Is our pastime in its last legs

[Royston]

We bought our first second hand van in 2001 ABI Dalesman 380/2 .

Since then i have logged every site visited total towing milage and the total costs of each visit.

Found out the Dalesman was to small so traded in for a Pageant Imperial another second hand bargain, The van we have at presant is a 2006 Bailey Ranger series 5 bought new under

 

[Oldfogey]

Chrisbee, As our van has neither bathroom facilities or any 12 volt electrics, our choice of CL's is severely limited, and as yet I have not found one in a location to suit for less than

 

[emmerson2]

Old Fogey, our three day break last week cost

 

[Oldfogey]

Sounds good - are you prepared to divulge the name of the site?

 

[tigger2]

We are going to Chertsey for 4 nights this week. We live on the Isle of Wight and the ferry fare will cost us

 

[emmerson2]

Oldfogey, just cos its you I'll tell you, but don't go telling anyone else! It's a CC cl near Leominster, called the Leen. It's in the book under "Norman", website www.the leen organics.

 

[Craig_374360216]

Well Alan, I feel so sad for what you have written. We are relatively new to caravaning, but feel the pinch!

We have a twin axle because we have a family, we need a jeep to pull it because of the weight.

A weekend although enjoyable, is expensive. Ithink th car takes just over

 

[MonkeyHanger]

Hi,

I live in the north east and last weekend we went away to a site towards whitby and it was a lovely little site with a pub on serving good food and nice views and we liked it that much I put my name down for a seasonal pitch.

It was

 

[Pulsynetic]

Alan, I know where your coming from, but the cost of fuel is my biggest concern and its set to go higher yet about time the government stepped in and did something about it.

We have been caravanning for 25+ years, sold our van we bought new in 2001for a few reasons.

1. The shear cost of fuel as it was a big van and our Terrano used quite a bit of fuel towing it.

2. The van was a complete load of rubbish from the day we collected it, made by the Explorer Group, it has had serious water ingress twice, every trip we had away in it, something would break, not work or fall off. It spent more time in the repairers than we had days in it. We both had a guts of full this van, first and last new one we will ever buy.

3. So in order that we can still enjoy caravanning and see parts of this country and Europe, without having to take out a mortgage to pay for fuel, we have gone back in time, when vans were lighter and better made. We have bought a 25 year old Esterel folder and its a dream to tow, the Terrano, (yes I know its OTT, till we can afford to change it for something smaller). The car doesn't even know its there, has all mod cons, except hot water, which I could fit if I wanted to and no shower. Well never used the shower in this new one we bought.

Our first caravan we had was a second hand 12 ft Mardon and would sleep 5, had gas lighting, and 12 volt, a foot pump for cold water, no fridge till I fitted a small one and then of course mains hook up.

We all piled into this little Mardon, 2 adults and 3 kids and had a great time in our little Mardon, about the same size as the Esterel, so you don't need a massive van if you have a family. Our children now of course all grown up, still have fond memories of their days in the little Mardon.

So the Esterel, OK my not have all the bells and whistles as a modern monster, but is still more up market than the Mardon we had which I think was dated 1971.

The Esterel cost a fraction of what this new van cost in 2001, insurance dropped from over

 

[Gumbo]

reading this thread with interest. I can't see that the Goverment can do much with tax on Fuel. 5p a litre would not make much difference to the cost of an average weekend away. I do think that some sites will start to see a difference in the number of bookings. Especialy the ones at the extreme of the country Cornwall/North Scotland etc ( the ones away from big population centres). Maybe the clubs and private owners will need to share some of the pain with regards to costs.

We will have to wait and see how full the M5 is in the summer, to see if peoples habits are changing

 

[MonkeyHanger]

I think the government could if they wanted do something about the price of fuel if we were french they would be blockades all over the place.

They are gaining both ways cos the price of fuel at the pumps has increased with oil prices the same oil that we farm out of the north sea so its money money money with the government.

they had to borrow millions to compensate for the 10p tax band which needs to be paid back there is also the cost of the war in the middle east then the compensation to the iraqi man who was accidently shot which was more than our own heros get.

so in theory the labour government wont help the british people who elected it they prefer to squander our money abroad so if you think the price of fuel will come down anytime soon forget it.

