- Jan 25, 2013
- 1,083
- 22,739
- Funster No
- 24,414
- MH
- Sad former owner
- Exp
- Since 1991
Having enjoyed, and contributed to the forum for a few months now, I've finally got round to saying HI,
I started loving motorvanning back in 1991 when my new wife and I borrowed a VW beetle bus for our three week honeymoon in California - and we were bitten! Teenagers and car requirements meant no motor van until they left home, but as the door closed behind the last one, it was into the classified ads and a Bedford CF based hi top was bought. It was fun, but leaked, unreliable and THIRSTY at 17 mpg and was appropriately named Brian - from the Magic Roundabout. We traded it in for a VW Holdsworth Villa and had many happy tours around Britain and Europe, but rust and horrendous repair bills saw a trade up to a Swift Sundance and 10 more years of memorable touring. Fiat reliability was dubious (rebuilt gearbox, new radiator, alternator, fan relay, rusted sump, rusted front cross member etc. etc. ) and the awful quality of the coachbuilt build and fittings did not detract from our love of the life, and it was a sad day when it had to go. A delaminated caravan door at £1200 to replace was a bill too far! We crossed to the dark side but the caravan was short lived; smashed to splinters by a careless driver and killing my wife in the process. 5 points and a £1200 fine..............! It was no good, despite this horror, I needed my motorvanning fixes and bought a Nu Venture Sand and had two year's fun in that, but the rear door severely hampered carrying a bike - and I did miss an on board shower when it was horrid outside! My trade in against my new Tribute T620 was what I had paid for the Sand on eBay two year's previously making it a no brainer! Two years down the line now, I have explored the UK and early on this year I had four weeks in Morocco with Blue Camel tours - highly recommended! I hate seeing it sitting on the drive during the pesky summer holidays when roads get crowded and everywhere is filled with "little people"......!
Next? Hopefully winter sun in Spain..... Now, did I tell you about 7 months in Western USA in a fifth wheeler?
Hope to meet some of you Funsters at a meet next year. Cheers!
I started loving motorvanning back in 1991 when my new wife and I borrowed a VW beetle bus for our three week honeymoon in California - and we were bitten! Teenagers and car requirements meant no motor van until they left home, but as the door closed behind the last one, it was into the classified ads and a Bedford CF based hi top was bought. It was fun, but leaked, unreliable and THIRSTY at 17 mpg and was appropriately named Brian - from the Magic Roundabout. We traded it in for a VW Holdsworth Villa and had many happy tours around Britain and Europe, but rust and horrendous repair bills saw a trade up to a Swift Sundance and 10 more years of memorable touring. Fiat reliability was dubious (rebuilt gearbox, new radiator, alternator, fan relay, rusted sump, rusted front cross member etc. etc. ) and the awful quality of the coachbuilt build and fittings did not detract from our love of the life, and it was a sad day when it had to go. A delaminated caravan door at £1200 to replace was a bill too far! We crossed to the dark side but the caravan was short lived; smashed to splinters by a careless driver and killing my wife in the process. 5 points and a £1200 fine..............! It was no good, despite this horror, I needed my motorvanning fixes and bought a Nu Venture Sand and had two year's fun in that, but the rear door severely hampered carrying a bike - and I did miss an on board shower when it was horrid outside! My trade in against my new Tribute T620 was what I had paid for the Sand on eBay two year's previously making it a no brainer! Two years down the line now, I have explored the UK and early on this year I had four weeks in Morocco with Blue Camel tours - highly recommended! I hate seeing it sitting on the drive during the pesky summer holidays when roads get crowded and everywhere is filled with "little people"......!
Next? Hopefully winter sun in Spain..... Now, did I tell you about 7 months in Western USA in a fifth wheeler?
Hope to meet some of you Funsters at a meet next year. Cheers!
