We changed to our current van at the start of this summer and so far have had a long weekend away in it plus a fortnight in the summer. Despite originally thinking it was pretty much the right van for us (and that I'd be able to live with the bits that weren't quite perfect), neither my OH nor I have warmed to it and I'm seriously thinking of changing. Part of me thinks this is ridiculously frivolous and I need to settle down, give the caravan a fair chance,and learn to like it as there's nothing wrong with it, it's a lovely van and I'm behaving like a spoilt child. The other part of me thinks that we don't really like it, aren't excitedly looking forward and planning to taking it away, the layout issues bug us, it's going to impact on our caravanning fun and we should trade it in whilst we have a reasonable value.
So, to make me feel better, what's the shortest time you've kept a caravan for? Our local storage owners have worked their way through no less than five vans in around three years, and have now settled down with their perfect layout so I don't feel too bad in comparison ....!
Well in the last 12/13 months we've had 3 lol. I totally understand that feeling of "it's just not right". We've had an elddis avante 626 which had an end bed layout. I felt the bed was taking up valuable space in the caravan, plus it was only a few years old & hubby was stressing about the kids messing it up. Hubby then kept banging on about a hobby, so we bought an 04 model at the end of oct last year. It was fine for our seasonal pitch but I felt sad that we wouldn't be doing any weekends away out of season. We've now bought a crusader superstorm, I love the layout but hubby got really grumpy in it on our 1st weekend away a few weeks ago. He said its too narrow in comparison to the hobby. I don't think we'll ever both be happy. He really wanted another hobby but I hate the restrictions you get with them. Sites are too fussy about them.
We sold off our folding camper and bought our first van a crystal sprint new from the local dealers. Although a 4 berth, it was a bit small for us.
Four years later we went to the NEC show - only because we were there for the horse of the year show. Although we hadn't planned to swap our van, we were taken by our current van and traded in the first van. We have had our current van a sprite quattro for nearly three years but are hoping to keep it for many more years.
Quote: Originally posted by Oldfolder on 16/9/2013
Quote: Originally posted by bobsbabes on 15/9/2013ours has been 12 months but there are people on here that have changed far more often xx
Would it be cynical to think that these rapid changes are often prompted by the discovery of damp in their current van?
"Oh no! - the wall feels soft - and, come to think of it, the van layout isn't quite what I wanted, either...."
Oh no! Hope that's not what people will think about ours :-( We had a lovely big end bathroom with a separate shower cubicle in our old van, and I can't be doing with just having a piddly little wet room that you have to come straight out of into the caravan to get dressed. I knew that it would be a big change but I didn't realise it would bug me quite so much!
Bigbrood - what's the problem with Hobby vans? We've never been asked what sort of van we have before we arrive on site and have seen plenty of lovely Hobbys on our travels?
Greetings,
When we bought our second 'van some years ago, we had listened to the views of others who had far more experience. They said that, because we attended a lot of rallies where there were no 'facilities' then a good bathroom was in order.
In those days you couldn't have a good bathroom and fixed bed.
We went almost immediately onto the Continent and both spent a fortnight looking at each other, neither of us being able to admit that we missed the fixed bed.
That 'van was changed within 6 mths. at a hit of about £3500.
Lifes too short to be miserable.
In hindsight we both agree that if we had tried to persevere we would have become disillusioned with caravaning. That was eight years ago.
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
Quote: Originally posted by White Rose on 16/9/2013
Quote: Originally posted by Oldfolder on 16/9/2013
Quote: Originally posted by bobsbabes on 15/9/2013ours has been 12 months but there are people on here that have changed far more often xx
Would it be cynical to think that these rapid changes are often prompted by the discovery of damp in their current van?
"Oh no! - the wall feels soft - and, come to think of it, the van layout isn't quite what I wanted, either...."
Oh no! Hope that's not what people will think about ours :-( We had a lovely big end bathroom with a separate shower cubicle in our old van, and I can't be doing with just having a piddly little wet room that you have to come straight out of into the caravan to get dressed. I knew that it would be a big change but I didn't realise it would bug me quite so much!
Bigbrood - what's the problem with Hobby vans? We've never been asked what sort of van we have before we arrive on site and have seen plenty of lovely Hobbys on our travels?
Post last edited on 16/09/2013 11:02:35
I'm sure that your own van is dryer than Stephen Fry's sense of humour ;)
As for Hobby vans - any problems lie, not with the caravan itself, but with the perceived ownership profile of such units.
Suffice it to say that we bought a new Hobby in 2002 - and although it was a quite well made van (with some notable flaws) we were never entirely comfortable with it.
I even went to the trouble of sticking some graphics relating to a website that I (then) owned - ''Wohnwagen.com' on the rear of the thing. What it *really* said, of course, was, "I am NOT a Traveller"
It didn't help matters that we towed it with a big silver 4x4 - but I should point out that during our period of ownership we were *NEVER* 'cut up' by other motorists, nor had anyone pull out a few yards ahead of us to avoid being stuck behind our outfit. I assume that this unusually polite behaviour was motivated by their suspicion that the big silver 4x4 towing the hobby was, in fact, occupied by several burly Tarmac professionals, with whom it would be unwise to argue
We never had any problems with sites - probably due to our policy of sticking to CC&C rallies and holiday sites. Booking into a large commercial establishment might have been different.
------------- Getting Old, Staying Active (much to Mrs Folder's dismay..)
7 months.bought in september 09,destroyed in an accident april 2010,had one weeks holiday in it. spent all the time bar that one week in storage over the winter.
gutted didnt come close
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
Quote: Originally posted by White Rose on 16/9/2013
Quote: Originally posted by Oldfolder on 16/9/2013
Quote: Originally posted by bobsbabes on 15/9/2013ours has been 12 months but there are people on here that have changed far more often xx
Would it be cynical to think that these rapid changes are often prompted by the discovery of damp in their current van?
"Oh no! - the wall feels soft - and, come to think of it, the van layout isn't quite what I wanted, either...."
Oh no! Hope that's not what people will think about ours :-( We had a lovely big end bathroom with a separate shower cubicle in our old van, and I can't be doing with just having a piddly little wet room that you have to come straight out of into the caravan to get dressed. I knew that it would be a big change but I didn't realise it would bug me quite so much!
Bigbrood - what's the problem with Hobby vans? We've never been asked what sort of van we have before we arrive on site and have seen plenty of lovely Hobbys on our travels?
Post last edited on 16/09/2013 11:02:35
Hi I rang around quite a few sites when looking for a seasonal pitch. Most refused to take them due to the door being on the "wrong" side. Some were actually quite abrupt about it! I couldn't not mention we had one because you need to state the length for the right pitch, which straight away is a giveaway.
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: What`s shortest time you`ve kept a van?
