Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: CLKD on July 02, 2013, 09:12:51 PM
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a camper van - for daily use and overnight stays - after 6/7 years of looking ::)
it's light grey/silver, automatic drive: based on a 7-seater people carrier: Hyundai i800. The conversion is new, never used. So we have to find out where to put the water for the sink/shower, how to run the heating etc.. The books that come with it are for the base vehicle, not a lot about how the conversion works - there is a booklet for the fridge, cooker, heating system and portaloo. We've worked out how to spring the pop up roof and get it down and tucked in again, how the bed folds/un-folds ....... now to plan where to store everything ;D
It cost a lot of money :o panic set in today :-\ ...........
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It will be like having a mini house!
When you start buying things go to a caravan shop. I can recommend melamine crockery. The others are too heavy and break very easily.
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Congratulations. I hope you get a lot of use and enjoyment out of it. It will be your own little safe haven against the perils of travel!
Bramble
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Have loads of fun xxx
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No stopping you now CLKD. Enjoy! :)
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Sounds great.
Where do you have in mind to go?
Honeyb
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How exciting - a home away from home :) We had great fun kitting out our little caravan when we first got it so enjoy it all :)
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Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy :hapij:
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:thankyou: another shakey day, I have to resort to the strong pills again :-\. We've been for a drive, parked up and had a long walk, got back the van was still where we left here :D. Have bought a few things, i.e. fire-extinguisher, potty liquids, I have added a couple of mats from the house and a small bin .......... got the burners going this morning :o ::) ........... just get through the week so that I can become accustomed to what we have bought :o :D
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Who gets to empty the portable loo. Bet it's not you CLKD. ;D
Men have their uses. Guess you won't use it too much if you are on a campsite.
Will you have one of the little awnings to sit under on sunny evenings.
Lovely thought that.....a summer evening. ::)
Honeyb
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Sounds lovely CLKD.
Open road , freedom to explore, lock up the house and go..
8)
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It's a sunny evening here - so far. Lovely to sit by our pond with our remaining fish in ......
Went to Lakeland Bicester and bought a few bits and pieces for the van today :-*
It's a hyundai i800 people carrier conversion
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=nunWCXeM980
the spare table fits in a dedicated area at the back. The 2 storage areas on the right at the back have our walking boots in and there is an out-side shower - either hot or cold!
Now to decorate the inside ........... ;)
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I take it we are not talking about wallpaper. ;D
How does the outside shower work?
If you go to campsites then you won't need that kind of thing but handy if you go wild camping.
Honeyb
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Looks good. I am sure you will have lots o fun in it.
Bramble
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The outside shower is apparently, used to wash down dirty dogs, wellies and barBQ grills ::) - it can be run hot or cold :o ....... on the small camping forum I am known as 'insect' so will find insecty stickers etc. for the windows .........
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Why are you known as "insect"? I am very curious!!
Taz x
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Because insects are a menance on camping trips ;D - and I have stick insects .......... :whist:
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It's been too hot to go far in it ::) - yet ;)
(apparently 'we have arrived in Milan' :P )
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It was my idea. Something we have talked about for years ::). We won't sell it because it's OK on a daily basis. It's getting over being away from home and for me, committing to a camp site. I don't know why this shakes me to my innards, but changes of routine always have done.
I have always been told 'you will be OK once you get there' but never how to deal with the anxiety in those intermittent up-coming days :'(. Fortunately this time Ativan has worked it's majic. After admitting defeat at 11.10 a.m. I gradually recovered enough to begin eating again so took a dose at 11.00 p.m. and another at breakfast which meant I have managed to be out and about today.
Will continue my plan so that we DO get to the campsite to meet up with the others ;)
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Hope you have a great time :)
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Having a van can become a lifeline. I've been all over the UK in mine (nothing special - just a tiny panel van initially with an airbed in the back, jerrican and washing up bowl and it's taken me from Lands End to John o'Groats and pretty much everywhere inbetween with not a spot of any anxiety. You wouldn't get me in a stuffy B&B though. Ever!
