Is an A class too extravagant for one? (1 Viewer)

[GeoffC]

When my wife and I were looking to upgrade 3.5 years ago we chose a Bavaria i740 because it gave us more space, a great fridge an island bed and on board bathroom facilities that meant my wife, with advanced ms could use on bad days with us being totally self sufficient. We loved it and it allowed us to travel about within our own perfect environment. Sadly my wife died recently aged 52. The dust has yet to settle but I have been thinking about what to do with the van. My initial thought was to use it a bit and see how I felt about it. I wondered whether it would be better to buy a day type van and use it as a daily driver also.
I managed to get away for a few days before the latest lockdown and went to a small site in Whitchurch called Bramblewood Caravan Park. I used the shower in the van for the first time and found that it's actually quite good. I enjoyed my few days and realised that I do love the van. We bought the van new with some money I had at the time. If I sell it I'm unlikely to be able to buy something of that high cost again. I will only be able to move down the scale price wise.
In May I will be finishing a work contract. I'm not sure if I will be working again. I'm undecided about that. If I don't work it will give me the opportunity to travel about a bit. When we went to the continent previously, fuel costs were quite high as the mpgs in this van aren't great ( low to mid 20s). But Im also wondering whether it's just a bit extravagant to travel around alone in an A Class.
I'm also a little bit concerned that I may be a bit lonely motorhoming on my own. My wife and I were sociable sorts but often found that, whilst people on sites would exchange a few passing pleasantries that's about as far as it went. When I was part of a couple it didn't matter. I'm now wondering whether joining rallies may be better for me. My wife and I had always intended to take part in organised rallies but just never got round to it.
So I'm wondering whether to sell it and get a smaller van, or get a day van, dispensing of the need for a car. I'm just worried that I may regret moving down in van size, having enjoyed a bit if space and luxury.
Thought would be appreciated. Geoff

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi Geoff.

Im sorry to hear of your wife’s passing. That must be hard.

It depends what you want to do.

If you don’t need the space and assuming you will always be solo, I would downsize.

The only things I would recommend are:

Toilet
Shower
Gas oven
Big Tanks

Makes life so much easier and keeps you independent.

Happy & Safe travels

 

[mitzimad]

Size of van is very much a personnel choice if money is the problem regarding running costs i would down size now while you have sufficent equity in the present van to start with a decent smaller van
regarding the not speaking with people on site we to found it a bit isolating until we started to attend fun rallies which is totally different from that we made friends who weve since travelled with when this is all over come along to a rally or one of the shows

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Peter and Julie]

Condolences. For a bit of inspiration look at Tam's thread 'hunting Zorba' I personally would now find it hard to downsize.

 

[WESTY66]

First of all so sorry to hear of your loss, I have a similar size A class and god forbid me ever being in your situation, I really couldn’t see me swapping my A class for anything smaller.

 

[Speve]

If you are happy about what you have don’t change it, personally I like lots of space you can never have to much
stick with it for a while and use it when you can and enjoy it
please accept my sincere condolences

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Mikey RV]

Sorry to hear about losing your wife. If I was in your position I would keep the A class and enjoy it, sure your wife would say the same looking down on you. Go on some rallies and meet other like minded folk. Don’t be scared to talk to peaple, if they shun you because your single them it’s them that has a problem not you. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Janine]

So sorry to hear about your wife.

Why not keep your van for a couple of years and see how it fits you camping solo before making any more big decisions?

The Camping and Caravanning Club has many 'special interest' sections where you can go away for the weekend and get to know other like-minded people. I love the Folk Dance weekends where you can't help but get to know people!

 

[Chris]

Sorry for your loss.

I would keep the van. You have plenty of time to decide so don’t rush into a decision either way.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Condolences on your loss. Even solo I think it is worth keeping the van for now and see how you get on. There are plenty of solo campers on here and they are very sociable - keep an eye out for what is happening and take it from there. All the best

 

[EuroTrotters]

the other thing.

Low 20’s MPG

I run fleets of vans, along with having owned 4 motorhomes.

Low to mid 20’s is to be expected.

Unless you get a really fuel efficient PVC/Camper. Rather than a Motorhome. You not going to get high MPG figures.

Have a look at fuelly for user data on mpg.

Our 3 Mercedes Sprinters all returned around 25mpg. A 2001 2.7 5 cylinder and two 3 litre V6’s. I can get 30 out of 20 year old fiat Hymer class though.

Our newest Sprinter Van struggles to get into 30’s unless it’s on a long run and taken easy.

