# UK Dopers - why the caravan hate? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762 "2005-11-26T02:19:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/21 "2005-11-26T15:42:07Z")
Maybe because it’s never been done here–og knows why, we blow everything else up! Write to some reality show or that car wars show on TLC and suggest it. I’m sure it would be a hit! OK-NOW I’ll shut up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/22 "2005-11-26T15:50:06Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > …it seems to be quite the crown pleaser… And the crow **d** seems to like it, to. :smack: Who knows, maybe the Queen likes it. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/23 "2005-11-26T16:49:23Z")
**eleanorrigby** - I’ve found RV drivers in America to be far more competent, and more aware of the chaos they can cause, than caravan drivers here! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/24 "2005-11-26T16:51:17Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Gah. Mobile homes over here do not move. > > Seriously. They are pre-built in a factory and shipped on very large flat bed trucks to wherever you want to live. The water and gas are hooked up (I believe they are in tanks) and there you are. Until you want to move again, whereby you call a flat bed trucking company and literally pick up stakes and move on. > > Most folks never move them, though. Dorothy Gale’s air freight business does a good job at moving them. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/25 "2005-11-26T16:53:37Z")
In the UK they blow up caravans. In Canada they fire the chicken cannon. I wonder what they do in France? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/26 "2005-11-26T17:10:32Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Dorothy Gale’s air freight business does a good job at moving them. Well done! I believe in France they fart in your general direction… **GorillaMan** -come to Cape Cod or Rocky Mountain National Park in summer–you will change your mind. Of course, we don’t have one car lanes bordered by hedgerows over here, so… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/27 "2005-11-26T18:29:44Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > **eleanorrigby** - I’ve found RV drivers in America to be far more competent, and more aware of the chaos they can cause, than caravan drivers here! 🙂 Nah. U.S. roads are just straighter and wider than U.K. roads, so the bad drivers have to work a bit harder to cause chaos. As noted, getting behind a bad driver in one of the parks or mountains (where the roads tend to follow the landscape and wander between trees–much as the roads in the U.K. do) can be every bit as frustrating in the States. ---
**Author:** ![Firebringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@Firebringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Firebringer)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/28 "2005-11-26T19:28:23Z")
Yeah Caravans are near the top of my hate list (along side pedal cyclists). I’ve been on caravaning holidays as a kid but we had a caravan at a fixed site hence no cloggingup of the roads. Living in Scotland I can tell you that going into the Highlands in summer is living hell on the road cause of Caravans. They trundle along making no effort to let people pass for mile on mile. The roads in Scotland are typically not that good for over taking on and Caravans aggravate that situation. Worst of all is when you get a convoy of them. Then all you can do is either have a stroke from road rage or turn up the music and start swearing at them. As for Pikeys well that’s another issue as well. The fact they are in Caravans is only part of it. Travellers in the UK probably deserve a thread all of their own. Pikeys have the worst aspects of Caravanners but are antisocial and on the roads all year round. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/29 "2005-11-26T19:33:04Z")
Lovely. We now have two racist posts. (I’ve reported both, but maybe the mods think it’s the weekend or something 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/30 "2005-11-26T20:03:32Z")
I don’t think that Pikeys and Gypsies are the same thing at all. In any case, people who live mostly in caravans, and cause public nuisance by making the areas where they site themselves into vermin infested rubbish dumps, well the particular persons who do that are scum, unfortunately those travellers are the ones we tend to notice. Especially when we have to pick up the tab for clean ups. I come across plenty of them in prison too, and their value, along with prisoners from other backgrounds are that society is a resource to be exploited without any regard whatsoever for those who comprise society. Not all travellers are like this, but, those are the ones who come to notice. Many travellers think that those living in fixed accomadation are against them merely because they think they are free spirits, it is most certainly not, its because when a bunch of them set up in the vicinity, the number of burglaries and petty crime climbs dramatically, rubbish is strewn about. Frankly, as long as they travel, set up move on and don’t cause any hassle, I don’t care how they lead their lives, unfortunately a number of them don’t and it gives the rest a bad reputation. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/31 "2005-11-26T20:31:24Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > **eleanorrigby** - I’ve found RV drivers in America to be far more competent, and more aware of the chaos they can cause, than caravan drivers here! 🙂 Well, I’m glad we do _something_ half-assed decent over here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/32 "2005-11-26T20:37:48Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I don’t think that Pikeys and Gypsies are the same thing at all. We can nit-pick about the various definitions of travellers, but the context in which the word’s been used in this thread is racist. For any non-Brits who want an example of what I’m on about: [BBC NEWS | UK | England | Southern Counties | Bonfire sparks complaints of racism](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3228833.