Motorhoming in your 80's

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Ealander

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I shall be 80 later this year and was wondering how many Funsters are still motorhoming in their 80's, and if so, what kind of changes they have had to make. Many thanks for any advice.
 
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I suspect that the main problem will be the availability and cost of travel insurance, as others have said. We are in our 70s and use the "free" travel insurance bundled with our Lloyds current account. It used to be absolutely free, because we did not pay any bank charges, but now we pay £14.95 a month for the privilege of them storing our money, and £198 to increase the length of stays to 60 days, instead of only 30 days. But it is still a lot cheaper than buying travel insurance at our age.

The problem is the age limit for travel insurance is 80. I suspect that will limit or stop our spring and autumn journeys to sunnier climes. So maybe just the UK, unless we rely upon our EHICS (or whatever they are called). I just hope by them CAMpRA will have succeeded in getting lots of cheap or free Aires. But I suspect that may be a forlorn hope.

But we definitely will have to stop our yearly trip to our Daughter and SiL in New Jersey, given the extortionist costs of ant medical treatment.
 
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Northernraider said:
I've 30 years to go yet before I'm 80 , I should be able to get a morelo then for about 50 quid 😁
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But in 30 years time you will have to put 5 ton of batteries in it before you can use it. :rofl:
 
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frenchie46 said:
Ealander was interested to know about changes needed to keep on keepin' on when you get older, and people's experiences of what they did and needed to do to keep on motorhoming. I think this is an important topic for many of us, and I for one, at 77, would like to hear some practical advice about insurance, licences, practical difficulties, etc from motorhomers who have experience of this.

It is true that travel insurance gets very expensive as you get into your 70's. We have a Nationwide Flexplus account, and by paying £13.00 per month we get free travel insurance (with a small supplement if you are over 75) and free full AA breakdown - at home, UK and Europe, roadside, at home, recovery, etc - for all our vehicles, including the MH.

Our own philosophy boils down to "make it as easy as you can to keep on doing what you enjoy" Which begs the question, what is it you enjoy? When getting older meant my wife and I couldn't cycle camp anymore, we went car camping. When arthritis made sleeping on the ground difficult (and getting UP off the ground!) we bought a VW camper van. And when we spent a miserable 3 weeks in the Scottish wind and rain with no toilets (needed more and more frequently!) or place to dry our clothes, we bought a motorhome. We now have electric bikes, something I stupidly resisted for a while but it means we can still enjoy cycling. And if driving the van gets difficult (Peugeot Boxer dash mounted gear shits are not easy with arthritis, nor using a clutch in slow traffic), if we can afford it we would like to get an automatic (rare I know, but they exist). But maybe there are other vans that have a very easy gear shift? Perhaps someone could comment?
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Like you, I also have the same Nationwide insurance, and, also like you believe in 'make it as easy as you can' with electric bike, site electricity and a Van with toilet etc.
For this same reason, as I usually travel alone, I stopped going to Europe because, after I was 75yrs, I did not think the pleasure outweighed the hassle and worries of insurances, healthcare and van security, should something go wrong!
(Slightly different IF you travel with a partner, its hard to fix something if your unconscious)
+ After 50yrs, I had seen a lot of Europe and the world and it was time to concentrate on the UK.

I also gently exercise my body and mind by parking the van on site and using my Bus Pass. The mind is exercised by the timetables (sometime too much) trying to work out where to go the following day, connections and bus numbers. The body is exercised by have to walk to make these connections.(If I wake up and it's a rotten day, its delayed till something better)

I try and book a central, reasonably priced site, near a Bus Stop, near a large town/city that has many other route connections.
This allows me to leave the van at one location, see the surrounding area (hopefully from the top deck of a D/D Bus) and an excuse(should I need one) to chat to strangers even if it's only to ask the way or what time is the next bus to.......?
This is something I am not fluent enough to do whilst abroad despite having a smattering of languages.

As for automatic vans? I hate automatics and cruise controls because while one can keep using ones muscles, one should keep using them if possible but IF was forced to buy one, it would be a 'proper' torque converter, (similar to the ones I had on my Merc Mini-buses) not one of these robotised kind.

Each to there own and keep life kind & contented! :LOL:
 
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Lenny HB said:
But in 30 years time you will have to put 5 ton of batteries in it before you can use it. :rofl:
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Thar idea will last only a few years past 2030 then it will be back to diesel when they finally accept electric just isn't going to work. Or we will be the only stupid country on the planet persevering

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Geistguy said:
Long ago I decided I couldn't do a thing about growing old but decided never grow up ! Still motorhoming, riding my motorbike and enjoying every moment. Age 78 and a bit :LOL: .
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In with you - also 78 - still doing everything I have ever done albeit more slowly, with some pain, and with many workarounds ( eg can no longer push myself up when falling over skiing but have to take the boots off, then make fists to get up as wrists painful) - I go along with Clint Eastwood who said the main thing to keeping active is ‘Dont let the old man in’
 
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I am 81 and we are 10 days into a 8 week trip through Germany and France.

In Sept we are on the ferry to Greece again for 8 weeks.

We are on an excellent Stellplatz surrounded by gardens, orchards, fields with -

' Sheep to the left of us, ponies to the right and I am stuck in the middle with her'

We have just had an excellent Sunday lunch in a Gastro restaurant.

What has age got to do with it Oh Please!?

