The Campervan Thread

[Big T]

We have a T6 2019 VW California. We go away about once a month in it, usually taking bikes with us. We’ve just spent a few nights away in the south-west, 2 nights in Cheddar where we rode the Strawberry Line to Yatton and back. We moved on to Woolacombe where we planned to do the Tarka Trail, but the weather turned bad so we made do with a walk into Woolacombe village and a bus ride to Ilfracombe and back.

photo below is at Glencoe, we did the NC500 in September 2024.

 

[Gwylan]

I do have a vague plan to treat Mrs @BoldonLad to visit her Swedish friend. They have been friends since they were 12 years old, it started as "pen friends" at school. We have been several times, by car. I cannot quite decide if to leave it until next spring. It is a bit of a long haul (ferry Newcastle - Amsterdam, then approximately 850 miles from Amsterdam, to friends place, taking in Oeresund Bridge. Mrs @BoldonLad's health means she can no longer drive, so, all of the driving will be down to me.

Is it possible to get to a northern port and hence to Scandinavia?

 

[Gwylan]

Research tells me what a total idiot suggestion that was.

If I lived in Norway would I want to be invaded by moaning Brits? Just give me a moment to reflect this question

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Despite my dear wife wanting to move next year, & me to retire*, we had a look at one possible location this afternoon, as she wants a beach!
On the way home, she came up with the idea of, instead of a house, having a motorhome for a year!?!
But a big one??

I found this, apparently it’s big enough (plated at 4.5 tons ?)

We both passed at the time you got ‘grandfather rights’ up to 7.5 tons
I know it’s old-ish, but…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202507024085914?sort=relevance&searchId=41b9d9be-bcfd-4909-9773-7b544ffd3128&advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=AUTO-TRAIL&page=1&postcode=Wf1 4dg&price-from=500&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=AUTO-TRAIL&postcode=Wf1%204dg&price-from=500&flrfc=1

It could be a flight of fantasy, but….


* my intention was to retire when l had 30 years in, where l am now (early 2027), but she wants me to do it far sooner; next May/June

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Despite my dear wife wanting to move next year, & me to retire*, after a look at one possible location this afternoon, as she wants a beach!
On the way home, she came up with the idea of, instead of a house, having a motorhome for a year!?!
But a big one??

I found this, apparently it’s big enough (plated at 4.5 tons ?)

We both passed at the time you got ‘grandfather rights’ up to 7.5 tons
I know it’s old-ish, but…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202507024085914?sort=relevance&searchId=41b9d9be-bcfd-4909-9773-7b544ffd3128&advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=AUTO-TRAIL&page=1&postcode=Wf1 4dg&price-from=500&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=AUTO-TRAIL&postcode=Wf1%204dg&price-from=500&flrfc=1

It could be a flight of fantasy, but….


* my intention was to retire when l had 30 years in, where l am now (early 2027), but she wants me to do it far sooner; next May/June

It looks nice for what it is - i.e. a big motorhome

my objection to those is the difficulty of getting them into some of sites - although I think a lot may have widened the access since I last looked many years ago

if you are thinking of staying in one place for a while then the extra room would be great
but I would want something more based on a Transit type size so I can move around and go to places up small roads

 

[Gwylan]

Despite my dear wife wanting to move next year, & me to retire*, after a look at one possible location this afternoon, as she wants a beach!
On the way home, she came up with the idea of, instead of a house, having a motorhome for a year!?!
But a big one??

I found this, apparently it’s big enough (plated at 4.5 tons ?)

We both passed at the time you got ‘grandfather rights’ up to 7.5 tons
I know it’s old-ish, but…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202507024085914?sort=relevance&searchId=41b9d9be-bcfd-4909-9773-7b544ffd3128&advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=AUTO-TRAIL&page=1&postcode=Wf1 4dg&price-from=500&fromsra&backLinkQueryParams=advertising-location=at_motorhomes&make=AUTO-TRAIL&postcode=Wf1%204dg&price-from=500&flrfc=1

It could be a flight of fantasy, but….


* my intention was to retire when l had 30 years in, where l am now (early 2027), but she wants me to do it, next May/June

Lovely.

Not wishing to rain .... but there are some sites that don't like dual axle vehicles.

 

[Drago]

And plenty that wont accept vehicles over 8 metres, so the US Winnebago stuff and larger Euro tin is a no-no.

Well, im now officially booked for last week of October, just me and Bruce in the Transporter in the Peaks. With just me as the only human aboard I probably wont even bother having an erection of the pop top.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

@ebikerwidnes
@Gwylan
@Drago

All of your thoughts are mine too, but what do l know?
It’s not the kind of thing that you put into a parking space in a town centre either

 

[Drago]

Thats why I went for a camper rather than a motorhome - I can use it for days out, and as a "car" if ever needed.

 

[Gwylan]

@ebikerwidnes
@Gwylan
@Drago

All of your thoughts are mine too, but what do l know?
It’s not the kind of thing that you put into a parking space in a town centre either

We have a 7m van. We generally find a site outside town or our target and get the bikes out
That has worked for us for the last 5 years.

 

[BoldonLad]

Is it possible to get to a northern port and hence to Scandinavia?

Not as far as I can find. There does not appear to be any ferries UK-Scandinavia. In past, we had Newcastle - Gotenberg, but, that has not run for many years.

We have a 7m van. We generally find a site outside town or our target and get the bikes out
That has worked for us for the last 5 years.

ditto

 

[fossyant]

The size bothers me, hence a 5m van. Storage is an issue too and access to beach car parks etc is problematic (an essential when your wife likes sea swimming from some bay down a tiny back road). We seriously looked at the two berth motor homes last year.

These big ones just take some planning.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

And plenty that wont accept vehicles over 8 metres, so the US Winnebago stuff and larger Euro tin is a no-no.

Well, im now officially booked for last week of October, just me and Bruce in the Transporter in the Peaks. With just me as the only human aboard I probably wont even bother having an erection of the pop top.

SO - in summary
you are going away - just you and the dog

and you are wondering if you will have an erection - which suggests that you often do

hmmm

no comment

 

[Drago]

Got this to fit over the coming days...

https://www.gtv-van.com/en/gtv-van-led-reversing-light-set-addition-155579720.html

I've got thermonuclear levels of lighting up front, time for similar levels of brightness when reversing.

 

[DRM]

Lovely.

Not wishing to rain .... but there are some sites that don't like dual axle vehicles.

That was caravans, particularly German ones ,especially if you tow it with a van, such as Dethleffs, Knaus, Hobby & Burstner's as these were/are popular with the traveller community.