How's the plumbing-Stu.

[Brian(Liverpool boys)]

After many blue prints had been drawn, and photo's taken of our fab electric shower system this year. Stu, has decided to invent his own wash your bit's and bob's eletricly operated system.
How are the trial's going Stu, and are you ready to apply for the patent yet. Bet the kid's are fed up with hearing the shout ok, get your arses out here and try it this time, promise that you wont get another shock.
 

[Stu]

The design is coming along fine. The plumbing is no probs. I'm looking for a lightweight cubicle design and was gutted the other day on mentioning it to my mate, when he told me he had just chucked away his old caravan awning. All the parts I needed. Looks like the B & Q £2.99 tarpaulin sheets after all.

Stu

[jpchenet]

Come on now Stu, you saw our set-up and how easy it was.  

One cheapo gazebo with sides, dividied down centre to create seperate "cubicles"

Next year, we are looking at two showers, two crappers and wash basins!!  

[Stu]

Yeah, I could do that, but I was looking for a smaller lighter option. As it is with 11 months to go time is running out. We have a few options of transport already next year. One was my mates big Hymer motor home which has just been burnt out by the local charva's (wearing the traditional dress code of  tracker bottoms, Rocky P's, fake Burberry tops and caps  'yee knaa' , oh and I forgot the sov's). Hopefully it will be repaired for next year to stay on the option list.

Stu

[jpchenet]

We're definately going for a van next year, unless we buy a coach/bus and convert it in time.  Buggering around trying to fit everything back into the trailers was a real pain.  

Worse still, we had no space for any booze!!!    

Taking a bigger genny next year too, as we'll have at least two fridges and at least one freezer (going to deep freeze a load of ice before heading down. Hopefully should then stay frozen in a sealed freezer for the journey down until it is plugged in again. Ideal for pre-dinner cocktails!!  

Sounds like Dan and Isaac may join us again next year too.

Say hello to Trev for us. How's he doing??

[Stu]

Trev's getting worse. He was at the hospital yesterday and they are talking about fusing his bone. He's getting another opinion of course. Apparently there's still a washer left in his ankle but that has nothing to do with the pain. Nothing better than the NHS. Your life in their hands.


Stu

[jpchenet]

That doesn't sound too clever.  And a washer floating around in his ankle can't being doing it much good either. Even if it isn't directly contributing to the pain, it can't be helping.

Can he try the "You left a washer in my ankle so I'm suing you unless you get me in private and get this sorted now" approach.

Please pass on all of our best wishes and let us know how he gets on. Might have to arrange a mass visit to the hospital if/when he goes in. We can send him a copy of the video he liked too if he needs something to watch while he is convalescing  

[smokie]

Re teh van idea. We hired one for a week a few years back - swb diesel tranny, served our needs but boy, was it slow. It cost about £330 for the week, and towed the caravan too. Not all hire companies let their stuff go abroad.

When I got back I was checking out the Advertiser and I could have bought an old van for not much more, which would have done us for a few years. Just problems with insurance and storage really.

[jpchenet]

Storage is our main concern. I'm going to check on insurance costs too. I'm hoping it wouldn't be too expensive. I've seen an old diesel transit for £500, with a compressor and generator in it too. Not the most pleasing to the eye van I have ever seen but I'm sure some team colours and the 2004 Zarse poster would make it look better.  

[Andy Zarse]

JP Can I suggest you buy a classic vehicle, ie pre 1974?

I bought the Commer off ebay for £300, classic insurance with a restricted mile policy is under £100 pa including RAC European recovery. And no road tax to pay as it is a historic. The storage will be the same whatever you buy. I just shove the commer in the corner of a field belonging to a frindly local farmer. Im hoping he'll let me put it in a barn this year.

I've done two LM trips in her and used her at the odd festival and other w/es away Alton towers etc. I have no regrets about it, 100% reliable and freighted up to the nuts,  the best thing we ever got to take our clobber to LM.

Heres a few to consider:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2422958361&category=14256

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2422583995&category=14256

or my personal favourite:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2422646860&category=2192

Or try the classic camper club for sales page here

http://classiccamperclub.tripod.com/Forsalesandwants.htm

[jpchenet]

Thanks Andy. That's a good tip worth knowing!! How many miles does it restrict you to??  Although it's not a classic camper (yet), the 17 seater Mercedes minibus for £500 looks a bargain.

[Andy Zarse]

It varies but I opted for 3000 miles pa. Its plenty I suspect. Driving a classic van is slow, but Caen to LM is only 110 miles, so what if it takes an extra half an hour. People do tend to let you pull out of junctions and you get plenty of friendly waves too.

Merc could be a good idea as they are good vans but will be quite expensive if it goes wrong. My advice is don't go near it unless there is some service history as they are very maintenance sensitive. But don't worry about a high milage if its been looked after properly.

[Russ]

Last two years we were in a Van. One of us ownes it. 4 birth, two guys slept inside, one in the awning, and the other two in their own three person section of a 6 man tent. Very comfortable!

Main benifits are with the domestic activities and the of course storage of beer in the fridge. A geny is still a must have though. We hitched three mountain bikes on the back and two more inside for the journey and still loads of room inside for all the kit.

3 hours St. Malo to Le Mans if we hadn't stopped for a sh*t, Beer & porn. Same back if we hadn't had a puncture!

Also less likely to get theivin' gypsied.

Bikes aren't everyone's favorite mode of transport, but we were able to get into town in about half an hour.

[smokie]

Bikes aren't everyone's favorite mode of transport, but we were able to get into town in about half an hour.

And how long to get back, or were you still sober?

[Russ]

Damn... rumbled!

OK, so we left town at about 10 - 11 ish just as it became dangerous to cycle without lights...  

Then proceeded to get lost... found what we thought was the main road that goes across the Stella Bar, but wasn't... ended up on a pitch black country road.. was helped by some brits in a big convertable caddie (or something like that - was too dark to really tell..) and made it back to camp (all with "Which f*cking way now!!??" still ringing in our ears...) at about 1ish... Still, we were just about ready for some more beer by then!