sandalwood Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Thinking of downsizing from Rapido sleeps 4 to Rapido van. OAP's advice please ! Not sure van gives enough manoeuvre room, but driving looks to be easier, and parking good! What age do people downsize, and if you have, are you happy! Met lovely people in Frabce who had downsized, man was happy, lady WAS NOT! :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 We have a 7 metre 2006 Hymer A Class, MAM 3,900kg with single beds and we have been very happy with it. But I am over 70, so we looked at changing MHs a couple of years ago, uncertain whether to downsize or even to ze. I also did a driving refresher course (offered by our County Council to help over 65s to keep driving safely) in our 7 metre MH. I still liked driving our current MH and he course seemed to confirm that I was safe enough in it, so there was no pressure to change except that my OH doesn't really want to drive it these days, so maybe we should downsize, so she would be happier to drive the MH. We discovered that changing MHs would be expensive, eg £50,000 extra to upgrade to a new Hymer of the same sort and even changing to a new smaller MH would cost us quite a lot and we might well find it relatively cramped. Upgrading to a bigger A Class would be prohibitively expensive for a new replacement but the really big ones depreciate quickly so we could perhaps have afforded a five year old Hymer Liner, which is more spacious - but about 2 metres longer and also over 3 metres high and a bit wider too. So I decided that ours was big enough to be driving where we want to be taking a MH at my age. I could down-plate it to 3,500 kgs to avoid having a medical every three years but sacrificing that amount of payload would be a real challenge. I suppose if I was starting to feel insecure about driving our current MH we might have felt more pressure to downsize but despite being over 10 years old our MH still does it for us in every way and we have equipped it with all the accessories we could need indeed we've taken some out as overkill. So we decided to stick with what we've got for the foreseeable future. I don't skimp on servicing and that helps to keep the MH feeling good as well as reliable. Maybe the upholstery in ours looks a bit dated but we can live with that. As you get older you seem to get more reluctant to change for change's sake! If you are thinking of downsizing, or of changing for other reasons, what problem are you trying to solve? If the answer to that is you don't really know and your money isn't burning a hole in your pocket, then maybe you stick with what you've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Hi Sandalwood , welcome to forum. Not every one downsizes. Age does not really come into it, except when getting to 70 and your licence.May need to keep to 3500 Max. The most important thing is does the van work for you? The older you get , the more space you need IMO. Once retired you have time to stay away for longer periods,, so the extra space is better, again IMO. We have the same van we bought 11 years ago, and are still very happy with it. Why spend money , if the van suits you, Don't know how big your Rapido is, but if still able to drive it, why bother ? PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 I've always thought that people chose a van based on the space they require - not their age ? Once you reach 70 you have to pass a medical to carry on driving the bigger ones of course - but that again is decided by your health - not your age. My advice is to always ignore what everyone else does ( or what you think they are doing ) - and suit yourself. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandalwood Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 Thanks for comments,, mine is 7 metres long, 3 metres high , 2 metres wide. Age 75+! Just felt at my age maybe too big. However, it's automatic, easy to drive, hubby doesn't drive, but tells me constantly how to drive! Alternative small vehicle mega expensive! It's in good condition, like me, but when I return to it on site, I think " oh my goodness you are big, how do I drive you!"? Have looked at many Vans, but sooooo small, unlike me. Thanks again for comments, after reading I think, stick with what I have! Regards :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandalwood Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 Mine is 3500 so no worry re licence, Tks for comment! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Very wise MRS S. Enjoy what you have while you can. Make most of your good health, as well. Due to age, we have been hit with health problems, and not sure how much longer can carry on, so we are taking it I year at a time If Oh dose not drive, then tell him to keep quiet, or leave him at home !! He's a lucky man to have a chauffeur. PJay (Mrs) PS Auto gear boxes not so easy to come by, so stick with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Sandlewood, You are the driver and in charge of the vehicle. If you feel comfortable driving it then there's no more to say. I found a larger size was far easier in ALL ways. Most roads are designed for them. If you downsize because of age you'll be for ever regretting it. Big is beautiful. If anyone kept telling me how to drive I would choose a suitable bus stop, hand them the keys and catch the bus home ! ... At 75 + 1 ... add another 10 then decide. Young girls in their 20's drive large continental trucks ... so could you. Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 sandalwood - 2017-02-09 1:41 PM..... hubby doesn't drive, but tells me constantly how to drive! Hopefully, since you and hubby have exchanged to commonplace division of labour, you have learned to develop the selective hearing with which we menfolk are blessed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 sandalwood - 2017-02-09 1:41 PM Thanks for comments,, mine is 7 metres long, 3 metres high , 2 metres wide. Age 75+! Just felt at my age maybe too big. However, it's automatic, easy to drive, hubby doesn't drive, but tells me constantly how to drive! Alternative small vehicle mega expensive! It's in good condition, like me, but when I return to it on site, I think " oh my goodness you are big, how do I drive you!"