Solo vanning
Hi,My dear wife has recently passed away and initially I was going to sell the caravan,a Bailey Verona that weve had from new for a year but hardly used due to her illness. Im thinking of trying to use it alone but really like an awning to eat in . I have thought of a windout awning fitted by dealer with a privacy room,are there any alternatives. Am also interested in meetups, not for dating ,after 47 years of marriage Im well past that but company would be nice.
Thanks for bearing with me this far
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I tend to caravan solo for a lot of the time as my partner is self employed and doesn't have the holiday amounts that I do. I have an air awning, a Kampa Air Pro 390 which I can easily put up myself with the side sections zipped out to reduce weight.
There is a Solos diary section on here where people tend to post dates with others welcome to join in.
Ive found no difficulties, even as a solo female, which would prevent me from enjoying my trips. People often offer to help if they see you are on your own. I always tow anyway as the car and van are both mine!
Give yourself time to come to terms with your new situation then try a short trip to see how you manage. Don't make any rash decisions at this stage which you may regret later.
Im sorry for your loss and hope that continuing the activity you both shared may give you some peace.
Best wishes,
Gill
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I lost my wife when We were both 43. I would recommend joining a social group. I did not feel a need for company but once my youngest daughter turned 16 and had a life of her own I started to feel that life was pointless and that I should give to others in some way. I did so by running a singles group and giving enjoyment to others many of whom had lost partners or been divorced in their late forties or early fifties.
Social contact can make life more meaningful. I have single friends in their seventies who have joined local 'Meet Up' groups. They go to pub quiz nights, walks, day trips, meals and other social events and there are many of a similar age doing so.
Check out https://www.meetup.com and see what groups are in your area. Nothing to loose.
Certainly meeting up with other solo caravanners would be worthwhile.
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Hi BR,
I am so sorry to hear about your wife.
A lot of our Members that travel alone meet up and they have just renamed their group as The New Horizons Camping Club. There is an update on page 16 of our May magazine and you can find more information on their website New Horizons.
Take care
Tracy
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With the front and back panels out, I can easily run mine through the rail. You might want to look at one of the electric pumps too as inflating can be tiring. Plug it into your car socket and get on with something else whilst it inflates.
Theres usually an answer for most situations I find. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.
Gill
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Sorry for your loss. After my husband died I continued caravanning for 4 years, but have now changed to a motorhome. It is a very different way to camp and you need to be fit enough to walk and cycle to make it enjoyable.
I joined a couple of the single camping groups but have found the New Companions Camping club the one with most options. They are welcoming and have meets all over the UK and many of them go abroad for the winter.
newcompanions.org.uk
Meg
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BR, really sad to read of your loss but think it's great that you are still thinking of pursuing the camping lifestyle you chose together.
I'm new to caravanning having recently switched from a MH. Strictly speaking I'm not a solo camper these days as I have my child with me, but I am the only adult. Our van is very little so wanted an awning to give us a bit more room but not only limited in size due to size of van, but also as concerned about putting it up solo. So I went for the Kampa Rally Air Pro 200. Measures 2m by 2.5m. Front and side panels can zip out, and you can fit a mesh panel at the front. One trip away and I was really pleased. Getting it into the rail was challenging but once I discovered "the knack" it was fine even with all panels in place. Rest of process was really easy. Happily fits our 2 chairs, little table, airing rack and shoe boxes with room to spare. Tbh even if we had a bigger van for a bigger awning I would stick with this as very manageable single handed. Depends how much room you want but one of the smaller porch awnings might be worth considering.
Daisy
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Seems Im not the only one alone. Daisy,thats all I need for space,I really just want to eat in awning if its not really cold and get out of the bad weather before opening up the van.
I'll definate;y look into the range and measure up where the windows are and an electric pump would be essential now.
Thanks for the encouragement
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Welcome BR and condolences. There are plenty of Solo vanners out there and good friendships to be made if you join one of the several groups. I believe Air Awnings are much heavier than the old fashioned sort. I have tried a Fiamma awning of the side of the caravan and quite liked it but now my fingers are getting too old to roll it up. I have a porch awning that is a reasonable one to handle. However last weekend I was looking at all the Canopy type ones on site. As far as I could see none of those had a front. Best of luck and enjoy.
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Condolences BR. I only just joined Club Together so you may have already decided what the future is to be. However I speak as someone who has experienced a spookily similar situation to your own. Married 47 years, my wife passed away last year after a sudden illness. We had enjoyed 40 years of caravanning and my family persuaded me not to give up until I had 'given it a go' on my own. We had a new, little used Bailey Cadiz. I decided to swap it for layout reasons and have managed to conquer a lot of the issues I expected. I bought a Bailey Prima 290 air awning, now used with a Swift Challenger 530. It is light enough to put up single-handed, all 4 panels can be removed, side doors have mesh panel and inflates by hand in a minute or two. Plenty of room as it's a bit deeper than many. Not the cheapest but material high quality and very strong in windy conditions.
I hope you persevere before making a final decision. May bump into each other at some point.
Regards
Roger
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We were in Netherlands at Easter on a rally . Not this club .
There were about 4 or 5 solo caravanners / motorhomes . Two men in their own caravans and I think 3 or 4 ladies in there own motorhomes .
After this rally they were moving on to another rally . .
I think give it a try . It is nice to have company .
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Hi any solo campers, motorhomers in West Sussex wanting to meet up?
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svenhuesing. This forum has gone very quiet as the people who used to post here have migrated to other groups. Try joining the New Companions as their members organise meets all over the country.
There are also many facebook groups for single/solo motorhomers etc
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Hi.....I’m an adventurous single lady campervanner and am wondering if there are meet-ups organised at different locations? Or have I just given myself a job! 😃Diane
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Hi Diane.A New group ha recently started up ,you may be interested in ." Camping Companions" Could be worth looking up??
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Have been caravanning solo for a number of years. . A tip may help in hitching up solo. Couple the van and the cable and switch on car lights. The van running lights can be seen in your mirror. Go round to the back of the van and unlock the car, which will flash both amber lights. Only the brake light must be proven. some suggest a prop against the pedal. I have a small visible LED connected internally to the brake connection and it lights when the brake is pressed.
The only connection broken and remade since leaving home is the 13pin plug. .I have been caravanning for 53 years and have never known road lights to fail en-route. Get a friend to check your road lights before leaving home, and enjoy your travels.
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