The most memorable moment of your 1st van?

[IanFraser]

A recent FB post about a newbie made me smile recalling when I first thought the water display sign on control panel meant electric blanket .said to mum "this must've been a real quality item in its day.. What is your most memorable moment of your first van?

Driving it from purchase to an industrial estate so wife could have a wed practice driving then first realising I’d left step down on hab door when taking it off on drive entrance pillar!

 

[ljbarber]

On our very first outing we went to a nearby campsite, we hadn't got a clue how things worked but we did have the fridge on.
That night was the coldest night of the year dipping well below freezing. we had no idea how to turn heating on and we froze.
That was a very long night, but you know the next day I knew how to heat the m/h. A few months later I went under a bridge and on the other side I stopped and calculated that we must have had an inch to spare. We had to return the same way which was very very scary.

 

[Shrimp]

Sitting in a T4 Trooper, freezing cold, raining and blowing a gale on a pitch next to a Welsh river that was starting to rise and the wind blowing the heater flame out, all on my own as hubby had gone off Trail riding.

 

[jdk62]

Our first Moho was a 2008 Bessacar we called Buster. Our first trip was to a small private site just outside Bourton-on-the-Water, the site was rustic and sloping. Faffed around getting the van level, but the sheer joy of sitting outside with our first ever cup of tea made in the van with a big slice of homemade carrot cake was magical… We just sat there grinning at each other - other campers must of thought we had escaped from a local facility…

 

[minesapint]

Our first Motorhome was a Dethleff, we loved it.

We only had it a few weeks and we were complete newbies, we decided to take the ferry to Bilbao, Spain and then drive back up through France to get the ferry from Ouistreham for the homeward trip. It was our first taste of motor homing and we were hooked.

We did many miles and many countries, in that van and it never missed a beat.

Wish we had kept it, but time moves on, we are on our 3rd Moho since then, with one short deviation to being tuggers. But that did not last long.
Almost bought a Whoosh Bang this time but ended up with a Burstner Sovereign Motorhome, which we love.

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[wasp]

When we were on a campsite in Brittany and we couldn’t start the van, the garage sent a recovery truck to collect it. They brought it back at the end of the day 100 euros lighter the guy showed me a switch under the glove box, he explained it was the anti theft cut off. The MiL had shoved her handbag in the gloveboxcatching the switch.duurrrrrrr.

 

[joe and sue]

Collecting it, and driving away !!

 

[maison]

We were in a hired Highwayman, touring France.

While travelling along a Route National we saw a hill village with an interesting looking church on the top of the hill so we turned off to have a look.

On the way through the village we came to a very narrow street and drove into it. On turning a slight bend we found, in front of us a Frenchman on a ladder painting his upstairs window frame. We Inched past him while he looked down nervously. At the end of the street we got into a one way system so tried to work out how to reach the Church. Within a few minutes we were back in the same street, again inching past the foot of the ladder with the man looking even more nervous this time.

Of course we hit the same one way system and again arrived back at the same narrow street. This time the Frenchman held up his hand to stop us, got off the ladder and packed up saying, with a shrug, “Demain, demain”, (tomorrow, tomorrow) before walking off giving a shrug.

 

[L' Hobo]

Back in the 70's I lived in Surrey and had a Slit-screen VW. I decide to travel all around the Scottish Coast from East to West.

The two most memorable incidents was being parked on a layby, all by myself for 3 days, just above Smoo's Cave near Tongue, overlooking the beach. I would have stayed longer but was running short of provisions and water! (Initially, I had only stopped for a short break)

The next, was somewhere (I have tried to find it since but have been unable too as, at the time, I was just following my nose and the coastline, not the map) on the West Coast between Tongue and Skye, I caught a 2man oar powered small 2 vehicle ferry with a turn-table deck.
From the loading ramp (to call it a quay would be a false description) You drove onto the turn-table which, stood above the boats gunnel's, it was then moved For & Aft, aligned with the boat, rowed across to the other side of the Loch, the turn-table was moved once more to align with the quay, any I drove off. (I thought we would capsize but it was surprisingly stable on the water, it was the getting on and off that was bum quenching )

All this trip I saw VERY few other campers and 'wild camped' all the time, how different from today, or so I'm told?

 

[Derek’soldvan]

Its my first van & post collection driving away from dealership in Paignton (Thanks Simon) during mid covid times with two new batteries to fit myself, find after braking hard they were not by the fridge any more (on a very skinny carpet) but beside me with a lovey ding in the table leg (table & carpet now in loft) & the shiny floor L shaped trip hazard between cab & dining area, I keep the bent L shaped bit as a gentle reminder, braking hard has consequences & it may have been worse.

