Caravans: advantages, equipment, costs & tips – flexible camping

Caravan – Would you like to get away from it all and go camping, but at the same time have more space for camping furniture, camping kitchen, food etc. than in a roof tent?
Then a caravan might be the right choice for you.
This will give you enough space and storage space to take everything you need for camping with you and you can still plan your trip individually and flexibly.
But how much does a good caravan actually cost?
What are the best models and which driving license do I need?
Here you can find out everything you need to know about a camping vacation with a caravan.

Flexible camping vacation with a caravan

Camping is becoming increasingly popular with young and old alike.
You can choose between the simplest option with a car and classic tent, a tent trailer, a comfortable roof tent, motorhome or caravan.
Either way, you can plan your itinerary as you wish and are completely free to plan your vacation as you wish.
If you are traveling for a longer period of time with a lot of luggage, you can opt for a caravan.

That’s why a caravan is recommended

On a camping vacation with a caravan, you can stop whenever you feel like it and, in the best case scenario, you don’t have to set anything up to sleep as your bed is already there.
What’s more, not only do you always have all your camping equipment with you, but in the best case you even have a built-in kitchen and toilet.
If you need to go shopping, you don’t need to take your entire caravan with you, you can simply unhitch it and drive off in your car.
A caravan is therefore the perfect companion for camping in the great outdoors!
A caravan offers you the following advantages:

  • Individual travel arrangements
  • Spontaneous stops and breaks
  • Flexible uncoupling
  • Integrated kitchen and toilet
  • Sleeping place is always ready
  • Sufficient space and storage space

Bring an eventful day to a relaxing close and sit down with your loved ones in front of your caravan!

Disadvantages: That speaks against a caravan

However, a vacation with a caravan is not as easy as it may sound at first.
First of all, you should find out whether you need an additional driving license.
You should also practice driving, as a trailer behind a car is definitely unfamiliar at first.
Furthermore, you can’t just pull over to the side of the road and normal parking spaces are not made for caravans.
You should think about these disadvantages before you start your camping vacation with a caravan:

  • Combination of car and caravan is difficult to drive
  • Does not fit into every parking space
  • You may need a special trailer driver’s license
  • Caravans are expensive to buy

So maybe you should think about renting a caravan first?

Checklist: Upcoming costs and accessories

If you want to buy a caravan, you need to budget around 18,000 to 20,000 euros.
This does not include insurance and equipment.
If you include the essential basic equipment, such as a trailer coupling and additional mirrors, you will pay another 500 to 1,000 euros more.
Then of course there are the costs for maintenance and fuel on the road as well as other useful equipment, such as an awning, mosquito nets for the door and windows and, if necessary, heating or air conditioning.
You also need to think about camping furniture, possibly an awning and, above all, crockery for your kitchen.
You can read all about the costs involved in more detail here:

You will incur these costs with a caravan:

  • Around 18,000 euros base price
  • Approx. 500,00 Euro taxes and insurance
  • 500 to 1,000 for essential accessories
  • Fuel for the road
  • Costs for pitches and campsites
  • Catering on the way

How much does a caravan cost?
Maintenance & equipment

Watch the following video, which gives you a detailed list of all the costs involved, including taxes, insurance, inspection and basic equipment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7rb9yTsTus

Buying or perhaps renting?

Buying a caravan is therefore not exactly cheap.
However, you have to bear in mind that you always have your own home with you, so to speak, including kitchen, bathroom and bed, which saves you the cost of expensive hotel rooms.
Even if camping with a caravan is a cost-effective and practical option in the long term, you can consider borrowing or renting a caravan first to see if camping with a caravan is for you.
Depending on the size and model, you will pay between 30.00 and 200.00 euros per day.

  • Between 30.00 and 200.00 euros rent per day

Checklist: Basic equipment in the caravan

You should think about these additional accessories on and in your caravan before you set off on your camping vacation so that you can enjoy a carefree and carefree time in the great outdoors:

Cooking accessories, camping furniture and decorations make your caravan a lot more comfortable and your time on vacation even more carefree, but they’re not exactly cheap!

