Your first ever camper?

[Blaydon]

Hi Folks.
our first one was a “T” reg Autohomes “c” class on a Transit. It was a mustard colour with white roof. It had lots of black around the top windows where the sealant had gone mouldy

We paid about £3500 in the late 80’s and drove it for a few great years. One winter the engine froze and blew core plugs. I got another for £25 from a friend, and it sounded like a tractor. The springs were weak, lots of roll, and the grearbox had an optional 3rd gear - sometimes you had it and sometimes you didn’t. The water ingress made the whole wood frame rotten, and by the last few trips, the carb was so worn you had to feather the throttle. However we had great times in it and our older child had his first trips starting at a few weeks old. we went to Scotland, the North East, Wales, the South West, and all on a shoestring.
when we finally traded it in, the decision to do the deal was based on me not wanting to drive it back home as much as the one we bought. We got £2000 back on it!
Happy days.

 

[Odd-no-more]

As a kid I did a bit of tent camping and again as an 18/19 year old, my first camper was a Fiat Amigo it was a tiny van with an 850cc engine at the back. The floor turned into a bed, but we had to go outside to set it up, it also had 2 pull out streacher type bunk beds very small but our 6 year old was ok in one, there was also a third very small bed across the van which they marketed as suitable for a very young child, it was high up so no health and safety back then. The pop top had rubber straps outside to realise it then a big shove to lift it up. We had a lot of fun in that van, but I wouldn't want one now

 

[Lenny HB]

We came a bit late to Motorhomes after over 40 years of tents, trailer tents, folding camper & caravans. Finally in 2008 we imported a brand new Hymer Tramp 654 SL Gold Edition, it even had a sat dish as standard. Also had a sub woofer under the bed you got a free massage with the volume up.

 

[shrek snr]

Our first proper camper 1976 Toyota Newlander built in Hull.
1600cc columbe change petrol/lpg.Had it for 10years tires brakes exhaust pipe.never missed abeat.Wish icould drive it again.

 

[Cal54]

Was once camping (tents) at Normans Bay and saw a Bambi in the local garage. 3 of us each raided the ATM and paid £1000 for it. At the end of our holiday we packed up all the camping gear, chucked it into the car and my sister set off home in a nice air conditioned car. I had the task of driving the Bambi back from Eastbourne to Lancaster on a very hot summers day!
Never used it other than a few days out but did sell it later that year for £1500. The only time I have ever made money on a van

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bigwood]

I have only owned an N Reg Transit PVC and the current motorhome but when we were kids my parents hired a Commer with a pop top.
That must have set my mind to want my own motorhome all those years ago.

 

[Trackman]

Not mine but my Parents bought a Commer professional 4 berth conversion 1962. Prior to that we camped with bi -annual trips to Spain in Austin A40 Country Man, Then later with Hillman Husky and various Ford Cortinas.
Had my first VW 40 yrs ago we went to Venice in it 3 eventful times!

A40 Countryman brings back memories. My parents had one that took the family (4 of us) all over France & into Switzerland, including high Alpine passes.
The roof rack load was probably illegal even in the 1960s, & my brother & I had to sit on our bedding on the back seat.
That was where I learned to pack a car efficiently, still a useful skill now we have a campervan!

 

[ambulancekidd]

I was brought up from the very early 60s having adventures as a family in my dads caravanette (as we called it then) & the urge to escape to the wilder parts of this stunning country.
Then one day I stumbled upon the old girl for sale in a scrapyard, she was looking very down at heel & ready for that great campsite in the sky.

 

[pelican]

A40 Countryman brings back memories. My parents had one that took the family (4 of us) all over France & into Switzerland, including high Alpine passes.
The roof rack load was probably illegal even in the 1960s, & my brother & I had to sit on our bedding on the back seat.
That was where I learned to pack a car efficiently, still a useful skill now we have a campervan!

With the A40 we must have travelled lightly as on our Spain trips there where 6 of us not sure if we had a roofrack, My seat was a cushion above the wheel arch.
Remember the car being craned on the Newhaven ferry in the days before Townsend Thoresen from Southampton.

 

[Revolvor]

In the early 80s, I was working in Oman for the Oman Airforce. My wife and 3-year-old daughter were there too. I had a lot of spare time, and wanted a project, so we decided to renovate a vehicle to drive back to UK. I found a scrapped VW Transporter Type 2, that had been a crew bus for the Omani Police. It had no engine or gearbox & the sliding door had been removed and was loose. It had been stripped inside, except for the driver’s seat and a steering wheel. With the aid of a rigid tow bar, a colleague towed it back to our accommodation.

Over the next year, I acquired a gearbox & engine, fabricated a frame to mount front seats from a Fiat, and scavenged all the interior fittings from the numerous abandoned vehicles we came across. The only engine I found was a 1500cc version from an old Brazilian- split-screen bus. I had to fabricate custom engine mounts to make it fit.