? Have looked at many Vans, but sooooo small, unlike me. Thanks again for comments, after reading I think, stick with what I have! Regards :-D Very wise. After some ten years or so living with panel van conversions we have up sized to a coachbuilt and have no regrets. One of the main reasons was the amount of time we spend inside due to inclement weather (used all year round) in the UK and the space it provides for long winter trips to Spain. Can't see us going back to a smaller van anytime soon. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandalwood Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 Hi PJ. agree autos are nit easy to get, mine is 3.0 litre big engine, with lots of poke. Have not seen a Rapido Auto for sale ever. The 776Ff very drive Able! Going to stick with it and hopefully do ANNECY this year, fingers crossed for the Alos. Tks fir reply Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 sandalwood - 2017-02-09 1:41 PM Thanks for comments,, mine is 7 metres long, 3 metres high , 2 metres wide. Age 75+! Just felt at my age maybe too big. However, it's automatic, easy to drive, hubby doesn't drive, but tells me constantly how to drive! Alternative small vehicle mega expensive! It's in good condition, like me, but when I return to it on site, I think " oh my goodness you are big, how do I drive you!"? Have looked at many Vans, but sooooo small, unlike me. Thanks again for comments, after reading I think, stick with what I have! Regards :-D Please forgive the suggestion, but in view of the size of the van, and the fact that it's MAM is 3.5 tonnes, I'm just wondering whether you have taken it to a weighbridge fully laden, and checked that it is within its MAM and its permissible axle loads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 I downsized at 70, had had heart surgery and didnt fancy a medical, so exchanged our 4250kg Autotrail coachbuilt for a 3500kg Autotrail PVC, we had also A-framed our car with us. The new van is far easier to take down narrow lanes etc.. and to handle generally. Very pleased with its All weather perforformance, and we have adapted to the size, its a V line 600. We are very pleased with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Thirteen years ago due to ill health (unable to pass the dreaded 70+ medical) we had to downsize from our A class Laika Ecovip 400i (4,200 kg MAM). We had had the Laika for 2 years and had fitted it out for winter touring. Extras we had fitted were a pair of 60-litre LPG tanks for domestic use, a 60-watt solar panel and a Sporty Trailers aluminium back box. As standard, the Laika had a 135 litre fridge/freezer, 115 litre fresh water tank, 140 litre waste water tank and a marine toilet of 52 litre capacity. We had just got the van sorted to our satisfaction when we had to part with it. We usually wintered away for 4 or 5 months (Jan - May), then had an Autumn trip (late Aug - mid Nov), making 7 or 8 months' continental touring in a year. We had spent Jan - April 2002 in Turkey and returned home via Rhodes, Patras and Venice. The Laika was easy to drive, very spacious to live in and the only drawbacks we found during this extensive trip were difficulties in parking and the impossibility of taking it down extremely narrow difficult roads to visit isolated ancient sites. The search then started for a replacement motorhome, with two single beds and a reasonable payload. It was a lot harder than we thought it would be. It could not be above 3,500 kg MAM and we fancied a low profile coach-built but on most the payloads were inadequate for our needs. Some payloads were only 250 - 300 kg and we were still looking at fairly large motorhomes. We then started to look at LWB high top vans and after much thought and deliberation we settled for the Timberland Freedom 11 on the LWB Fiat Ducato with a payload of approx 500 kg. We were very apprehensive about laying out over £38,000 and having all our plans go pear-shaped. We spent a great deal of time and thought before placing an order for the van. Other vans we considered were the Autosleeper Duetto but this dropped out of the frame when we discovered that they were now built on the MWB instead of the LWB chassis. We also considered the Murvi but as they are built in Devon and we live in Yorkshire we decided it was too far to travel if any problems arose. Also its layout meant we could not have a back box. Another contender was IH Campers at Ferrybridge. They had a very good product and offered to build to our specification but Timberland got the nod, as they had the two single bed layout we wanted on the production line when we visited the works. The Timberland has all the same facilities that we had on the Laika. The toilet/shower area is smaller but still as good as many coach-builts. The cooking facilities are actually better, with a small full domestic cooker. The fresh/waste water tanks are smaller but we don't find this a problem. In addition we carry 4 8-litre water containers for tea/coffee making. We also prefer to fill the 60-litre fresh water tank with these, rather than carrying long hoses, which are often inconvenient anyway. Our hobby of chasing the winter sun often means travelling through cold weather before finding the sun. Before, in the Laika, having enough LPG for cooking, heating and the fridge was always a major problem. We chose to have the optional Eberspacher diesel heater fitted at Timberland and later had an MTH Autogas 13kg refillable gas bottle with an external filler installed. This solved all the heating and LPG problems. Our 60-watt solar panel was fixed on the roof, to