Is this the time for mothballing our motorhomes.

[tomm]

No mothballing , will be using our motorhome when loosening of lockdown phases allow for it . Prior to lockdown we had planned on returning this year to France ,Germany etc after a break of around 3-4 years . But now content to roam around UK until all aspects of across the water travel is signed off as being ok . Our only wish or hope is that this will allow for winter travel late this year early next year , as we want to sample Portugal in winter for 5 or 6 weeks..

Our touring style has kind of evolved over the past year to 18 months into us using very much quieter areas , so we are in a lot of ways , used to distancing measures being easier to comply with . So really looking forward to returning to these quieter places.

 

[pelican]

I've just fixed my drop down bed, given the van a thorough clean including the roof and fitted air con.
As soon as UK sites open, I plan to go somewhere.
Europe does seem a distant dream though at the moment.

View attachment 378607

Are the CmC now insisting on clean roofs

 

[pelican]

Not every one agrees as they still do wat they want

That's the Hendersons.

 

[Gary217]

It does raise an interesting question though - what will happen to MoHo values and dealers. I can see a couple of opposing possibilities;
One is that flying is a no-go for many especially mature (by age) people due to virus risk, countries being reluctant to have tourists despite the loss of income, people being worried about being taken ill in foreign lands so stay at home (UK) has a surge. Couple that with people not wanting to stay in hotels/bnb's/cottages (who slept in this bad last night and were they virus free..?) then I can see a surge in MoHo desirability/prices as it is your own space, own bed, own loo etc and you can travel the UK.

On the other side, the ability to take the MoHo to Europe (which is what we have one for) is going to be significantly curtailed therefore reducing the 'image of freedom', the fear of falling ill while in Europe will play on us oldies' minds so we're stuck with the UK campsites which will reduce appeal for some of us, dealers will be desperate to sell stock to get cash flowing, people will have an uncertainty in their minds so reluctant to spend on high cost 'luxury items' such as MoHo's, economy will be struggling, peoples' investments/pensions are reduced, all contribute to a fall in the next 2/3 years in MoHo values.

I'm no economist, and even if I was I doubt I'd know the answer...but it does beg the question will MoHo values hold up or not (I doubt they will increase under any circumstance) and if there is a rush to buy, should I invest in shares in a MoHo dealer?

Sadly for us, this year was to be a big one travelling-wise in Europe, we upgraded from our PVC to a coachbuilt and planned:
- 5 weeks in S Spain and portugal in May
- short break to France in early July
- a couple of UK festivals
- five different short breaks with friends in the UK
- 5/6 weeks Scandinavian tour in the van end Aug- early Oct.
- visit German friends late Oct (for their town's beer fest)
...realistically, none of which will happen now.
We prob won't get chance to do anything approaching this next year due to family issues so prob looking to flog the van - which is why I have a half an eye on which way values will go. As I say I don't expect to make a profit, just hope I don't lose too much. The state the dealers emerge from this will have a big influence as well - we will lose a few of them I expect.
For us camping in the UK just doesn't do it, so many UK sites are just too formal, often too far from a town so need to plan buses/taxis, if you drive into a UK town in a MoHo parking is often a 'mare and you're often not wanted, plus we're not the sort to book a site for a week, we like moving on and that doesn't fit well with the UK - even lovely Scotland has got too busy these days.

Still I have no real complaints as we are so much better off than so very many poor people who are suffering, just great sadness it has ended this way after 17 years of being on the road, but as another poster said earlier - this is with us long-term despite the rallying cries of the govt. - there will be very little touring possible by anyone in 2020.

 

[Figaro]

Are the CmC now insisting on clean roofs

They have to keep up standards you know

Trouble is it`ll probably be dirty again by the time I get there

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[Campervan_man]

Motorhomes are the PERFECT vehicle to self-isolate in at home or away.

 

[Coolcats]

Sorry to ask,,,but why?

For us the van is about seeing new places, meeting new people. Lockdown is here for tragically sensible reasons so we won't be going anywhere in the van for ages which we'll miss, but we're a lot luckier than many (so far), but going and sitting in the van on the drive just doesn't do anything except remind us of what might should have been. And, despite it being nice van...the house is more comfy to drink tea in.