Still intrigued by phillipsheila & being overtaken by his wheels

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[Rumour and Innuendo]

After being tuggers, we decided to try a motorhome. My one problem with them was having to carry everything about with you! Turned out to be the best reason for buying one! We bought an old 1994 Talbot Compass Calypso and loved it! Our first trip was four days after we bought it, we travelled to France, in December to visit the war graves of my Great Uncles. We froze! The only heater was a convection gas heater, the battery was shot! but the van was great. We had that for seven years and I would have kept it if the chassis hadn't turned to lace!

We did have one scary moment. A massif truck came the other way on a smallish road and we had to go onto the grass, not seeing a rut! I thought we were going over, but luckily, we survived. We put solar, Gaslow, power steering and a powered roof vent on the thing. It owed us nothing and with excessive damp and that chassis, we still got £2k for it with no MOT!

 

[phillipsheila]

WE had a twin wheel merc 6 tonne and was doing about 60mph when my wife said whats that noise. It was like a stone hitting now and again, it was the wheel nuts sheering off and when the last one broke on a bend the back end dropped and the wheels passed us {brown pants moment}

 

[steve69]

Waking up in my pop-top campervan to find I couldn't lift the roof. I opened the door to find there had been a very heavy snowfall overnight and the weight of the snow on the roof was too much to lift!

 

[Norman Jones]

VW engine petering out in 5 lanes of the Paris periferique around'84. Quickly adjust points and off again. Bet most have never heard of points today.

 

[BikerGraham]

VW engine petering out in 5 lanes of the Paris periferique around'84. Quickly adjust points and off again. Bet most have never heard of points today.

screwdriver, emery paper and feeler gauges were always in the glove box, back in the day

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[Boycie]

Back in the 90s we visited a site in Strete just outside of Dartmouth. Now at the time we had a caravan (I know please don't hold it against me as I've seen the light) Anyway we became good friends with the owners over the years. We sold the caravan and bought our first van. We had the car converted as a toad. Upon our first visit with the van with the car on the back we pulled up in the site to be greeted by the wife with "Do you push this caravan with the car?" to be fair to her she was at the back of the Motorhome so didn't realise. This is the absolute truth and we still have a chuckle about it till this day.
Phil.

 

[mapman]

1980 Fiat Amigo to Greece. After regular overheating cut washing up bowl in half, drilled holes on edge and laced onto the rear side grills. Later lost power and found cable from accelerator had pulled through carburettor link - adjusted just like a bike break!

 

[pelican]

A very old air cooled VW plan van, with the bare minimum fitted to make it a 'camper.'

Dropped the dreaded valve into the engine whilst in Valencia!!!!!

Somehow it kept going and I managed to drive home on three cylinders, to the UK, including crossing the Pyrenees through Andorra. Had to go that way to get cheap goods to smuggle home and partially fund the trip.

Did exactly the same but Venice
The journey out was more fraught.
Heading into Paris oil warning light came one trace of oil along road and small puddle undervan. Tried in vain to get VW garage in Paris to fix.
Phoned my usual garage in Portsmouth who said bring it in At 8am tomorrow. Returned on overnight ferry engine out new crankshaft oil seal back on midday ferry.
Spent alot on oil!

 

[Northern Boy]

I just completed the purchase in Germany and said to the dealer 'well its about 2,250km to home now' 'What!!!!! where did you say you lived?' was the reply.

 

[Southern Comfort]

Me and OH’s first MH was a Dethleffs Esprit, which we took to France for a 6 week trip, beautiful thing. We set up in Annecy, a stunning lakeside view, then later, after speaking to a family about the wind that comes across the lake, we woke up in the middle of the night, MH rocking a bit, OH got up, poked his head out the door, luckily it didn’t get pulled off its hinges. We both darted outside attempting to winding in the awning all while the rain poured and the wind doing its best to pull it across the lake, while throwing the loungers, tables and bbq under the van for the time being.. Bearing in mind, we’d both had to grab some clothes to put on and it wasn’t till we stopped that we noticed he’d put his boxers on back to front and my arm was through the neck of my dress. Best bit, my daughter and her, then husband came to the door and said, “we thought it was getting windy”! Never laughed so much.

