Motorhomes & Campervans off grid Vs Traditional?

[Pirahna]

DONT get an Adventure before Dementia sticker.

Or...

"Living the dream"

I am in a few self build camper groups and every time when someone posts a picture up of them camping you can guarantee some plank will say that. Even if parked up in a supermarket car park for the night.

Having lived in mine for six months I don't have anything good to say about full time van life, I can think of plenty of reasons why I'd not do it again though. Great for a holiday and that's about as far as it goes. I'd be very happy to strap a tent on a bicycle and see the World that way though.

[Taipan]

My only sticker will be this one! Yee haa!

[Yorick]

In the original LMH, I had a checklist on the wall, summat like this..

Dog.
Beer.
Gas.
Batteries.
Meat.
BBQ
Wife
Cushions

[Felix]

Having lived in mine for six months I don't have anything good to say about full time van life, I can think of plenty of reasons why I'd not do it again though. Great for a holiday and that's about as far as it goes. I'd be very happy to strap a tent on a bicycle and see the World that way though.

Think i could do 5-6 weeks max. More so with just two. Did you want to strangle the wife? I know i would want to kill mine Next year is three weeks. 10 nights in the van has been the longest but having said that when we got into a routine of setting up camp and erecting the awning as in who does what task it turned into less of a chore. Quicker it was done then quicker you can relax with a beer sitting in the sun.

[Yorick]

Before we came here, I did 2 long trips here with Elvis. Pen flew over for a week as she was still teaching. I have pals all over France and Spain so was cool. Also had the GSXR inside so did Almeria and Jerez on the way over.
Both were awesome trips of about 7 weeks

[Felix]

Alone i think i could do months easily but two in such a small area 24/7, not so much

[Pirahna]

Having lived in mine for six months I don't have anything good to say about full time van life, I can think of plenty of reasons why I'd not do it again though. Great for a holiday and that's about as far as it goes. I'd be very happy to strap a tent on a bicycle and see the World that way though.

Think i could do 5-6 weeks max. More so with just two. Did you want to strangle the wife? I know i would want to kill mine Next year is three weeks. 10 nights in the van has been the longest but having said that when we got into a routine of setting up camp and erecting the awning as in who does what task it turned into less of a chore. Quicker it was done then quicker you can relax with a beer sitting in the sun.

Much of our time has been spent on aires in Spain and France. Wifey insisted on spending £800 on a fancy awning which took up a huge bit of storage despite being told she'd never get to use it. Aires are for parking not for camping, so the awning hasn't been out of the bag.

Going on holiday is great, you usually know where you're going. One of the biggest problems for me is not having a plan. I hate the random "where shall we go tomorrow" side of it. Driving around aimlessly from one random place to the next, I have a vague memory of some places and some of the people we met, other places and people never happened. Wifey seems to remember everyone and everywhere though. I've met a lot of people living in vans and they all have different coping strategies. Some will drive between two or three different places and not really go too far. Some will winter in place and summer in another. Some do just drive around but when you talk to them they can't remember where they've been or who they've met.

Ours is up for sale, the bloke who did the conversion is handling the sale, I can't wait to see the back of it. The tent is coming out of storage next week for a few nights and I'm genuinely looking forward to it. We'll probably get another camper at some point, it'll just get used for holidays with a specific destination in mind.

[Yorick]

Having lived in mine for six months I don't have anything good to say about full time van life, I can think of plenty of reasons why I'd not do it again though. Great for a holiday and that's about as far as it goes. I'd be very happy to strap a tent on a bicycle and see the World that way though.

Think i could do 5-6 weeks max. More so with just two. Did you want to strangle the wife? I know i would want to kill mine Next year is three weeks. 10 nights in the van has been the longest but having said that when we got into a routine of setting up camp and erecting the awning as in who does what task it turned into less of a chore. Quicker it was done then quicker you can relax with a beer sitting in the sun.

Much of our time has been spent on aires in Spain and France. Wifey insisted on spending £800 on a fancy awning which took up a huge bit of storage despite being told she'd never get to use it. Aires are for parking not for camping, so the awning hasn't been out of the bag.

Going on holiday is great, you usually know where you're going. One of the biggest problems for me is not having a plan. I hate the random "where shall we go tomorrow" side of it. Driving around aimlessly from one random place to the next, I have a vague memory of some places and some of the people we met, other places and people never happened. Wifey seems to remember everyone and everywhere though. I've met a lot of people living in vans and they all have different coping strategies. Some will drive between two or three different places and not really go too far. Some will winter in place and summer in another. Some do just drive around but when you talk to them they can't remember where they've been or who they've met.

Ours is up for sale, the bloke who did the conversion is handling the sale, I can't wait to see the back of it. The tent is coming out of storage next week for a few nights and I'm genuinely looking forward to it. We'll probably get another camper at some point, it'll just get used for holidays with a specific destination in mind.

