of Touring Caravans
- You have the freedom to move from one place to another and can visit multiple places across a wide area for even a short break
- They can be accessed and used almost immediately if kept on your driveway or the street in front of your house.
- There are many hundreds of camping and caravan parks up and down the country that accept touring caravans and offer affordable rates for staying there and using their facilities.
- Can choose where to park it to make sure it is safe, at a caravan storage facility for instance.
- Although they often lack the same floor space as static models, modern options have space-saving designs.
Disadvantages of Touring Caravans
- It can take a lot of practice to get used to and perfect towing a caravan with your car. Some people just don’t enjoy it and find it makes driving even more stressful.
- Your car has to be suitably sized and have a powerful enough engine to tow a caravan.
- If you only have a small car, you may be restricted in the type of caravan and how big it is that you can buy.
- There may be restrictions on keeping touring caravans in your neighbourhood
- Even if there are not any restrictions or regulations in place, your neighbours may put in complaints to you directly or through the local council, because some people consider them to be quite an eyesore.
- The number one place, other than motorway service stations, where caravans are stolen is in front of the owner’s house or in their driveway.
- If you have car trouble or something happens to your caravan, you could be stranded in the middle of nowhere.
- Similarly to the disadvantages of static caravans, some caravan parks and campsites close over the winter, or at least for a couple of weeks every year.
So, Which is Best, Static or Touring Caravans?
As we’ve shown, there are positives and negatives for both static caravans and their touring counterparts. Rather than telling you, which is best, though, we think it is one of those things that is best left up to you the customer.
Think about your lifestyle, your family (if you have one or in a couple) and how many people you envision will be going on holiday in the caravan with you. You also need to consider your budget too and the type of car you have (and whether or not you would be able to afford to replace it if you require a more powerful vehicle to cope with the towing of the caravan you are interested in).
It may even be a wise decision to rent out both for a short break so that you can see which you prefer. At Caravan Helper, we love all kinds of caravanning and hope our guide has helped you choose which is best for you.