Winter camping & cold regions with a caravan

Winter camping – More and more passionate campers prefer camping in winter or in very cold regions.
The numerous winter sports on offer in the most beautiful regions of the world and the picturesque landscapes with the flair of a winter wonderland alone attract a large number of tourists to campsites every year, even in the snow and cold.
Winter camping guarantees you these advantages:

  • Beautiful landscapes with a wintry flair
  • Usually emptier attractions in the low season
  • Winter sports activities, such as skiing or snowboarding
  • Peace and quiet in idyllic nature
  • Vacations are cheaper in the low season
  • Heating accessories create a cozy atmosphere

Accessories in winter: Caravan heating

Of course, it can still get pretty cold in winter.
But even on very cool summer nights, it’s easy to underestimate the drop in temperature.
So that you are prepared for any eventuality and don’t have to freeze when you’re on the road, you should definitely think about a caravan heater.
It’s best to get an electric heater that you can easily set up in your caravan.
This guarantees you a pleasant warmth in the entire room and makes your winter vacation a relaxed and carefree time. Tip! If you are traveling with a roof tent, we recommend a gas heater that you can use in your awning, for example.
This allows you to enjoy a cozy evening at the campsite despite the cold.
Whether with gas or electricity, if you’re interested, you can find out more about heating when camping here:

Whether in summer or winter – even in bad weather, you can keep yourself busy in the caravan!

Also practical: electric blanket and seat heating

If you want to be even more protected and don’t want to catch a cold outside, you should buy an electric blanket and a seat heater in addition to your heater.
While a seat heater allows you to sit on your camping chair in the open air without freezing, you can use an electric blanket to snuggle up in a camping lounger or hammock, for example.
Or you can use the two heating options to get extra warmth in your caravan or roof tent.
Either way, your vacation should not fail because you are constantly cold, so you should equip yourself as well as possible in advance so that you can enjoy and savor your vacation to the full.
Read more about practical heating equipment here or browse the store for other accessories in the heating category:

You need to be aware of this: Driver’s license, parking space & co.

Even if you have a caravan, this does not automatically mean that you are allowed to drive it!
First of all, it’s not that easy to drive, steer and, above all, park a caravan.
First of all, you need a towbar to attach the caravan to your car.
The best thing to do at the beginning is to purchase a trailer coupling, suitable wheel chocks and possibly even a maneuvering aid.
As soon as you have the appropriate driving license, have hitched your caravan to the car and stowed your outdoor luggage, nothing stands in the way of your camping vacation.
Now you can plan your route and your stops individually, but you should always make sure that your caravan is allowed on the corresponding pitch or campsite and, in the best case, can even be parked free of charge. Wild camping is generally prohibited!
You should bear this in mind before you start your trip:

  • Does your car have a trailer coupling?
  • Get chocks and maneuvering aid
  • Coupling the caravan safely to the car
  • Check on which pitches caravans are permitted

Driving license class B trailer

Can I drive a trailer with my driver’s license?
Which trailer can I drive with a category B license?
To be able to drive a caravan, you definitely need a category B driving license. Depending on the size and weight of the caravan, you may also need a trailer driver’s license.
This means that if your caravan exceeds 3.5 t and 750 kg, you must have a category BE driving license to be able to attach it to your car.
You can find out everything about this topic in detail here:

Please note this with regard to caravans and driving licenses:

  • Up to 3.5 t and 750 kg = Class B driving license
  • From 3.5 t and 750 kg = class BE driving license

Make sure you find out about trailers and the relevant driving licenses in advance so that you can get a license before your vacation if necessary.

Different manufacturers & models – tips!

Of course, there are also various models of caravan that differ in size, equipment and price.
Depending on which route you want to take, how long and with how many people you are traveling, which driving license you have and what your budget allows, you can decide on a suitable model for your camping vacation.
Here you will find recommended caravan models that are suitable for camping beginners and families as well as experienced campers:

  • Adriatic Sea
  • Fendt Saphir
  • Hymer Eriba Touring
  • Hymer Eriba Nova
  • Tabbert Da Vinci
  • Knaus Südwind
  • Bürstner Averso
  • Dethleffs Camper
  • Weinsberg Caracito
  • Sterckeman Easy

Rooftop tent as a caravan alternative?

Rooftop tent – less space and no integrated kitchen, but all the more comfort and flexibility!
A roof tent is the perfect solution for sleeping even more comfortably and easily without having to tow a caravan behind the car.
The roof tent is folded up on top of your car when you’re on the move – so you’re always guaranteed to find a space, even in smaller parking spaces.
If required, however, it can be unfolded to create an amazing living space for up to 5 people!
Read more about the advantages, different models, roof load and prices here:

Another option: camping with a motorhome

If you don’t want to have to tow a trailer behind you, a motorhome is a good option.
Here you have enough space and storage space to take everything you need with you and always have it together.
You are completely flexible and can plan your itinerary and your day individually.
You can make stops and spend the night at the nearest campsite as you wish and set off again the next day if you feel like it.
So if you prefer to camp without a trailer, read more about motorhomes here:

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Offroad
Raised and extra stable for road and off-road… What do you do if you are traveling in regions with poor roads or drive an off-road vehicle or SUV whose dome height does not fit conventional trailers? The solution: the off-road tent trailer from CAMPWERK – specially developed for extreme conditions. This unique model impresses with a raised and particularly robust AL-KO chassis that can withstand even the most demanding off-road routes. The entire body is made of lightweight but sturdy aluminum, reinforced with durable stainless steel components. So you are perfectly equipped for any terrain.
Black / Silver
Available now: The CAMPWERK Offroader in the exclusive Black/Silver Edition CAMPWERK is expanding its range and now also offers the popular off-road tent trailer in the coveted Black/Silver Edition. The high-quality aluminium body is completely anodized in matt black, while the mudguards are powder-coated in elegant “Gun Silver Metal”. An absolute eye-catcher on any road and in any terrain!
The off-road trailer from CAMPWERK impresses with its lightweight construction: Thanks to the aluminum body, the base only weighs around 300 kg when empty. With a permissible total weight of 1.5 tons, it offers an impressive payload capacity of up to 1.2 tons – ideal for small excursions, transport and even larger expeditions.

Visually, the trailer blends in perfectly with the appearance of an off-road vehicle or SUV with its coarse-tread MT tires and robust, full-length aluminium mudguards. The mudguards are also designed in such a way that they are ideal for the safe transportation of petrol and water canisters or gas bottles.

To ensure flexibility, the off-roader’s tyres can be individually adapted to the towing vehicle on request, so that only one set of spare wheels is required. The standard ball head coupling can also be optionally replaced with a DIN or NATO eye.
T-drawbar or V-fork ?
Thousands of trailer drivers know the problem of tight spaces only too well: if you drive into a narrow lane and have to turn, it is important to back your car as far as possible against the trailer in order to get around the bend without any problems. With a T-drawbar, you can utilize the maximum steering angle. This is precisely why we at CAMPWERK rely on this tried-and-tested technology – for optimum flexibility and maneuverability, no matter how tight things get.
T-drawbar
V-fork
T-drawbar
V-fork
Chassis
  • Extra strong square T-drawbar 100x100mm for maximum stability and best maneuverability
  • Axle up to 1,500 kg with maintenance-free hexagonal rubber spring axle
  • Optionally with watertight wheel hub
  • 2 crossbars
  • The chassis is exclusively from the renowned manufacturer AL-KO, market leader in the car trailer and caravan sector
  • Safety indicator on the clutch
  • Independent suspension
Aluminum body
  • Our aluminium trailers are equipped with anodized aluminium profiles
  • double-walled anodized aluminium side panels 30mm, 440mm high
  • Large emergency lighting with integrated rear fog light
  • Equipped with balanced tires as standard
  • Base plate stable screen-printed base, non-slip
  • Complete M8 stainless steel screw connection (V2A stainless steel)
  • Electrical system: Supply cable (wiring harness) standard with 13-pin plug
  • Tailgate latches very elaborate, made entirely of stainless steel
Wheels
  • Black powder-coated steel rim
  • 235/85 R16 tires optionally adaptable to towing vehicle
  • Mud Terrain tire tread
  • Special wheel connection for your towing vehicle on request
Terrain values
  • 350 mm ground clearance
  • 570 mm wading depth
  • 27° slope angle
Equipped for every situation thanks to the versatile accessories...

Raised dropside

20L canister

Towbar adapter for bike carrier with coupling connection

2-4 bike racks

Anti-drag clutch

Onroad

The perfect solution for your camping adventure:
Road trailer with tent
Imagine a first-class equipped road trailer that is ideal for camping trips in Germany and the surrounding countries.
This trailer comes with a sturdy holding device for a matching tent that can be set up in no time at all.
The result is your mobile home – ready for unforgettable tours!

Your decisive advantage: you are ideally equipped for your vacation in a particularly cost-effective way. And when you’re not on the road, you can use the trailer as a conventional utility trailer. We offer you the road trailer in two versions, depending on your needs: An unbraked version with a permissible total weight of 750 kg and the braked version recommended by us with a permissible total weight of 1,300 kg.
10-year guarantee
Our trailer base was not created in the laboratory – it was made for the real world. The robust construction is optimized for tough conditions. Oversized axles and virtually indestructible aluminum frames ensure exceptional durability. We are the only supplier in Germany to give you a 10-year guarantee on this unique quality!
T-drawbar or V-fork ?
Thousands of trailer drivers know the problem of tight spaces only too well: if you drive into a narrow lane and have to turn, it is important to back your car as far as possible against the trailer in order to get around the bend without any problems. With a T-drawbar, you can utilize the maximum steering angle. This is precisely why we at CAMPWERK rely on this tried-and-tested technology – for optimum flexibility and maneuverability, no matter how tight things get.
T-drawbar
V-fork
T-drawbar
V-fork
Chassis
  • 2 crossbars
  • Maintenance-free rubber spring axles
  • Independent suspension
  • The chassis is exclusively from the renowned manufacturer AL-KO, market leader in the car trailer and caravan sector
  • Safety indicator on the clutch
Aluminum structure
  • Our aluminium trailers are equipped with anodized aluminium profiles
  • double-walled anodized aluminium side panels 30mm, 440mm high
  • Large emergency lighting with integrated rear fog light
  • Equipped with balanced tires as standard
  • Base plate stable screen-printed base, non-slip
  • Complete M8 stainless steel screw connection (V2A stainless steel)
  • Electrical system: Supply cable (wiring harness) standard with 13-pin plug
  • Tailgate latches very elaborate, made entirely of stainless steel
Equipped for every situation thanks to the versatile accessories...