Enjoy your travels. 8)
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<wave>
we have - so far ;) - washing on the line after our 2-day visit to Morton in Marsh: gorgeous weather, interesting people, lots of walking ......... 'van now cleared out and in the garage.
We never choose stuffy B&Bs - usually hi-end with a view, if pos a balcony ............ :D ...........
I learnt a lot this last couple of days: what to take more of; that I should make the bed up 'cos although a Very Good Cook, DH didn't pull the sheet and it was ruffled :whist: ::) .......... to un-pack once home before the 'van goes into the garage ....... already planning our next Trip :bounce:
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Heavens above ....a ruffled sheet....you just can't get the staff these days.
He cooks and he makes the bed. How did you get him trained to do all this stuff CLKD.
Hope you did not complain.
Honeyb
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No I don't complain - often.
He was a student so was quite capable when I married him ;D - he has to cook for himself ;) - so make 2 of what ever you are having 8)
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I hope you appreciate him CLKD.....He does a whole lot more than most men.
I know the reason he does most of the cooking but could you manage if you had to.
Honeyb
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If my anxiety is not present I can cook - I could rustle up enough toast to keep upright. I might go out for chish and phipps or take myself off to Pizza Express ......... could manage to cook a roast, also a curry ......... but my lack of interest in food keeps me from the kitchen. I think if I lived alone I would be a little old lady with a trolley full of ready chopped fruits and veg. ::) ........... no ready meat meals though but would be OK with bread rolls, cheese and ham ..........
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But could you look after him.
It should be a partnership really with both able to look after each other. I thought my hubby was indestructible.....until he had a heart attack....then it was up to me to take the lead and be the one that looked after.
Honeyb
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Depends on what's wrong with him :-\ - he only has to cough or go quiet and I run a mile :-X
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Sometimes CLKD you can't run no matter how much you want to. Believe I know.
It's amazing what you can do if you have to.
If your hubby needed you then you would have no choice.
It's something we all need to think about at some point.
If something happened to me I would want him by my side and I know he would want me.
Honeyb
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The van's been out of the garage, DH is making a shelf ::) ........... I have tidied out the clothing we took with us and must, when it's cooler, get the hoovery-thingy on the carpet ::)
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How does one deal with damp T-towels, bath towels, flannels etc. ?
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No you mean after you have had a shower when you are away?
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Yep. Most C&CC sites have good washing/drying facilities but we were only on site to sleep. Which meant we had damp towels ....... it will be easier in the Summer when the sun *will* come out ;). If we go away for several nights we will need to have an on-site day in order to deal with damp stuff.
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Or not shower ............
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Put the heating on in the van and hang them up?
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AAAhhhh ....... but when we are travelling it's all packed away or left in the small tent on site. When the heating is on we are sitting in the camper so don't want damp washing as the camper is small .........
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Attach them to the ariel and give them a blow as you travel along.
;D
Honeyb
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The ariel (?) is 3/4" long ;D ........ tights then :D .............. and I would have to use a ladder in order to attach them ::)
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Out the back window then. Just hold on tight.
;)
Honeyb
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:madeyes: :rofl:
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NEC yesterday was for a look-see at awnings and anything else ::) - bought a storage thingey to hang on the door which takes small items, 2 cups of coffee, an ice cream and a kitchen knife. Didn't see much that we really wanted ..........
Trey's RV sounds wonderful :bounce: - I wanted to have a look in the large motorhomes £89,000+ yesterday but there was a queue. Some have slide-outs and are meant for mainland Europe, Africa or the US. Some have baths :o but it takes a lot to fill those with water and an even larger grey water tank, all of which requires filling or emptying on site ??? ....... can take hours to re-fill with diesal too but in the US at least that is cheap.
I love Rapido designs particularly the one where the bathroom is across the back, then the fixed bed and wardrobe, then the living space followed by the kitchen - one would need a mobile phone in order to communicate ;D
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Renting of: we looked into this a few years ago.
To hire a UK motorhome cost a basic fee. From memory cost began at £300.00 per week. We were unable to collect it until mid-afternoon of the 1st day. Half a tank of fuel was included in the hire price. Insurance was included. However, if there were any dents etc. a charge would have been applied so we advised by a friend to take photos before the Motorhome left the hire Company.
