Further Caravan Questions

[QuestionMaster5m]

Hi all, I'm trying to conduct a little market research for a university project. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated:

1. Would you buy solar panels for your caravan?

Yes
Would consider it
No, and why not?

2. How many hours do you use the following appliances each day: (applying only to electrical appliances)
In the:
i.Summer:
Heater
Microwave
Water heater
Tv
Oven
Hobs
Lights and how many?

ii.Winter:
Heater
Microwave
Water heater
Tv
Oven
Hobs
Lights and how many?

3. If a caravan has solar panels intergrated for a reduced price to typical solar panel prices would you be more likely to buy solar power on a carvan.

Yes
Maybe
No

4. Does your car take the maximum or close to the maximum caravan weight permissible?

Yes
No

5. Would you be more likely to buy a caravan which is light enough to be towed by smaller cars (i.e. B or C segment cars)?

Yes i would as i have a small car
Yes even though i have a larger car
Would consider it
No

6.Would you be more likely to go off grid if the caravan had the capabiliy to sustain very basic apliances (fridge, lights, pump, tv etc) through the use of solar power?

Yes
More likely to consider going off grid
No

7. Would you want the solar panels being used to be removable or intergrated into the roof?

Removable
Intergrated

8. Would your primary use for a solar panel be:
To keep your battery fully charged when the caravan is in storage
Or intend to use it mostly for powering the appliances when using the caravan

9. What is the biggest put off to you for the use of solar panels on caravans?

10. What is the major problem with caravans in your opinion?

11. What would be your ideal caravan? (i.e. have a small kitchen, no bathroom etc.)

Any answers to these questions would be much appreciated and any extra feedback

Thank you

 

[RogerL]

1. Would you buy solar panels for your caravan? UNLIKELY AS WE ALWAYS USE SITES WITH EHU BUT MIGHT GO SOLAR TO ALLOW WILD CAMPING

2. How many hours do you use the following appliances each day: (applying only to electrical appliances)
i.Summer:
Heater NONE
Microwave ONE
Water heater 24 BUT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED
Tv FIVE
Oven NONE
Hobs ONE
Lights and how many? TWO, ALL LED

ii.Winter:
Heater 24 BUT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED
Microwave ONE
Water heater 24 BUT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED
Tv FIVE
Oven NONE
Hobs ONE
Lights and how many? SEVEN, ALL LED

3. If a caravan has solar panels intergrated for a reduced price to typical solar panel prices would you be more likely to buy solar power on a caravan. NO

4. Does your car take the maximum or close to the maximum caravan weight permissible? YES, 2000KG

5. Would you be more likely to buy a caravan which is light enough to be towed by smaller cars (i.e. B or C segment cars)? NO

6.Would you be more likely to go off grid if the caravan had the capabiliy to sustain very basic apliances (fridge, lights, pump, tv etc) through the use of solar power? NO, THE FITMENT OF SOLAR PANELS WOULD BE DRIVEN BY MY DESIRE FOR WILD CAMPING

7. Would you want the solar panels being used to be removable or intergrated into the roof? EITHER, BUT MUST BE CAPABLE OF ANGLING TOWARDS THE SUN

8. Would your primary use for a solar panel be: POWERING THE CARAVAN IN USE - STORAGE HAS EHU 24/365

9. What is the biggest put off to you for the use of solar panels on caravans? LACK OF NEED

10. What is the major problem with caravans in your opinion? BUILD QUALITY, POOR FITMENT OF GENERIC EQUIPMENT, WATER INGRESS

11. What would be your ideal caravan? (i.e. have a small kitchen, no bathroom etc.) 4-BERTH BUT NO FIXED BED

 

[Surfer]

Hi all, I'm trying to conduct a little market research for a university project. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated:

1. Would you buy solar panels for your caravan?

Yes YES IF WE COULD AFFORD THEM
Would consider it
No, and why not?

