Caravans: What's the Point?
Discussion
ALY77 said:
I used to curse caravans whenever I saw them and particularly whenever I got stuck behind one. I used to pass them by on the motorway and ponder on how anyone could be bothered sitting in the first couple of lanes doing little more than 60 at best mile after mile.
Last year, after spending many years taking the kids to static caravan parks and paying a small fortune every time, I started wondering what if? Well, we took the plunge and bought one. A Swift 586 to be exact, a brand named in irony I assume as none of their products will ever be any such thing.
Now, granted, I'm mortified whenever I'm aware of being a hold up. I also spend anything up to ten hours sat in the first couple of lanes, bored, mixing it with Hyundai i10s and trucks all the while gazing longingly at the outside lane, wishing I too could be back sat there with the cruise on playing points roulette with the local constabularies.
The pay off however is the fun, adventure, flexibility and low costs (if you ignore the initial outlay!) of camping style trips away with swmbo & our youngish kids without the discomfort of having to sleep in a field, on sponge, under a thin layer of nylon.
Also, I no longer worry about what the accommodation will be like at any holiday park type destinations, since I'm taking my own. The mini house has all the comforts of home but can of course be taken anywhere I can drag the thing to.
Further, because its there, we've made an effort to make use of it. We've gotten away for weekends when we wouldn't have otherwise bothered and visited places and engaged in activities we wouldn't otherwise have done. Its been great for the kids and us as a catalyst to enforce quality time where often work and other life distractions would have gotten in the way.
Granted for the same outlay as the 'van and the tow car we bought to put in front of it I could have a brand new Mk3 Focus RS on the drive instead, but I've visited the dark side now and I kinda like it.
The 586 is what we went for. Bunks and a single at the rear, double at the front. Full shower cubicle. Its very good. Only wish is the hot water tank is larger.Last year, after spending many years taking the kids to static caravan parks and paying a small fortune every time, I started wondering what if? Well, we took the plunge and bought one. A Swift 586 to be exact, a brand named in irony I assume as none of their products will ever be any such thing.
Now, granted, I'm mortified whenever I'm aware of being a hold up. I also spend anything up to ten hours sat in the first couple of lanes, bored, mixing it with Hyundai i10s and trucks all the while gazing longingly at the outside lane, wishing I too could be back sat there with the cruise on playing points roulette with the local constabularies.
The pay off however is the fun, adventure, flexibility and low costs (if you ignore the initial outlay!) of camping style trips away with swmbo & our youngish kids without the discomfort of having to sleep in a field, on sponge, under a thin layer of nylon.
Also, I no longer worry about what the accommodation will be like at any holiday park type destinations, since I'm taking my own. The mini house has all the comforts of home but can of course be taken anywhere I can drag the thing to.
Further, because its there, we've made an effort to make use of it. We've gotten away for weekends when we wouldn't have otherwise bothered and visited places and engaged in activities we wouldn't otherwise have done. Its been great for the kids and us as a catalyst to enforce quality time where often work and other life distractions would have gotten in the way.
Granted for the same outlay as the 'van and the tow car we bought to put in front of it I could have a brand new Mk3 Focus RS on the drive instead, but I've visited the dark side now and I kinda like it.
oblio said:
We have a MH not a caravan but the pleasures amount to the same.
We use it throughout the year: every other weekend throughout autumn - winter - spring we are away. For a £100 roughly we have 2 nights away in luxury (we have an Autotrail Comanche: fixed double bed plus front lounge with 2 full length settees); including in this are site fees; a meal out in a pub/curry house; food; drink; fuel etc. We get some fresh air when out walking; catch up with our reading; or watch a DVD if wet. We meet interesting friendly people and get to watch caravanners (aka tuggers) parking and setting up for an hour or two each time a new one arrives (as mentioned above)...which is goo fun.
At Half term; Xmas and Easter and in the summer holidays, we have extended week or 2 week trips or in the case of summer spend 30 plus nights away (last summer Italian Lakes; this summer across to Poland and the Czech Republic). The 30 nighter to Italy last year cost 2k all in (food, sites, fuel, tolls, beer etc). No brainer really: try getting a 30 night holiday for that
We use it throughout the year: every other weekend throughout autumn - winter - spring we are away. For a £100 roughly we have 2 nights away in luxury (we have an Autotrail Comanche: fixed double bed plus front lounge with 2 full length settees); including in this are site fees; a meal out in a pub/curry house; food; drink; fuel etc. We get some fresh air when out walking; catch up with our reading; or watch a DVD if wet. We meet interesting friendly people and get to watch caravanners (aka tuggers) parking and setting up for an hour or two each time a new one arrives (as mentioned above)...which is goo fun.