We had to return it by 11.00 a.m. of the last day of hire. Which meant we would have to be home the previous day in order to get it completely un-loaded, hoovered thoroughly and re-filled with fuel.
We found T&C prohibitive. We wanted a holiday, not to be worrying about keeping it clean and getting it returned on time. Because had we not done so, there was a daily charge …….. :-\
Other considerations need to be taken into account, i.e. the length of the vehicle for parking - many towns are un-suitable and really don't encourage visitors, un-like mainland-Europe where parking is often free. Supermarkets often have low barriers to stop travellers arriving and taking over parking spaces. General parking bays are shorter than most campers ::) which is another reason that we bought our Hyundai.
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Do you think your investment was worth while CLKD. I know you have days out but is that what you intended or is that just what you can cope with.
We, over the years have looked at motor homes, static vans and towing caravans and decided from a purely financial point of view none of them worked for us.
Ok if you are going to go travelling a lot but for a day here and there.....is it really worth it.
Honeybun
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Oh yes! Because ours is a people carrier conversion we can use it as a day vehicle for shopping; we go out a lot to a Nature Reserve/fishing lake probably once a week. That's my idea of complete PEACE ;) knowing that Himself is enjoying pitting his Wits against trout whilst I can laze, watching osprey, red kites, goldfinches, sheep with lambs ……
We also use it on day trips where we know there aren't going to be toilet facilities ;) - we have lots of good walking country within a couple of hours' drive so can park up, walk for hours, come back and put the kettle on. PortaPotty available when required. We go out and about and use cafes too, parking the camper ……….. and the over-night stays for antique fairs, well it's earning it's keep!
DH keeps hinting at France >:(. We went to Luss/Craster 12 months ago in glorious sunshine ;); we've been to Yorkshire for 5 nights this year. We had planned to go to Derbyshire for 4 nights but due to bad coughs and APPALLING weather we changed our minds. We've had several early starts to sports events that DH takes part in ……… one where there wasn't a loo :o
Had we bought a motorhome we would have felt obliged to use it. It would have needed storing 15 miles away which takes away the spontaneity as well as costing LOTs per year. We spent almost the same amount as we would have on a motorhome but as it's in our garage, it's more useful. When the sun appears, out we go somewhere ;)
Many years ago we thought about buying a chalet-type cabin on the Welsh coast but the journey is 5 hours so again, no spontaneity. We were going to let it out but decided agasint that, sods Law it would have been rented the sunniest week of the year ;D
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I love the idea of your conversion. We may well try a holiday in a hired camper van, but are aware of the parking issues. Your van seems to be more versatile in use and keeping at home. If we enjoy holidaying in a camper van, and decided to go down the same route, we would want to go down the same route. Thanks for pointing out this thread.
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Why can't you keep a motor home in your drive.....lots around us do.
I have discovered that the older I get the less I like small spaces. I used to really want a camper an but now I realise I couldn't cope with the enclosed space.
The thought for me would be better than the reality I think. My sis hired a big motor home years ago. They liked it but found a good few drawbacks. Parking in a town was an issue....getting settled onto a campsite and getting everything set up including the awning...then remembering they needed something from town and had no way of getting there.
Too much hassle for me but a great adventure for some.
Honeybun
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After camping for most of the 6 months we travelled 10 years ago, a camper van would be sheer luxury!
DH would only camp within 30 of his strides to the toilet block and I didn't argue after having a tummy bug and running back and forth quite a distance. I avoid running normally, but needs must. :o We decamped to a motel for a week after that.
Yep, I'm sure there are draw backs, but after that? The camper vans we looked at had cycle racks, so local mobility will be less of an issue. I don't know if there are awnings on these vans, but after putting our tent up single handed for a month after DH fell off the air mattress the first night (honest!) injuring his already wonky back, well!! The kangaroos were impressed with my tent erecting anyway! I was surrounded one night and was disappointed when they didn't produce score cards as in Strictly!
Anyway we're up for an adventure again as long as there is a loo not far away... ;D Oh and enclosed spaces, well try the little bright yellow tent we graduated to after being half being blown away in our less stable first tent in a torrential, windy storm. Another night decamping to a hotel.
We want to make some more wonderful memories in a bit more comfort! We have some money coming our way, which could be spent on buying a camper van, but there some more pressing needs, but a holiday in a hired camper van is not out of the question.
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We began looking years (8+ ) ago. I had decided on a fixed bed with wash room at the back, + lounge area/kitchen and captain seats which turn around. After 2 years if we met a motor home on the road I could tell DH exactly what it was, how large the engine size etc. ;D. Twice we almost signed on the dotted line, at a price approaching £25K. This was used vehicles only.
Most used motorhomes have extras, i.e. awnings, bedding, cutlery, carpets ……. we didn't like the idea of a Luton: bed over the cab: due to the need to climb over a person and down a ladder. Hence fixed bed with storage underneath. Some have 'garages' ::). Some have cookers: often European makes don't as the Germans in particular, go 'out' to eat. Some have fridges, others fridge/freezers.
New 1s come with carbon monoxide and fire alarms fitted. They should be fitted by a Company selling used units too as standard.
Things to look out for are:
a) ease of theft
b) ease of parking - most places have height barriers
c) ease of driving - think of narrow roads on the Isle of Skye ? we followed a large camper when there 10 years ago and it frightened us to death ;D as the road got narrower and narrower ….
e) despite some being large there is a Legal Kerb weight. Therefore once packed, the camper/motor home may well be over the Legal limit so it is suggested that before going on holiday 1 packs what 1 thinks one will require for a week again, then drives to a weigh bridge to check. Removing stuff until the legal limit is reached ::). Phaff!! :D
f) who will drive the vehicle the most, I haven't yet sat behind the wheel of ours ::)
We had fun searching. We gave up for a while but then several people around us died or had long-term terminal illnesses and I decided to draw some of my savings and hey presto!
We aren't allowed to park a caravan or motor home outside Honeybun under local By-Laws. Plus the neighbours weren't keen on having a lorry/bus outside ;D. Even if they had been allowed to borrow it ;)
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We read a lot of camper magazines too ;D as well as visiting local dealers. We wondered why people would pay out £25K then only have 3,000 miles on the clock, well it's because people don't use them. Because most have to be parked away from the house it takes away the 'lets go out in the sunshine' opportunity. Plus the risk of it being nicked from storage!
We have a set of cooking pans; cutlery is wrapped in T-towels to stop it rattling; 2 sleeping bags of -40C but I do miss spontaneous cuddles :-\ but at least I keep warm, mine has a hood too ::). Blanket. Set of washing kit specifically for the camper although I bring the towels inside to wash. Wellies. Walking boots. Wet weathers. Medication and first aid kit. Loo roll. Maps. Thick socks.
Because of the design of the Hyundai I keep a couple of changes of clothing in the main part of the 'van in case it's raining, we don't then have to get out and walk round the back to get clean clothes. DH puts up a drive away awning (large tent) which is a blow up/down and doubles the day space for us. Lots of people have cycle racks, others with really large motor homes have small scootery-thingies ………
Anything you want to ask, do! Can't remember where you live but Browhills and White Arches have a good quantity of used stock to browse on line. Still would like something a little bigger 'cos Himself wants to go abroad oh and if travelling in Main-land Europe a lot, would you have a LHD?
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There was an article about Sweden in the Guardian yesterday …… did you see it Ju Ju?
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No I didn't as I don't buy newspapers everyday. Bought the guardian on Friday though.....wrong day. I'll see if I can find it on line. Thanks!
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I could send it you ;) ……
I loved searching for our camper. Had exactly in mind what I wanted, ended up with something completely different ;D
i800 Hyundai people carrier conversation with raising roof and we added an awning
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Camping and Caravan magazine arrived yesterday, read it in the bath earlier and found:
2016/17 Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays brochure is out now! Is that sad or what ;D but might be useful for Ju Ju :-\ ? or not, no Scandinavian holidays planned from that Company ::)
Where did I get the idea that Sweden was on the list of places you want to visit :-\ ……… hey ho!
