Never say never!
Back in May we took delivery of our new dream caravan, a Coachman Vision 2 berth. We had a lovely week in it with good weather and were looking forward to the rest of the summer with several trips planned. Then I became seriously ill and the lovely Coachman has not moved since I parked it in May. As the months have gone by I have been wondering about how I am going to manage all the loading, hitching and unhitching; the list goes on. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
In almost forty years of caravanning we have always said we will never buy a motorhome. Yesterday we were on our way to the supermarket and my wife caught sight of a motorhome and said, "Why don't we get a motorhome?" It took us both all of two minutes to see that there is plenty of merit in the idea. We would have to accept that it is a different way to travel. In the past we have loved setting ourselves up in one place with the awning up and using the car to travel about. We realise that a motorhome will be very different and there will be new things to learn.
We are mid 70's and the thought of giving up travel is depressing. A motorhome might just be the way to keep us on the road. I suspect many have made the switch for similar reasons.
I have been looking different makes and, with automatic transmission being essential, the best option looks to me to be an Autocruise Stanton. I am now wondering how long it might take us to actually buy one. We would love to have it for 2018.
Comments
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From despair to hope, excellent
, 'never say never' spot on. I hope you find your ideal Moho Q & continue your journey more contented.1 -
Age and related illnesses is something that we can't dismiss
Luckily I am still OK for caravanning, but have taken an interest in Motorhoming as I also see it as perhaps easier to live with in future albeit a change in how we tour.I wish you the best and if/when you do get one, I would be interested in your views regarding your change on how you tour.
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Qashqai, if you are both fit and active, can walk or cycle well, and have £65,000 to spare, then go for it. I am afraid we fall short on all three counts.
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The one thing that has made our lives easier with the caravan,after so many years and a spell with the "dark side", is a motor mover, that i swore in the past a front mounted hook would solve any "problems" with getting on/off pitches or into storage,but it was "doctors orders" that made me change,so i can now hitch and unhitch without a problem,and as we are out in the c/van so often the only loading off loading is normally clothes,and some food in boxes, which is the same for both modes of touring,the only things that req any into or out of the c/van are step and water/waste containers,
That is our take on age /less mobile touring,but as is said so many times on here by numerouse posters its everyones personal choice
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I have some issues with walking. but can 'stroll' a good 3 to 4 miles on flattish, even ground with a few rest stops. (Due to arthritis in hips and spine etc).
Hitching up etc not a problem all the effort is done via winding jockey wheel and motormover.
My neighbouur who has mobility problems and a blue badge would be lost without his car. As well as auto engage mover he has had an automatic levelling system fitted. His problem now is putting the removable hitch onto the back of his rangerover and removing it. Soon solved as me or another neighbour can fit before he leaves home and take it off after he returns. Stays in place whilst he is away.
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Qashqai66
Sorry to hear about medical situation, unfortunately it seems that once past the 70 mark we all suffer to a greater or lesser degree. We have certainly found, since changing to a motorhome, getting to and from sites and setting up on site much easier than when we had a caravan. The (Auto-Sleeper?) Stanton looks like a very nice choice with the parallel settees giving you a choice of sleeping arrangements. It is also of a size that makes it easy to get out and about. With the Merc you will have a proper automatic gearbox. Good luck with your decision and here's hoping you can get one in time for next season.
David
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Caravan manufacturers don't make it easy for some who may have difficulties.
