When to pack it in
Does anyone have any wise words about packing in Caravanning? I hope I will know when it's time to stop and I just wondered what people are thinking. I have a young neighbour who declared no one should tow after their 70th Birthday!
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Pippah, when you struggle to do the tasks involved and caravanning loses its appeal, that’s the time to call it a day.
As for your neighbour, he/she needs to learn to keep his/her whacky opinions to him/herself.🫤
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There are a lot of young people out there these days with the opinion that people over 70 are a danger on the roads and should not be driving!My observations would be that there are more persons aged around 30 to 50 who should never have been allowed to drive!As far as caravanning is concerned I would suggest that persons should carry on unless members of their immediate family express concerns about their ability to drive safely or they find that the "chores" are too much!At the age of 78 I have no intention of giving up yet and all the time I can react swiftly to other drivers attempts to kill me I will not!
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I don't believe that age has anything to do with it by itself, it's when certain caravaning tasks become too onerous or even difficult, or perhaps even simpler - just when you can still do them but can't be bothered. We would think nothing of putting up a full size awning and I can still but there would have to be a very good reason to do it now.
Once hitched up it's doodle, one on site it's a doodle but it the bits in-between. Technology can help and I'm certainly looking to a self levelling system on our next caravan.
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Pippah - I don't believe there's any set age when one should give up caravanning. Carry on as long as you're enjoying it, able to do all the tasks involved and, of course, as long as it's financially sensible.
But, remember, there is life after caravanning - the hospitality industry is really competitive and there are some great deals to be had in UK cottages and hotels (and all sorts of overseas packages.)
I wish you well with whatever you decide.
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Agree with Moulesy and when we do we will do self catering ie. cottages or even the newer type of mobile home or lodges.
We know of widower in the UK who is 93 and still towing and a member of the club and another friend who says he has more energy than he does and he is only 62.
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Must admit longer holidays are either packages abroad or holiday cottages here and the caravan is now for shorter stays.
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My uncle and Godfather returned to caravanning in his late 70's some 5 years ago. This was not long after updating his cars with a new Merc E Class 270 AMG and an older V8 Range Rover for his continuing off road-ing exploits. His argument is if you can do it then you should.
At the present he is on a cruise around the Med, having done a naughty boys speeding course the day before he sailed.
Colin
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Brilliant everyone! Thank you. I have had a testing few months. Survived a new hip early last year and thought everything was doing great. Then I had some technical failures - my motor mover failed when I was stuck at my daughter's and foolishly I tried to get out manually and messed up on her new electric gate system which made the gates a lot narrower than before! Substitute caravan was going quite well - but when in Scotland I moved into a space to let the following traffic pass. The last in the queue rolled down his window and said did I realise there was a metal rod hanging down under the caravan. I couldn't see anything so soldiered on. It turned out that the rod connecting the mover to each wheel had busted! So connecting both wheels was necessary! Eventually Power Touch visited to replace and I made a major error - I let the mechanic show me the rollers were working without actually engaging them. So when it came to it I didn't have the strength to engage the rollers! Then a friend came by a gardener and countryman by trade weighing in at 17.5 stone and he only just succeeded in engaging the mover! So that was sorted out!
Anyway I am in the process of swapping to a slightly smaller van with an automatic engage Mover! I have just started my 58th year of towing and do hope to continue for a few more years and thanks to all of you I feel even more confident to do so.
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Sorry to hear of your problems, Pippah, and even sorrier to say that I think you are wise to ask the Question !!
Personally I'd never think of towing over 60 years of age ( That's why I have had campervans since I gave up my final tent back in 19 bleep bleep bleep
)Brian [81
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Totally agree with everything you say, Corners - and especially in respect of the technology bit. Age and surgery last year mean that I can't kneel down - well I can - just - but I shouldn't! I was really struggling to fit the wheel locks on our TA van so went down the E&P route. OK, it was expensive at £2k (Compact system) but it means now that what was becoming a real challenge can be done sitting on the caravan step in less than 5 minutes. Apart from the van - it was the best money I have spent.
Did the same thing with the Omnistor - fitted last November but which has turned out to be a complete disaster due to a fundamental error by our dealer in fitting it. Hopefully that will be sorted in a couple of weeks when the van goes to a specialist firm to put it right.
I've also recently discovered 'Peggy Pegs' that allow me to screw them into the ground with my drill, standing up rather than having to try to kneel. Again, not cheap - but more than worth it.
I actually enjoy looking for ways round difficult situations and I suppose when I run out of ideas and solutions - that's the time I'll give up - but not there yet!
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Pippah,
Pack it in when you are not safe or do not feel safe towing or driving,
When it becomes a chore and not your holiday.
When it becomes too exspensive.