 

[Garfields]

Personally unless the size is restricting what you may want to do I would stick with what you know.
It sounds as if you like your current van
Differences in mpg unless you do mega miles don't make that much difference to the overall cost of running a van. Cost of changing the van would likely be more than you will save in fuel over a few years

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Phill D]

Hi i am sorry for your loss,

i would agree with many others Keep the van at least until you have had a good few weeks away in it , you like the van, you like everything about it so use it first.

then decide. things are probably a bit up in the air at the moment so hang in there and see how you feel.

 

[Riverbankannie]

So sorry your wife has died.
I would say stick with the MH for a while longer and start putting your name down for Funster rallies, they do get booked up!
It would give you a chance to use it again and go around and chat to others, dont sit and wait for them to come, go around the site, well any site really doesn’t have to be a rally, and ask them about their MH and what they like about it. I don’t suppose you will be able to stop them talking, but you will get a chat and you might make new friends you can meet up with again, and you can refine your own MH needs at the same time.

 

[Rapido925M]

Hi. I too am sorry for your loss: it must be awful to find yourself on your own in so many situations and only you can decide how to move things forward.

However, I will give you my thoughts but from a totally hypothetical stand point: please do not be offended by my stance.

I have asked myself the question "what would I do?" if I lost my wife (not a nice thought). We love our Aclass (we've had it almost 15y) and it gives us plenty of room (despite being only 6m long). When we meet up with family, who have larger vans, they usually come to us as we have more sociable space. We appreciate the drop-down bed, which is ready made-up for the night and which packs away easily in seconds. The bathroom is large and the shower is good.

But if I was on my own, would it be too large? My wife helps with maneuvering the van on site or when parking, despite it having reversing sensors and a camera: she just provides that extra confidence but I guess I could manage. She helps me to know what is on the LHS of the van: we have a pair of mirrors but I'm never 100% certain that I'm seeing everything. And she definitely helps at some road junctions.
Having said all that, I have driven solo on numerous occasions without any mishaps.

Would I want a double bed, even though it is tucked away throughout the day: is a single more appropriate and could be left made-up, using the "other" bench in a PVC or Cclass for sitting?
Will the memories of the times shared bring tears to my eyes because of the lack of new memories in our van?
Would a new vehicle give me a fresh start, especially if I considered meeting someone else (you are much younger than me)?

And at the moment (or when we get released from Lockdown) is it a sellers market with an opportunity to purchase something different in a years time at a better price?

Sorry that the decision will not be easy for you and I wish you all the best in coming to your conclusion. Whatever you choose to do please do not beat yourself up thinking how a different choice might have been better. We all walk our own path through life and we can never go back and change things. Good luck.

Best wishes - Gordon

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tim120]

Hi Geoff,
My condolences to you, it's a very difficult time.
Two and a quarter years ago I found myself in a similar situation to yourself having lost my wife after a short fight with very aggressive cancer. One piece of advice someone close who had been through a similar thing a good few years previously gave me was, don't make any major decisions for a couple of years. This for me has proved to be sound advice on more than one occasion. We bought a Swift Kon-Tiki because of the space and comfort it gave us. We loved it. Initially I thought it would be too large for me and considered downsizing. Luckily I had the chance to use it and followed our son (and about 850 others) cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats over nine days, he flew back to Gatwick on completion of the ride. I then took myself to Orkney and spent a week there came back and slowly worked my way back home using sites. I still loved the van so that experience was a deciding factor in keeping the van. Travelling alone is not easy, but time as they say.
I'm a member of other motorhome forums also and went along to one of their meets in the early part of this year as we were allowed. The first one I had been to and very glad I did. Made some new friends with a common interest. When we are allowed out again I will definitely attend other meets. Give yourself time before making major decisions.
All the best.
Tim.

 

[suavecarve]

Condolences.

If i were in your position, I would keep the van for a bit, not worry about the MPG, attend a couple of rallies and sit outside the van, weather permitting, with a bottle of wine if on a campsite.

We tend to only use campsites abroad, where the very high majority of people are not British, and have numerous conversations with several people, without moving. The Europeans are forever wanting to improve their English and it is generally them that start conversations. We find it very different to aires in that less conversations are had.
A dog is a great conversation starter if that is your thing

Best of luck

 

[CazPaul]

Do you find driving it a chore or manoeuvring difficult if taking it out for a run, would you be better with a smaller van conversion and would you then use it much more, for more weekends away and single days out.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ceejayt]

Very sorry to hear about your loss.

Look at all the threads pin here with people have various and different problems with their vans. Always better the devil you know.

If you like the van then enjoy the space it gives you and you should definitely KEEP IT AND ENJOY IT!

