The Motorhomes, Caravans, Vanity Van – What is the difference?

It has been more than two years selling motorhome rental services at Wacation on Wheels and to tell you the truth it has been a journey of self-discovery and lots of un-learning.

Responding to the calls received through the website or on Whatsapp or on e-mail, Instagram, Facebook,  we have observed numerous times people getting confused with motorhome and vanity van.

We have tried to clear those doubts in a simple manner between a Vanity van and a Motorhome.

Vanity Van

Vanity Van is a fully equipped vehicle air-conditioned makeup room, changing room, fresh up room and also used for resting purpose.    

Vanity Van Interior

  

Generally used for Film Shooting, Destination weddings, Outdoor     events, Outdoor Film Shooting, Religious discourses, now a days widely used for pre and post wedding shoots.

Vanity Van Interior

Normally it stands stationery at the place where ever it is needed.You will find these services primarily being offered at Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

There is also demand for dedicated Vanity toilets 

These vanity toilets are in great demand at destination weddings, music concerts, religious discourses, political events etc. !!

Now we move on to the Caravan or The Recreation Vehicles (RV's) as called in USA or Leisure Vehicles as termed in UK.

They can be broadly classified into three categories - Camper van, Motorhome and Caravans!!

Camper vans

Small van convertibles. Due to their tiny and compact size ideal for camping in country side, villages, beaches, city etc. They may have an extended roof equipped with sleeping arrangement for 2 -3 persons, along with wash room and small kitchenette.

Being small in size it can be used as a day van during visits in the city. 

A small camper van

Easily parked in small places in the wild.

Easy to drive on narrow roads.

The downside of these vans is the cost at which it comes - very expensive. There is a less storage space, you cannot move freely inside and often guests feel cramped up. Less elbow space in the toilets. During bad weather not useful. The insulation is not great hence creates problem during extreme cold conditions.

Motorhome

More room and space gives these vehicles points. Ideal for longer touring seasons. Well insulated hence ideal for extreme cold weather conditions. Easy to setup on campsite. More comfort as compared to campervans. More elbow room. Easy to park. While the motorhome is on move, you can prepare food in the kitchen or take a shower in the washroom.

They also fall under costly category to manufacture. Hard to drive on narrow roads. At the camping site you have to pack everything while

leaving the site.

Campervan and Motorhomes are built on commercial chassis which gives it the less driving comfort.

Caravan

Generally a non motorized towing trailer home is attached to an SUV is called a Caravan. The manufacturing cost is less as compared with Campervans and motorhomes.

Once the trailer is parked at a campsite, the SUV or the car can be utilised for roaming around. There is

Caravan attached to an SUV

a space advantage and it's relaxing. It has a good insulation and safe during extreme weather conditions. Drive is more comfortable while journey.

More practice is needed to tow the vehicle. Because of this the travel becomes more destination oriented and hence less emphasis on the journey. You need to align the caravan at the campsite.

This towing concept is not approved, not recommended for Indian road conditions hence you will find more of the campervans and motorhomes in India.

The motorhome and camper vans will have sleeping berths, kitchen area with utensils, gas, hot plate, small refrigerator, AC , generator as backup, solar panels at the top, tents, camping chairs etc.

Once a motorhome is booked, the success of the tour depends on the spontaneity of the guests. We elaborate this aspect with an example.

One of our esteemed guest had booked a 6 sleeper motorhome from Indore for 3 days during last December. Their plan was to cover Bhimbetka, Pachmarhi and Satpura National park.

On day 1 they had to visit Bhimbetka and were to reach Pachmarhi in the evening. It was late evening when they reached Matkuli located at the foothills of Pachmarhi. Climbing the winding roads with motorhome at night was risky and avoidable during night.

They parked at the riverside ecotourism centre and had a campfire with wonderful stay in the motorhome. Next day they explored the surroundings of Matkuli especially the hot springs and reached Pachmarhi by noon.

On their return journey they had a brief stay at Satpura National Park.

The visit to the hot springs was purely a spontaneous decision !!

Similar experiences have been shared by the guests from Mumbai and Pune while traveling to Konkan region, Bhandardara, Dahanu, Chikhaldara, Goa, Wineyards in Nasik etc. There are interesting stories which will be shared in the coming days.

We always insist our guests to enjoy the journey and the destination while travelling in the motorhome.

The motorhomes have also been instrumental in fulfilling the Non-touristic needs :

• Transfer of family from one city to another ( Mumbai to Coimbatore, Mumbai to Kolkata)

• Carrying new born from one city to another due to unavoidable medical condition ( Mumbai to Indore to Raipur)

• For Medical emergencies during the COVID times with fully sanitized motorhomes.

• Sr Citizens with special need of toilet for moving from one city to another.

• Transfer of families from one city to another along with Pets – Dogs, Cats ( Mumbai to Noida with dogs)

• Religious reasons – families accompany Jain Muni's while walking during the day time book motorhomes for their overnight stay.

• Need of motorhomes for Religious leaders providing discourses for moving from one place to another.

• Also needed during the survey of a place or a geographic region by soil scientists or similar while camping.

• Many times needed by defence department at sensitive remote location.

• A family had a senior citizen mom travelling to attend a marriage. They had booked motorhome purely for comfort part during the journey.

• A basketball team from Nagpur went to take part in a competition at Gondia. They stayed in the motor home during the competition.

• Pandal hopping tour for family during the Durgashtami day in Nagpur.

• Some months ago there was an event in Nagpur. A prominent national leader had arrived. Our motorhome was used by the police department during the event.

More and more people are getting on touch with us for their travel needs and adding to our experience.

The profession has chosen us to serve our esteemed guests !!

More stories to follow ....keep reading !!

Amit Naseri

9422145190

Images Courtesy from Internet