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Subject Topic: 40 years a caravanner
Page:  1  2 Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 26/4/2024 at 4:35pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   12650
Site Reviews Total: 380
Site Reviews 2024: 17 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 83
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
Site Nights 2021: 140
Site Nights 2020: 63
Site Nights 2019: 132
Site Nights 2018: 134
Just realised that we bought our first caravan just after Easter 1994, after being frozen in our tent. Cost £200 from our neighbour. Many caravans later we are still here, on a CL right now at the age of 76. Various tents for years before that.


PersonRob12
via mobile 26/4/2024 at 4:54pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman ES View Rob12's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rob12 Reply   Quote Rob12 Quote  
Joined: 28/6/2007

Platinum Member
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Forum Posts:   574
Site Reviews Total: 8
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Hi do you mean 30 years


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PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 26/4/2024 at 5:31pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   12650
Site Reviews Total: 380
Site Reviews 2024: 17 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 83
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
Site Nights 2021: 140
Site Nights 2020: 63
Site Nights 2019: 132
Site Nights 2018: 134
Yes, sorry!


Personbofs
via mobile 26/4/2024 at 5:41pm
 Location: Cumbria
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 520 View bofs's Profile View Profile   Reply to bofs Reply   Quote bofs Quote  
Joined: 10/1/2008

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Forum Posts:   2663
Site Reviews Total: 102
Site Reviews 2024: 5  
Site Reviews 2023: 4  
Site Reviews 2022: 11 
Site Reviews 2021: 6  
Site Reviews 2020: 9  
Site Reviews 2019: 10 
Site Reviews 2018: 8  
Site Nights 2024: 22
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 54
Site Nights 2021: 24
Site Nights 2020: 36
Site Nights 2019: 55
Site Nights 2018: 47
Time flies when you're having fun


PersonIna
via mobile 26/4/2024 at 6:26pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 460 VIP; VW Tiguan View Ina's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ina Reply   Quote Ina Quote  
Joined: 31/7/2003

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   3243
Site Reviews Total: 34
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 5
Site Nights 2023: 22
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 6
We bought our first caravan (after using OH's trusted Force 10 tent, which he'd had since a student) in 1988. It was a 4 berth Monza, can't remember how much we paid, but got it from a small local dealer. First trip out to Settle we found the car wasn't up to pulling it. Got there ok, albeit not very fast, and we got back doing less than 40mph on the motorway! Went back to the dealer, explained the situation, found a smaller van there, a continental 2 berth Monza, he gave us back what we'd paid, worked out the difference and it was a much better van.
I don't think in those days there was much info available anywhere about weights etc, we certainly didn't have much of a clue, but it was a steep learning curve!

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Ina


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PersonDavid Klyne
26/4/2024 at 8:08pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome View David Klyne's Profile View Profile   Reply to David Klyne Reply   Quote David Klyne Quote  
Joined: 13/2/2004

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   9594
Site Reviews Total: 257
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 6  
Site Reviews 2022: 15 
Site Reviews 2021: 7  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 16 
Site Reviews 2018: 15 
Site Nights 2024: 3
Site Nights 2023: 22
Site Nights 2022: 62
Site Nights 2021: 33
Site Nights 2020: 4
Site Nights 2019: 56
Site Nights 2018: 15
We got our first caravan in 1982 having sold our small canal cruiser when the boys came along. A first we towed it with a 1300 Vauxhall Viva, completely useless tow car! Our first site was Ferry Meadows in Peterborough which we have been back to several times since. Had several caravans before changing to a motorhome 10 years ago.

As Ina suggests in those days you relied on the Club magazine amongst others for information. How on earth did we manage without the internet? Although having said that life seemed fat less complicated?

David


PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 26/4/2024 at 8:50pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   12650
Site Reviews Total: 380
Site Reviews 2024: 17 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 83
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
Site Nights 2021: 140
Site Nights 2020: 63
Site Nights 2019: 132
Site Nights 2018: 134
The Club magazines were also our sources of information at one time.


Personmarg6
26/4/2024 at 10:33pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View marg6's Profile View Profile   Reply to marg6 Reply   Quote marg6 Quote  
Joined: 11/8/2016

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3101
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 3  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 15
Site Nights 2018: 0
40 years? oh well you will get the hang of it soon then! lol


Person664DaveS
via mobile 27/4/2024 at 1:16pm
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75 View 664DaveS's Profile View Profile   Reply to 664DaveS Reply   Quote 664DaveS Quote  
Joined: 24/7/2007

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   4369
Site Reviews Total: 55
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 6  
Site Reviews 2021: 6  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 3  
Site Reviews 2018: 4  
Site Nights 2024: 16
Site Nights 2023: 55
Site Nights 2022: 54
Site Nights 2021: 56
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 20
Site Nights 2018: 41
We started in 81 with a 75 Monza 1200D towed by a Datsun 160J coupe.
Before that we had been campers for 3 years while in Germany.

