RYCKO Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 We're here, in the middle of a field on a little CL and we want for nothing. Our friends can't believe we have a fridge, gas powered, can have a hot shower when ever we want, watch tv if we so wish (but we don't, too much to do in the local area) endless power (this time of year) with our solar panels, cooking in both oven and bbq. .... Can life get better? Do your friends show the green eyed monster now and again ? 5 Quote Power unit at front all the time, Van behind (hopefully) some of the time unless I'm reversing then it's all the other way round . .... Or is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alsie Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 No! our friends think we are mad sitting in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. but we know differently. Are they jealous, not at all but it is their loss! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevan Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 For some reason, many of them would rather have 10 days of sun, sand and concrete than 60 days in various fields spread around our green and pleasant land! That's what I call mad. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogwyth Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Friends who have seen our van are gob-smacked to find we have a proper bed in a proper bedroom, a bathroom, kitchen and lounge! We see our 'van as a holiday cottage with a different view every time we go away and less cleaning at the end of the break, 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WispMan Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 No. They all go on about holding the traffic up. Quote Graham Unless otherwise stated all posts are my personal opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbroker Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Probably 90% of our friends are caravanners also. ..all 5 of them! geoff 2 Quote Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvomark Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 We get a lot of stick from our non caravanning friends but my kids are getting the best things from life, exercise, fresh air, and most of all enjoyment. They wouldn't understand cause they have never done it! secretly I believe they are jealous of the places we have been and enjoyed. 1 Quote Volvo XC90 D5 AWD, Lunar Ultima 615,Towing at 62% You have a second chance at life it's called tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobloseven Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 When we've got the caravan hitched up outside the house, neighbours will sometimes ask if they can have a look inside. They ooh and aah when they see we've got a toilet,shower fridge,cooker etc. but I'm sure they think we're mad which we probably are. Each to their own I say. We were in Rome earlier in the year on an organized trip. It was great,but loads of walking,very full itinerary and not much free time and I kept thinking how nice it would be to be able to have a caravan to go back to for a sit(or lie)down and a nice cup of tea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Grouse Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Probably 90% of our friends are caravanners also. ..all 5 of them! geoff It's a shame about the odd 0. 5 then! Quote 2015 VW Touareg 3. 0 V6 TDI + 2013 Lunar Clubman ES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Medes Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Pity there is nt a 12 volt hairdryer fthat does the job for Mrs M Quote Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindatows Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Let her hair dry naturally then use gas powered curling tongs. Where there is a will there is a way. Enjoy. Quote 2014 Skoda Superb Estate 4x4 diesel automatic /2001 Swift Charisma 220. Caravaning since 1975 (Monza 1400 CT; Viking Fiberline; Bucaneer Elan 14; Bucaneer Elan 15; Elddis Huracane; Lunar Delta 610/4; Swift Charisma 220) How time flies. I do all the towing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Pity there is nt a 12 volt hairdryer fthat does the job for Mrs M Just drive around for a bit, with her head stuck out of the window. Lateral thinking, which is what you'll be; lateral, when you suggest it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotsstag Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 It's a shame about the odd 0. 5 then! ? Why is it a shame about half of them. ? Quote Defender 90 cruising along with a Coachman Laser 640/4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogwyth Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Not half of them but half a person - 10% of 5! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milkymarsh Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 We now have our van on the drive (long story). Anyway a few months ago a couple of them asked to have a look. They were speechless as to the luxury of it and the fact that you aren't cooped up in 60's van hell. Some of them were off to stay in a static van not much bigger at a vastly inflated price. We're happy with our little house on wheels 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindaw Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 My sister,who is a non caravaner,says it's not the same as a real holiday!!!!!She goes every year on holidays abroad,hours of driving to airport. Waiting about to be hearded on a hot plane. Driving the other end to a resort,queues for meals,Sun beds etc. Yes she may get glorious Sun,but that's not what it's about. Peace,and quiet,a view,and being free to come and go as you please. We have been overseas,Spain,alcudia,Brittany. Loved it in Brittany,we took the van,very relaxing. Just not keen on the cost of the ferry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD NICK Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 our friends (both of them ) love to hear of our travels & wish they had the gumption years ago to have bought a caravan & travelled all over the continent as we have done,instead of travelling through airports with all the hassle only to finish up in a hotel with hundreds of others, Quote van Bessacar 625 towed by Mercedes M class 3. 