4G and 5G Routers for UK Caravanning

You can tow 1,500kg with monk-like calm… and still lose the plot because the campsite Wi-Fi has decided it’s on strike again. If you work on the road, stream telly, use smart heating controls, or just like looking up tomorrow’s weather without standing outside the shower block, a proper mobile router becomes less of a gadget and more of a sanity tool.

This is a practical look at the Best 4G and 5G routers suitable for Caravanning UK readers. No scare tactics, no “must-have” nonsense. Just what actually matters in a caravan, what to spend, and which models tend to make sense.

What makes a router “caravan-suitable” (it’s not the sticker)

A caravanning router has three jobs: pull in weak mobile signal, share it reliably over Wi-Fi, and keep doing it without you babysitting it.

The first big differentiator is mobile modem quality and antenna options. Many little travel routers work fine in a city and then fold the moment you’re behind a hedge in rural Wales. A router with external antenna ports (often TS9 or SMA) gives you the option of adding a roof or window antenna later, which is often the real fix on tricky sites.

Second is power and placement. Some routers run happily off USB-C, others want 12V or a mains adapter. In a caravan you’ll often want it running from 12V (either directly or via a decent USB-C PD socket) so it keeps going when you’re off-grid or when you don’t fancy running the inverter just to watch iPlayer.

Third is Wi-Fi range and stability. Caravan walls, awnings, and “everyone is streaming at 8pm” can make cheap Wi-Fi chipsets feel… optimistic. Wi-Fi 6 helps in busy environments, not because it’s magically faster, but because it copes better with lots of devices.

Finally, don’t ignore the boring bit: SIM practicality. A router with an easy SIM tray and a sensible admin app beats the “tiny pinhole reset + cryptic web page” experience when you’ve just arrived and want the kettle on.

4G or 5G for caravanning in the UK?

If you tour widely, you’ll end up using both, because coverage varies by area and by network.

4G is still the workhorse. It’s often more consistent in rural spots, and a good 4G router with proper antennas can outperform a mediocre 5G unit placed in a bad spot.

5G is brilliant when you have it. In and around towns, and on many larger holiday parks, 5G can give home-broadband-like speeds. The trade-off is that 5G can be more sensitive to obstacles, and you’ll still drop back to 4G in plenty of touring areas.

If you mainly want reliable email, browsing, and streaming, a strong 4G setup is usually enough. If you work remotely, upload large files, or want a “proper” broadband replacement, 5G becomes more tempting.

The routers that tend to make sense (UK caravanning picks)

I’m going to split these into two realistic caravanning categories: portable travel routers and proper “fit-and-forget” units.

Portable 4G: TP-Link M7450 (MiFi-style)

If you want something genuinely portable - chuck it in the glovebox, use it in the awning, take it in a café - the TP-Link M7450 is a popular 4G MiFi unit for good reason. It’s battery-powered, simple to use, and generally well-behaved.

The limitation is also the point: MiFi units are compact and convenient, but they’re not usually the strongest at pulling in weak signal. Think of this as a good travel companion, not the king of rural reception.

Portable 5G: Netgear Nighthawk M5 (MR5200)

This is the “I want proper speed, but still portable” option. The Nighthawk M5 has a strong reputation as a 5G hotspot that can genuinely run a small household’s worth of devices.

Two caravanning realities to consider. One: it’s not cheap. Two: as with many premium hotspots, you’ll want to be mindful of heat and placement. A sunny windowsill in August is not its favourite habitat.

If you want a portable 5G solution that can also come into the house as a backup broadband, this is one of the better-known picks.

4G workhorse with antenna options: Huawei B535

For many caravanners, the sweet spot is a mains-style 4G router that lives in the caravan and just gets on with it. The Huawei B535 is widely used for exactly this because it’s straightforward, stable, and crucially it usually has external antenna ports.

In practice, that means you can start with the router on its own (often fine on decent sites), then add a proper antenna later if you discover your favourite CL is in a signal black hole.

5G home-style router: Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2 (H122-373)

If you want a proper 5G router that behaves more like home broadband kit, the Huawei CPE Pro 2 is a common choice. It can deliver excellent speeds where 5G is strong, and it tends to have better Wi-Fi performance than many pocket hotspots.

The caravanning compromise is power and portability. This is more “put it on a shelf and leave it” than “take it walking to find signal”. If you’re usually on sites with EHU and you want a stable base station for multiple devices, it can be a strong option.

Premium, flexible 5G: Teltonika RUTX50

If you’re the sort of person who reads router manuals the way some people read holiday brochures, Teltonika kit is worth a look. The RUTX50 is a serious 5G router aimed at industrial and vehicle use, and it’s popular with van and motorhome owners for a reason: it’s built for tougher environments, supports external antennas properly, and gives you lots of control.

The obvious trade-offs are cost and complexity. This is not the router you buy because you fancy a quiet life. It’s the router you buy because you want the option to do things properly - roof antennas, failover, decent monitoring - and you’re happy to spend a bit of time setting it up.

Caravan-fitted systems: 5G-ready roof antenna plus router

Some caravanners skip the “which box?” debate and go for a fitted antenna system with a router inside, especially if you often tour in areas with marginal signal. In the UK market you’ll see this approach from brands like Poynting (antennas) paired with a compatible router, or full bundled systems from caravan accessory specialists.

This can be the most reliable route if reception is your recurring problem, because the antenna position matters. A roof-mounted antenna with proper cable routing will often beat any indoor hotspot sitting on a cushion, even if the hotspot itself is fancy.

Don’t buy on 5G alone - look for these details

A router can say “5G” on the box and still disappoint if the basics aren’t right for touring.

External antenna ports are the big one. If you tour broadly, you’ll hit at least one site where the difference between usable and useless is an external antenna.

Band support and carrier aggregation matters on 4G. UK networks use a mix of bands, and better routers combine them for improved speed and stability.

Wi-Fi 6 is a nice-to-have if you have lots of devices or you’re often on busy parks. It won’t fix a poor mobile signal, but it can make the local network feel less glitchy.

Power options are underestimated. If you’re often off-grid, check whether the router can run from 12V or USB-C reliably. If you end up running it through an inverter, it’ll work - it’s just a bit like towing with the handbrake one click on. Possible, but why.

SIMs, data, and the boring bits that make the difference

Most caravanners end up happier with a dedicated data SIM for the router. It keeps your phone free, avoids the “hotspot turned itself off” dance, and makes it easier to leave the router running for smart gadgets.

Coverage is as important as cost. If you tour widely, it can be worth testing two networks over time, because “best network” is very location-dependent. If you only ever go to the same region, buy for that region.

Also: check whether your chosen router is unlocked. Some are sold network-locked, which is annoying when you want to switch providers after a few trips.

Setup tips that actually help on site

Signal problems are often solved with placement and patience rather than buying a new box.

Start by putting the router in the highest practical spot inside the caravan, near a window, away from big metal objects. If you’ve got an awning and the router is buried at the back of the van, you’ve basically built it a tiny Faraday cage and then asked it to perform.

If speeds are poor, don’t just run a speed test once and declare it doomed. Try morning, mid-afternoon, and evening - congestion on busy sites is real. Sometimes the fix is simply downloading your films earlier and accepting that 8.30pm is peak-time chaos.

If you do add an antenna, keep cable runs sensible. Very long coax cables can lose signal, so a good antenna placement with appropriate cabling beats a “let’s add ten metres just in case” approach.

A quick reality check: internet anxiety is a close cousin of towing anxiety

Caravanning has a habit of generating myths that make people feel behind before they’ve even left the driveway. Mobile internet is similar: you can spend a fortune chasing perfection when what you actually need is “good enough, most of the time”.

Pick your target. If you need Teams calls and uploads, budget accordingly and consider 5G plus an external antenna path. If you want browsing, streaming, and the odd bit of work, a solid 4G router with antenna ports is often the calm choice.

And if you’re building confidence across the whole touring setup - not just the tech - CaravanVlogger has the same no-drama approach to the other high-stakes stuff that tends to swirl around caravanning.

So what should you buy?

If you want the most sensible default for UK touring, a good 4G router with external antenna ports (something in the Huawei B535 mould) is hard to argue with. It’s affordable, stable, and upgradeable when you hit a tricky site.

If you know you’re in strong 5G areas or you need broadband-like performance, a proper 5G router (Huawei CPE Pro 2 for home-style stability, or Netgear Nighthawk M5 if you want portability) is where the money goes.

If reception is a repeat offender on your favourite sites, don’t keep swapping routers hoping for a miracle. Plan for an external antenna option. That’s the boring, effective answer - which is usually the one worth having.

The best setup is the one that lets you stop thinking about it and get on with the reason you towed the caravan in the first place.