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 the site and storge isnt a problme as shes on the drive  and most campings done with whippet racing or very small basic sites we prefare ther feald tolet shower and thats it sits suit us best.Hubby wants to get a tranny van aswell for us dogs and mobility scooter so that stopes us going on strickter sites aswell

    we did have a look at a few vans in the price range and the one thing hubby noticed beings tall was the head hight our van has a boat type roof and strate front windows and it feels to him like there more head room not sure if  there is but we have had  4 not small people sat comfortbily in the van and didnt feel confined and shes only 12ft long were some of the bigger vans felt more enclosed. like i say we keep thinking keep her replace her. if we keep her she will have to go in at the end of the years and get everything checked and anything even looking a little ruff will need redoing and a good over hall.   we havnt spotted any damp but havnet had a meter on her so there may be that to do but i would quiet happly spend money on her if we eep her so we get a few good years out of her and shes got caricter we allways know were over van is and so does everyone elas lol

Quote: Originally posted by rodent on 01/3/2011the only problem you may get is that some sites won't do storage or let you pitch a van over 10 years old, regardless of condition

I'd probably be inclined to keep her - you have been really lucky and found yourself an elderly van in great condition.  A caravan at £3-4k can be just as riddled with damp & other scarys as a much older van & it would be awful if you were to fall unlucky after spending your windfall on a newer van.  You could always invest your money until a time when you might need to upgrade your caravan? Maybe spend a bit of it on any further refurbishments you may fancy doing to the current van.

I have heard of sites not allowing caravans over a certain numer of years old but Im sure this is mainly for seasonals - I think the Plassey have this in place for seasonals.

If you like your current van keep it as it is. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

You could spend your 3 - 4k buying someone else's problems.

"You could spend your 3 - 4k buying someone else's problems."

Agreed your van looks lovely as it is. My van is now 21 years old and every now and then I look at newer vans and to be honest alot can't compete with the elegance and homely feel of my old van, yes a brand new all singing all dancing van is fantastic but you then have the worries of higher insurance and needing extra security, plus you might feel less willing to do your own individual decorating in a new van.

That 3 or 4k would certainly pay for alot of trips away plus some cute upgrades

We have 1991 Abi Award Transtar, 2 berth. after making a mistake with getting a camplet t.t but only because I could not get out of bed on my own as being disabled. So got this c.van. We are having things done (via a link to this site and infor from some of its members) to make sure alls well with it.To be told apart from a few bits that need doing and others we are having done to benefit us both ,as some not necessary for the mobile but disabled will be an asset. It is a solid c.van and well worth it.The compaints heard about newer vans going wrong. Not being so comfortable,this & that going wrong niggley things,  the lists goes on. Yet you keep hearing good things about old well cared for c.vans. Keep the one you have, do not waste your money with another that could go wrong within months of getting it anyway, out of its guarantee like new ones can & do.Last on site a couple ha donly just bought a brand new one and was testing it out before going across on holiday to France and found electrics going wrong so no kettle for tea or coffee, so went back to gas after paying out for the electricity on site. The other things started adding to it. They were dreading not being able to get it done. Fortunately the main things would be able to be done,but how many can say they got it done straight away.If it goes dont fiddle with it, if it is okay dont change it. Enjoy you old Abi as we will with our Flossy.

Chrissie