Your first Motorhome

Ranger

Ranger

Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Posts
462
Likes collected
381
Location
Lincolnshire
Funster No
4,767
MH
PVC, S&L Iveco
Exp
45 years
Aimed mainly at people like us that has been doing it for quite a while. I'll start it of with our first van: A Bedford CA Martin Walters Dormobile Romany, 1600cc petrol with three speed box which had quite a high top gear and very low bottom gear made life interesting followed by a BMC J4 Dormobile. We then upgraded to a VW Bay window Westfalia and we really thought we had arrived. Enjoy the reminisces.
 
Hi p reg 1800cc auto sleeper elevating roof Sherpa with seized king pins would go round in circles all day long
 
my first was a Commer Ju van that I converted with the help of my brother. As I was an apprentice panelbeater/paintsprayer changed from the sh1t beige to a cream and burgundy colour scheme.
Then I had the first (of a few) 1972 VW Bay window.Then a Merc 208d, 709D lwb, Transit hi top lwb all converted by myself and brother.
Now many, many, years later we just collected our latest an Elddis Autoquest 175 earlier this month.
 
I converted ( of sorts) a commer mini bus back in 1979.

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copy of original Photo hence date incorrect
 
The very first engine I changed on a vehicle was on a Commer like the one in your picture Terry, I was apprenticed to a Routes Group Dealer back then.

My first MoHo was the Bedford on the right in this picture.A Richard Holdworth Conversion
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Home converted VW rusty bay. Early 70s


edit That means I've been motorhoming in one form or another for 40 years:eek: (and it don't seem a day too long)
 
Hey popeye, I was a apprentice at a Rootes Group Dealer in Bristol back then (1963).
 
1973 vw camper late bay window tintop called Tom (still have this van under slow restoration now :-) )
1972 vw camper early bay window pop top called Jerry
1987 vw camper t25 hightop called Tufty
1999 autotrail 590 called Toots
2004 autotrail 700 (curent van) called Ela.

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Only ever having camped we jumped in at the deepend and bought a new Laika Ecovip back in 1999. Kept that for four years before we saw a new Frankia I650SD at the Northern Motorhomes Show at York and promptly swapped them. Still got it and still delighted with it. We have never named them, they are simply "the van".
 
1973 Holdsworth camper on a transit,1979 Bedford CF home conversion by a cabinet maker it had a 1600 engine in and it was so heavy it wouldn't pull me caravan,1984 Transit self build camper, 1971 Volkswagen Danbury I loved this and so did Sylv . 2001 Swift 590 RS didn't like that bought a 2001 Ford Transit Buccaneer Clipper, am now sellin this and have bought an old 1995 Mobilvetta Euroyacht cos it were cheap and it got beds:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
We had a Commer Highwayman.....Great truck, 1600cc. Just about pull you up a hill.........:)

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My first motorhome was a scout patrol tent in the 50's. I enjoyed scratching the insect bites so much that I have camped ever since. Loved the bright orange frame tents that got bleached in the sun along with cooking the occupiers in the hot weather. My first "Tin tent" was a 1972 VW Bay Window Devon Moonraker Camper (Pictured below)that pulled an Eriba Puck caravan. I am on my third motorhome now, a Hymer Exsis i688.
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Wifey and I are now retired and loving it! :D

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Our first coach built... about 1978,,, after various van conversions..

Picture a bit blurry.. Some where in Cornwall.. :doh:

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The first was a Standard Atlas Dormobile conversion with a 998 cc Standard 10 engine. No photos survive of that, thank goodness.
The first with photographic evidence is my Commer self build, I think with a 1725 Hillman Minx engine. I travelled all over France in that one and the last I heard of it, it was on Corfu
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.
 
Started off with a 1966 VW splitscreen Devon conversion in 1977, had a 67 also after that, then a bay window VW panel van and a 1965 VW kemperink it's a Dutch conversion, then went on to T4's then a Winnebago Journey now a Burstner Tag axle.
The 65 Kemperink
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That six wheeled split screen looks interesting. Could the rear axle be lifted to aid traction and what engine did it have as looks a bit big for a 1200cc to pull?

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Our first van was the one I've sold this week. 1995 Holdsworth Minuet, we've had him (Eric) for 7 years and used him loads! Now bought a VW
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Compass Calypso, only 9 months newer than the old van, but hey, we're not all rich lol! Learned to drive in my fathers 1972 VW bay window, so campervans are in my blood :)
 
Ranger said:
That six wheeled split screen looks interesting. Could the rear axle be lifted to aid traction and what engine did it have as looks a bit big for a 1200cc to pull?
Click to expand...

The front axle was put on by one of the owners a 70's custom job, it does nothing just for looks, the rear axle is factory and the engine was a 1600 with webbers, not the fastest of things, got done for loitering before speeding. You had to be careful when going over speed humps because if you went too slow the front back axle would leave you suspended in mid air as the rear wheels drive. The Kemperrink was a Dutch conversion.
 
A Beford Pioneer coach built in 1988... Must have some photos of it somewhere must have a look for them.
It had a petrol engine and top speed of about 55mph but it took us all over the continent only breaking down once when the diff went in Luxonbourg.
 
Mikey RV said:
The front axle was put on by one of the owners a 70's custom job, it does nothing just for looks, the rear axle is factory and the engine was a 1600 with webbers, not the fastest of things, got done for loitering before speeding. You had to be careful when going over speed humps because if you went too slow the front back axle would leave you suspended in mid air as the rear wheels drive. The Kemperrink was a Dutch conversion.
Click to expand...
I see now, I thought the middle axle was the drive axle as it has got the VW lean due to the suspension so in that case the chassis must have been lengthened along with the all the cables and gearchange rods.
 
1st van "conversion" of sorts June/July 1968 was a mini van,mattress in the back touring I.O.M and
Scotland was our honeymoon with 1st misses no pics but great memories :) and still good friends now.

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That's brought back even earlier memories of motorised camping. a mate and I converted a Ford Prefect into a camper by taking the back seat out, modifying the front seats to make two beds and set off for at night for Devon. We got nearly there and decided to stop and sleep so went a few yards up a lane from the road, clothes off into sleeping bags and to sleep. Awoke 10 ish on Sunday morning to sound of voices and found we were parked on the track up to a church. It was at this point lying naked in our sleeping bags that we thought curtains would have probably been a good idea.
 

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