I am 82 and still tow our Caravan down to Cornwall in one go 268 miles happily, but if I had the slightest doubts of my abiity or any health reason to contend with, Iwould withoutout hesitation stop immediately.
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ADP has, in a few short sentences, summed up admirably the things to consider. I am approaching my 80th and for the past couple of years we have been discussing whether or not we are in our last year of caravanning. Decision will be based on whether I give up or the caravan (now 14 yrs old) gives up! My wife has had 2 knee replacements and can do little to help with the 'outside' things; I have had a hip replacement and can manage to do all the external tasks - and the towing. Last year the 12 yr old mover developed an intermittent fault the day before we were to leave on a 6 week trip to Italy - nothing obvious and hitting with a hammer didn't help. We went anyway and managed as it behaved itself most of the time, when it refused there were always many able caravanners to help; a new mover was fitted on return! Caravan has just had a trouble free service and I plod on. We limit our towing to a max of 6 hrs a day (3 x two hour sessions) always stopping by 4 pm to give us plenty of time to have a relaxing evening. Last year we went to Lake Trassemino for 6 weeks in early summer and S of France for 4 weeks in September. In Trassemino we met an 86 yr old who had towed from Scotland and was staying there for a couple of months, he had been doing this for over 20 yrs and had booked the same lakeside pitch again for next year. This year we are off to the Black Forest and Moselle areas for 4 weeks in June and will go searching for the sun again in September. In between we take some shorter trips in the UK.
PS. Yes, tell your neighbour to MTOB!.
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I suppose at the end of the day it will depend on two main things, your ability to do it and whether you enjoy doing it. Both categories cover quite wide areas.
David
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The reality is, I think, we will all know when it’s time to pack up and look for alternatives. Before we took up caravanning again we always took a months summer break to travel over there (by car) and stay in a mixture of gites, hotels, B&B’s etc., we would return to doing that. I would however, miss long weeks in the van for pursuing our hobbies. When the time comes we will just sell the van and get on with life
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W gave up last year at 76 because it was getting to much for both of us, It had really got to the stage it was no fun anymore, so we thought it was time to say goodbye to our caravan. WE had about 30 years of memories, so no good struggling on. We wishe sometimes we hadnt got rid, but sense prevaild
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When I'm feeling a bit old and decrepit, I think back to our time on the yacht in the Med when we were in our 40's. We were moored next to a yacht flying the Breton ensign somewhere in Italy. It was aluminium and looking a bit tired and well worn. We were on board having a drink with the lovely couple who turned out to be two retired Doctors - both aged 72. As the conversation progressed, they casually mentioned that they had just completed their second circumnavigation of the world!! My admiration for what they had achieved was immense, to say the least.
As a sequel to this little saga - I remember saying at the beginning of the conversation "Oh, you're French, then?"
"NO - we are NOT" came the reply. "We are Bretons!" Lesson learned
Looking back on that gives me a certain determination to keep going for a bit longer yet!
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Last year we went to Lake Trassemino for 6 weeks in early summer and S of France for 4 weeks in September. In Trassemino we met an 86 yr..................
Hi commeyras, Was starting to think "OK, so I have had a hard life......" till I saw the from Scotland!
Anyway, you had a spring in your step as you headed off for you wine tasting trip, and long may it continue.
Allan
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and i think also, whether you can afford it especially when it comes to insurance for overseas travel. we currently have breakdown/travel insurance provided by a well known UK bank which is at reasonable cost just now, but once i reach the magic age of 80 they will no longer insure me.
I have already started looking at alternatives and it is surprising how many insurers will not provide travel insurance for the 80+, and those that do are very expensive and they have lots of exclusions, i think Red Pennant have a cutoff of 80 years of age.
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We were parked up opposite an 'older' couple while away in Spain this winter. He was 88 and she was a very sprightly 83.
we had our grandkids come over (6 and 3) and stay with us and they really hit it off with our neighbours....the chap taught our grandson to play dominoes....85 years between them and didn't make a jot of difference.
our granddaughter taught the lady to play Dobble!
age is what you make of it...if you're healthy and you want to....just do it.
for those that spend much time abroad escaping the uk winter the issues with cover must be deemed worth it...
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Funny that. For us it's the other way round. For short trips of one to about three weeks we generally fly somewhere. Our long stay in autumn from about the end of August to just before Christmas is with the caravan. That's because packing for a package tour is quicker than going away in the caravan, making only long stays in the caravan worthwhile.
We're both in our mid-70s.
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I suppose if the English Channel wasn't there we might be the same although we don't like driving long distances now, we were fine when younger but prefer to sit back and cover longer distances quickly.
We have Italian relations who do the same as you, they did do a tour of the Uk to visit us but now they fly over.
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