Don’t be sorry, be more playful whilst it may not be for everyone being reminded of the great time’s we have when out and about is a delightfully thing to do.

Couple of days ago when we had to come in from the garden due to rain we went straight out to the MoHo coffee in hand and played a game of exploding kittens ? it’s a silly card game but a bit of fun.

Whilst we cannot go anywhere why not use the MoHo it’s a mobile extension of the house no one says you can only use it when on a break. Ours is also a very nice comfy house a base where we return from having adventures.

Be playfull grab a coffee and the wife, take a pack of cards or some other game and go and chill for an hour in the MoHo you may find it’s a fun thing to do occasionally ?

 

[Coolcats]

It does raise an interesting question though - what will happen to MoHo values and dealers. I can see a couple of opposing possibilities;
One is that flying is a no-go for many especially mature (by age) people due to virus risk, countries being reluctant to have tourists despite the loss of income, people being worried about being taken ill in foreign lands so stay at home (UK) has a surge. Couple that with people not wanting to stay in hotels/bnb's/cottages (who slept in this bad last night and were they virus free..?) then I can see a surge in MoHo desirability/prices as it is your own space, own bed, own loo etc and you can travel the UK.

On the other side, the ability to take the MoHo to Europe (which is what we have one for) is going to be significantly curtailed therefore reducing the 'image of freedom', the fear of falling ill while in Europe will play on us oldies' minds so we're stuck with the UK campsites which will reduce appeal for some of us, dealers will be desperate to sell stock to get cash flowing, people will have an uncertainty in their minds so reluctant to spend on high cost 'luxury items' such as MoHo's, economy will be struggling, peoples' investments/pensions are reduced, all contribute to a fall in the next 2/3 years in MoHo values.

I'm no economist, and even if I was I doubt I'd know the answer...but it does beg the question will MoHo values hold up or not (I doubt they will increase under any circumstance) and if there is a rush to buy, should I invest in shares in a MoHo dealer?

Sadly for us, this year was to be a big one travelling-wise in Europe, we upgraded from our PVC to a coachbuilt and planned:
- 5 weeks in S Spain and portugal in May
- short break to France in early July
- a couple of UK festivals
- five different short breaks with friends in the UK
- 5/6 weeks Scandinavian tour in the van end Aug- early Oct.
- visit German friends late Oct (for their town's beer fest)
...realistically, none of which will happen now.
We prob won't get chance to do anything approaching this next year due to family issues so prob looking to flog the van - which is why I have a half an eye on which way values will go. As I say I don't expect to make a profit, just hope I don't lose too much. The state the dealers emerge from this will have a big influence as well - we will lose a few of them I expect.
For us camping in the UK just doesn't do it, so many UK sites are just too formal, often too far from a town so need to plan buses/taxis, if you drive into a UK town in a MoHo parking is often a 'mare and you're often not wanted, plus we're not the sort to book a site for a week, we like moving on and that doesn't fit well with the UK - even lovely Scotland has got too busy these days.

Still I have no real complaints as we are so much better off than so very many poor people who are suffering, just great sadness it has ended this way after 17 years of being on the road, but as another poster said earlier - this is with us long-term despite the rallying cries of the govt. - there will be very little touring possible by anyone in 2020.

Just read your post, the bit about hotels I normally take my own pillow as you never know who dribbled on it last, not only that but always get a better nights sleep.

 

[chaser]

It does raise an interesting question though - what will happen to MoHo values and dealers. I can see a couple of opposing possibilities;
One is that flying is a no-go for many especially mature (by age) people due to virus risk, countries being reluctant to have tourists despite the loss of income, people being worried about being taken ill in foreign lands so stay at home (UK) has a surge. Couple that with people not wanting to stay in hotels/bnb's/cottages (who slept in this bad last night and were they virus free..?) then I can see a surge in MoHo desirability/prices as it is your own space, own bed, own loo etc and you can travel the UK.