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 27/4/2024 at 1:22pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   12650
Site Reviews Total: 380
Site Reviews 2024: 17 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 83
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
Site Nights 2021: 140
Site Nights 2020: 63
Site Nights 2019: 132
Site Nights 2018: 134
I started camping with my parents and brother. They favoured no facility sites in the Welsh back of beyond. The toilet tent still gives me nightmares.


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PersonColin21
27/4/2024 at 2:24pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   6254
Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 2  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 21
Site Nights 2018: 18
I had been camping with the Scouts when I was a boy, but my parents weren't really into it apart from hiring a static, which was not quite the same. I got married in 1968 and our first holiday together was in 1969 in a Bedford Dormobile camper borrowed from a friend. We couldn't afford one of our own so we bought a tent. We had some holidays with that but when our first child came along we realised that having a small baby in a tent could be a bit of a problem so we started looking at caravans. I soon found a Sprite Alpine which we had for a few years, but when our second daughter started to grow too big for a tiny cot we decided to change to a bigger caravan. That was a Sprite Musketeer. Our Mk2 Cortina seemed to handle that fine although we knew nothing about weights. When our son came along we needed something bigger for day to day use so we bought a home-converted VW camper van which could take the two girls and a carry-cot in the back. Still not knowing anything about weights we hitched up the Musketeer to that and set off for a holiday. It was hopeless, wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding and it kept breaking down. Soon we bought a boat and started having holidays on the river, but when the kids had grown and left home we decided that holidays on the river were too restricting and we wanted to return to caravanning so we bought an Elddis Tornado for £500 and had 4 years with that before buying the Elddis Wisp that we have now. So here we are, one tent, four caravans, and three boats later.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonFiona W
via mobile 27/4/2024 at 3:24pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

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Forum Posts:   5075
Tent Reviews:   1
Site Reviews Total: 232
Site Reviews 2024: 16 
Site Reviews 2023: 8  
Site Reviews 2022: 12 
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 4  
Site Reviews 2019: 9  
Site Reviews 2018: 18 
Site Nights 2024: 34
Site Nights 2023: 25
Site Nights 2022: 32
Site Nights 2021: 25
Site Nights 2020: 20
Site Nights 2019: 28
Site Nights 2018: 30
First went camping in a tent with my parents in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus, age 3, late 50s. Then camping all over Canada & USA in the early 60s, tent and roof box, military planning. VW Devon conversion campervan mid 60s to follow my Dad’s work in Argyll at the weekends. Dormobile in Exeter early 70s. Once I’d left home, I had ever larger tents from the late 70s until we got an elderly Autosleeper Clubman in 2005, part X’d in 2018 for the current A-S Nuevo. So I can safely say that I’ve been camping in one way or another for 65 years. Ouch….

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2024 = 18 sites / 38 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


PersonMrs. Bonce
via mobile 27/4/2024 at 3:41pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   12650
Site Reviews Total: 380
Site Reviews 2024: 17 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 83
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
Site Nights 2021: 140
Site Nights 2020: 63
Site Nights 2019: 132
Site Nights 2018: 134
You beat me Fiona, 60 years here. Went to relations, then to a self catering cottage, camping started when I was 16. August Bank Holiday near Capel Y Finn in the Black Mountains. We had a borrowed tent which was just a square of fabric. Dad had us make beds out of bracken. I have never been so cold. After that they bought a "proper" tent. Green and white striped big ridge tent.


Personbirdman101
via mobile 27/4/2024 at 4:50pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2011

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Forum Posts:   2654
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Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
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New Sprite Alpine 1972 just over
on the road £500,so 51 years later on number 11 full circle on a Dealer Special Alpine 55 times the price. Few more weeks and we will of hit 52 years of caravans.



Post last edited on 27/04/2024 16:56:55

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2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


Personnavver
27/4/2024 at 6:26pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
Joined: 23/8/2008

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Forum Posts:   4650
Site Reviews Total: 1
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Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
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I started when our Dad bought a 1955 Paladin. It was semi-circular from the outside and made of hardboard. It had gas lighting and was very similar looking to this picture.

He towed it with an old Cortina 1300cc. The chap he bought it from said it towed like a dream and so it did behind the 6 litre Bentley he delivered it with. Not quite so good behind the old man's cortina though.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Tyj1DFwm&id=E02852A59C8369C5........


PersonColin21
27/4/2024 at 10:26pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6254
Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 2  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 21
Site Nights 2018: 18


Our first caravan on a site in Bletchingdon Oxfordshire. The little girl standing by the door is my oldest daughter who is now a 48 year old grandmother.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin



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