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Hi all

some of you will remember my articles on the renovation of our classic 1985 swift corvette caravan. well thanks to my health and other problems i think its time to sell her on.

the only jobs left to do are the centre roof seal and refurbish the inner ceiling panel behind the cabin roof end lockers but i just cant do it.

shame it is but that's life. no doubt i will advertise her on here first ( just got to get my head around letting her go)

this will not be the end of our camping life though as we have plans for a light weight trailer tent in the future

That sounds like positive news, I hope after your health problems you manage to get away in the 'van this year.

I know how you feel about letting go. I have a 1989 Mardon Meridian 2-berth which my now-ex and I bought almost four years ago, we spent many hours refurbishing it and making the interior look more up-to-date and I absolutely loved it once it was finished. We only used it four times though before we split up - I kept the 'van and managed two bank holidays in it on my own thanks to some people who towed it to site and back again for me in 2009. I did the CC towing course in September 2010 but just haven't got the confidence to tow completely alone and I don't know anyone who can tow who could accompany me. So my lovely little 'van spend its time in storage and I wonder if I will ever get round to using it again, but I just love it so much it would break my heart to sell.

Al, that's great news!!!

I understand totally the "falling in love again""...... our old van, we used perhaps twice a year. Since we retired 3 years ago, we bought a new van and love it to bits....we are away now as much as possible. I think when we were both working, trying to get away weekends was too much effort!!!  It's a pleasure now!!

Tigermouse - our last van was a Mardon Classique 1989. We had it from 3 years old till 2009. We had great adventures in her when the kids were small - a great van!!!

Really good news Alan. Great to hear you on the forum as your website detailing your repairs has been an inspiration to me. I am currently putting the toilet cubicle back together again and I have been motivated by your work. Its good to hear that you are hopeful to tour this year and that the van is still going strong.

Best wishes

Once a camper always a camper. it is hard to get the freedom out of your blood. In your case proved to be just so.

Hope all goes well and you know already you will enjoy it. There is a little bit of the gypsy spirit in us all on site, whatever our unit.

Welcome back before you really went off

Quote: Originally posted by Tigermouse on 14/2/2012

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That sounds like positive news, I hope after your health problems you manage to get away in the 'van this year.

I know how you feel about letting go. I have a 1989 Mardon Meridian 2-berth which my now-ex and I bought almost four years ago, we spent many hours refurbishing it and making the interior look more up-to-date and I absolutely loved it once it was finished. We only used it four times though before we split up - I kept the 'van and managed two bank holidays in it on my own thanks to some people who towed it to site and back again for me in 2009. I did the CC towing course in September 2010 but just haven't got the confidence to tow completely alone and I don't know anyone who can tow who could accompany me. So my lovely little 'van spend its time in storage and I wonder if I will ever get round to using it again, but I just love it so much it would break my heart to sell.

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Tigs you can do it. Even if you ask for a refresher course. Go towing at an easier time of day, to a site that is nearest to you, just for the weekend. Do it a few times pretty close together and your confidence will grow. It is like not driving for a long time, just needs a few times of going out close together and your off driving again, so it will be for towing.

You could also just hitch it up and tow it around and about without going to a camp site, just driving around. The big roads first so you have plenty of room to start yourself off, till you feel more confident to progress further to a camp site. When the traffic has died down.

Do try it Tigs you can and will succeed. I will restart driving in this newer car this way as I was used to the VW camper as I sat higher, but I will take little journies till I get use to it again.

Quote: Originally posted by alsparker on 14/2/2012

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well guess what folks after a long illness i never got to sell the old girl and last year we let my daughter take it to Anglesey for a whole season on Bodfan farm Rhosneigr. the site has been a family favourite for more than 20 years. we went down to visit and ended up staying in it for a week and fell in love with the van all over again so she is not for sale now. hope to be well enough to tour this season.

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That's really great news' Al.  Enjoy.

It's not just the towing Chrissie, it's hitching up and getting it in and out of storage as well. Space is tight and it takes a bit of manoeuvring even for an experienced tower - I might just be able to get it out but I'd never get it back on my own as it needs to be unhitched and pushed in. So until I can find someone to help I'll just continue to visit on a sunny day and spend some time just sitting in it - I can always pretend I'm on a camp site!

Hi Tigermouse why not pick your van up and take it to a large car park out of hours and pratice reversing into the bays as it gets easier move the goal post to make it harder, pratice makes perfect  

bessie

Quote: Originally posted by Tigermouse on 14/2/2012It's not just the towing Chrissie, it's hitching up and getting it in and out of storage as well. Space is tight and it takes a bit of manoeuvring even for an experienced tower - I might just be able to get it out but I'd never get it back on my own as it needs to be unhitched and pushed in.

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