2. How many hours do you use the following appliances each day: (applying only to electrical appliances)
In the:
i.Summer:
Heater IT'S SUMMER?
Microwave HARDLY EVER
Water heater EVERY DAY
Tv EVERY DAY
Oven OCCASIONALLY
Hobs EVERY DAY
Lights and how many? A FEW

ii.Winter:
Heater EVERY DAY
Microwave HARDLY EVER
Water heater EVERY DAY
Tv EVERY DAY
Oven OCCASIONALLY
Hobs EVERY DAY
Lights and how many? A FEW

3. If a caravan has solar panels intergrated for a reduced price to typical solar panel prices would you be more likely to buy solar power on a carvan.

Yes
Maybe DEPENDS
No

4. Does your car take the maximum or close to the maximum caravan weight permissible?

Yes
No NO

5. Would you be more likely to buy a caravan which is light enough to be towed by smaller cars (i.e. B or C segment cars)?

Yes i would as i have a small car
Yes even though i have a larger car
Would consider it YES

No

6.Would you be more likely to go off grid if the caravan had the capabiliy to sustain very basic apliances (fridge, lights, pump, tv etc) through the use of solar power? DOUBT IF YOU COULD BUY A LARGE ENOUGH PANEL TO SUSTAIN A FRIDGE

Yes
More likely to consider going off grid
No

7. Would you want the solar panels being used to be removable or intergrated into the roof?

Removable YES
Intergrated

8. Would your primary use for a solar panel be:
To keep your battery fully charged when the caravan is in storage
Or intend to use it mostly for powering the appliances when using the caravan YES

9. What is the biggest put off to you for the use of solar panels on caravans? COST

10. What is the major problem with caravans in your opinion? DAMP

11. What would be your ideal caravan? (i.e. have a small kitchen, no bathroom etc.) A WELL CONSTRUCTED ONE THAT WILL NEVER SUFFER FROM DAMP AND IS CHEAP TO INSURE AND SERVICE AND PARTS ARE REASONABLY PRICED.

Any answers to these questions would be much appreciated and any extra feedback

Why don't you use Survey Monkey for better responses as doing it thsi way is a real PITA!

Thank you

 

[Dustydog]

Hi all, I'm trying to conduct a little market research for a university project. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated:

1. Would you buy solar panels for your caravan?

Yes
Would consider it
No, and why not?

2. How many hours do you use the following appliances each day: (applying only to electrical appliances)
In the:
i.Summer:
Heater None
Microwave 20 mins
Water heater 24 hours thermostatically controlled
Tv upto 9 hours
Oven 1 hour
Hobs 1 hour
Lights and how many?
Rarely more than two at a time. 5 hours

ii.Winter:
Heater 24 hours thermostatically controlled
Microwave 20 mins
Water heater 24 hours Thermostatically controlled
Tv 9 hours
Oven 1 hour
Hobs 1 hour
Lights and how many?
Rarely more than two at a time. 5 hours

3. If a caravan has solar panels intergrated for a reduced price to typical solar panel prices would you be more likely to buy solar power on a carvan.

Yes
Maybe
No

4. Does your car take the maximum or close to the maximum caravan weight permissible?

Yes
No

5. Would you be more likely to buy a caravan which is light enough to be towed by smaller cars (i.e. B or C segment cars)?

Yes i would as i have a small car
Yes even though i have a larger car
Would consider it
No

6.Would you be more likely to go off grid if the caravan had the capabiliy to sustain very basic apliances (fridge, lights, pump, tv etc) through the use of solar power?

Yes
More likely to consider going off grid
No

7. Would you want the solar panels being used to be removable or intergrated into the roof?

Removable
Intergrated

8. Would your primary use for a solar panel be:
To keep your battery fully charged when the caravan is in storage
Or intend to use it mostly for powering the appliances when using the caravan

9. What is the biggest put off to you for the use of solar panels on caravans?
Cost of retro fitting

10. What is the major problem with caravans in your opinion?
Poor workmanship at point of manufacture

11. What would be your ideal caravan? (i.e. have a small kitchen, no bathroom etc.)
Large parallel front lounge seating
Good sized kitchen with plenty of worksurface
Comfy fixed double bed
Large rear bathroom
Any answers to these questions would be much appreciated and any extra feedback

Thank you

 

[Parksy]

Hi all, I'm trying to conduct a little market research for a university project. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated:

1. Would you buy solar panels for your caravan?

Yes
Would consider it Yes, I have done so, I fitted an 80 watt solar panel to the roof of my caravan

No, and why not?

