[rangerboy6]

Hey All

Well having be a lurker on many a forum, ive decided to finally register and with good reason - So it all began many years ago with my folks taking us off to some secluded beach/bush camp in a 1970's VW Combi and Jurgens in tow, It was GREAT! it took days to get to places like Cape Vidal - with only a sandy dune track that separated our convoy from the wondrous beaches and reefs, the bug had bitten!! Throughout our youth and adolescent teenage years we bounced around the country with the same old Jurgens Van, however our towcars changed a number of times my favorite being the 1984 Chev Commodore which was stolen only a few years back.
This lifestyle led me into pursuing a career in wildlife, and afforded me the opportunity to work in a number of awesome conservation areas, we now have a pretty good Camp (tenting) setup and with SWMABO (she who must always be obeyed) at my side egging me on, we took every opportunity to head off to the KNP or shoot to the local or neighboring countries beaches.
Over the past year or so we have been toying with the idea of getting our own Van but have not done anything about it...... until a couple weeks back, Like a well oiled machine we packed our setup into the back of the Bakkie and off we went - ready for our next adventure, on arriving at our camp we both knew full well what was needed to be done, I unpacked the chairs and set them up, SWMABO got the table and cooler box out and proceeded to assume the position drink in hand ! from her vantage point she could direct me to the best position for the tent to go up - Thats when my heart fell to the floor only being caught by SWMABO's look of total disbelief, could this really be happening
In our hast to get our adventure going neither of us had noticed anything wrong with our tent However once I had erected our castle it had become abundantly clear we were going to have to do some major repairs to keep other critters out and or freeze to death, between our last tour and this a fluffy little rodent had decided to pretty much knaw us a new door
We are now actively looking for a decent second hand Van

Cheers
Brad

PS - I must say im glad im only looking for an older Van - the new Vans really suck where are the kitchen sinks, taps, cookers etc. ??????

[dunkyd]

Welcome Brad,
All the insides of the new vans have been removed by CI ' DUE TO POPULAR REQUESTS' !!!

Soon they will make just a chassis and you will have to erect your own tent on this. These will cost about 250 big ones.Tailights an extra.

Look for something solid with all fittings still inside AND A 3 WAY FRIDGE.

Ask for help.

Regards,

Duncan

[mplester]

Maybe they will just put a tent onto the chassis, that way I can leave my ladder at home at falling out of bed will be a problem of the past (ha).
Oh so true when one looks at quality. Without problems such as wood rot there are many an old van where everything works. With a newer van its always work in progress. Work around any camp site, if someone is conducting a repair job its on a new van. CI spend more time cutting costs on quality than building it. Because WE want it?????
_________________
Mark L
Hilux D4D 4x4 & Afrispoor Mongoose Off Road Trailer for the need to visit Africa

[rangerboy6]

The new prices are Crazy just spoke with the old man - back in the 70's he paid R2300-00 and it has everything, where do CI get there information from ?? I think they need to do some serious market research
from nearly every Caravaner i have spoken to they are really upset with the way things are going - one thing is its pushing the second hand prices through the roof

[Cowen]

Hi Brad,
I have to agree with you as far as the prices that 2nd hand vans fetch these days - when i traded in my '84 model Sprite Sport i was paid almost double the amount that i originaly paid for it. The Gypsey Rhapsody that i bought had a slight problem with one tailight which was sorted out by the very competent staff at Caravans R Us ( pity they have closed down ) If you have a good caravan dealership in you area then i reckon halve of your problems are solved. The new Rhapsodys and Romanys have everyhing and more in them, and they tow very well.
Regards,
Cowen.
_________________
Cowen.
Camping keeps me in good shape!
Looking on the bright side of life will never cause eye strain.