Caravanning for beginners

Caravanning is the magic word: more and more people are opting for camping holidays with a caravan or motor home. The advantages are obvious: travel freely and independently from place to place, your own bed always with you. Especially at the time of the Corona pandemic, people prefer their own four walls and a private retreat. With its own toilet, shower and kitchen, caravanning offers complete independence, with only the members of a household living together. No wonder, then, that the caravan industry experienced the best first half-year in its history in 2020, with more than 54000 new vehicles already registered during this period.

As a beginner in the field of caravanning, it is worthwhile to take a close look at the subject in advance: What options are there? What equipment is important to you? Which vehicle suits your travel plans? Is it worth buying a vehicle or is renting the better alternative?
Motorhome or caravan? Motorhome or caravan: each vehicle has its advantages and disadvantages. Which you choose depends on how you want to organise your trips and how much money you want to invest. Find out more about motorhomes and caravans here.

Rent or buy: this is the question you have to ask yourself before your first camping holiday. If camping has been a foreign word to you so far and you only know a caravan or motorhome from the outside, it is advisable to rent a vehicle for your first holiday. After the first few rainy days in a caravan or motorhome, you might realise that caravanning isn't quite the right thing for you after all. In a rental vehicle you can try out life in a caravan or motorhome without having to worry about anything. The vehicle is fully equipped and ready to drive, you don't have to worry about equipment, vehicle care, maintenance, storage space, taxes and insurance. Qualified dealers can offer you a rental vehicle that fits your needs and expectations. During your journey, you will quickly realise which features are particularly important to you.

Anyone who thinks that holidays with a motorhome or caravan are only for young families is very much mistaken: in fact, around 60 % of campers are between 50 and 69 years old. The manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans have adapted to this and offer age-appropriate equipment in many vehicles. When buying or renting a motorhome or caravan, you should pay attention to several points:

• Step: In most motorhomes, the electrically extendable step is standard. In caravans, only a few models have an under-mounted step to extend, but it can be retrofitted. Mostly a single or double step is presented.
• Beds: Sleeping in the alcove, bunk beds or loft beds are space-saving but not always suitable for older people. Loft beds are often only accessible via narrow ladders and offer little clearance to the ceiling. Level beds to the side of the centre aisle, on the other hand, offer easy entry and exit.
• Wheelchair-accessible: In the motorhome sector, there are several dealers who offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles for rent. They have an extra-wide motorhome door, a wheelchair lift and a spacious living area where a wheelchair can manoeuvre. The toilet and washbasin are barrier-free accessible. Sleeping spaces are available for up to four people. Development has also progressed in the caravan sector in recent years, although there are still no standard wheelchair-accessible rental caravans.
• Vehicle and technology: If you do not have many years of motorhome experience, you should make sure that your vehicle makes driving as easy as possible: Automatic transmission, reversing camera, cruise control and air conditioning, a clear cockpit, a small turning circle and a body that is not too high.

Your first holiday with a motorhome or caravan is coming up. You have decided on a travel time and destination, a vehicle has been organised. If you pay attention to the following points, you will be well prepared!

Driving a caravan sidecar or bulky motorhome is always a challenge, especially for beginners. But even experienced drivers often do not know how to react in unpredictable situations, which in the worst case can lead to an accident. Special driving safety training courses for motorhome and caravan drivers help to recognise dangers in time and to react appropriately. They are aimed at beginners, but also at experienced caravan and motorhome drivers.

You can find more information on driving safety training here.

Even if you want to reach your destination quickly, don't plan too far for one day. You are allowed to drive at a maximum of 100 km/h with a caravan and there are often traffic jams on the motorways during the holiday season. Winding side roads are difficult to drive with a large team, and some mountain passes are not allowed to be driven on with a team at all. Careful route planning can save you from unpleasant surprises.

When planning travel routes and overnight accommodation, you will come across the terms campsite and pitch. Newcomers in particular are not immediately aware of the basic differences.

Campsites are designed for a longer stay, they offer medium to high comfort, various equipment features and relatively large plots where the pitching of an awning is also allowed. The area is usually fenced and guarded, arrival is only possible at certain times, at night the barrier is closed.

Pitches are designed for a short stay, there are no fixed arrival and departure times. Electricity and water as well as a service station for WC and grey water disposal are available for a fee, often there are no or only very basic sanitary facilities. Pitches cannot be reserved in advance. The pitches are small and the erection of an awning is often prohibited. Caravans are not allowed on most pitches!

For your holiday, it is advisable to reserve one or more campsites with the desired facilities. For an overnight stay during the journey, a pitch is a good and inexpensive alternative. However, during the main holiday season, you may have to drive to several sites before you find a free pitch. If you're travelling with a caravan, you can call ahead to find out if caravans are allowed at suitably located pitches.

The ADAC is a competent partner when it comes to camping. At www.pincamp.de you will find all the important information: popular countries and regions, the best campsites and campsites by theme. In addition, numerous articles offer the best tips and tricks on camping.

In Germany there are several independent Camping-Clubs e. V. in the ADAC, in which camping enthusiastic ADAC members have joined together. Contacts are made and friends are found during joint trips, club evenings and information events.

As a beginner, it is best to plan a short holiday close to home before your first trip. This way you can familiarise yourself with the vehicle and life on the campsite in a relaxed way. How does it feel to drive a sidecar or a motorhome? How do electricity and water connections work at the campsite? What is the best way to load the vehicle? How is the cassette toilet emptied, how is the grey water disposed of? The first trip with a camper van or caravan is exciting, but after just a few days you feel as if you've never had another holiday.

Camping holidays with a caravan or motorhome offer independent travel and at the same time the security of your own four walls. Before you decide to buy or rent a vehicle, it is worthwhile to take a closer look at the subject. In this way, you can find out which vehicle and which equipment are best suited to you and your travel habits. In a driving safety training course, you learn to recognise dangers in good time and to react appropriately. A short test holiday before the actual journey familiarises you with the vehicle and camping life.