I to have thought long and hard about selling the van and going on a package but i would miss the weekends away but if the cost increases much more then its off to florida myself :-(

Andy

 

[alan_5039782]

cheers folks,thanks for your interest. It was with a heavy heart I chose this topic. I in no way wish to put anyone of this great pastime,and I can assure you passion of mine. 10 years and 3 caravans, been all over this great land and beyond. Firstly with a cavalier and old swift,eventually 5 series bmw old one and a sterling sapphire. Yes I will miss it desparatly,too be honest family now teenager so not much fussed. I feel quite strongly that I,as a working class individual, are being taxed taxed and more taxed, ripped off by site owners and yes by the caravan organisations and dealers. As has been said if this would have been France there would have been a blockade. I wonder why the big hauliers arent up in arms this time .....As I have said I do hope you all have a great summer,yes my Florida holiday is partly financed by sale of caravan. You never know if I win the lottery I might be back.............all the best, this is a great web site and forum....you have all been great to me with advice and assistance in the best.....so it is with a heavy heart I wish you all a farewell

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Wish I could afford Florida for 4 WEEKS.

I only get 3 Weeks a year off.

But have a great time out there wish I culd come?

 

[Icemaker]

well it seems that things really are changing which is what the post was about in the first place.

last year i started a post with a similar title regarding site fees and the increased cost of touring in this country and around 90 % of replies dissagread with me saying that caravans represented the best value for money and in no way was caravanning becoming too expensive.

well one year on and we have the same debate only this time things have changed, there are 38 replies above 17 of which are really not on the subject (replies to previous replies)so that leaves 21 replies.

12 of the replies state that the cost is still not an issue and 9 state that the cost is now becoming an issue, that not far off a 50 / 50 split and an increase of around 80 % from this time last year.

so is caravvaning becoming too expensive ?. it seems to me that it is, but i still wont sell the van yet.

 

[Steve_374360917]

Things will get even better when we get rid of Brown?

Steve.

 

[Andrew._374353608]

Not quite on it's last legs, if you like doing shows as I do I make a weekend of it, I agree about caravan parks, proper rip off merchants.

Andrew.

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Far from being on its last legs. Im surprised how many people we get on site looking at caravans for the first time. Most say they are fed up with the hassle and cost of package holidays and see caravanning as a better value option.

 

[WendyCambs]

Remenber Blair ten years ago? - "Things can only get better!"

I remember Ted Heath!!!!!! - 3 days working, power cuts, food shortages.......I could go on!!!!!

 

[Keith_374300626]

You're welcome to 4 weeks in Florida. I'll stick to 2 weeks in France in a caravan. In fact 3 days would be better than four weeks in Florida

 

[Marsha_374361062]

We've just bought our first, haven't paid everything out we need to or had a holiday yet, but one thing that was very obvious when costing a holiday with a van was they weren't a 'cheap' holiday. However for me the cost will be absorbed partly in being able to take my 2 woofing family members with us. I currently

 

[kenneth_374315528]

Keith you can stick your wo weeks in France. Give me West of Scotland anytime. Glorious sun, traffic free roads, midges. What more could you wish for. Ken

 

[CousinJack]

i've just bought my first van too. at 3 and a half grand, not pocket money. as i'll be towing it with my better half's 3.3 litre petrol engined Chrysler Voyager, fuel is going to be considerable too. But it's going to mean a lot more impromptu weekends away, like last weekend (our first trip - only bought he van the weeknd before)even though we had to borrow a friend's towcar due to a cockup with getting the towbar fitted to said Voyager. The cost does mean that there'll be no more fortnight's in Southern Europe, but I think that will be the case soon anyway - Ryanair et al won't be able to keep their prices down with fuel costs rising as they are.

I'm thinking of getting the car converted to LPG or even diesel (there's a place near us selling biodieslel made from old cip fat at

 

[christanne_374359649]

Hi I dont think it is on its way out, I was a single parent with 3 kids in the 80s and my caravan made sure my kids always had a holiday, when i could not afford to tow one we used a tent, than a trailer tent, i have now just purchased a sprite cadat which is a very sweet small van for me and my partner and we intent to be using for many years yet

chrissy

 

[garylincs]

Hi alan is

 

[Avril_374306697]

Having just worked out the sums we use our van for 24 days in the year to be precise - 1 week at easter 2 in the summer and a weekend in sept, the last three trips have cost us