simians

Autotrails of that era were constructed of timber framing, with glued and stapled joints clad on the exterior with prefinished aluminium panels glued to the framing, where panels butted the joint was covered with a screw fixed aluminium moulding bedded in mastic. Guaranteed to leak when the framed structure racked on uneven surfaces and the mastic had stone hardened and cracked, letting in water wet or dry rotting the framing and interior ply. As already stated with a nominal 80bhp you'll find it challenging trying to keep up in fast moving present day conditions even on the flat, as for inclines hills etc be prepared to grit your teeth! Best described as a reliable plodder with no electronics to worry about. Plenty of non OEM spares on ebay. The cab has MOT advisories on rust issues, all well known areas, the scuttle area is particularly difficult to repair, almost certainly windscreen out for a start. If this 'van has escaped the potential problems outlined above, or has had them remedied is one thing, but if not I'd suggest it could easily require proficient DIYer skills or deep pockets 😁 With a GVW of 2800 kgs you will not have much payload to play with, In 1990 many motorcaravanners were unaware that they may be overloaded or if they did then they didn't care. I think many these days many acknowledge that they are running overweight, but many still dont care.

7 tonnes but under 3 metres height. Often use the autoroutes to bypass cities never paid a Class 3 at an unmanned or manned booth. Once or twice Class 3 requested but just spoke into the intercom, near instant human response. I then informed them I was a camping car Class 2 and paid the revised amount via cash or card. No doubt they were looking on the cctv. I'm as sure as I can be that weight sensors aren't employed, just height sensing. I will stick with cash or card as long as I'm Classified as 2. I'd only go for a tag system if it Classified me likewise or preferably Class 1! I'm never in a rush.

Was in jest of course! But just because one official didn't know anythIng doesnt mean the next official will be Ignorant/accommodating does It, so it's probably preferable to be forearmed, eg with receipts, date stamped photos etc. anything practicable, as in fact the relevant Embassies advised me to. Personally I will not necessarily expect the same favourable outcome on my next trip later this year as I did a couple of weeks ago. I certainly would not want to resort to flashing my EU Red ID Card, that may mean leaving the missus behInd as she doesn't possess one of those🙂 Just as a ps. its on the cards that Schengen border crossings presently unmanned may be manned at any time, due to increased terrorist threats, possibly randomly.... who knows. A passport check would be expected. But lets not get paranoid🙂

Break the speed limit at the first sign of a police presence, you will be given a ticket with name, address and proof dated !!

@How would they know at Calais how long you've spent in each country?' I was advised the following responses to emailed enquiries to the French and Spanish Embassies in New Zealand viz ; On exiting France you 'may' be requested to show evidence of your length of stay in France, by way of dated accommodation receipts, atm withdrawals, card paymentstatements etc. Refer to my post a few days ago on Bi Lateral Visa Agreement. It was also stated that the request to exercise proof of this evidence lay in the hands of the border official. Although I was intending to utilise the Bi Lateral Visa Waiver Agreement with NZ. and not the Irish Passport approach presumably the same showing of your length of stay evidence principle still applies? I wasn't given any grief, quite the opposite, no one seemed to care too much. At least on this particular occasion!

Posted this as a possible conclusion to this thread Following is a practical example of my experience of a BiLateral Visa Waiver Agreement entry/exit to the Schengen Area. Answers the main outstanding premise of this thread, ie I found it possible to exercise this right with a positive outcome, but with a few caveat emptors👍👎 My recent exercising of the 'Bi-Lateral (New Zealand) Schengen Area Waiver Agreement on a winter trip to Spain via France and how it went. Departure : 26th Nov. '23 presented UK Passport at Newhaven. On entry to France at Dieppe showed NZ Passport, this was stamped. Explained to Customs official that I intended to exit France on the NZ Passport via the NZ/France BLVWA. He didn't have any knowledge on what I was on about, amicable wave through however. I then went to the terminal hoping to find a clued up official, armed with a handful of supporting documentation, no one on duty, only a couple of daily sailings NH/Dieppe so not entirely unexpected. Apparently Dieppe are sans specific Immigration Personnel. Customs perform double duties, mild surprise. Return : Well before the Dieppe ferry boarding time I went to the terminal, the staff on duty had no knowledge of BLVWAs. They were however a helpful friendly bunch, and sent an email copy of my NZ Passport to Immigration HQ Paris? A few hours later a return to the terminal confirmed a positive Paris response. Went through the Immigration control booth, NZ Passport was duly stamped 16th March. (111 days in Schengen Area). Showed UK Passport on entry at UK Immigration Newhaven. Despite my positive experience, I think that due to the lack of official knowledge regarding BLVWAs, it could be that my next trip may be viewed and interpreted in a different light .......ie negatively. Calais of course does have an Immigration contingent, they should be fully conversant on the Rules and Regs. Which may/not prove to be a positive thing.

Bob, known as Purple Bob I think, always travelled with Vwalan. Small world indeed, at least the Espana Med. region that is. But not surprising really, 95% of the winter wanderers travelling down the costas mostly via the A7 or the N340 inevitably crossing paths at the nearby campsites, wildspots etc., sometimes 4 or 5 times a season! The unpopular alternative being inland and cold of course. I'd better stop rabbiting on, the thread is supposed to be about unusual motorhomes not unusual people !

Have met Allen aka VW Allen, on a few occasions, although not in recent years. I dropped in to Cullera early this year. The area where wild camping was tolerated is now much reduced. I've never stayed there more than a day or two, way too crowded for me and no direct view of the Med! The pic of Antionette and Burts 2 storey edifice was taken on Guardia Viejas nr Almerima years ago.

Gassygassy, for sure at least the signs are very evident on major roads as you approach the last opportunity in avoiding the LEZ and so join the M25. I occasionally also have to remind myself that I'm driving the M/home and not the car, which is compliant. Because my m/home is truck speed slow, usually I don't overtake prior to the turnoff for quite a distance, sometimes those truckies are reluctant to let me in, and I've no spare speed left to get ahead safely!

You're correct, Dutch couple. They still overwinter in Spain, these days to be seen wilding on Cullera beach. Still flogging motorhome electricals, and carrying out the odd bit of work on customer vehicles. The multi extendable lorry conversion was a total self build, ingenious design by a very capable guy. When the 'upper' storey and sides are wound down (or in) ready for travel, it could almost pass muster for being considered as a stealth lorry!

Whoops 'Belgian' of course!

Surprisingly perhaps, but one of those vehicles was owned by a very wealthy Belgium couple, only 'inventiveness' applied, certainly not necessity. On the other hand the bunch of reprobates with this errrr motorhome.........

Just the thing I don't want occurring when on the M25. Taking an unintended detour off the M25 in my non LEZ compliant van will result in a £300 charge. (>3.5t). Lesson certainly will be learned if it ever happens.

A few here one or two scanned photos from my pre digital debut, so of dodgy quality.

The missus reckons I need a reset ,and she isn't referring to a rearrangement of my barnett, so could be directed at me LoL.