Followin on from a tread o another local Camping forum l belong to, what is the most basic caravan you have ever owned? Most of the caravans of today come with EHU, heating, cassette toilet, and full hot water system as standard.
This is all a far cry from our tiny first caravan we ever owned, a ABI Monza 3.60s, a 5 berth 11cwt caravan that was a tiny tardis, with a Elsan Bristol bucket style loo, that was in such a tiny compartment that you had to lock the outer door of the caravan to stop anyone opening it to reveal you sitting on the loo with your feet on the doormat, and yes l did get caught out a couple of times!
It really was a box on wheels with beds fitted, no fridge, no fixed heating, single glazed, no hot water system, just cold water via a foot pump to the kitchen sink, a small handbasin with no tap in the bathroom, you needed to use a pop bottle filled with water to clean your teeth, no fridge, no EHU, and just a 12v car battery for lighting and waterpump. When that failed, if there was no battery charging service onsite, then you had to run a lead to your car battery, and leave the engine running to get a charge!
Its all such a contrast to the caravan we have today, which back in the early 1980s would have been considered huge in comparison with its 460 body length for just a two berth!
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Ours was and early sprite with gas lights and no electric whatso ever, can't remember what year it was but it cost us £400.00 and we toured all over north Scotland with it from Norfolk no water either just a container with a tap and we loved every second we spent in it, no double glazing either.
Quote: Originally posted by moppetsdad on 04/3/2015
Ours was and early sprite with gas lights and no electric whatso ever, can't remember what year it was but it cost us £400.00 and we toured all over north Scotland with it from Norfolk no water either just a container with a tap and we loved every second we spent in it, no double glazing either.
We were the same, Sprite Alpine with gas lights. Very happy memories with the old Sprite.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
Yes, mines an ABI as described, year 1985, no fridge no heating, no running water, etc. Does me to tow down to southern France & Spain for the summer months, I spend me dosh on the trips not the caravan. £300 off ebay & 5th season with it this yr. Probably spent another £300 on it in last few yrs for service/tyres etc, so £600 total for 5yrs use.
No need to insure & sits in my garden over winter. If I spent £18k on a new caravan I guess I'd have to use it yr round to make it worthwhile. Sitting on a rain lashed site in Norfolk. "Are we having fun yet"?
Well during the three years we owned ours, my Dad, who is an Electrician by trade, installed EHU for us, mainly so that we could leave the caravan onsite for a few weeks at a time, and he and my mum could use it without any of the hassel of battery charging. There was no oven or grill, just a small gas hob, so cooking was very basic or we had our meals out at the local takeaways and pubs. The addition of EHU was marvelous for us, we could run a small fan heater, Electric Kettle, and Toaster, and were also able to take along a little black and white tv for the first time ever!
Our next caravan, a 1988 Avondale Perle Adonis was not much better, except it had a gas fire fitted and was much bigger, at 13ft body length, and EHU was standard kit. Our first caravan with most of the modern bells and whistles already fitted, did not arrive until 1993, buy which time we had hot water, full oven, cassette toilet, shower, and a size more like the modern 5 berth family caravans of today, it was an Avondale Olympus.
We loved our first basic little caravans, although as old age creeps upon us l dont think that l would like to caravan without the comforts of a cosy heater, and a fridge is essential these days to keep my medication cool, but l cannot help but smile and think back to all the happy times we had when we first set up as campers.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
1962 Sprite Alpine built in Sam Alper's works at Newmarket.
I was given a company car in 1978, so sold the car I had and bought the van. Rather primitive by today's standards but served it's purpose. Gas lights only, cold water on a foot pump and a bucket type loo, happy days !
First trip was to South Wales, didn't know you had to lift the draw bar lock before towing. Did some 600 miles before working out I had to lift the lock to allow the over run brake to function. Wondered why my new company car needed a set of front brake pads so soon......Mick
Made my first trip in that at 10 days old in July 1970!!
No water on tap, gas light, no heater etc ... towed by a Morris 1000.
The 1970 400 that followed was the same.
There then followed a Cavalier 1200T which had a small toilet compartment and a catalytic heater that didn't really heat .... I well remember my dad fitting an electric pump to it ... probably around 1976 .... absolute luxury.
