The end of the (touring) road
We recently returned home from a two week break at the Poppyfields touring park near Cromer, (highly recommended) and after the 7 hour journey, Mrs W and I decided that we would, after many happy years touring, sell the van.
We realised that because we had a cruise booked later this year, as well as two months away in Oz and NZ in the new year, it would be 7 months before we used it again.
There were other reasons, the main one being that we had to store the van away from home, and Mrs W hated loading the car to the gunnels every time we went away.
The expense was another, apart from the depreciation on the van we figured it was costing £600 a year, for storage, insurance, and servicing, and that's before any nights away.
I will miss it, but hopefully will now be able to take advantage of the many short breaks available on Groupon and the like.
Will also miss the banter on this forum, even tho' it's gone downhill a bit, will also miss winding Yappy and FandG up, (both now banned from the forum).
I have a month or so of my subscription left but after that it will be bye bye.
PS van sold, lock stock and barrels in less than a week.
Comments
-
I understood one did not require to be a paid up member to access "CT".
0 -
Good luck to you both fully understand where your coming from and great news you had a fast sale on your van ,
we to are finding it a pain now storage loading site booking the worst when we can find the time to go away and we have had motorhomes for 9 yrs
we are now thinking of selling the van and buying a caravan once again for a seasonal pitch an hour from home, give it 12 mths and then seriously think about a static if finances and health are with us
so once again Good Luck
0 -
Ivor,
How did you go about seling your van? I am in a similar position now. Serious back trouble and a heart condition have taken the fun out of it and its all getting a bit too much.
But my van is a 2014 Coachman, one of the last of the heavies , so not a starter van. Do I try to sell now or will it be better in the spring?
TF
0 -
Sold our Bailey Unicorn on EBAY.
Had a few replies and offers, one would be scammer, but sold easy enough.
We priced it to sell, in fairness they had a bargain, as I included all the kit required to go caravanning.
I would try now, as come spring you would have lost at least another £500 of its value.
0 -
No longer wanting to own caravans due to various circumstances comes to us all, at any time of life Ivor
We sold our caravan complete with all the caravanning accessories a few weeks ago. The new owner is delighted, just had email from him this morning saying so.
It sold very quickly via the CC club clasified.
Best of luck for the future, please keep posting on here, you are one of the truely individual posters.
K
0 -
The ranks are being decimated. I too may fall victim as I am currently on notice with the DVLA over my field vision. I'm hoping for a reprieve but, if not, my motoring and towing days will be over. The daft thing is, I've only recently towed the van 1300
miles all round Wales.0 -
The ranks are being decimated. I too may fall victim as I am currently on notice with the DVLA over my field vision. I'm hoping for a reprieve but, if not, my motoring and towing days will be over. The daft thing is, I've only recently towed the van 1300
miles all round Wales.Write your comments here..." Specsavers " ??
0 -
Sorry to hear of your news Ivor, storage away from home can be a pain in the derriere, but have you tried Glamping? Granted the car will still be stuffed to the gunwales but at least storage will be cut out the equation.
Caravanning/motorhoming was never a cheap option, but at least gave a high degree of flexibility regarding where and when.
Good luck for the future.
0 -
Your eyes look fine to me ......a pretty shade of blue I say
on a serious not I hope it goes well for you CY good luck 0 -
The ranks are being decimated. I too may fall victim as I am currently on notice with the DVLA over my field vision. I'm hoping for a reprieve but, if not, my motoring and towing days will be over. The daft thing is, I've only recently towed the van 1300
miles all round Wales.Sorry to hear that CY, as I know how much you enjoy getting away in the caravan. Hope you get your reprieve.
0 -
Good luck for the future Ivor. I guess it happens to all of us. Yes, the storage, servicing and insurance is high but I just love it in the van and when I have to pack it in just take me behind the barn and shoot me!! Good luck mate.
I'll second that, in all respects. Best of luck, Ivor.
0 -
This is a decision that we all have to face in the end ! we too have to make that decision , my health being the main problem . We've now bought an old static sited on a small site near Tewkesbury. We still have the tourer but possibly not for much longer , the hassle of pitching up & fitting the porch awning is getting more difficult & I can only cope with full facility super pitch these days .
This hurts so much ! Going without the porch is not really an option with our weather & the costs of storage , insurance , servicing & depreciation make for a very expensive holiday using it only once per year . There are also big savings to be made by changing from a 4x4 to a medium size car . Economically there is no argument , but crikey it Hurts having to decide
0 -
The ranks are being decimated. I too may fall victim as I am currently on notice with the DVLA over my field vision. I'm hoping for a reprieve but, if not, my motoring and towing days will be over. The daft thing is, I've only recently towed the van 1300 miles all round Wales.
Bit close to home for me Cyber! I too have sight problems and each time I go for a check up, twice a year I cross my fingers. Caravanning has been a large part of my life for 35 years and I would miss that and also being able to drive greatly. So I shall also cross my fingers for you as well Cyber.
Alan
0 -
It is a shame that anyone feels that they have to give up a way of life but I suppose that it comes to many of us if we live long enough. I am fortunate that we store our caravan at home and can get away fairly easily. I found it getting harder setting an
awning up but as we now have a side diner we have no need of one which is a boon as we tend to move every 5 nights on most of our tours.0 -
This is such an awful shame for you all. When something you enjoy is not possible any longer it makes things that much harder. So sorry to hear this news
0 -
Such a shame to hear of anyone having to give up. We have friends who bought a lovely new motorhome, had one holiday in it, and then he (the only driver) had visual field problems, diagnosed as being due to macular degeneration. For a while there was hope
that it could be improved, but sadly this isn't proving the case. He's now facing the decision to sell the motorhome.I suppose the one lesson from this, for us all, is to do everything we want NOW whilst we can still do it. Who knows how little time we may have left to enjoy things!
0 -
Valda, The one thing that I have done to try to stay fit and healthy so that I can max my caravanning is look at my weight and lose it- -24lbs later I feel so much better and the awning is no longer a problem. I can even bend over, tie my shoes and NOT come up for air half way through! I know the day will come and when it does I'll be devastated but as long as I can say honestly "I had a bloody brilliant time with my caravans and met a whole bunch of great people" I think I'll be able to bear it and live with my memories.
0 -
Agree & accepted Merve, But each year it gets a bit more difficult. The last thing I want to do is give up because if I do instinct tells me that is the start of a downward spiral, but geese it gets harder. The worst bit is the frustration of it all.
TF
0