My wife and I then turned the interior into a camper, using scrapped furniture, and items purchased in the souk. Prior to that, we had it re-sprayed inside and out with a two-tone metallic paint, at a cost of £100!! We made bench seats that folded down to make a bed and made a raised bed over the engine for my daughter, with storage underneath. We plumbed in an aluminium cooking pot to make a sink, and I acquired a top-opening fridge. My wife made curtains and covers for the foam mattress we cut up for seats, and we re-trimmed the interior with vinyl. Most of the work was done outside, a lot of it at night, when the temperature dropped to 30˚C. In the daytime I had to keep my tools in the shade to stop me burning my hands when picking up spanners.

I was unable to reinstate the sliding door mechanism, so adapted it to use hinges from a Land Rover. I made a mount for a gas cooker on the inside of the door, that meant we could cook with the door closed, or with it fully opened, stand outside to cook.

At the end of our contact, we embarked on a 5-week trip to drive back to UK. By then we had another child, so it was two adults, and a 5 and 1 year old, who slept in a custom-made cot, that fitted over the front seats.

The trip was quite eventful, and included having to park up for 18 hours in the Saudi desert, because of a sandstorm, visiting Petra, being marched off with guns in our ribs to the Chief of Police at the Syrian Border, being stopped my armed militia, and searched at gun point as we entered Damascus, and a wheel coming loose in southern Italy - we drove from Brindisi to Naples with the wheel secured to the splined axle by Self-tapping screws and a bucket handle!

After garage repairs in Naples, we continued the journey with the last 100 miles to home being completed on only three cylinders.

I subsequently installed a replacement engine and a raising roof, to accommodate our now three children, and we had many happy trips away for another 10 years until we sold it.

(Photos haven't loaded in the correct order)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[nicholsong]

In the early 80s, I was working in Oman for the Oman Airforce. My wife and 3-year-old daughter were there too. I had a lot of spare time, and wanted a project, so we decided to renovate a vehicle to drive back to UK. I found a scrapped VW Transporter Type 2, that had been a crew bus for the Omani Police. It had no engine or gearbox & the sliding door had been removed and was loose. It had been stripped inside, except for the driver’s seat and a steering wheel. With the aid of a rigid tow bar, a colleague towed it back to our accommodation.

Over the next year, I acquired a gearbox & engine, fabricated a frame to mount front seats from a Fiat, and scavenged all the interior fittings from the numerous abandoned vehicles we came across. The only engine I found was a 1500cc version from an old Brazilian- split-screen bus. I had to fabricate custom engine mounts to make it fit.

My wife and I then turned the interior into a camper, using scrapped furniture, and items purchased in the souk. Prior to that, we had it re-sprayed inside and out with a two-tone metallic paint, at a cost of £100!! We made bench seats that folded down to make a bed and made a raised bed over the engine for my daughter, with storage underneath. We plumbed in an aluminium cooking pot to make a sink, and I acquired a top-opening fridge. My wife made curtains and covers for the foam mattress we cut up for seats, and we re-trimmed the interior with vinyl. Most of the work was done outside, a lot of it at night, when the temperature dropped to 30˚C. In the daytime I had to keep my tools in the shade to stop me burning my hands when picking up spanners.

I was unable to reinstate the sliding door mechanism, so adapted it to use hinges from a Land Rover. I made a mount for a gas cooker on the inside of the door, that meant we could cook with the door closed, or with it fully opened, stand outside to cook.

At the end of our contact, we embarked on a 5-week trip to drive back to UK. By then we had another child, so it was two adults, and a 5 and 1 year old, who slept in a custom-made cot, that fitted over the front seats.

The trip was quite eventful, and included having to park up for 18 hours in the Saudi desert, because of a sandstorm, visiting Petra, being marched off with guns in our ribs to the Chief of Police at the Syrian Border, being stopped my armed militia, and searched at gun point as we entered Damascus, and a wheel coming loose in southern Italy - we drove from Brindisi to Naples with the wheel secured to the splined axle by Self-tapping screws and a bucket handle!

After garage repairs in Naples, we continued the journey with the last 100 miles to home being completed on only three cylinders.

I subsequently installed a replacement engine and a raising roof, to accommodate our now three children, and we had many happy trips away for another 10 years until we sold it.

(Photos haven't loaded in the correct order)

View attachment 702806View attachment 702808View attachment 702809
View attachment 702792View attachment 702802View attachment 702805View attachment 702807View attachment 702810View attachment 702811

Bonkers!

Have the 'children' recovered psychologically?

But I think maybe you get first prize on this thread.

 

[Revolvor]

Bonkers!

Have the 'children' recovered psychologically?

But I think maybe you get first prize on this thread.

My daughter is a nurse, and our son loves travel, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking to Everest base camp and walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

 

[Wightman]

Our first "van" was a 1964 Split Screen VW which we never actually camped/slept in!! Was our everyday vehicle and when coming back from the "dump" with wife driving the roof started lifting!! Took kids out on day trips and the first one we had a home made stew we took in food flask, the kids loved it and ate everything - which they never did at home!!? That reminds me - I must get round to restoring it as we still have it

 

[Nanniemate]

My first camper was a Ford fiesta. Seats down sleeping bags zipped.

 

[nicholsong]

My first camper was a Ford fiesta. Seats down sleeping bags zipped.