I was on a CL all pitched and reading when this couple arrived, like you do you nose out of the window at new arrivals
Anyway his inability to bend down far enough to locate the steady nuts on the rear had me eventually go out and offer some assistance. He politely declined saying he stubbornly won't give in and continued with his drill and guesswork, but made it in the end. Then they both took hold of the aquaroll to get and bring back the water, very determined to hold on to their passion for touring as long as possible. Together they were a working team but sadly as individuals slightly broken 0 -
If you're considering giving up because of fitness levels, have you taken into consideration how you will 'get about' once you're on (or rather off) site?? Friends of ours moved straight from a tent to a small motorhome because she has had two knee replacements and they thought it would make it easier. However, they find that they can no longer stay in the out of the way places in France they used to do - certainly not away from public transport - as she can't ride a bike far and their van is too small to take a scooter or anything larger. They bought a smaller van because they wanted to continue to be able to drive to 'wild places' but they find that in reality this is not happening. They have had to change their style of holiday to more touring, and sight-seeing en-route, rather than finding a site and staying for a few days, driving off site to take in the local attractions.
However, it's such a difficult thing to accept that we're all ageing and that there are things we can no longer do. We will all need to find our own alternatives one day, and only you and your wife really know what it is you want, and how you think you will manage.
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I'm 73 and ten years ago I lost the use of my right arm in a m/bike accident. I went straight from m/bike and tent to m/home since putting up a tent one-armed, especially in any sort of breeze, was a struggle - not to mention entrapment in the sleeping bag; easy enough to pull the zip up but at 4 a.m. when needing to get out in a bit of a hurry to water my horse it was nearly impossible to slide the zip down (in time!). Why do zips nearly always jam?
I still ride my two m/bikes (France, Spain, Germany, Italy and all around the U.K.).
Go for it Qashai66. To comply with my licence my m/home had to be an automatic and one for which an adaptation was already available.The adaptation is on the left of the steering wheel (at 10 o'clock) on my m/home and is ideal; the only challenges one-armed (and solo) are with the loo cassette, winding the awning in and out, and changing the duvet cover but I've found ways to do them, and you will too regardless of the nature of your difficulties.
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Thank you smooch for such helpful comments. As always there are so many pros and cons. I really take on board Val's point about out of the way places. We try to get to France every year as it we simply love it and our French gets a bit rusty if we miss a year though I try to compensate by thinking in French some of the time.
We have noticed several people staying in once place for a while with a motorhome but setting off in the morning and returning in the evening so using the vehicle much as we use the car. In France parking is generally easier than here in the UK so it might work for us.
I love the idea of a scooter but having driven a range of different vehicles my two wheel experience is limited to a bicycle. I guess mid 70's is a bit late to start that idea. We do have friends, a little older than ourselves, and they take electric bikes with their motorhome. They say the biggest challenge is lifting them onto the rack at the back.
Another possible benefit is that we have found in recent years that there are places we don't go to because of the inconvenience of towing along narrow roads whereas most roads are navigable with what is effectively a Sprinter van. There is a great deal to consider.
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They have had to change their style of holiday to more touring, and sight-seeing en-route, rather than finding a site and staying for a few days, driving off site to take in the local attractions.
When we decided to move to a MH this was one consideration we took into account. We decided that instead of parking up on site like you do ion a caravan and then travelling out each day to visit something we would instead do a circular route staying at different sites en-route, have seen much more since getting a MH such as NT or EH places stopped off at that we never would have seen in a caravan unless we stayed in the area.
If you do change you must get out of the caravan mentality and try to be more MH minded. good luck with your search hope it all works out.
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The AS Stanton is indeed a lovely MH, one of a tiny few we would consider as a replacement. We are a good bit younger than you are, and having a MH for us wasn't based on age or infirmity in any way. However, that said, it is easier to tour with a MH rather than a caravan (we have both) so long as you are prepared to make a few compromises. The size, length and width, of the MH you choose will be crucial, possibly more so than the actual layout initially, as it is this that will dictate how you use it, and where you go. So choosing a layout that suits, combined with as small as you can comfortably go, will make life easier. Think about the places you love to visit, can you get a van sized vehicle parked up easily? What about storage?
With a bit of forward planning, we have still been to the same places we go in the car and caravan. We go out every day in our MH, much as we did in the car. Travelling light and minimal, if you can, makes life very easy. Check out carrying water on board when travelling, this makes life easier, check out just dumping from onboard tank every few days, makes life easier. You will have all your onboard comforts with you, loo, cooker, fridge etc... all the time. It is picnicking on a luxury scale! If you are fit enough, electric bikes are useful, some folks take wheelchairs and mobility scooters, so nothing is impossible! Enjoy!
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Agree, we see 80 year olds still caravanning because they have made changes, travel light, do things differently. Serviced pitches could help some, but may restrict in terms of locations. That said, there is still the towing aspect, and 80 year old reflexes and neck mobility might again hinder a few. The older folks we have seen have downsized vans and probably been Caravan owners most of their adult lives.
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Qashqai, the AutoSleeper Stanton is a good choice. Just two drawbacks - having to swivel the cab seats to make single beds and, as we found with our related Suffolk model, the width can be a problem. You won't better the Merc Sprinter but my choice would be the Bourton rather than the Stanton, if you can live with the extra 18" length, as it does away with the need to swivel the seats.
As for when you can get a van, I think you will find Marquis have them in stock.
Congratulations on making a sensible decision. Feel free to email me (see profile) if I can help. We've been there and done that.
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TW, Qashqai and his partner may prefer to sleep together across the van in the transverse bed, in which case the smaller Stanton would be as appropriate.
there is another downside in that the std vehicle is plated at 3200kg which, according to this review below, is inadequate. however, this should be easy to address.....just blooming annoying for AS to produce a van on a chassis less than 3500kg.
the smaller van will make it even easier to park, on site and away from site, as i guess 'visiting' will be done when travelling to and from a site, or popping out during the stay, although i agree with your comment re width....like you, we have 'gone slimmer' (looking positively svelt against the latest corpulent Baileys...) and this makes a real world differce to getting about and parking.
yes, MHing is a different 'hobby' to caravanning and, as Q is a regular visitor to France, whatba stroke of luck that France is Motorhoming Heaven....
i wish them both lots of luck.
THE REVIEW BELOW.
AT A GLANCE
PRICE FROM £53,995 PRICE AS TESTED £57,995 OPTIONS FITTED Premium Pack – seven-speed automatic gearbox, alloy wheels, cab air-conditioning, cruise control, awning, reversing camera, solar panel (£4,000)Pros
High-quality base vehicle and conversion
Superb automatic gearbox
Equipment levels
Neat washroom with swing-wall showerCons
Expensive as standard
Inadequate payload in standard 3,200kg trim
Even more expensive with Premium Pack0 -
I think we have the equivalent with our AS Devon, merc which is also automatic. I would look for a good secondhand version to cut costs and reduce loss if it doesn't suit. They are a popular style and size, comfortable and well designed. We changed from our caravan, will freely admit it's different but we have adapted and it suits our needs. Ours has rear corner steadies, we still need to top up water etc so you can't escape from some physical work but you won't arrive somewhere in bad weather and spend so much time outside getting things sorted or packing up, which is fairly easy. Good luck with your plans and your future health.
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Tinny is spot on Quashquia. I thought it was the Stanton that was the larger, it is the Bourton we like. Our AS has the transverse bed, lovely and comfy, but a pain sometimes to put out. Go for the longer singles, far easier.
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Indeed the Devon and the Stanton are the same Brue and both were available until AS/Marquis discontinued the County range. Our Suffolk also had the rear corner steadies which were a bit of a two edged sword as they certainly helped steady the van but needed the same effort as with a caravan to wind them up and down.
Good second hand and ex-dem models are often available, as you suggest, and I think an upgrade to 3500kg is available (maybe only on new vans) which would address the payload issue raised by BB.
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Well done guys. Keep it grooving.
The best thing you have done is actually get rid of the Coachman.
I have had two.
Coachmans are well built for sure, BUT aftersales and customer support from the factory is atrocious.
Should have bought my new Bailey tears ago.
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is your last comment a Freudian slip?
judging from the number of Bailey issues in the Caravan section it mey be a case of frying pan and fire.....
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must have been wrong site