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[KiwiKampers]

24 years ago this week we emigrated to NZ. Within a week of our arrival we bought our first motorhome, an ex-demonstrator CI Monroe Autumn Gold, direct from the factory. This was to become our full-time home while we drove all over the two islands looking for a house to buy. We were foolish, and after just two months we rushed into buying bricks and mortar (well, timber, actually) in the Bay of Islands. We never even got to the South Island.
The house was a big mistake, the motorhome was our salvation. We bought the worst house in the best street, did a quick cosmetic make-over (quicker than the ones you see on reality TV) and sold it. We went back on the road for 12-months in the motorhome and insisted that estate agents only show us houses that could accommodate a 7m motorhome. We eventually bought a small farm with plenty of room to park the van except the driveway was too steep to get it up there!

 

[SSILVO]

First van a new Damon Daybreak 101 inches wide and first target south of France too big for a first van i now know. However 4 weeks without incident .While down there looking for the pre booked site I came upon a metal Bridge with a large line of traffic behind me on a one way road I

had no option.but to go.I knew the height was going to be ok. It was an enclosed bridge made of RSJs. but the width put one set of wheels on each pavement..and the curb started high..I cringed glad there were no pedestrians as it was early. Just as I exited the bridge I heard a faint crack and a slight judder without warning the site entrance appeared and I swiftly turned in to let the traffic go .. thinking what is there is now there...I climbed out on the carpark to look . .I was luck it was a large old branch caught by the oyster satellite.. as I came off the bridge.....

 

[Jamesh]

VW engine petering out in 5 lanes of the Paris periferique around'84. Quickly adjust points and off again. Bet most have never heard of points today.

Yeap you get them from speed cameras collect twelve to win a bicycle!!

 

[steve69]

VW engine petering out in 5 lanes of the Paris periferique around'84. Quickly adjust points and off again. Bet most have never heard of points today.

Points?... How common.....Contact-breakers, my dear.....

 

[On the road again]

First trip in the new (to us) pristine white Bessacarr was to the local Tesco to fill up prior to driving through France to Spain. I'd only driven it once before to pick it up from the dealers so was a tad apprehensive.
Pulled into filling station on a quiet Sunday afternoon,(to the quietest set of pumps- no one else filling up on either side) at the standard set up,2 lanes for filling with a central lane to allow vehicles to pass through, and, stood by the pumps on the blind side, I heard a loud bump and, being a novice, immediately wondered what I had packed badly and had fallen over in the garage.
It transpired that a man in a 4WD Mercedes had driven into the rear of the Mhome,albeit slowly!
" I just didn't see you" he said.
" How f!***!n big do I have to be then" was my somewhat angry response.

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[Feltwell]

Being late for the ferry on Mull, pushing it a bit on the single track roads, then having to do an emergency stop when a car came round a bend towards me - and the table, laying on the bunk at the back of the van came sailing down the van.

No damage to passengers or the table, but a big mark down the side of the bathroom. Table still gets put on the bunk but now *always* has a strap round it's frame to keep it there - never leave anything heavy unsecured!

Also - going out on a beautiful summer's day in Munich, leaving the roof light wide open and the awning out. Not a cloud in the sky - until we had a huge thunderstorm later that day - luckily, some nice German neighbours dropped one of the awning legs right down to let the water drain off. Inside of the van was a bit soggy from the roof light mind.

You live & learn.......

 

[Gromett]

My first trip out... Went to North Wales expecting usual rain, but wonderful scenery and got a mediterranean feeling holiday.

A fantastic start to my motorhoming lifestyle

North Wales Llanbedrog.

 

[claude et maude]

Exiting eurotunnel into France and heard a Big Bang, Maude said the fridge door had fallen off and I’m like oh yeah, really funny, what was it really….

 

[Reallyretired]

My first van was a vw transporter, bought from some Aussies who were going home. About every 50miles it started backfiring and stopped. Each time the AA attended. Did the usual, distributor cap off, rotor arm off, check points. Then it started and off for another 50miles. Eventually I found the problem. The little metal clip on the rotor arm was weak and as you drove the rotor arm rode up the shaft till the key came out of the slot and it started pointing to random cylinders. Of course the AA man took it off and replaced it each time so it ran for a bit. Found the part was about a fiver so said sod that and bunged a bit of newspaper up it which lasted for thousands of miles.
I joined the caravan club and at that time they insisted your van had certain things one of which was a wardrobe. I had no use for such a thing so built what must be the smallest wardrobe in the world. About 3ft tall but about an inch wide. It would take one shirt.

 

[Jake Royd]

Bought our one and only motorhome 4 years ago after doing research on the Fiat reversing judder issue.
First time out in a car park in the Peak District it was bucking about like a kangaroo.
I remember thinking by God this reversing judder is very serious.
Turns out I had a broken diff gear.
Bought with an breakdown warranty which meant we had the gearbox replaced.

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