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:bounce:
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The gas ran out last week ;D. I managed to boil enough water for 3 cups of tea then nowt, a small puff and that was it. Himself has renewed the cylinder so we are ready to roll again ::)
Crikey - we've come a long way ::)
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Crikey - we've come a long way ::)
You certainly have CLKD. :cheer:
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I bought a new car just before we went on holiday. I am still getting used to the gadgets. It has Bluetooth hands free and media streaming. DAB radio, cruise control, air bumps on doors, air con etc etc. It has like an IPad gadget on the dash which sets everything up.
It's really eco friendly so no road tax and It can do 81 mpg. It's really nippy and looks good. It's a Citroen cactus in purple.
I asked the salesman where the CD player was and he says "nobody has CD players anymore" so my son has put all my music on a dongle for me. :)
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My reply would have been 'I'm not nobody and I want a CD Player!' Actually, it's back to Vinyl these days ;)
Does it have a heated front seat/s PF?
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My reply would have been 'I'm not nobody and I want a CD Player!' Actually, it's back to Vinyl these days ;)
Does it have a heated front seat/s PF?
Not in cars CLKD. :D
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Oh yes they do! if one goes to one of these 'meets' where young lads have Ghetto Blasters, large speakers, etc. in their cars: no seats but plenty of noise!
Heated front seat?
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They might have ghetto blasters but they don't play vinyl records. How could they in a moving vehicle?
No heated seat .... Had one in a previous car and never used it as it made me feel too sweaty down below!! ;D
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They don't move though that's the point - they gather in great groups of like-minded men (usually) at 'events' and play their ghetto blasters etc. really really loud ;D
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They don't move though that's the point - they gather in great groups of like-minded men (usually) at 'events' and play their ghetto blasters etc. really really loud ;D
They're called Cruise events and trust me that's what they do. I am still pretty sure they don't use vinyl.
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No vinyl in the Cruises around here. How would they stop it jumping CLKD? ;D
Taz x
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No vinyl in the Cruises around here. How would they stop it jumping CLKD? ;D
Taz x
I actually text my son about this and he replied "mother why are you asking such a stupid question. Of course they don't use vinyl." I didn't dare mention this forum!! 😝😝
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Cruise events :-X
Around here they use vinyl because the cars are stationary, that's the point - to show off the huge 'boomers' (speakers) which take up the whole of the boot and most of the back seats ;D and oh That Chrome …….. they start around here about 4.30 p.m. and go on until 8.30 ish ::) and there's a deep boom, boom, boom ….
Anyway - back to the camper. Been out again 2-day :)
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Cruise events :-X
Around here they use vinyl because the cars are stationary, that's the point - to show off the huge 'boomers' (speakers) which take up the whole of the boot and most of the back seats ;D and oh That Chrome …….. they start around here about 4.30 p.m. and go on until 8.30 ish ::) and there's a deep boom, boom, boom ….
Anyway - back to the camper. Been out again 2-day :)
Sorry but you're wrong CLKD. My friends son goes on the cruises where they drive all along the sea front and then park up but they definitely don't use vinyl records. For a start space in the boots is at a premium because of the size of the speakers so they don't have room for large decks and a stack of cumbersome vinyl records.
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Back to topic maybe or you could begin a separate thread :-\
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Do they have the turntables in the boot or the back window ledge?
Taz x :-\
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Like this, Taz!
http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/amazing-photos-of-a-time-when-cars-had-record-players/
Thought it would give us all a smile. :)
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Back to topic maybe or you could begin a separate thread :-\
I see you've edited out the childish emoji CLKD.
It's all about the "look" with these pimped up cars and while you might like to "think" they are playing vinyl records they're not because there is no way they could play them whilst driving on a road. You'd get some lovely scratches on your vinyl from roundabouts and speed bumps.
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I was enjoying this thread but it's starting to sound like a broken record now :-\
We have said in the past how nice it would be to have a camper van but would also need a little car too for short local journeys. We once saw a couple driving a camper van and towing a little smart car behind it. :)
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I was enjoying this thread but it's starting to sound like a broken record now :-\
We have said in the past how nice it would be to have a camper van but would also need a little car too for short local journeys. We once saw a couple driving a camper van and towing a little smart car behind it. :)
That's my fault Babyjane. I didn't see the OH (yes even though it was in capitals it didn't register!) in the title and just assumed it was "what we have bought." Sorry.
