Looking to buy

[Barnoe]

Hi All,

55 year old guy with a wife of 34 years and 2 grown up boys (24 and 31 yo)

Me and the wife are looking at campervans at the moment and a new vehicle is imminent.
We looked at all the choices and a VW ticks the boxes.

I wanted something I can use as my main vehicle (replace my car) and will also fit on the drive, so a giant motorhome is out of the question.
a LWB would be fine, my drive is 6.2m long before encroaching onto a public footpath.

We have both been campers since a young age and eventually moved to caravans then back to a tent.
I travel by motorbike and camp with a small 2 man tent too, but that's another topic.

We have both lusted after motorhomes and campervans for years, but could never afford them.
in recent years and a couple of pay rises later, we decided we should invest our hard earned money in a van.

I use another forum for my Motorcycle fun, so thought I better join one for my new venture too which lead me to here

So hello to all and speak soon

 

[T6ChrisO]

Welcome along! There's plenty of info on here for you to look through and also check the classifieds section of the forum as there are some great campers for sale by fellow enthusiasts, not people trying to make a quick pay day!

 

[Bav]

Welcome to the forum mate.

I'd advise plenty of forum reading before you purchase - there's lots of advice and experience on here and lots of vans to choose from out there, so choose wisely and don't rush!

 

[Sackmycook]

These vans do not like regular short journeys so if its going to be your main and only drive, be aware.
If you can afford it and have space, a cheap 2nd car may save you hassle and expense

 

[Salty Spuds]

Welcome, we went through a similar thought process at your age (we both retired at 55) & we are now 8 years down the line into VW ownership. First of all, just to clear things up. Van ownership is definitely not an "investment" in the traditional sense. They can be a money pit & you will never see a financial return. Hopefully your rewards will be memories & good times/adventures, we certainly have reaped those rewards. But this only happens if you use the van to it's maximum, once the novelty has worn off, it can become an effort to pack up & go, even for just a night or two, you have to work through that & not let the van become another expensive lump on the drive. We spend around 120 nights year in the van, having just returned from a 2 month trip to Portugal. We're off to Scotland at the end of August, and a month trip skiing in January planned. I'd echo the comment above, re. daily driver, those will be expensive miles that could be done in a cheaper vehicle, our van has 65k miles and they are all holiday miles.
PS. LWB is the way to go

 

[Barnoe]

Thanks for the messages and advice.
We still haven't made the purchase yet, been close a couple of times though.

fair point regards the cheap car instead of using the camper everyday.
my car is paid off anyway, so may keep that, or go to work on the bike each day which is also paid off.

The search continues.

 

[DXX]

and 2 grown up boys (24 and 31 yo)

I would assume they aren’t coming with you in the van. If they are you might need a Crafter.
You can fit 4 adults in a Transporter with a pop top but you’d better hope there’s a good weather forecast as it’s a confined space.

 

[Barnoe]

Youngest is a bit of a snob and camping is beneath him, he prefers hotels lol
The eldest sometimes does come along, especially if there is fishing nearby, he has his own small tent too if required.

90% of the time it will be just me and the wife.

 

[Kind of Blue]

For many years I used a Landrover 101 Forward Control which is a military vehicle. travelled extensively around the UK with it and drove the off road network of roads Byways Open To All Traffic known as BOATs and RUPS Only the two of us then and lived crudely by the standards on here. We had a Radio Body and the whole Body Work was Aluminium. We insulated it with household insulation and our only modern convenience was a Wallas Paraffin or Aviation Fuel Double Hotplate with Fan operated lid which doubled up as a room heater. The Wallas was fantastic was extremely reliable never braking down but would heat the entire insides on low heat even in the coldest -17c weather. The 101 was fantastic off road with decent modern off road tyres and we would travel the lanes and camp where ever we fancied so long as it was reasonably level and way off road miles from any human habitation. It was the best time we ever had and made loads of friends over that time but we mostly travelled alone. We even commuted to work causing some consternation during the NI troubles and it was our sole vehicle for many years. Mind they where surprisingly sprightly for that sort of vehicle at that time, Range Rover 3.5L motor. Actually the whole thing was exceptionally reliable. I originality came to us with very little mileage at all and although the outside was usefully camo the inside metal work was Bronze Green and very new being a reserve Fitted For Radio Vehicle. Had very good wading capability. We wanted to replace it with a Pinzgauer 718K 6x6 but unfortunately they remained just outside of or reach.

Best of luck with you search