I spent many hours on this great site, but not been here for about 4 years.
I see there a few familiar names still posting! Husband died suddenly 7 years ago, so sold Eldiss Autoquest and bought a Toyota Hiace Camper Van, planning to go off alone and to join Family Camps, but it didn't get used enough to keep so sold that one as well. Hence my absence from this site. I have many moments of regret about selling but, hey ho, no good crying over spilt milk! Reason for this post is, am hiring a Camper Van to join Family who have booked cottages in Angelsey for July. VW Camper Van. I feel very confident about driving a van again, even though I will be 77 years old when hiring. I need some encouragement from all you experienced drivers of Motor Homes and Camper Vans. Will be driving from Blackpool to Angelsey. Looking forward to your supportive comments!
I'm just about to surrender my 'Grandad rights' of over 3500Kg towing/driving on enforced renewal of my driving licence, I could save them with a medical at cost, but see no point as I see no prospect of using them, but have no intention of giving up towing my caravan under basic sub 3500Kg license rights.
I have no qualms about towing my caravan anywhere that the whim takes me! In fact I'm far more comfortable towing my caravan than many drivers decades younger than me!
I've a few friends who are a decade or so younger than me, BUT act and have the outlook of people at least a decade older than me, and limit themselves by more frame of mind than any 'real' limitations! To me that is very sad, they are wasting opportunities well within their grasp, that time will indeed rob them of!
TBH, most of my friends are probably 10-15 years younger than me, not because I deceive them in any way, I'm bluntly honest about my age, nor do I crave a lost past, but I don't let a mere number define or limit me, and I fit in with them pretty well. I don't get invited to join them out of pity for the old duffer, but because I'm just one of the crowd.
If you are capable and willing, GO FOR IT!
Don't let solo status deter you, I've been going 'solo' for years and perhaps a little too much, revel in it, as do countless other campers, there are quite a lot of us on here, and most campsites have an almost surprising number of solo campers.
If you can, don't miss the opportunity, the clock is ticking, do what you can, whilst you can!
Sorry to hear about your husband; you've been through a huge life-change in recent years. Good for you, dipping a toe in the campervan waters again! I'm sure the VW will be comfy and straightforward to drive and you'll be on decent roads all the way. It's the best of both worlds; an opportunity to be on holiday with your family, with your own little bit of private space to retreat to when you feel the need. Enjoy your trip!
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
As others have said, go for it! You would regret it if you didn't. By the sound of it I'm just a year younger than you and I only gave up driving vintage double decker buses a couple of years ago. I used to drive them for weddings etc. My licence for them has now expired, although I could have a medical and renew it. The cost of retaking my CPC to carry passengers put me off though. I am now limited to 3500kg, but I still tow my caravan.
Welcome back and sorry to hear about your loss, and good on you to carry on camping.
I switched from being a solo tenter to a panel van conversion (PVC) in 2021.
I toyed with the idea of towing a caravan, even bought a car that was capable of towing a decent size van, and decided against it in the end, and opted for a MWB VW Crafter just under 6m instead.
I took a 2-hour driving lesson in a van similar in size before I took delivery of my PVC.
Being under 6m in length and slightly wider than a normal car, she can just about squeeze into a normal size parking space.
The only issue is her height which means she is too tall for most multi-storey car parks and any car parks with a height restriction of 2.2m or under at popular tourist locations.
Other than that, the van is great, and she enables me to carry on camping for a few more years I hope, on my own with just the dog for company.
If your van is a smaller VW T5/6 then it should drive like a normal car IMHO.
Enjoy your upcoming trip!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
You'll be fine with the VW, after the first day it'll feel like your normal vehicle. In fact, you might be tempted to get one as your normal day to day vehicle and ditch any other car you might have.
The VW will fit in normal parking spaces, and if it is a pop top rather than a high top, should fit under nearly every car park barrier.
Hi Anne; I sympathise with your position. I’m in my 70s, and lost my other half to cancer a couple of years ago; without her to guide my reversing, I sold the caravan and tow car, and splashed out on a VW T6 conversion. I don’t regret it: the driving position is great, and very relaxing; cruise control, front radar, and auto gearbox, combined with captain’s seat make the motorway miles just vanish, while the car size means I can get up mountain roads that would have scared me witless while towing.
Like every form of camping, it has its limitations: storage; odd rattles; finding the right way to cover the windscreen; battery management; getting the bed comfortable. Strangely, the one I was worried about, packing down for a day trip out, I’ve got down to about 15 mins now. So far I’ve only found one 2m barrier it wouldn’t fit under; but I’ve touched up the paintwork and it looks like new!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Coming back to UKCampsite