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/33 "2005-11-26T20:44:16Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > PeterWiggen, I know it’s the Pit, but that’s still a racist term of abuse, especially in the way you used it. > [@GorillaMan](#): > > We can nit-pick about the various definitions of travellers, but the context in which the word’s been used in this thread is racist. I’ll be damned. I had no idea this word was “racist” AT ALL. I thought it was much more akin with “white trash” which, while perhaps a tad insensitive and offensive, is not “racist.” I withdraw my use of the term and apologize to offended Dopers. - Peter Wiggen ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/34 "2005-11-26T20:57:51Z")
Thanks, **PeterWiggen** - we all have plenty to learn, and it’s always good to see people acknowledge that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/35 "2005-11-26T21:01:08Z")
Since **Peter Wiggin** has already apologized, part of this reminder is unnecessary. I’m not at all familiar with the term “pikeys” but, based on several reports and a quickie Google, apparently there is an aspect of a racial/ethnic slur to it. That said, that aspect might not be all that well known, even to UK Dopers, so IMO no warnings are warranted either. Just don’t use it, okay? Veb P.S. **Firebringer** used the term too, so no intention to single out **Peter W.** , btw. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/36 "2005-11-26T21:27:18Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > - They clog up the roads, particularly on some of the busiest days of the year in the summer, and some of the busiest roads. > > - When on a two-lane road, they hold up traffic because they’re so slow and unweildly. And for no good reason, unlike slow farm vehicles, lorries etc. (a) mostly pull over periodically to let cars past, and (b) have a purpose. > > - Too many caravan owners don’t know how to drive properly while towing them. Changing lanes too fast so the thing swerves about, either unnecessary caution or not taking the load into consideration when braking, etc. > > - Last but certainly not least: the type of people who enjoy caravan holidays are indescribably boring. (Well, that’s the stereotype 😉 ) I’d contend the last two with regards my own family, but even an experienced driver like my father can still take up too much room on the road. In fact, as a one time caravan kid, I’ll replace those last two with my own personal hatred of a caravan. Spend the day travelling cooped up with siblings and parents in too much heat, lose the convieniences of home for (sometime) dubious destinations, wake up too hot in the heat in the caravan, eat too much dehydrated food… I could go on. So yes, I hate them because of my own personal experience, but I’ve met too many of the last two caravaners too :mad: I love the caravan destruction on Top Gear too 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/37 "2005-11-26T22:04:05Z")
I hate hate hate the freakin things, and most Colorado people who drive in the mountains hate the fuckin things. On the interstate, okay, they can hide in the right lane with the big rigs. But they should stay the hell off the two-lane roads. They are crappy and unpowered normally , let alone going up a 5%grade. They the iditos get so scrared of the twisties they slow down even more to about 15 milies an hour. Then they get a bunch of damn Californians and Texans who are afraid to pass on two lane-mountain roads behind them. So in order to get where I’m going in less than 3 hours, I have to hit about 120 miles an hour in the opposing to lane for 1/2 mile or so. I fully support blowing them up, along with the people in them :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/38 "2005-11-26T22:58:30Z")
I’m of mixed mind about caravans and RVs. I live on the north shore of Superior, where the only road across is very rugged – up, down, around, up, down, around, etc. Transports crawl up the hills, then speed excessively going down. Trailers and RVs also crawl up the hills, but at least descend more responsibly. All of them slow traffic (e.g. me) horridly (especially when the fool transports crash – it took me sixteen hours to drive 300km on Thursday due to this sort of nonsense), but given that the landscapes and waterscapes are wonderfully beautiful, I can’t fault the caravans and RVs for being there, and I tend not to speed, so I must frustrate faster drivers too. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/39 "2005-11-27T01:55:54Z")
Thanks for the link, but I am left still ignorant. What is a Pikey? We have Gyspies here as well as the UK does–I have only ever seen them in Kentucky, but I’m sure they are elsewhere. Is Gypsy a raist term as well? I thought it described itinerant people of Romanian heritage. Is Pikey akin to white trash? (which I still don’t see as racist, but I am willing to go with the flow here). Are caravan folk the same as squatters in UK? I’ve read one too many Margaret Yorkes and Ruth Rendells and PD James over here–could I get some clarification? ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762/40 "2005-11-27T04:15:10Z")
Are they homeless poor people, or willing hoboes? I guess you have the right to be a hobo if you want but it seems unfair to drag your children around with you. And if they’re not gypsies, where are they from exactly? And I would guess every country has its equivalent of people who set themselves aside not from physical attributes, but by behavior and lifestyle. Pretty funny in a way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-why-the-caravan-hate/332762.md?page=3)