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Like this, Taz!
http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/amazing-photos-of-a-time-when-cars-had-record-players/
Thought it would give us all a smile. :)
Thanks Jenna - there are some great pics there!!
I've got a sub-woofer in my boot but it doesn't do vinyl! ;D
Taz x
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Crikey! where has time disappeared to ;D.
Too cold to go out except for day trips as I don't like the walk to/from the toilet block ::) but we have several trips planned, nothing booked - yet.
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Bounced for Daisydot ;-)
We use my Hyundai conversion more for day out trips: antique fairs, fishing, general travelling round. We didn't go over-night at all during 2017. Didn't have time now that we are retired ;D. It is very comfy and ideal for the two of us, plus we have an awning.
There are lots of issues to consider other than cost. How much will you use one? Do you want a full blown motor home or camper 'van? Remember: in a small van, what you carry takes up space!
Where will you store it, which costs money and extra time? My camper allows us to be spontaneous: look at the weather, drive it out of the garage and go. A larger motorhome can't be stored outside our house so it would take us half a day to collect it B4 we went away.
There are kerb weight limits so although it might be a large 'van, it doesn't mean that you can carry more stuff. Also, from the age of 70, one has to downsize :-\. They have to have a service yearly on the electrics and gas in the van as well as the usual MOT and regular servicing as you would a car.
Do you intend to have it as your main vehicle? Look out for height restrictions as many supermarkets etc. don't allow access. Park and Ride?
I had great fun looking: for 3 years ;D
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Ty CLKD ,some very good points there.x
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It's the looking that is fun even if you decide not to buy.
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We haven't been away in our camper but are enjoying it as a day vehicle: antique fairs, fishing trips, picnics where we know there won't be a loo ....... when Himself is fishing I sleep. Deeply. Usually with the sun flooding through the windows 8)
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Just seem this thread ;D
We bought an old camper van last Feb, after years of camping in tents then trailer tents we (I) finally found one we liked & could afford.
We've had a few hiccups with it mainly down to neglect from the previous owner, but we both absolutely luv it.
I only wanted a small van for ease of parking etc & it's been amazing, not worrying about the weather for packing up etc. We're even been away in the snow. Oh & you can't beat having your own loo can you.
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Our Porta Potty is worth it's weight in Gold but I would like a shower inside ...... I HATE standing in other peoples' puddles :-\ and getting changed in a cold area :(
So I don't. If we go away over-night I'll suggest a Hotel ;-).
The largest motor home I looked round had a shower room and a separate bath room - luxury or what ;D
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Funny enough our little van has a shower but we don't use it 😂
Can't stand condensation so keep it as dry as possible inside. Our friends have the next size up van in the same make & they always use the shower, she has mobility problems so it's idea. I can understand it's nice for privacy etc. But you need to carry a lot of water & have to dump the waste more often, to much phaff for me. 😶
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The shower is useful to hang wet weather clothing in I understand. It's not a very green hobby really ::)
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No not really ::)
Well at least our little van has a friendly Petrol V8 engine in it :D We just picked up our clean air sticker for Germany ;D
seems odd that we have one for that but it's not possible to get one for our much younger diesel van. :-\
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Is it a German brand though ;)
I slept well in mine yesterday. Up early to go fishing, as soon as we arrived at the Lake I was zonked. Sun pouring through the windows. Spent the afternoon watching wild-life .......
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No, it's Canadian/American !
Hoping to get a few days away at Christmas, we went to the Pyrenees last year in the snow it was great fun.
DH needs to clean underneath & get some underseal on before then & I have a couple of little projects I want to do. Might wonder off to the coast for the day this weekend. Dogs love the beach.
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Oh do tell! 'hobby'? ;)
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You'd never guess... ;D
Roadtrek, tis only a baby 17ft. But it's got all the toys.
