Pain versus Pleasure (1 Viewer)

[TUCANO]

I am in the initial stages of selling my van, arthritic joints being a contributory factor, however l feel l spend more time worrying about the van, keeping it clean, maintaining it, storing it etc than l do actually enjoying being out in it.
Cost is also another consideration, spend lots but use little.
For personal reasons my partner has no desire to go abroad with me, my fault admittedly.
I was at the recent Shuttleworth air display and a guy with exactly the same van got chatting to me, on a pain versus pleasure scale l rated my feelings as 75% pain and only 25% pleasure.
The other guy was 99% pleasure and 1% pain.
Would others care to share their feelings regarding their own vans, if l knew how to compose a survey it would be easier l suppose. !
I look forward to any/all replies, thank you.

 

[PaddyM]

It’s a very fluid graph , currently in Southern Spain with a broken hab door locking mechanism , so 100 to 0 pis*ed off at the mo .

 

[Sandancers]

The good points about owning a MH for us are;

Going places with the grandchildren, so if we go to a holiday camp or campsite with them then staying in the MH is a big part of their fun.

Going away ourselves to festivals or abroad.

Pottering about with it, altering stuff or adding stuff to it.


The bad parts are paying for the running costs, MOT, insurance, road fund.

Knowing how vulnerable they are, a small amount of damage could write it off.

The fear of breaking down miles from home or a different Country and all the attendant hassle involved.


The pleasure outweighs the pain right now, but I guess in about 10 years as we get older and say "been there done that" and the grandkids don't want to go away with the oldies anymore then it will be more pain than pleasure and time to sell it.

 

[TUCANO]

So would you say 50/50.

The good points about owning a MH for us are;

Going places with the grandchildren, so if we go to a holiday camp or campsite with them then staying in the MH is a big part of their fun.

Going away ourselves to festivals or abroad.

Pottering about with it, altering stuff or adding stuff to it.


The bad parts are paying for the running costs, MOT, insurance, road fund.

Knowing how vulnerable they are, a small amount of damage could write it off.

The fear of breaking down miles from home or a different Country and all the attendant hassle involved.

 

[Sandancers]

So would you say 50/50.

Sorry I added a bit after your quote.

Right now, 80% pleasure and 20% pain.

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[Puddleduck]

We sold ours because we were unable to use it due to family issues. Over the last few years it had been a home from home as I nursed my Dad through dementia and being in it brought back the tears and memories of bad times.

I no longer have a driving licence and Martin will soon be 70 and he doesn't want to do the C1 medical. I do miss it but it became a liability rather than a pleasure.

Perhaps one day we will get another motorhome but the time isn't right at the moment.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Our present experience is more 95% pleasure 5% pain but am thinking of lending the van to my oldest son so suspect it will swing to 95% pain and 5% pleasure .Although I haven’t mentioned it to the wife yet

 

[Janine]

I have been thinking along similar lines.

I am 2 weeks into a possible 6 week bimble round the southwest of England. There are so many little bays and villages that I would love to go to but are totally impractical to visit in the van although its only 5.2 metres.

I am planning each stop around the availability of buses which means I am doing the same route as last year.

Should I buy a static caravan and come down in my car?

Also, as I get older, I am becoming more risk-averse. What if I break down? Will the RAC transport the dog?

The upcoming Bank Holiday has me in a spin, anticipating Cornwall being gridlocked. I am aiming to stay put on a campsite for 5 nights. Will I get bored?. Will I have enough food? Should I just go home?

The dog has been plagued with ticks, I have been eaten alive by midges. These things are so much easier to cope with at home.

At the moment it’s 50/50 whether I keep the van after the end of this year.

But I would miss the Funster rallies

 

[PhilandMena]

Something all owners will face at some stage. We have been motorhoming for around 15 years now and have loved every moment with many wonderful memories. However, I can now see the end of our motorhoming is on the horizon. It is what it is.

 

[JJ]

If motorhoming is a hobby for you then, sad as it might be, giving it up probably isn't the end of your world.

Motorhoming is a way of life for me and yes it gets to be harder work as my body gets older and more inflexible, but I could never give it up... where would I sleep?