I remember watching the build and it was very good. But it was very personalised. Will that affect resale value ?

[Pirahna]

I remember watching the build and it was very good. But it was very personalised. Will that affect resale value ?

The builder reckons not, in fact it's priced above what it cost.

People are still buying campers like mad, the problem is the supply of new vehicles because of the chip shortage. Vehicle makers are saying it'll all be over and back to normal soon, Intel and other chip makers are saying two years at best. This is what's keeping prices high and decent vehicles in high demand. A base van in same spec as mine, highest power engine, auto box and all the toys will take over a year to arrive. Mine is the extended body and that's no longer available as a VW, you'll need to buy the MAN version, and everyone wants a VW when they're buying a camper.

[weeksy]

If only we had forum promoting stickers.

[Taipan]

If only we had forum promoting stickers.

https://tinyurl.com/bdh433sj

[Taipan]

Drove up to a campsite just outside Hunstanton. Camper drove lovely but needs tracking done as it pulls to the left slightly.

Wife put bunting up and fairy lights which means she loves it and will undoubtedly name the camper! She act really likes it and we bought some nice recliner chairs and a table for outside, but it’s too cold to sit outside now, but they’ll get used in Spain!

Had to suss out how to get the heating working as it’s got chilly. Toasty in here now. Been playing round in here and got the tv working which was a dumb move as now the wife is watching BGT! Might watch Jamaica Inn on dvd in a minute.

The clubhouse is a bit disappointing and apparently if we get a cab into the little town we won’t get one back again! So looks like it’s film night in the camper van, hey, it’s still rock n roll to me!

[Jo.Hab]

As part of our preparations for the camping season with our new trailer, I spent the previous several days constructing a bike rack. The concept was inspired by Lippert Components, but I customized it to match our trailer. The trailer's only modifications were to: - strengthen the connection between the 2x4 tube and the bumper (added a 1/4 inch) "on top of a plate).
- Strengthen the connection between the 2x4 tube and the I-beam: they were welded together at two connection locations along the length of the tube, but I filled it with a snug fit hardwood 1.75"x3.75" filler and then inserted two 5/8" I-beams "through the tube/I-beam thick bolts The bolts keep the two together even if the welds fail.
I installed the spare tire and then did little leaps from the top of the rack, which felt extremely substantial.
It needs to be painted.

[Taipan]

Finished the service today.





where to host images

[Felix]

Nice bus conversion

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 927045520/

[Taipan]

When I got the Camper it'd not long been MOT'd. the only advisories were;

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

However, when driving with the window open I'd swear I could hear a metallic squeak from the OSF, which the slightest tap of the brake pedal silenced. So in case it was worn pads I decided it'd be prudent to check the. I couldn't quite see the pads through the wheels holes so I decided to take the wheel off to be sure.

Although I was just taking the wheel off to have a glimpse at the pads, I still decided to put an axle stand under the chassis. This was just as well as my jack suddenly decided to let go and not maintain pressure at all! The trouble was the axle stand height was lower than the height I needed to get the back wheel on. So I had my Son keep pumping up the jack whilst I tried to lift the heavy bastard wheel onto its 2 locating pins. That was a very frantic 10 minutes with sweat pouring into my eyes which didn't help either! As a youth working in a garage I was always taught to never work under a jack and always use stands or supports, I;m glad I listened to that advice!

[Taipan]

I decided to day I need to get a scooter on the back of my camper. Anyone know anything about racks that wil take that kind of weight?

[Felix]

When I got the Camper it'd not long been MOT'd. the only advisories were;

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

However, when driving with the window open I'd swear I could hear a metallic squeak from the OSF, which the slightest tap of the brake pedal silenced. So in case it was worn pads I decided it'd be prudent to check the. I couldn't quite see the pads through the wheels holes so I decided to take the wheel off to be sure.

Although I was just taking the wheel off to have a glimpse at the pads, I still decided to put an axle stand under the chassis. This was just as well as my jack suddenly decided to let go and not maintain pressure at all! The trouble was the axle stand height was lower than the height I needed to get the back wheel on. So I had my Son keep pumping up the jack whilst I tried to lift the heavy bastard wheel onto its 2 locating pins. That was a very frantic 10 minutes with sweat pouring into my eyes which didn't help either! As a youth working in a garage I was always taught to never work under a jack and always use stands or supports, I;m glad I listened to that advice!

Guy up the road from me now lives in a wheelchair. Guess why. Crazy thing is my mechanic mate live a few doors down and quite happy to crawl under cars with just a trolly jack. He does own 4T axle stands. We will be changing my pitted disks this Sunday on the camperbus and he will use axle stands. Not having blood in my street.

[Felix]

I decided to day I need to get a scooter on the back of my camper. Anyone know anything about racks that wil take that kind of weight?

Armitage i think the company is called who make scooter and bike racks.

[Taipan]

@kungfoobob what was that scooter you had for your motor home?