I did not know that we were going down to that basic level

In which case my first one was a 1962 minivan, bought new, my only new vehicle, for £395 purchase tax free.

I made the passenger seat demountable, had an insert to put in its place and a blow up mattress and sleeping bag to stretch out from dash to rear doors.

If that counts I have been campervanning for 60 years!!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JaG]

In 2008 we bought a 1994 Toyota Hiace Camper, with serious attitude from a Japanese Auction for £3,800 with 18,000 miles on the clock. Had it shipped over and total cost was £6,250. It was a serious Pimpmobile, which did actually belong to a high class Pimp in Tokyo, hence low mileage as it was a street cruiser. Had it upgraded by Wellhouse Leisure in Yorkshire for £6,500 then had it for three years before bringing up granddaughter so too small.
I loved it. Being a 2.8 litre flat four, automatic and weighing over two tons it was not very economical.
It's first trip out was MHF Wrenbury Bring & Buy meet in 2008.
It is still about somewhere, though never seen since we sold it in 2011. Even to this day it is the only one like it in the UK.

 

[Wingingit#1]

Very ...unique JaG

 

[Odd-no-more]

My first camper was a Ford fiesta. Seats down sleeping bags zipped.

If we're getting that basic when I was 19 along with a couple of mates I went to Cornwall in my Fiat 600, which I had bought for £5 we had a tent but couldn't afford a campsite so wild camping but in the end we didn't bother with the tent and slept in the car. It was on a rotation, first night drivers seat, second night passenger seat, third night luxury, the back seat

 

[knockersmith]

Many members will have been camper-vanning for decades, and while now may be enjoying the luxury of decent modern or modern-ish wheels, maybe didn’t start that way…

If you started with an absolute shed, as I’m sure many including myself actually did, it may be fun to recall the discomfort. All anecdotes welcome, continental breakdowns, bits falling off, leaks, underpowered misery etc

My first ‘proper’ camper was a 1977 Bedford CF pop top. Petrol 2.3. Bought for £400 as a student in 1994 to tour Europe. The old slant block engine blew within weeks so I welded in a 35hp 1800cc BMC/Leyland diesel from an old sherpa

It took us to the cafe on top of the Grossglockner, and overland to the black sea though, and just about made it back to UK to be scrapped. Noisy as hell with my home made engine cover, and even with a scrapyard-sourced overdrive to improve gearing, top speed was 60 and max cruise was 50, and many hills had to be taken in 1st gear. scariest was when the vacuum pump supplying the brake servo failed coming out of the Alps - we made it down into a village with a combination of engine braking, both feet on the pedal and the handbrake

 

[Wingingit#1]

Whats a fiat 600 ??

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Odd-no-more]

Whats a fiat 600 ??

It's the next model up from the Fiat 500, very slightly bigger

 

[frwjd]

My first camper also cost £400, an old Ford Transit that failed it's MOT the day before we left.
It was 1976 and, in those days, you couldn't take more than £50 sterling out of the country and any foreign currency had to be noted in the back of your passport.
We missed our ferry because HMRC didn't believe we had so little money.
It got us over the St. Gotthard pass, through Yugoslavia and to Greece on a very enjoyable and eventful three month trip.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

My first one is the old shed I have now
Did look at a few more last week so might change

 

[Tonks]

This was my first one, newer than the one I've got now! The Talbot Rambler you can see just behind belonged at the time to my Mum. Her first was a Comma which I never camped in, but I borrowed the Autosleeper Talisman she had afterwards and went on a trip around Sussex in it. My first Solo Campervan trip, I think.

 

[Threeracers]

Well I am a complete newbie having purchased my first, an ex army Bedford MJ, to live in full time on 29th November and the house is now sold so there is no going back.......

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[rosalan]

The late 60s we had a Mini Traveler. Fitted a home made tent on the back and explored Turkey. A £500 ambulance was converted later crashing down Sally Lines ramps into their door, followed by a VW LT31 furniture van. Our first true Motorhome was a CRV Dreamliner which we parted with after the clutch pedal fell off in Madrid. Autosleeper Palermo, Burstner (Stolen after 3 weeks), Dethleffs Advantage and now Adria Matrix Supreme (Love it).

 

[Old Gibber]

This was my first. Bought it 65 years ago.

 

[Wingingit#1]

It's the next model up from the Fiat 500, very slightly biggerView attachment 702980

Found one in benicassim-

 

[grasscutter]

Our first proper camper 1976 Toyota Newlander built in Hull.
1600cc columbe change petrol/lpg.Had it for 10years tires brakes exhaust pipe.never missed abeat.Wish icould drive it again.

I remember the Toyota Newlander well.
We had so much room after having the VW Devon conversion that we started with.

 

[matt34]

Our first "van" was a 1964 Split Screen VW which we never actually camped/slept in!! Was our everyday vehicle and when coming back from the "dump" with wife driving the roof started lifting!! Took kids out on day trips and the first one we had a home made stew we took in food flask, the kids loved it and ate everything - which they never did at home!!? That reminds me - I must get round to restoring it as we still have it

would you like to donate it to me

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}