feeling old?

A fair percentage of those shiny new vans will be Fiats think of all those shiny new clutches about to burn out or judder themselves to pieces.

None of you will experience the thrill of having bendy wipers. I feel sorry for you all. 8O

Better the devil you know Mavis.

Can bendy wipers be retro fitted?

Kev.

A lot of those 'shiny new vans' will also be hire vans. It is more popular to hire in Europe than to buy.

When Flo and I were in Salzburg for New Year, over 75% of the 'vans on the site with us were hired....................and 99.9% of the 'vans on the site were Italian!!!!!!!! The other 0.1%????? US!!!!

chrisblack said:

just doing a tour round france and feeling a little old... Our 1992 Dethleffs is seriously outnumbered by new shiny looking vans...

anyone else touring in an older van?

chris

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How do they keep them shiny! Ours seems to just attract dirt! Our Kontiki is 13 years old this year but it only had 36000 miles on the clock when we got it a year ago so its only just run in! I think Michelle would like a newer van but a new Kontiki is £62k+ I think. I would never buy a new vehicle as the depreciation would be heart breaking. If we get into it in a big way and go full timing then we may have to think about upgrading but you see plenty of older vans around going strong and probably just as reliable as the newer ones.

We swapped our lovely Hymer in Feb and miss certain things about it like its shower was fab and this one is not that fab! Little niggles keep occurring and nothing niggled us in Hymer we only had to change because we outgrew it.

Our shiny new one though is bigger and better layout for us but felt quite sad saying bye to the Hymler but onward we go. The shine soon disappears when ya come home to flypie on the front!!

Greenie

barryd said:

chrisblack said:

just doing a tour round france and feeling a little old... Our 1992 Dethleffs is seriously outnumbered by new shiny looking vans...

anyone else touring in an older van?

chris

Click to expand...

How do they keep them shiny! Ours seems to just attract dirt! Our Kontiki is 13 years old this year but it only had 36000 miles on the clock when we got it a year ago so its only just run in! I think Michelle would like a newer van but a new Kontiki is £62k+ I think. I would never buy a new vehicle as the depreciation would be heart breaking. If we get into it in a big way and go full timing then we may have to think about upgrading but you see plenty of older vans around going strong and probably just as reliable as the newer ones.

Click to expand...

The weather damages the Gel Coat and it becomes porous so the dirt sticks.
Lots of elbow grease is needed as the years go on.
The boat restorer I used did a great job but I still have to polish once a month at least.

Kev_n_Liz said:

Better the devil you know Mavis.

Can bendy wipers be retro fitted?

Kev.

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They can indeed!

I bought a set of retro bendies for Porky when I had the car svc'd and when I got home found Porky already had bendy wipers so I have a spare set just in case it rains. 8) Incidently the car already had bendies on too so I looked a tad stupid when I asked them to change them to bendies.

But they have changed my life. When I go to parties or weddings I only have to mention bendy wipers and the crowds throng about me. I am considering taking my spare set to the next party to show them off. 8)

We've got a 19yr old Hymer Camp, bought for £6k, not immaculate, but tidy and dry inside - wouldn't trade it for any of the newer Swifts i often see at the showrooms nearby. In fact then only thing i would trade it in for is slightly newer Hymer or Burstner, but still no younger than 14yrs old.

With older and simpler vehicles we stop looking at the van and look out of the windows more often.

Older mh probably means cherished with no or little loan to pay not likley to be broken int or stolen

Newer shiny means i have spent a fortune and still owe most of it and bits keep falling off it. Expensive so to a thief worth breaking into or stealing

Personally i purchased at 6 months old three and a bit years ago.
Bessie will be with us until we finish mh ing. Many years i hope
I know where wife puts everything unlike the kitchen at home


dave P

older vans

hi had a new 07 reg x250,,,,, intention was run for work for year than have it converted. new clutch 4000 miles new gearbox 13000 miles 2x timing injectors. 7 weeks in dock ,28 recalls in 12 months sold van got less than 50% of purchase price back 12months old with 20000 miles

bought 1987 f reg autotrial chieftain on merc 609. 60000 miles no electronics abs ecu or untried mumbo jumbo, new cab seats from latest sprinter new rear upholstery, new carpets full service, mot, habitat service 7 new tyres been germany twice all over england sits at 60 mph on motorway does 25mpg cost £9500 all in
only down side cant go inside m25

hmmm, well, I spoke too soon... all those "shiny new vans" must be weekenders..

today, monday, what do I find, 3 dethleffs vans, like mine arrive on site, not to mention a few others on a similar age ducato chassis..

older vans "drive on!"

chris

I wonder if the governments scrappage scheme works for motorhomes. Get a very old van, stick an old mattress in it and sell it to John Cross for £2000 and get a nice shiny new Swift with bendy wipers. 8)

Pusser said:

I wonder if the governments scrappage scheme works for motorhomes. Get a very old van, stick an old mattress in it and sell it to John Cross for £2000 and get a nice shiny new Swift with bendy wipers. 8)

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Whilst I'm willing to agree that Johns Cross is a good outfit, (one of a limited few, who are continually good) I think even they would need the balance of the cost of the new MH, which leaves me out.

I wonder if the new scrappage thing means they have to be scrapped officially before they get the £2k.

Kev.

PS is there a technical term for these "bendy wipers"

My van is coming up for 10 years old and the wife and I were thinking of trading up; we'd need to put about £10k with it, realistically, to get anything markedly better. Then we decided that as we liked the van, and it is reliable, economical and comfortable - what's the point? We could put a re-con engine in, paint jog, new upholstery etc. for less than £10k. So that's what we'll do.