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17ft long or broad ;D. That wouldn't fit onto our drive ;)
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Go on how long is yours then 😂
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It's an i800 Hyundai people carrier ;) [converted]
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Ok smart arse so it's anywhere front 16 to 17ft. Ours is a class B. Base is a Dodge Ram Van.
So we can come camping on your drive 😂
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Putting the kettle on as we speak - however, come in a Burka as we both have colds ;D.
Ours fits snugly in the garage .......... so there is room on the drive once we move the smaller Hyundai ;)
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Ooh no thanks I ve only just got rid of one, first cold in years ! & It's taken nearly 2 months to shift the last bit.
Tell u what, you pop down to us & we can clean the pool out together 😂
Winter holiday ?
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So I'm not going on a cruise ...... but I do love looking round the motor home stands and show homes though a Park Company has gone out of business this week leaving people owing £Ks or losing money with lack of rentals on mobiles already bought :(
I had our camper out, gave it a Very Good Tidy and it's back in the garage until next trip. Can't be bothered with walking across the camp site any more to the shower block but DH tells me that I get a bit ripe when I don't :-X
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Bounced.
Do read through. I don't like standing in a shower cubicle that someone else has used as my feet get cold :-X. I also don't like sharing toilet space :-\.
Think about how much water you need to carry whilst on the road in order to use the shower. Make sure that the cassette toilet can be withdrawn from the outside of the vehicle ;) some have to be dragged through the living space. That needs a steady hand ........... :-X
We carry enough water to keep the heating system and sink topped up. Also we always carry an extension because some taps on camp sites aren't long enough to reach !!!!! even into the spare water container that we use for boiling prior to cooking or making T/coffee. We never drink from the stored water tank on board. We also carry a spare hook-up cable in case we leave ours at home or in case someone has forgotten so we can 'lend'.
Some vans don't have a window in the bathroom area. We spent 6 years looking ;D which was half the fun.
Caravans cost half the price of campers - make sure that you go on a towing course and that your car is capable! We followed one on a motorway yesterday that was swaying - it ought to have had 4 wheels at the back rather than 2! On a windy day it could have been dangerous.
HAVE FUN ;D. the most important thing to carry is a torch and a loo roll ;)
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A campervan driver became stranded when he attempted to cross a causeway at high tide.
The man had to be rescued when the van became submerged on the Holy Island road, which is underwater twice a day.
:o
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The most important Thing to us in a motor home is bathroom and getting a comfy mattress,we actually got rid of our first one because the shower was rubbish,OH fitted a special pump etc but it was dreadful.
Then we went to see this American one,I didn't want one of those massive ones as nice as they are,just too big for uk's small roads.it was a bt cruiser,sides came out and it was fab,really miss it but had to decide between lodge in Scotland or the van,was a(and still is) very close call,suppose I miss going places and seeing new sights.
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"Hobby" jaypo? I am hankering after the new small Hymer with bathroom ;) but it won't fit in the garage so I have to dream on.
Ours needs a 'bit' today :-\ so off to the mechanic's shortly ......... means I have to drive the car which I don't do often :o
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Knock your garage down 😆
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Shan't ;D :na: house would fall down too :o
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Renting brings it's own problems: we found it wasn't worth it because the Companies wouldn't let the 'vans out until mid-afternoon and wanted the 'van back by 11.00 a.m. with a full tank of fuel and completely cleaned out. Which meant travelling back the previous day which cut the holiday by 2 days. It was fun going round the various Shows ;D
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Hi hummdinger,you can come round for tea if you like 😊
It's just outside Dunoon,next to loch Eck,stunning scenery,so the choice was that or motor home.
I used to use showers in summertime,just bought a pair of flip flops but we used to go away every other weekend through the winter months too,nothing on this planet would get me into the shower block in December 😂🥶
You should go to the motor home shows,they will all be starting soon,that's what we did,at least then you can have a good old nosey round lots of them
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The 1st Show was last weekend in Yorkshire somewhere ;) and the Peterborough 1 is in April at the East of England Showground.