At Half term; Xmas and Easter and in the summer holidays, we have extended week or 2 week trips or in the case of summer spend 30 plus nights away (last summer Italian Lakes; this summer across to Poland and the Czech Republic). The 30 nighter to Italy last year cost 2k all in (food, sites, fuel, tolls, beer etc). No brainer really: try getting a 30 night holiday for that
Same as you. Love it and part of me wishes I'd bought one (a small one) when I was younger and travelled more back then. We've had ours since summer 2012 and have now done 40,000 km. We use it in all seasons and travel all over the place as much as time allows.
Had our just over a year now. Went away about 6 times last year including 2 weeks to Spain.
Just back from a week in Cornwall. We plan to use it for UK quick holidays mostly long weekends - great for the kids and encourages us just to go off for the weekend - so many places to see in the UK.
Just back from a week in Cornwall. We plan to use it for UK quick holidays mostly long weekends - great for the kids and encourages us just to go off for the weekend - so many places to see in the UK.
Edited by superlightr on Thursday 14th April 16:18
We bought a caravan a few years back, a whole £400 worth. It wasn't great but it was ours and I bought it to see if I could tempt Mrs Geeks into attending a few race weekends with me, well it worked and she became rather keen, however plans changed and I wanted to actually start racing, quick to realise I couldn't tow a car and a caravan she sought us out a cheap motorhome to see how we got on, we love it although I haven't attempted to tow with it yet but it should just about cope, we are in our second season with it and are still glad we picked it up, while not as comfortable as our Caravan it is still great to be able to stay on circuit and travel away in it. End of this year I am going to grab something a little more civilised and convert it to suit our needs
ALY77 said:
superlightr said:
Went away about 6 times last year including 2 weeks to Spain.
I'd love to do a couple of weeks in Spain in the hope of a hot & sunny holiday with the van in tow. Sadly SWMBO is having none of it since she realised Spain is even further from the channel than we are!We had a 'van through economic necessity when I was growing up as a kid in the 80's. Our first one, a CI Sprite Major, had non-tinted single glazed windows and no heating. Bloody freezing for a family of five at Easter I tell thee! We soon traded to a Leda Quantock with double-glazing and central heating, enjoying many wonderful family holidays.
As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my s
t miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury!
As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my s
t miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury! PurpleTurtle said:
We had a 'van through economic necessity when I was growing up as a kid in the 80's. Our first one, a CI Sprite Major, had non-tinted single glazed windows and no heating. Bloody freezing for a family of five at Easter I tell thee! We soon traded to a Leda Quantock with double-glazing and central heating, enjoying many wonderful family holidays.
As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my st miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury!
Thats a lovely tale & great memory for you to have - Sounds like you had a great Dad.As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my s
t miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury! I also enjoyed the freedom of camping as a kid with parents often in the New Forest and want to help my children to enjoy the same fun.
We were lucky - Rover v8 (VDR667M) numberplate ! then Jaaag power. Although the Jag did always seem to overheat when towing and then slow moving traffic or on steep hills in the middle of France ........all part of the hol. Loved it all.
Edited by superlightr on Tuesday 19th April 10:49
PurpleTurtle said:
We had a 'van through economic necessity when I was growing up as a kid in the 80's. Our first one, a CI Sprite Major, had non-tinted single glazed windows and no heating. Bloody freezing for a family of five at Easter I tell thee! We soon traded to a Leda Quantock with double-glazing and central heating, enjoying many wonderful family holidays.
As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my st miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury!
Ha, I have similar memories!! My Dad had a 2.9i Ghia X, and we had a twin axle Swift Conqueror. I'd imagine this was between 1990 and 1993. We also had a big lump of Scott Stabiliser - I seem to remember it being a sky blue colour.As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my s
t miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury! We had trips to Germany, Austria and Italy. I have fond memories of one trip where we managed to run out of petrol
Those were the days. I also remember finding a crate of beer tied to a tree, chilling in the river. I was about 10 years old and decided to try and open one with a stone, managed to slice my fingers open and had to have 12 stitches at a German hospital
superlightr said:
ferry from Portsmouth to Santander cabin 24hrs then half hr drive the other side - easy.