 

[Larrynwin]

Hi Geoff , I would take more time especially as things are at the moment with lockdown.
It would be easy to make a decision that you later regret when if not urgent , time is on your side and you will know when some normality returns and you take another trip or two what is the best way forward.
My condolences for the loss of your wife.
Best wishes.

 

[Wombles]

Hi Geoff - I'm very sorry to hear your sad news. When you feel ready as Riverbankannie suggested maybe come along on some Fun meets or rallies & you will be sure to get a warm welcome. If you want to chat there is always someone willing & sure that talking to others (some may be in a similar situation) will help you choose your way forward.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Wino]

When our son died we were both into mini's but his had been written off a while before. I have kept mine despite hardly using it I suspect partly because it was a link to him. I would hang on for a bit and try to think if that link through the motorhome might mean something to you ( his Mr Bean teddy we gave him with his mini still travels with us in our MH.
Sorry it's been a crap time for you.

 

[Tombola]

Id keep the van 100% for a while and each day Id remember the good times we had in the van.
use it as a good thing, smile when you shower, smile when you pack up, smile as much as you can remember the good times you had but most of all smile knowing that she woud want you to enoy it and have fun.

As for pleasantires with others at camp sites, meh, means nowt, I go away with my dogs alone a lot and sometimes dont speak a word to anyone except site staff apart from the odd good morning etc.

Good luck follow your heart, and remember you can always downsize.

 

[JRVC]

Hi Geoff,

My sincere condolences on your sad loss.

A few thoughts.

When talking to a motorhome salesman some time ago, he said “It tends to be the case that the fewer the people in it, the larger the van they have”. He was on his own and owned an A Class. Our neighbours have a small Camper and fill it with two adults and two large teenagers.

When we travelled abroad we always stayed on Aires and had many pleasant evenings when fellow travellers came into our motorhome as there was space.

I used to have help from my wife with navigating and reversing. Now that she is blind I rely on Satnav and camera.

Hope it helps,

John

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TUCANO]

Geoff,

My condolences on the death of your wife. When we discovered my wife had an incurable illness we went out and bought a van to 'live the dream', for awhile at least. After her death in 2008 I used the van once but decided that the memories were no good for me so I sold it, a new Autotrail Apache 634.

A number of years down the line now and I am onto my forth van, an A class Pilote but it is just 6 metres long, more than ample for me although there has been a lady in my life for the past three years.

My thoughts, keep your van and your memories, enjoy your 'another' life, stay safe.

Norman.

 

[Aly1]

Sorry for your loss Geoff.
When I lost my husband I kept the van for 18 months. I realised I didn’t need all the space and changed it for a PVC. I’m happy with my decision and much prefer driving and parking the PVC.
I don’t think you should make any decisions for at least a year. Keep your present van and see how you use it over the next year or two and then you will have a better understanding of your needs. There are lots of solo travellers with larger vans, you just need to take time and find out what’s right for you.

 

[Oscar]

So sorry to hear your sad news on the loss of your wife, can't even imahgine the pain and hurt you must be going through

Maybe, don't make any decisions regarding changing your motorhome at this moment in time, there are a couple of "meets" planned for Easter(Avon Bank, Wyre Piddle) and the Thetford Bash at the end of May - maybe put your name down & see how things go. You'll always find lots of friendly, helpful and kind Funsters on a meet

Whatever you decide, take your time, stay safe and take care.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[OllyHughes]

Hello GeoffC, I've been through what you're going through and my heart goes out to you, but it won't go on forever. I seriously though about getting a smaller van at the time, but didn't and I'm glad because I met someone and we get an awful lot of pleasure from my old van. You will get some good advice here, a lot of common sense will be spoken, but in the end it's your decision. If you get pleasure and satisfaction from you van and can afford to keep it on the road then give it time, Believe me you never know whats around the corner. Regards

 

[Cavs]

My condolences, Geoff.
I am in a similar position with my wife dying in September and now being the sole owner of a tag axle. Helen asked me to promise to keep motorhoming and I'm going to. I've thought about the size of the van but I've decided to keep it, not least because I've fixed everything on it! Changing wouldn't be worth it, certainly not merely to get something smaller.
As to company, we had booked two escorted motorhome tours for this year and I'm going on those (travel permitted!). They're a great way to find new friends as well as have company and support while away. Also, I've found the owners' club a great way to meet others.
My friends have all impressed on me not to make big decisions too early, much as others have said on this thread earlier.
Best wishes
Stephen

 

[Reallyretired]

Condolences on your loss. If you can afford to keep the motorhome and have no pressing reason to downsize then keep it. You can never have too much space.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}