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Haha hummdinger,are you thinking of hunters quay? Small world,we're not there though,we're out of Dunoon,hunters is very much for families etc,too many kids for me 😆 the site we are on is very small and it's just lodges,oh oh,you could get a static at stratheck,that's not far from where we are,you should look it up online.maybe too far,you could've come round for a cuppa 😀
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Make it fun. The best time of year to invest is from September onwards when dealers have taken orders from new models and are wanting to shift 'old' stock ;). There are usually deals to be done.
We went to lots of dealerships across the UK. Some are Agents for certain makes - my first choice would be a Rapido, my 2nd a Hymer; Swift have good choices too. Designs can be found on-line. If it smells of damp, walk away! Ingress can never be sorted :-\
I started wanting a fixed bed. Which takes up more space than buying a 'van and making beds every night. Some beds are let down from the roof area.
Whether one buys a caravan or motorhome, where it is to be parked must be considered. Is it secure enough? My neighbour had their 'van nicked from a supposedly safe storage site. Our nearest would be 15 miles away which takes up the whole day to collect, pack etc.. Whereas our small camper fits into our garage.
I wrap cutlery in tea-towels otherwise it sounds like we are travelling in a cutlery drawer ;D. Torches are a must inside and out. More bath towels than you think you will require unless you are in a continually hot area. Same with dog towels. Everything has to be fixed down and with a motor home obviously one either walks, takes public transport or has to drive ....... we have our number plate on a sign which we leave on our pitch to dis-courage anyone parking there ;)
Do have a look-see in the various magazines - different layouts - some don't have a cooker as people in Europe tend to BarBQ or eat out more than people in the UK. Something to do with the weather. Apparently ;). Think of the length :o and whether your current age and licence cover what you would like to buy. At age 70 some sizes are illegal to drive.
Make sure that the over-all height/length doesn't restrict where the van can be parked. Some areas in the UK have low barriers to stop travellers. Camp sites need to be booked to make sure that you have a pitch. We joined the various camping clubs as it is cheaper over-all to pitch up. In mainland Europe there are aires [free parking] in some towns and many places have dedicated parking for visiting campers/motor homes. Not so in the UK :-\
I don't know where Hunter's Park is. We love the North of England, Scotland, Wales .........
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Ours had a fixed bed,the bedroom was at the back of the van,our first ones bed was above the cab,wasn't that beautiful site,me trying to get my butt up the ladder and into the bed,hated it,we eventually took the mattress down onto the folded down seats every night,was too much hassle,hence the American one.
We went all around Wales (whilst we lived there) ,I hadn't really seen much of England so we traveled all over,great fun
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Well, it's been a year ;D
We have a new member who has interest in camping ;)
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I'd love to go camping, in a camper van obviously, not in a tent! 😉
But it's not my OHs thing.
When we we?re kids, my Dad took us all over, every summer for two weeks, he hired a mini bus. We had a tent, and blankets, and everything we needed, mom would cook on the tiny stove, and the older ones would sleep in the van, and us younger ones in the tent!
My Dad would hire me a bike from the camp site, and I'd be riding that all day, don't know what the others got up to, 😆 I was as happy as Larry......whoever he is! 🤷♀️ 😆
Great days! ...I wanted to do the same with my kids, but they wasn't interested, too spoilt with abroad holidays I suppose! 🤨 ... although, in hindsight, you can never replicate something WE enjoyed as kids, it's never the same! ☹️
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Too true jillydoll ........... also, what I would have done with DH years++ ago I wouldn't consider these days ;D
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I'm still game ;D
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Yeessssss, we know that! 😆😂
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I don't like the wander from/to the toilet block nor standing on wet shower floors >:(
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Awww noooo, I'm with you on that one. I much prefer a Bush! 😉
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Yeah yeah,we know about you and bushes Jill ;D ;D
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Doc leaf by your side, .....bobs your uncle......🤣😂
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Actually: Bob was my Gt Uncle, born on Valentines day, he died on Val Day aged 99.
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Wow.....💁♀️
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:-*
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DH went to move the 'van out of the garage earlier but the battery was like a DoDo! :o.
New battery purchased and fitted. Ready to go :-)
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There we go. Now is the time to buy as new stock will be arriving on the 4 courts. I would never buy new, let someone else have the snagging problems of which there may be many ;)
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Still got it 8)