Priced that only last night. Ferry with cabin coming in at £1400 give or take. Fuel for Edinburgh to Portsmouth and back circa £300. By the time we add site fees and some fuel euro side we're in price bracket of flying from the airport we live ten mins from, to a nice Spanish self catering complex somewhere. Granted we'd be without the fun and adventure of the caravan and the boat but we'd be turning 30 ish hours travelling in to three in the air!ALY77 said:
superlightr said:
ferry from Portsmouth to Santander cabin 24hrs then half hr drive the other side - easy.
Priced that only last night. Ferry with cabin coming in at £1400 give or take. Fuel for Edinburgh to Portsmouth and back circa £300. By the time we add site fees and some fuel euro side we're in price bracket of flying from the airport we live ten mins from, to a nice Spanish self catering complex somewhere. Granted we'd be without the fun and adventure of the caravan and the boat but we'd be turning 30 ish hours travelling in to three in the air!superlightr said:
Its about an hours drive for us so not far. I can see that from the Motherland its a long trek down. The main benefit for us was the convenience - 1hr drive to a nice ferry, relax over night and then half hour the other side - easy and relaxing tbh. plus Im not keen on flying so much any more. and we have our own car the other side to explore.
We do exactly the same as it really works with young children. They love the ferry crossing and I love the fact that I don't spend another couple of days travelling down France to get to Spain. Ferry, diesel and tolls for the motorhome get to within a couple of hundred quid of the ferry fare so to save 4 days on the road, it is a no brainer.superlightr said:
PurpleTurtle said:
We had a 'van through economic necessity when I was growing up as a kid in the 80's. Our first one, a CI Sprite Major, had non-tinted single glazed windows and no heating. Bloody freezing for a family of five at Easter I tell thee! We soon traded to a Leda Quantock with double-glazing and central heating, enjoying many wonderful family holidays.
As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my st miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury!
Thats a lovely tale & great memory for you to have - Sounds like you had a great Dad.As a kid then, the thing I appreciated most was the going on holiday whenever we liked aspect, not having to adhere to strict hotel dining times etc. We'd do countless weekends and summer holidays in Devon, Cornwall and Herefordshire, all at relatively low cost. Stay on the beach until late? No problem. We also usedto do a lot of surfing, so having a caravan to transport three kids boards, wetsuits etc it became a partical trailer for lugging all that kind of gear.
My Dad also wasn't massively flush, but he knew how to deliver a good time for his kids, wife and dog, and a caravan ticked many boxes there. That it was a bit slow to get there didn't seem to matter - we always set off at 3am and travelled on relatively empty motorways, I don't recall us holding many people up. Most of the time we had a 2.8 Granada, which flew along even with the van hitched.
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'. We had a 'Scott Stabiliser' which seemed to do the business, until one morning a passing coach came too close, its draft put us into a snake. It was about 5am on the M5 near Stroud, Dad was then at the helm of his Montego Van Den Plas with The Eagles' 'Peaceful, Easy Feeling' ironically playing softly, all of a sudden all hell broke loose and we were careering across all three lanes with the van tipping from wheel to wheel in the snake!
Dad casually dropped it a cog and used the, ahem, 'power' of the Montego to pull out of the snake, much to the relief and subsequent cheers of us kids on board. The 13yo me was somewhat in awe of his driving skills to save it.
FFWD 30 years and I've got an wife and sprog, we do a lot of camping at music festivals. I'd buy a 'Van tomorrow, if festivals were more welcoming to them. Alas most festivals are Motorhome but not Caravan friendly - I guess because of the need to get people on/off site quickly. Having lugged all my s
t miles across Somerset to get into Glastonbury and then camp literally tent wall to tent wall with neighbours then a bit of faffing reversing a caravan into a pitch would be a luxury! I also enjoyed the freedom of camping as a kid with parents often in the New Forest and want to help my children to enjoy the same fun.
We were lucky - Rover v8 (VDR667M) numberplate ! then Jaaag power. Although the Jag did always seem to overheat when towing and then slow moving traffic or on steep hills in the middle of France ........all part of the hol. Loved it all.
Edited by superlightr on Tuesday 19th April 10:49
Since me and my two brothers left home he did pretty well for himself in business and was able to treat my mum to a lot of 5 star hotels in their 50's, the caravan fell into disuse. Being a child born into wartime poverty he is a bit of a horder though, so has still got the bloody thing, although it now serves as a glorified Wendy House to my nieces, and I found out at the weekend that my brother and best mate used ot use it as a glorified love nest when they were in the sixth form, taking girls back there at lunchtime for a bit of 'caravan action'!!