JJ

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[scotjimland]

I'm fit and heathy, but aging is what worries me.. the older I get the more I worry, the more stress I feel .. the less enjoyable it has become... especially going abroad .

In 2006 we sold up and set off on a European tour for three years with a 36ft RV with a box trailer and two school age kids.. we had a fabulous time, France Germany Spain, Portugal and Morocco

Wonderful memories, but the very thought of doing that again makes me feel ill.. I just couldn't do it now .. I don't have that mental strength ..

Sadly, after 30 years of motorhoming I feel the end is in sight, maybe not this year but probably soon afterwards we will sell up.. afterwards I don't know.. don't like hotels and hate flying ..that is also too stressful .

so at present I'd say its 25% enjoyment.. 75% pain..

 

[Northernraider]

97% pleasure 3%pain

But it was my choice to buy an older cheaper van and also my choice to go fulltime.

3% pain is mainly down to the odd repetitive breakdown ......and the French

 

[PeterCarole29]

97% pleasure 3%pain

But it was my choice to buy an older cheaper van and also my choice to go fulltime.

3% pain is mainly down to the odd repetitive breakdown ......and the French

The trouble is it’s so easy motorhoming in France
Well so far that’s what we are finding

 

[Northernraider]

The trouble is it’s so easy motorhoming in France
Well so far that’s what we are finding

Yeah I'm rarely In France.. its just when the French are everywhere else and they love to cuddle. They've zero idea of personal space when it comes to parkups

 

[PeterCarole29]

Yeah I'm rarely In France.. its just when the French are everywhere else and they love to cuddle. They've zero idea of personal space when it comes to parkups

Ah yes I understand what you mean

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[suavecarve]

Our "pain" in this brand new van so far has been a non working fridge in France, a loss of skirting in a tunnel in France.

These were just hurdles to overcome so we are very much 99/1 pleasure pain ratio

 

[Northernraider]

Our "pain" in this brand new van so far has been a non working fridge in France, a loss of skirting in a tunnel in France.

These were just hurdles to overcome so we are very much 99/1 pleasure pain ratio

See .

It's the French...always the French.

 

[Norfolk Nige]

I am in the initial stages of selling my van, arthritic joints being a contributory factor, however l feel l spend more time worrying about the van, keeping it clean, maintaining it, storing it etc than l do actually enjoying being out in it.
Cost is also another consideration, spend lots but use little.
For personal reasons my partner has no desire to go abroad with me, my fault admittedly.
I was at the recent Shuttleworth air display and a guy with exactly the same van got chatting to me, on a pain versus pleasure scale l rated my feelings as 75% pain and only 25% pleasure.
The other guy was 99% pleasure and 1% pain.
Would others care to share their feelings regarding their own vans, if l knew how to compose a survey it would be easier l suppose. !
I look forward to any/all replies, thank you.

Sadly we are in the same position as you. In fact Select Motorhomes are coming up from Devon to Norfolk tomorrow to collect ours to sell on our behalf. Since I became disabled we have tried to make it work, changing vans as my health changed, but we have had to admit we are just not able to use as we want anymore. So although we love motorhoming we have had to accept there are, for us, easier and better ways to see the world.
If anyone is looking for a change of motorhome there will be an almost new Weinsberg Cara Compact Meg 640 at Select Motorhomes from Thursday. Loads of extras and hand controls if needed.
So to answer your question TUCANO my rating over the past three years has changed from 99% pleasure to probably around 30% pleasure and 70% pain

 

[dash300]

Moved from lifetime of Boating to Van. Boat became a massive expense vs usage as we aged and getting family to help crew became more difficult so we limited ourselves to short headland hops along the South Coast which became a little dull compared to what we used to do in it.
Got rid of boat = instantly better off; 8k in mooring fees just for starters! New van = 0% pain, 100% pleasure with new areas to explore on land.
However as we are spending more and more time abroad visiting family I dare say the van will go in a couple of years as I don't like assets just sitting around and not fully used.

 

[old-mo]

Over 55 years of pure pleasure... But, truth be =

90% of the time pleasure.......... And 10% pain was having to come home cos the kids had to go to school...

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[RedFrame]

I have to be outside, under the stars, regularly otherwise I start twitching, I don't do planes or trains as I can't abide not being in control of my own destiny.