2 cdi. we do 6mths at home (winter) 6mths touring (summer) Retired & loving it.--------- Adventure before Dementia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanie Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I wouldn't say that they are jealous, more surprised, surprised that we haven't been cold or that I can cook a meal and watch TV and still go out and about and see and do things. When I talk to the locals, what surprises me is that they know very little about their own county, let alone the country, mostly because they go as far as the nearest airport. Quote Happy Days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towandfro Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I have an interesting anecdote on this subject. A couple of years ago we had a major electrical problem in our house. ( a major dig up the garden and replace cable job) Anyway, we had no electric for a day, not hot water etc, So, having our caravan parked on the drive, (a 2010 sterling Moonstone then) we fired up the caravan systems, got the kettle on and made tea & bacon sarnies for the workmen. One of them was so impressed, he contacted me later and asked for buying advice on a Caravan------yep, he was converted!!!! We have stayed good freinds ever since and are in regular contact swapping caravan stories etc. .. I think there are a lot of people who, if they got out of the armchair and went and had a look at a few modern caravans, would have a different take on us " tin wobbleboxers" lol 3 Quote Remember yesterday,dream of tomorrow, live for today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinetours Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I was a later convert than some and have only been doing this for about 6 years but basically my signature line is all about this topic. You simply wont understand unless you've tried it. Its not that i don;t like other sorts of holiday because I do, and have done both in the same year. its just that as a family for great memories and trips to new places in Europe and here at home its pretty hard to beat the freedom and pleasure of what we all do in a comfortable warm well equipped modern holiday home on wheel basically. Many of our friends do enviously comment at times and indeed some have bought their own caravan and motorhomes since i certainly never used to "get it" Quote Unless you've tried it, you simply won't understand. ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinL Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Pity there is nt a 12 volt hairdryer fthat does the job for Mrs M When we go off EHU and use the solar panel my Mrs uses a mains hairdrier with a 600W setting. I have a small invertor that I run off the caravan battery which powers her hairdrier well. She doesn't have long hair and it's quite fine, it only takes her 5 minutes maximum. We have done a month on THS's like this without problem and she washes her hair in the shower every day. 80 W solar panel and 85 AH leisure battery. I switch off the invertor at other times. Quote 2001 Swift Charisma 230. Volvo V70 TDI Auto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobloseven Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Must say for me there's something strangely satisfying about not being connected to the mains. Solar panel is a great help though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Medes Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 When we go off EHU and use the solar panel my Mrs uses a mains hairdrier with a 600W setting. I have a small invertor that I run off the caravan battery which powers her hairdrier well. She doesn't have long hair and it's quite fine, it only takes her 5 minutes maximum. We have done a month on THS's like this without problem and she washes her hair in the shower every day. 80 W solar panel and 85 AH leisure battery. I switch off the invertor at other times. Thanks for that Colin, what size Inverter do you use as I am not that techy minded Quote Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinL Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Thanks for that Colin, what size Inverter do you use as I am not that techy minded The invertor I use is a 600W modified sine wave and it's permanently mounted in the van. When we are not on EHU I switch off the caravan charger and use a short 13A home to caravan inlet cable plugged into the invertor. The hairdrier can then be plugged into one of the caravan sockets. Quote 2001 Swift Charisma 230. Volvo V70 TDI Auto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Medes Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 The invertor I use is a 600W modified sine wave and it's permanently mounted in the van. When we are not on EHU I switch off the caravan charger and use a short 13A home to caravan inlet cable plugged into the invertor. The hairdrier can then be plugged into one of the caravan sockets. Thanks for that, I will look into this, sounds a great idea that will keep Mrs M happy 1 Quote Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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