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83rd birthday today at Lake Garda after driving from Northern Croatia. Slovenia don’t have toll booths on their motorways and wanted 30 Euros for about 18 miles of motorway (a 1 week carnet on line) so we had a very pleasant early morning drive through the countryside and the money saved is going towards the birthday dinner. However to answer the OP’s question we more often than not stay 2 nights in one place now. Gives us a break and we see a lot more. By comparison with Slovenia 200, miles of Italian motorway was 21 Euros
 
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We are early 70s but with some mobility issues. So two folding mobility scooters and walking sticks in the garage. Van is an automatic, wouldn’t drive anything else. Previous van and cars been automatics for years. Blue disabled badge helps a lot in uk with parking, often larger bays in car parks where we wouldn’t otherwise be able to park.we don’t want to drive long journeys in one day, so more stops. Also break up the journey more.
 
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This May, (28th for those who want to send a happy birthday) I will be 75 and hope to continue this great hobby of ours until 93 when I’ve decided I’ll then buy a Kia car, 7 year warranty! We leave for 40 nights in Europe on the 8th June which we have been doing every year since 2009 apart from covid. We carry 2 Brompton bikes, now converted with Swytch kits, although I am still just capable of doing 100mls in a day on my road bike. Long May it all last for all of us and well done to all those still motorhoming beyond 80! 🚍🚍🚍

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Ealander said:
I shall be 80 later this year and was wondering how many Funsters are still motorhoming in their 80's, and if so, what kind of changes they have had to make. Many thanks for any advice.
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I read it and knew exactly what you meant, the only thing missing was the question mark :cool:
 
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Me too :)

My father loved his Commer Dormobile 4182 ML :) We enjoyed many holidays in Saundersfoot - took nearly a day to get there from Cardiff!!

Circa 1970
1684093558535.png
 
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Well Duncan was 80 this week. Very fit and I will be 77 next month but after 33 years we sold our Motorhome (6th) 1st May. Why?

Main reason money. We’ve been retired 25 years and costs of everything were just beginning to worry me.

Insurances for Motorhome and Travel with my health problems meant it just was over our budget. We used to do two 8 week trips a year. But sadly that was no longer possible and Duncan thought 8 weeks was long enough. We used to use THS during summer and loved them.

Duncan is building yet another N gauge 14’ x 6/7’ layout so he’s happy. I’ve really to find something.

We have never let our home out and live in Cornwall so life isn’t bad. But I think we will miss it

Too soon at the moment. He’s fitter than I am but I bought a Travelscoot which allowed us to continue for a couple of years.

Carol
 
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I turned 80 last December and Ann and I are now in a rental motothome in Arizona. We rented a motorhome model we think we might want to buy to see if it will meet our requirements.

It's true the cost of medical insurance is an issue particularly for US travel as is the cost of deisel at nearly 6 bucks a US gallon. But, hey, no kids so who the hell would we leave it to. Spend it now and die broke has always been our objective!

These days 80 is the new 70.

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GarryP said:
I turned 80 last December and Ann and I are now in a rental motothome in Arizona. We rented a motorhome model we think we might want to buy to see if it will meet our requirements.

It's true the cost of medical insurance is an issue particularly for US travel as is the cost of deisel at nearly 6 bucks a US gallon. But, hey, no kids so who the hell would we leave it to. Spend it now and die broke has always been our objective!

These days 80 is the new 70.
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My fathers was. I came in with nothing I sim to go out with nothing. He nearly did. Brother and I had to pay funeral. Mother had £15 and a court case for non payment of the poll tax!

This time we got the state to pay! We learned

But we have a daughter with MS who is currently fine but marriage is not good and we are conscious that she might need help. She’s 52 at present

C
 
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Not there yet but 76 and hope to be still traveling at 80 plus, we have had a good run until Covid grounded us from traveling not that we caught it.Health is the main thing i think just keep at it.We are are hoping to get back to Europe soon as we find it a lot easier with less hassle and lots of Aires, little traffic etc Van just had new mot,Habitation and fitted refillable LPG. Brands Hatch at end of month camping at the circuit. Canterbury at park & ride for a few nights and a toddle around Kent for a few days.Good luck Carry on Camping.
 
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555 FRY said:
This May, (28th for those who want to send a happy birthday) I will be 75 and hope to continue this great hobby of ours until 93 when I’ve decided I’ll then buy a Kia car, 7 year warranty! We leave for 40 nights in Europe on the 8th June which we have been doing every year since 2009 apart from covid. We carry 2 Brompton bikes, now converted with Swytch kits, although I am still just capable of doing 100mls in a day on my road bike. Long May it all last for all of us and well done to all those still motorhoming beyond 80! 🚍🚍🚍
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Toyotas have 10 year warranty if you get them serviced at a Toyota garage. We have a Toyota Aygo tow car on a 10 year service contract for £17 a month.
 
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ctc said:
What's confusing? I'm 80 and still drive an oversized and complicated motorhome.
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Nothing to do with motorhomes, but I was born in Ealand in 1943. Have you lived in Crowle all of the time?

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Ealander said:
Nothing to do with motorhomes, but I was born in Ealand in 1943. Have you lived in Crowle all of the time?
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No 3 years, daughter lives near Howden and wanted to make sure I didn't waste any more of the inheritance on motorhomes.
 
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I would just like to thank everyone who has replied, The very positive statements has encouraged me to keep planning and we will be off to France for four weeks sometime in September. Again many thanks.
 
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83 this year just used up the first 90 days in Portugal and Spain now have to wait for another 90 before we can go again so going to tour the outer hebrides Orkney and the East coast of England
All the time you have good health grab every minute

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Health insurance is problematic, especially if you have issues. However, if you can still afford it then there is no finer way to spend a holiday - acutually we have just had to cancel 5 weeks in France. Due to the possibility of needing an operation, Liam has been advised not to travel. Upside is the problem has been identified here rather than abroad and there is always our autumn trip to look forward to. Downside - having to unload the MH!
Actually I would have every faith in the French health system but it would have servely stretched my French :eek:
Sue
 
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