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site it on a site with ehu, that will sort the battery out!  As long as a site is near to public transport (not all are) then this would not be a problem and would allow your sister to keep her camping independence.  

 Would this also be a spur for her to learn to drive too?   

 Would a tent be more suitable with willing friends/family dropping her off at sites initially. 

Sound's possible. If she had electric hook up, battery will be charged anyway. There are firms that will clean the van. I'm sure there would be willing drivers to take the van for her. Even if it means that she pays a small fee.

Good on her for wanting to try it and not just giving in straight away. Sorry to hear about her loss.

Kev.

Wouldn't a site be happy to store the battery in the ofice and give it a charge every now and again? It all sounds quite feasible.

How about this for an option. We are all in this together, so maybe folk could volunteer to help those in their local area with problems like this.  Towing the van to a site, maybe picking the battery up at the end of a season. Many a time our tow ball is empty.......If she just lets folk know where the van is to be sited maybe someone on here lives just around the corner and has a bucket and sponge.

Phil

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by nora on 21/9/2011

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Some lovely replies thank you so much.
I can help her but there is only so much that I or we can do.
It is sad but I'm glad she is going to try.
I want her to try driving but she says deffinately no.
Thank you all so much for you comments and advice all very helpful.
xx

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Two years ago I was in practically the same position as your sister, but my partner didn't die, he left me for another woman. He also left me with a big people carrier I couldn't drive and a caravan I couldn't tow. When it finally sank in that I was totally on my own I took the plunge and signed up for a course of driving lessons as no way was I going to give up camping. It took a while but I passed my test in March last year and since then there's been no stopping me. My confidence shot through the roof and every available weekend since then, plus holidays from work (apart from winter), I've been camping in various parts of the country and love it. The freedom I have to go where I want when I want without having to rely on other people is just brilliant. Last September I booked myself onto one of the Caravan Club's weekend towing and manoeuvring courses which was well worth doing, and though I've not got round to towing my 'van yet (I've been too busy camping!) I now have the knowledge and confidence to do so when I want to.

If your sister has only just recently lost her husband then she'll probably still be feeling very raw and with no clear idea of what she wants to do long term, but getting her 'van sited so she can use it will be a big help for a while, and she'll figure out the practicalities as she goes along. As for cleaning the roof, I use a step ladder and a soft brush with a telescopic handle to do mine, and if there's a bit in the middle that gets missed well so what? nobody looks up there anyway!

Show your sister this post and tell her to book some driving lessons - believe me, it'll be just about the best thing she's ever done!

Quote: Originally posted by iwalani on 23/9/2011

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Not everyone has it in them to be a good driver, and maybe this lady realises that.   So some people are just not cut out to be drivers.

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But how will she know that unless she tries it?

I never wanted to learn to drive as I always thought I wouldn't be able to do it, but having been left on my own I realised I had to learn or I would never go anywhere.

I know driving lessons aren't cheap but if this lady can afford it then I'm sure it won't do any harm for her to give it a try - if it doesn't work out at least she's given it a go, but if it does work out then she'll gain a whole new lease of life.