keep the 2 leisure batteries and the engine battery topped up when not on the move. Storage space is down from the Laika but we still found room for all the essentials. It wasn't easy but we got there in the end. Sporty Trailers manufactured us a back box that hangs on the rear door, which takes care of the loungers and camping equipment. The main thing we had to come to terms with was the downsizing of the fridge/freezer, from 135 litres to 60 litres (I'm allowed one cold beer at a time now). It just means you have to shop more frequently. This is not a problem these days, even in Turkey/Greece/Morocco. Large supermarkets are fairly frequent, even small village shops are much better stocked than they used to be and local markets are good. General storage had to be juggled until it was right. The main thing is not to take anything not strictly essential (no ballgown or tuxedo). One of our main concerns was the fact that we might be falling over one another all the time. With a bit of thought and co-operation it never happened. Seating is comfortable and we can both lounge with feet up. Sleeping is also comfortable, with room to visit the loo and make tea. If you are thinking of downsizing, do your homework first. Sort out your major priorities and look at all the options. If you get it wrong it can be a very expensive mistake. It was forced upon us but now we feel it's done us a favour. It's almost halved our fuel bill, reduced our ferry crossings and we have parked and visited places we would not have thought possible in the past. So our freedom has increased. A 5-month tour of Turkey, Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and Austria went quickly without a hitch and all we could say about it was - this is even better than it used to be! I hope this in some way helps. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Hello Don. How nice to see you posting again. How's things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Hi Brian, We are both well and enjoying the winter sun on the Portuguese Algarve. It was May 2013 and we were on our way back home from Turkey when I realised I was not enjoying the motorhoming any more. I was 80 at the time and we decide to have a change of life style. We had slowed down a lot in the last couple of years as age takes its toll. We had some marvellous memories over the last forty years. We still have plans to travel but at a slower pace. We have met some very interesting people while travelling and made good friends We sold the Timberland in June 2013 and gave up motorhome touring. In the previous 3 years we used it mainly to commute to and from Turkey where we spent the winter in our rented cottage near Fethiye. We still wintered in Turkey but we flew out and had the full 6 months there. We started to encounter problems in Turkey with the "red tape" basically the Turkish government put so many restrictions on the expats that many sold up and left. In May 2016 we decided that enough was enough and decide to look elsewhere for our winter stays. We decided Portugal's western Algarve would suit us as we had spent a few winters there in the mid 90's. We found a cottage in the foothills above Lagos on the edge of a Nation park. We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and then an easy two day drive across Spain into Portugal, Motorway all the way. We have a very layback approach to our winter stays, we live about the same as we do back home except here we have our morning coffee sitting in the sun. We have to explain to some people it is a way of life not a holiday when you are away for six months. I got tempted back on to Facts and started looking at other forums giving advice were I can. We plan to move to your part of the country later this year, all our family live between Worthing and Littlehampton. We hope to find a place at Rustington. Regards to your good lady. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Excellent news - and apologies to all for going off topic on personal stuff! Shame about Turkey - but Portugal ain't a bad alternative! Erdogan, presumably? Under present circumstances, I think you're better off out. Good to hear from you again. Let me know when you get settled and we can maybe fix a meet. Much jaw jaw? :-D Regards to you both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandalwood Posted February 10, 2017 Author Share Posted February 10, 2017 Always before journey Brian, very careful lady driver! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandalwood Posted February 10, 2017 Author Share Posted February 10, 2017 Don How very brave you with your adventures! I have only done France, am a bit of a scary cat, but soooo envious of you. This June are going to try ANNECY, Geneva and Lausanne, but a bit worried about the Alos roads. May you long continue your advdntures, oh how I wish I could do it. Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Brian, I am sure a lot of us older members are glad to hear from Don, and good that he will be coming to our neck of the woods, where they will find it much warmer! We will most likely be doing the same thing, (selling van , and going to Apartments. Due to health ), we will only be able to do shorter stays., also moving to closer to some of the family, though NOT the Yorkshire one! TOO Cold When looking back on old threads, I often wonder about some of the posters, who used to be prolific. So good to know some still around PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Good to see old members still around :-D we downsized three years ago, and as O.H is 80 next week I was just last evening wondering how long we will be enjoying our van, you have given me a bit of encouragement Don that we might manage a couple of years yet. Although we are soft and only use our van from April until October. Keep well All maggy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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