What it is
The touring caravan is the most flexible way to own an RV. The car stays a car, the caravan can be left on the pitch while you go sightseeing, and you can drop it and fly home. Across Europe the word caravan means exactly this, and in Latin America the same vehicle is called a remolque or trailer.
Why people choose it
Three things decide whether a caravan is pleasant to own: total weight against your vehicle's capacity, axle load distribution, and how much sideways force the wind puts on a tall rear end. Tall, light and high-sided is the worst possible combination.
What to check before you buy
Always work in this order: the car's kerb weight, then the vehicle's maximum braked caravan rating, then the caravan's real weight including battery, water and equipment. Water is not optional weight — 100 L of water is 100 kg.