My own first 'van was a 1990 Sprite Musketeer in 1994 .... although it had a heater, mains , etc it still lacked hot water and a cassette loo.
Our holidays were just as enjoyable back in the day ... however there is no way I am giving up my ALde etc!
------------- 2020 Volvo XC60 B5 R Design Geartronic / 2018 Swift Elegance 580
1977 ABI Monza 1200d (was my parents), real glass windows, gas lamps and a gas heater, no ehu. It had a cold water electric foot pump which actually I think is a better idea than the modern style taps which keep breaking. Controlling the water by foot is much more hygienic if you have been cutting raw meat etc and want to wash hands.
My current van, a +1999 ABI Sprinter is also basic, with hot water being the only extra on the van.
We travelled all over Europe in our 1977 Monza and it was dry as a bone. My parents upgraded in 1990 to a Lunar Clubman which leaked from day 1.
Had gaslights and cooker but no running water at sink. No loo, just a bucket in a toilet tent which stank to high heaven with 6 of us using it. No electrics at all.
Hillman Minx tow car would do about 35mph before snaking wildly accompanied by Mother screaming.
Our own first van was a freedom sunseeker with cooker, fridge and sink only, no loo.
Sprite for us too! Glass windows, foot pump, gas lights. Had to take radio with us for entertainment! Eventually got Dad to put EHU in for us so we could take telly and hairdryer etc with us. Kids were 2 and 5. They are now 22 and 25 and still talk about our first van. Couldn't go back to ice on inside of Windows again though, I like to be warm and cosy in our fixed bed van!
Ironically, we bought our last caravan from Raymond James Caravans at Atherstone, whos dealership is situated on the old Avondale factory site, where both of our early basic Avondales mentioned above were built.
One section of the yard today contains some of these very basic elderly caravans, some for sale, some for breaking for their spare parts, a real trip down memory lane every time we call in for a service.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Thanks for sharing the link Navver, some amazing old caravans there, l love the idea of being able to open up the entire end panel and use it as a sun shade, although l bet it could be a bit draughty with some potential leaks at the joints!
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
1964 Thomson T-line 10'6" 4 berth...no loo, no cooker, just two gas rings and a grill. No electric, no fridge, no battery just one gas light....I fitted a non vented gas fire as it had a gas tap in the wardrobe (??) but had to leave the roof vent open for fear of killing myself with the fumes....
Fitted a EHU and a car battery under the single bed...Alba black and white tv and a suction cup mounted tv aerial....pure luxury
Bradcot awning(s) one on each side....!
Perfect for noisy weekends at the seaside with mates.....
Towed with a Vauxhall chevette HS !
17 years old and 4 weeks after passing my test...my gran bought me the van...great for weekends away at Skipsea with my then girlfriend
Can't remember what my parents had in the 60's and 70's but our first van was a 1976 Thompson T-line bought for £100 in 1986. It was 12ft, no electricity, cold water by a button on the front of the unit, bucket loo. The "double" bed was 3ft 9" and had a pull out piece that blocked the door when the bed was made. It had metal window frames, and I think the windows were glass! It was a 4 berth, the kids sleeping on a bunk that ran lenghtways down the van. It was a great layout.
I made curtains out of slub silk and bought new cushions. We fitted a 80% wool strip of carpet. My husband fitted electrics. It was so small we were able to do everything with off cuts and bin ends!!!!
We sold it in 1999 for £500!!!!!!
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
Our first van was a 1963 Sprite Alpine, which we towed with our Mk2 Cortina. Had some great times with it. Two gas lights, and no running water, heating, or toilet. It did have a toilet compartment, but it was so small that we only used it as a cupboard. We swapped it for a 1966 Musketeer, which seemed to have a lot more room. It still had no running water or heating. The musketeer did have one feature I would like to see again though, and that was a pull-down double bed with a proper mattress.
I fitted a 12 volt electrical system to both of them during my ownership, but I could only charge the battery off the car as we drove along, as few sites had EHU in those days. Those that did usually only had about 3 or 4 VERY expensive pitches.
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: A walk down memory lane