2. How many hours do you use the following appliances each day: (applying only to electrical appliances)
In the:
i.Summer:
Heater Perhaps 2 hours on cold nights
Microwave The usage is measured in minutes, we use ours to warm pre-cooked food
Water heater At least 2 hours, often more

TV 4 hours unless we go out
Oven Up to 1 hour
Hobs Up to 1 hour
Lights and how many? 2 mains 240v lights when on ehu,up to 3 hours
2 12 volt interior lights with led bulbs Up to 3 hours when off ehu

2 reading lamps with led bulbs Up to 1 hour
'ehu' is electric hook up

ii.Winter:
Heater 12 hours
Microwave As in summer
Water heater As in summer
Tv up to 8 hours, sometimes with dvd player
Oven As in summer
Hobs As in summer
Lights and how many? The light configuration is the same but the hours for the main 12v or 240v lighting increases to around 8 hours

3. If a caravan has solar panels intergrated for a reduced price to typical solar panel prices would you be more likely to buy solar power on a carvan.

Yes
Maybe It would depend on the wattage of the solar panel, some manufacturers currently incorporate factory fitted solar panels but they are usually 20 watts or less. I would require at least 100 watts coupled with a MPPT solar regulator
No

4. Does your car take the maximum or close to the maximum caravan weight permissible?

Yes
No

5. Would you be more likely to buy a caravan which is light enough to be towed by smaller cars (i.e. B or C segment cars)?

Yes i would as i have a small car
Yes even though i have a larger car
Would consider it but would hope that advanced design offered similar equipment and comfort levels for less weight at an affordable price

No

6.Would you be more likely to go off grid if the caravan had the capabiliy to sustain very basic apliances (fridge, lights, pump, tv etc) through the use of solar power? I already do exactly that with my diy fitted solar system which also powers the tv, radio, CD player DVD player and re-charges my i-pod

Yes
More likely to consider going off grid
No

7. Would you want the solar panels being used to be removable or intergrated into the roof?

Removable
Intergrated

8. Would your primary use for a solar panel be:
To keep your battery fully charged when the caravan is in storage
Or intend to use it mostly for powering the appliances when using the caravan
Both

9. What is the biggest put off to you for the use of solar panels on caravans?
I think that solar power will be used more frquently in the future, and have never been put off.
240v power has to be paid for, it will never decrease in price whereas daylight is free after the initial relatively modest outlay.
A typical touring caravan solar system of 100 watts maximum output currently costs around £200 - £300 and prices are coming down

10. What is the major problem with caravans in your opinion?
In general from reading forum posts I'd say that poor build quality and a cottage industry mentality from dealers and manufacturers is a significant issue.
Personally speaking, for me it's the cost of fuel needed to tow a large twin axled caravan with a 2.8 litre diesel 4x4

11. What would be your ideal caravan? (i.e. have a small kitchen, no bathroom etc.)
The caravan that we now own is very close to my ideal.
It has long bench seating which can convert to a large double bed at the front, a full sized dual fuel fridge and cooker, dual fuel heating and water heater, fixed double bed at rear and separate end washroom with large square shaped shower compartment.
If I could or wanted to upgrade, I'd choose a caravan with a transverse island fixed bed rather than the offside fixed bed model that we own but I've no plans to change for the foreseeable future.

Any answers to these questions would be much appreciated and any extra feedback

Thank you

 

[Martin24]

1) Yes, have 120w fitted to roof
2i) 24hr thermostatic control
removed from van
24hr thermostatic control
No TV used in caravan
1hr
1/2 hr
depends on what we're doing but all LED

2ii) Winter and summer the same answers apply

3) price not a consideration, lifestyle is the bigger consideration and how you use the van

4) Not sure about the wording of this question, Car and caravan a good match

5) No have need for a large car

6) Already go off grid more than on grid and always have

7) Fixed

8) Keeping battery fully charged whilst load being removed from battery to run appliances and lights

9) There isn't

10) Manufacturing quality

11) At the moment what we have, few if any compromises made.