The thing hasn't moved in over 20 years, I'm now at the point where I think I need to help him do something with it - he'd love to see it used again and having checked it out at the weekend it seems all very good to use, albeit having stood for so long. The rolling chassis would need a total overhaul, but I remember doing that with dad as a kid once, didn't seem too tricky to replace wheel bearings and drum shoes. Avondale went out of business in 2008 though, so spares may be a problem. It would also probably become a money pit with recommisioning costs well out of sync with its value.
It seems that I too am mistaken on my festival camping - three of the main ones we go to do allow caravans, it seems. I might give it a whirl!
PurpleTurtle said:
Cheers, the old boy (still going strong) always did his best for us.
Since me and my two brothers left home he did pretty well for himself in business and was able to treat my mum to a lot of 5 star hotels in their 50's, the caravan fell into disuse. Being a child born into wartime poverty he is a bit of a horder though, so has still got the bloody thing, although it now serves as a glorified Wendy House to my nieces, and I found out at the weekend that my brother and best mate used ot use it as a glorified love nest when they were in the sixth form, taking girls back there at lunchtime for a bit of 'caravan action'!!
The thing hasn't moved in over 20 years, I'm now at the point where I think I need to help him do something with it - he'd love to see it used again and having checked it out at the weekend it seems all very good to use, albeit having stood for so long. The rolling chassis would need a total overhaul, but I remember doing that with dad as a kid once, didn't seem too tricky to replace wheel bearings and drum shoes. Avondale went out of business in 2008 though, so spares may be a problem. It would also probably become a money pit with recommisioning costs well out of sync with its value.
It seems that I too am mistaken on my festival camping - three of the main ones we go to do allow caravans, it seems. I might give it a whirl!
any pics of the old Van Purple? be an interesting hobby to bring it back to life - and if that would that give your dad a grin then it may be worth the effort. Perhaps see if you can get to use/keep it afterwards.Since me and my two brothers left home he did pretty well for himself in business and was able to treat my mum to a lot of 5 star hotels in their 50's, the caravan fell into disuse. Being a child born into wartime poverty he is a bit of a horder though, so has still got the bloody thing, although it now serves as a glorified Wendy House to my nieces, and I found out at the weekend that my brother and best mate used ot use it as a glorified love nest when they were in the sixth form, taking girls back there at lunchtime for a bit of 'caravan action'!!
The thing hasn't moved in over 20 years, I'm now at the point where I think I need to help him do something with it - he'd love to see it used again and having checked it out at the weekend it seems all very good to use, albeit having stood for so long. The rolling chassis would need a total overhaul, but I remember doing that with dad as a kid once, didn't seem too tricky to replace wheel bearings and drum shoes. Avondale went out of business in 2008 though, so spares may be a problem. It would also probably become a money pit with recommisioning costs well out of sync with its value.
It seems that I too am mistaken on my festival camping - three of the main ones we go to do allow caravans, it seems. I might give it a whirl!
A new topic to start perhaps !!
I'd contemplate a cheapo one instead of an expensive tent...
Leave work and arrive just before sunset, connected and levelled in 10 minutes vs an hour to put up a tent in low light
Want to go home and its wet? no problem!
Cold? turn on the heating!
Hot? Get the beer out of the fridge!
£1500 buys a passable little caravan which is accommodation, wash facilities, toilet, cooking facilities.....cheaper than tenting and more comfortable!
Leave work and arrive just before sunset, connected and levelled in 10 minutes vs an hour to put up a tent in low light
Want to go home and its wet? no problem!
Cold? turn on the heating!
Hot? Get the beer out of the fridge!
£1500 buys a passable little caravan which is accommodation, wash facilities, toilet, cooking facilities.....cheaper than tenting and more comfortable!
The latest modern inflatable tent would cost you that, and you would still get cold!
I'm not sure if i could go down the £1500 van route. Anything at that price is pretty old, dated and probably has damp. I've spoilt myself looking at some of the 2016 vans so for me I'd be trying to get one around 2008 as a first van.
I'm not sure if i could go down the £1500 van route. Anything at that price is pretty old, dated and probably has damp. I've spoilt myself looking at some of the 2016 vans so for me I'd be trying to get one around 2008 as a first van.
PurpleTurtle said:
I'm guessing that towing tech has improved since the 80s? Back then every summer holiday usually saw some haplees 'vanner having toppled theirs on the motorway after getting in a 'snake'.
Wouldn't say that, already there's skid marks akin to the slippery road warning sign towards the bottom of several hills on the A30 in Cornwall.Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff