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Quote: Originally posted by sarah42g on 03/5/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by Feezee on 03/5/2011

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I was browsing the mags the other day and asked myself exactly the same question as you - why isn't there a mag for our old vans? There was a regular article in one of the mags on how to caravan cheaply with an old van and towcar which I thought was great.... More of that would be good!
Feezee

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 I agree,  I would love to see a mag for old vans. You can get a mag for old VW's and Mini's so why not caravans. 

Want to see more articles about how restore an old caravan, other owners restoration stories - not pay £4 + for a whole load of marketing material on towcar of the year (which is usually expensive and huge) and caravans bigger than my house!

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My baby is a folding caravan and although 17 years "young" she is bought and paid for with us oweing zero. We have had some strange looks from owners of bigger and newer vans but we don't care.  We have everything we need to relax and get away from the stresses of work when she is all set up. We don't need storage cause she lives on the drive and I don't think we have any fear of her being stolen when there are much more expensive units on site. I wouldn't swap her.  We have only saw 1 unit as old as her on any of our trips but never met the owners. I hope we own her for many more years to come.

Jeanie

I think you're all looking at this from the wrong angle!  These are not 'crappy' vans, they are survivors.  They are obviously well built, or they wouldnt still be here, and they have all been looked after and loved or again, they wouldnt still be here. They are yours, owned outright (and not by a finance company) and part of your families. They have history, character and individuality. 

You will always find an occasional caravan snob, but Im sure most new van owners dont look down on older vans.  My own pet hate is dirty vans, no excuse for that no matter  how old they are.

On our trip over easter, there was a van near us which looked amazing, Im sure it was 1950's or something, had a boat roof and two small square front windows that looked like eyes!  It was owned by an elderly couple, it had EHU so Im guessing it had been modified over the years.  It was well loved and just gleamed and smiled at you in the sunshine.

Incidentally Paul - your little van looks like a Winnie or a Freda to me. And you'll have loads of fun tarting her up.

Quote: Originally posted by Anniemacxx on 04/5/2011

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I think you're all looking at this from the wrong angle!  These are not 'crappy' vans, they are survivors.  They are obviously well built, or they wouldnt still be here, and they have all been looked after and loved or again, they wouldnt still be here. They are yours, owned outright (and not by a finance company) and part of your families. They have history, character and individuality. 

You will always find an occasional caravan snob, but Im sure most new van owners dont look down on older vans.  My own pet hate is dirty vans, no excuse for that no matter  how old they are.

On our trip over easter, there was a van near us which looked amazing, Im sure it was 1950's or something, had a boat roof and two small square front windows that looked like eyes!  It was owned by an elderly couple, it had EHU so Im guessing it had been modified over the years.  It was well loved and just gleamed and smiled at you in the sunshine.

 i hate dirt vans aswell when hubby picked ours up she hadnt been washed for 12 months and as soon as she was back after a 4 hour drive at 10pm I had him wash her lol. shes keepd at home but even through wintre shes cleaned every few weeks even the roof as i can see it from my landing window. it doenst take long for a quick clean and polish and it takes an old van from a dump to a little dimond

Incidentally Paul - your little van looks like a Winnie or a Freda to me. And you'll have loads of fun tarting her up.

 

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Quote: Originally posted by hammyhar on 03/5/2011

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hi paul, my van is 10 years old and i was given it foc in february this year, inside is loveley and clean has everything i need for my trips away. In the 3 months I have had i have been away 6 times, The first time I pull in to the site I saw the curtains twitch of the campers already pitched, looking to see who I was invading there world,  the guys in the brand new, diamond white vans, with the satalite dishes sat proudly next to the sleek freshly pressed awnings, I can tell you, the first time i really did not want to get out of my car, and as i booked in for a late arrival and the snow had been falling i had to negotiate an uphill right hand bend. I was praying come on baby keep rolling dont get stuck in the snow keep rolling all to no avail, i was stuck!!!!!!!!! oh hell, all the caravan doors swung open and they emerged from the dark corners of the site, steadily walking towards me there footprints echoing crisply in the  6 inches of snow. I studied each one as they encircled my car and van, oh god which one was the axe murdered. how dare i disturd there peace and tranquill life. then there he was at the front of my windscreen a one eyed monster with shovel hands screaming in the dark of the night, the windscreen wiper cleared the dusts of snow of the screen to reveal not a one eyed monster but a guy with a torch on a head band with a shovel. he shouted just give me a moment son to clear this track and all the guys will get behind and push you in. soon have you set up, morale of the story we are all caravaners together just some have more money than others but freindship is not judged by the bulk of your wallet

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Quote: Originally posted by leccyshep on 03/5/2011

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We got our Gladys 2 years ago, paid £185 for her due to a mahoosive dint in the front corner, she was sound in every other aspect. We replaced the damaged panel last week and she looks as good as 30 yr old new.

i know what you mean about 'where are the oldies?' we play 'spot the older 'van' when we're traveling and there aren't many, although we took her to a beltane festival at the weekend and she fit right in! it seems that all the old vans find loving homes with hippies.

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Yes small world!  Actually there appear to be a few caravans with green stripes in my pictures LOL!  We were on the right hand side just as you come into the field - we had quite a few flags flying!

We did actually post on this forum before we went - if you do a search for Beltane the threads will come up - we met up with another UKCS member - Dave.

See you next year!