On the other side, the ability to take the MoHo to Europe (which is what we have one for) is going to be significantly curtailed therefore reducing the 'image of freedom', the fear of falling ill while in Europe will play on us oldies' minds so we're stuck with the UK campsites which will reduce appeal for some of us, dealers will be desperate to sell stock to get cash flowing, people will have an uncertainty in their minds so reluctant to spend on high cost 'luxury items' such as MoHo's, economy will be struggling, peoples' investments/pensions are reduced, all contribute to a fall in the next 2/3 years in MoHo values.

I'm no economist, and even if I was I doubt I'd know the answer...but it does beg the question will MoHo values hold up or not (I doubt they will increase under any circumstance) and if there is a rush to buy, should I invest in shares in a MoHo dealer?

Sadly for us, this year was to be a big one travelling-wise in Europe, we upgraded from our PVC to a coachbuilt and planned:
- 5 weeks in S Spain and portugal in May
- short break to France in early July
- a couple of UK festivals
- five different short breaks with friends in the UK
- 5/6 weeks Scandinavian tour in the van end Aug- early Oct.
- visit German friends late Oct (for their town's beer fest)
...realistically, none of which will happen now.
We prob won't get chance to do anything approaching this next year due to family issues so prob looking to flog the van - which is why I have a half an eye on which way values will go. As I say I don't expect to make a profit, just hope I don't lose too much. The state the dealers emerge from this will have a big influence as well - we will lose a few of them I expect.
For us camping in the UK just doesn't do it, so many UK sites are just too formal, often too far from a town so need to plan buses/taxis, if you drive into a UK town in a MoHo parking is often a 'mare and you're often not wanted, plus we're not the sort to book a site for a week, we like moving on and that doesn't fit well with the UK - even lovely Scotland has got too busy these days.

Still I have no real complaints as we are so much better off than so very many poor people who are suffering, just great sadness it has ended this way after 17 years of being on the road, but as another poster said earlier - this is with us long-term despite the rallying cries of the govt. - there will be very little touring possible by anyone in 2020.

Couldn't agree more, we are very similar but in another way very different, ours was going to be the big last one, can't see that ever happening now, no interest in touring UK, but, we havnt got a big investment in the van, converted ambulance for the remote chance that anyone doesn't know, so no real harm in letting it stand here, till we see what happens, no storage charges, it's not going to lose anything so that's how it will pan out, live in hope ?

 

[PeteH]

I remember many years ago I sailed into the port of Norfolk Virginia. I remember just rows and rows of naval vessels in there thousands from aircraft carriers to landing craft all lined up with windows covered just sitting there awaiting a recall to service. This could so easily happen to Motorhomes just sitting in fields, thousands of them in rows awaiting a call for return to service.

The river Fal, was full of similar laid up vessels in the 60`s and 70`s too.

I am wondering about age limits I will be 79 in November might have trouble getting insurance to travel abroad. Which I haven’t done as this was planned for this year. Might be that my dreams will be shattered ?

Yes, 80 is a regular cut off age for Insurance, Many will not take you on for more than 30 dyas and often less. IMV Ageism rules!

Not every one agrees as they still do wat they want

Can I just say. How can anyone be SO SURE, that it is not an essential journey?. Give you an example:-

My Car, is due MOT. It has also got a "failing" clutch. IF i needed a vehicle for (say) shopping. I have only one (realistic) choice. == 7.4M Rapido "A" class Motorhome?. There are also many places where people join a Motorway and get off one junction later at the Retail Park.

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[buttons]

The river Fal, was full of similar laid up vessels in the 60`s and 70`s too.

It was indeed Pete, I did six months working by in Falmouth on the MV Hertford in the late seventies. I sailed it around from London to Falmouth where I picked up another "New Zealand Shipping Company" ship taking it down to NZ. The River Fal still had a few ships laid up then but nothing like the US.

 

[Makingtrax]

Never say never. We'll wait and see how the land lies.

If the lockdown ends late summer say, sites in this country will suddenly become packed with homers and tuggers going stir crazy. OK your van will be more than 2m from the next, but if you've got to go into reception to get checked in, there lies the danger.

If sites have any sense they'll send you all the details of your pitch number, a plan of the site, and rules etc by email so there's no physical check in. That would be OK. And provided you steer clear of pubs, restaurants etc, you could self isolate in rural sites.