microlite caravan

[jayjay]

Well, here goes! I'm thinking of selling my Romahome at some point later this year and buying a microlite caravan. Two reason for this:

1: although I love my romahome, it's extra tax, insurance and mot is not going to be possible for much longer. I was hoping to keep it on the road and give up the car but that's not been possible.

2: Managing the gears is hard, and larger auto campers are too expensive for me. Crouching up at the top end is also difficult. Also driving a long way at a snail's pace is getting me down as you know I like to head off to Scotland - took me 3 days to reach Aviemore last year and although the journey was good, it's a hard slog without motorways!

So - anyone know about the microlite caravans? They are like the Romini's, made of fibreglass and very light, apparantly you can tow them with a small car. Are they easy to tow? Do they wobble about when something overtakes (like a large lorry)? Are they easy to manoever onto a pitch as I'm partially disabled and can't do heavy weights?

I shall cry when I sell my little van . But I have to be practical and I think this is the way to go.

Anyone got any answers? The microlites are just like the Rominis - here's one I found on Ebay for an example.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/freedom-microlite-200-caravan-ready-to-go_W0QQitemZ280338317423QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes?hash=item280338317423&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

JayJay ;D

[robin]

Hi JayJay, I know Caz who comes on here sometimes used to own a Freedom and she always says she loved it. No doubt she will be on to answer your questions.

[jayjay]

May 4, 2009 13:17:19 GMT robin said:

Hi JayJay, I know Caz who comes on here sometimes used to own a Freedom and she always says she loved it. No doubt she will be on to answer your questions.

Oh, hope so, Robin! Let's hope Caz can give me some answers! Thanks for your reply ;D

[robin]

I tried to contact Caz on the other forum but they removed my message to her. Hopefully she will come on here and see this post. I know she was happy with the microlite but her family outgrew it. They are light to handle of course but remember that on wet grass even a light caravan seems heavier. How many would it be for and have you ever towed a caravan?

[Graham]

May 7, 2009 10:59:51 GMT robin said:

I tried to contact Caz on the other forum but they removed my message to her.

Hi Robin

If its the UKCS forum I'm not surprised, they seem to think that our little forum is some kind of threat to there mega forum, they have deleted my posts before and it makes me mad because we allow links to them on this forum.

We've even got a link to them on our links page on our main web site, I've a good mind to take it off but that would be churlish.

If someone needs help with a particular problem what is wrong with pointing them in the right direction? Its sad they take that attitude.

Graham

[robin]

Yes Graham it is UKCS and I agree its pathetic.

[caz]

Thanks to Cas & Graham for telling me my presence is required!

Yes, I loved my little Freedom Microlite, and it was big enough for me and the dog, but my son got too tall to stand up without the pop top roof up, and for comfort in bed. I loved the cute factor of it, but it was a bit impractical compared to what I have now and I am glad I changed. There was no bathroom or fridge, so the porta potti and coolbox took up a lot of floor room. Although it was light (MTPLM 750 Kgs) it still hit the MPG by about 7mpg more than towing a Combi Camp trailer tent.

Re your questions:

Are they easy to tow? Yes compared to a bigger caravan.

Do they wobble about when something overtakes (like a large lorry)? Any caravan or high sided vehicle like a motorhome will wobble a bit in the draft from a big vehicle going past, it depends a lot on what you are towing with and the size of the caravan, so the microlite is better than larger vans as it is shorter and lower.

Are they easy to manoever onto a pitch as I'm partially disabled and can't do heavy weights? No easier than any other caravan, in fact being shorter they are harder to reverse accurately until you get used to it. But of course they are smaller so it's often possible to pull forwards on to the pitch, and lighter so can be pushed into position more easily - but as you are partially disabled and can't do heavy weights then I don't think you could do that. I always rely on my son or help from other campers if I can't pull forwards or reverse into position. You could get a motor mover fitted, but with one of those you could have a much bigger caravan anyway.

Are you tall? If so you won't like it because over about 5ft 4ins you can't stand up without the roof open, which is ok in warm weather but you need it closed at night or if the weather isn't good. There isn't anything other than an insect net to fill the gap and keep the wind or cold out.
Mine had an end kitchen, I'm only 5ft 2 and found the sink uncomfortably low, but the layout with a side kitchen has a higher sink.
Also, the beds aren't very long.

I changed to a small 2 berth Bailey, which I also love - it is a foot longer, 6 inches wider and a foot taller - doesn't sound much but it makes a huge difference to space and comfort inside, and the gross weight is only 56 Kgs more. It is just as easy (or not, depending on how strong you are) to push round. It has a bathroom and two long settees which we use as single beds so there's no fighting over who puts their feet where, plus it has somewhere to put the TV and X Box, a proper fridge, hot water and gas heating. It reduces MPG by about 2MPG compared to the Freedom.

Another problem I found with the Microlite was the awning. It's impossible to find one other than the "proper" one to fit because the awning rail is so low, and the "proper" one that came with it was the most difficult awning to put up that I have ever had since I was widowed (was always husband's department) - and I have had 5 different caravans & awnings over the past 7 years, including a 4 berth and a 5 berth - this was the smallest awning ever, and the hardest to put up! For weekends I just like to put up a lightweight porch awning, and they don't make them to fit such a low van.

Finally, it's not correct to say they can be towed by any small car - at 750 Kgs MTPLM they are too heavy for many small cars e.g. Fiestas below 1.4, Citroen C2, C3 1.1, etc.

And you can't go much faster than in the Romahome because you have to stick to towing speed limits.

Hope that helps.

[jayjay]

Wow! Thanks very much, Caz! That's answered all my questions. They are very expensive for what they are, so I'll be considering other small caravans as well. Many many thanks for your reply and taking the time to answer all my questions. You're a star! ;D ;D ;D

I also thought the small car (eg - a mini) was complete exaggeration on behalf of sellers! I would think a 1600cc engine would be the min for towing something like that, unless you want your engine thrased within half a season.

Nope Robin, never towed anything in my life - not even a trailer, LOL! But I didn't know I could drive a pickup truck til I tried!

[caz]

May 15, 2009 11:14:50 GMT jayjay said:

I also thought the small car (eg - a mini) was complete exaggeration on behalf of sellers! I would think a 1600cc engine would be the min for towing something like that, unless you want your engine thrased within half a season.

When we first started caravanning we had a little 10 foot Ace which we towed with a 1.6 Cavalier, but modern engines are better and 1.4 is big enough for any of the Freedoms. Mine went well behind my Honda Jazz 1.4 petrol, and I've towed the Bailey with my Seat Ibiza 1.4, which is diesel.

[brougham]

JayJay,

Consider a Wheelhome Sprintaway Lux. Small, expensive but they do seem to be very high quality and very well equipped, including electric movers and high level services (water and power inlets) which should help those with mobility difficulties.

See www.btinternet.com/~wheelhome/page6.html

See a brief Youtube video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=54bYWZw5BqM

Full version of the video is at www.caravanchannel.tv/v2players/sprintaway.html

Regards.

[ian]

How about an eriba puck, the smallest of the range. Very strong, light and you could fit a mover for onsite shifting about.

[viv]

We met a couple who had sold their house and were living in a Puck until they decided where to settle in retirement. They had been all over the country and loved their tiny little caravan.