Raised dropside

20L canister

Towbar adapter for bike carrier with coupling connection

2-4 bike racks

Anti-drag clutch

Material and processing.
The tent fabric of our trailer tents is made from a high-quality, 450 g blended fabric, also known as canvas. This unique combination of cotton and polyester combines the advantages of a natural fiber with those of a modern high-tech material. The result is a robust, breathable fabric that impresses with its pleasant feel and high dimensional stability.

The tent fabric, which is also used by the military, is impregnated and particularly tear-resistant thanks to the ripstop process. In this special weaving technique, thicker threads are woven into the fabric at intervals of around 10-15 millimetres, giving the fabric its characteristic tiled structure and exceptional tear resistance. It goes without saying that our fabrics are opaque and therefore offer optimum protection and privacy.
The basis of our trailer tents is a robust stainless steel frame with a thickness of 3×3 cm. A 1.8 cm thick, water-resistant wooden floor panel is securely fastened to this sturdy frame with stainless steel screws. The frame of the trailer tents is also made of galvanized steel tubing and special stainless steel components that ensure maximum stability. The modern surface finish not only offers a high level of corrosion protection, but also gives the material a pleasant feel and ensures a durable, weatherproof construction.
We rely exclusively on yarn from the German market leader Amann. Thanks to the combination of a cotton core and a high-tenacity polyester core, this yarn is characterized by a particularly high tensile strength and excellent water resistance.

On contact with water, the cotton coating swells and closes the seam holes created during sewing. For additional protection, all seams in the roof area are fitted with a transparent sealing strip to ensure maximum waterproofness.
Less is sometimes more.
We are often asked: What about the water column? For tent fabrics, the impermeability of the fabric is specified in the form of the water column. For cotton tents, this value is usually around 300 to 400 mm. However, our tent fabric offers an exceptionally high water column for cotton fabric of around 750 mm. This means that theoretically more than 75 cm of water can stand on the material before the first drops penetrate.

A major advantage of cotton as a natural raw material is its ability to swell when it gets damp, which provides additional waterproofing. In contrast, synthetic fabrics, which cannot swell, must have a much higher water column (between 3,000 and 10,000 mm, depending on the material) in order to achieve comparable waterproofness.
Good night.
The comfort sleep set consists of a high-quality visco foam mattress that adapts perfectly to the individual body shape, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. The set is complemented by the innovative Froli bed spring system, which guarantees an exceptional sleeping experience. Perfect sleeping comfort in a well thought-out overall package.
Premium mattress.
An excellent mattress is the basis for healthy and restful sleep. Just as every person is unique, their mattress should also be individually tailored to them.
Our premium mattress adapts perfectly to the contours of the body and promotes orthopaedically correct positioning of the spine. Thanks to targeted pressure relief, back muscles and intervertebral discs can relax optimally. The innovative construction and high-quality materials create an ideal sleeping environment.
There are no compromises at CAMPWERK: We rely on flexible visco foam with memory function. The unique combination of supportive foam core and relieving visco foam topper ensures maximum sleeping comfort.
  • Visco-elastic mattress.
  • High-quality Tencel® cover (38 % Tencel®, 62 % polyester).
  • Four practical turning loops.
  • Four-sided zipper.
  • Removable, divisible and washable.
  • Four practical turning loops.
Suspension.
Good ventilation is crucial for your well-being and sleep hygiene. To ensure maximum sleeping comfort, we combine our mattress with an innovative Froli slat base. The flexible spring elements form a comfortable slat base with individually adjustable firmness zones. This combination ensures orthopaedically correct positioning of the body and provides targeted, pressure-relieving support. This effectively prevents tension and one-sided strain. The open, air-permeable cells also enable optimum ventilation and create a healthy sleeping environment.
Are you allergic or do you have special health requirements? No problem! We cooperate with a renowned German mattress manufacturer to offer customized solutions. Simply contact us and together we will find the ideal mattress for your needs.