Having the van makes getting outside easy, way easier than Camping, Trailer Tenting, Caravaning and more varied than a Static.

I don't really see any "Pain" as the alternative is much more painful IMO.

Cheers
Red

 

[Al n Val]

Only been motorhoming 51/2 years, both motorhomes were/are 8.8 mtr 5T so need C1 licence, i’m 70 so got it again last year with no issues.

I’ve every intention to get that at least another twice maybe a 3rd we’ll have to see at the time.

I’m certainly not the fittest 70 year old but we have new elec bikes a month ago which gets me/us about if we want to use them.

It’s not been without its pain due to motorhome breakdowns and issues of which they’re have been quite a lot, especially with the new van but i’m still going for 95% pleasure as we both love our new life on the road.

Just wish we’d done it earlier but didn’t have the opportunity

 

[suavecarve]

See .

It's the French...always the French.

Tam "Chris" Northernraider

 

[stevewagner]

100% pleasure and always has been. Maintenance is necessary but I don’t consider it a pain just a necessity to keep enjoying it. We love France and the French and pretty much everywhere else!

 

[Pausim]

I recently downsized a little from 7m A Class to 6.4m campervan. Looking at this thread has made me evaluate that decision in % terms. Perhaps age and health had dropped my enjoyment level from the 90% I had enjoyed. The need for another stress test if I wanted to keep my C1 was definitely eating into the enjoyment %. Early days yet but so far the indications are good and the enjoyment % is soaring. My conclusion is that sometimes the pain v enjoyment balance is something that we can correct. Obviously not always the case but until then I intend to keep going.

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[Otter Spotter]

97% pleasure 3%pain

But it was my choice to buy an older cheaper van and also my choice to go fulltime.

3% pain is mainly down to the odd repetitive breakdown ......and the French

Bloody French

 

[busby]

Would have been our 21 st year of touring France Spain Portugal this year since we retired. BUT health has put us on hold this year..pain hasn't stopped us..hospital appointments have.I have been waiting to be referred to specialist for new hip. Will know when I see him of a probable date..Same with better half..load of blood tests to have next Monday and then a few weeks wait for results.Hope we can get at least down to Spain for four or five weeks..We even got away Covid year down to Spain via France when we were given Amber light in Sept 2020..I need proper sunshine..BUSBY.

 

[Jane And Rog]

The last few months due to our engine issues, it’s been 100% pain, 0% gain. But being without the van has shown us how much we need it. The thought of a car driving holiday - the expense of hotels, the dreadful (or at least undependable) beds, waiting to check in, waiting to check out. Will the dog be able to come, and be happy? - if not that’s £25 a day dog sitting fee on top. And the thought of flying again, in a tin can 30,000 feet up, full of screaming babies and germ-stuffed people - no thanks.

I hope we soon get back to the normal state of affairs, which is 95% gain, 5% pain.

 

[Lenny HB]

High 90's for pleasure the pain is have to repair it after reversing to something or going off road.

I will be 74 next week I wouldn't say I was fit but not particularly unfit, my bad knee is getting worse but I don't let it stop me doing things.

Only thing that would make me give it up is if I had to use it in the UK, don't mind the odd rally apart from that hate using it in the UK.

I’m certainly not the fittest 70 year old but we have new elec bikes a month ago which gets me/us about if we want to use them.

Bought myself a new e-bike 3 weeks ago I've done over 200 miles on it with lots of big hills, would have been more but I'm a fair weather cyclist.

 

[TerryL]

The last 6 months have been an expensive and frustrating time for us, motorhome-wise and as I write we are undergoing more costly replacements but I suppose on a well-used 17 year old M/h, which we've owned for all but the first 2 years, you've got to expect it. Have to say a lot of folk have asked why we don't just replace it but as I explain, we've not seen anything we'd like to replace it with that suits us and our lifestyle, we'd have to lay out another huge wedge of cash and, anyway, we know what's wrong with it (I hope nothing else!).
Yes there have been times when I think to myself why do we bother after all the hassle, but then I remember the good times we've had and all the lovely folk (yes including Funsters) we've met. So being a positive sort of guy once we get it back we're planning a week or so away to try and get the mojo going again.

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