Your review or comments on your van year.

What's your 2012 been like van wise? those restoring - you where you wanna be? those who used it - how was it? those who got their 1st - is it what you expected? those tlb newbies - enjoying it? anything you wanna post then go for it! keep it nice though guys.
My year has been good, after not using the van much last year due to buying it and being skint i made a pact with myself that i'd camp in it every month this year (until it's sorned) so far i've done that since march, we have done a few thousand miles, met new mates, had fun with old ones, the van's behaved, passed the mot and other than a few niggles ran well, i've caned the credit card but i've enjoyed it so who cares? as it stands the tax is out at the end of november and i dunno if i'll tax it or sorn it yet..... so i'm happy overall this year, what about you lot?

 

Pinky started the year with a trip to Birdy's Buses .... MOT fail - work done and passed with no advisories ....

Since then she has had a maintenance free (touch wood) 10 months ... during that time there was a lot of camping, festivals and happy afternoons plodding around the coast.

Hardly done anything to her at all this year ..... and I've almost paid off the credit card from Jan

 

Molly unexpectidly found us in March, it was full on getting her ready to camp then the rain struck, as a family we have had a bumpy year to date with one thing and another, only managed one camping trip inbetween all the other pre-booked stuff we had on...

We have not booked anything for next year, so fingers crossed when she rolls out the garage in 2013 we will be here there and everywhere, we really cant wait...

 

Buying the van nearly 3 years ago was the best thing I've ever done. Apart from having a camper I've really enjoyed getting to understand how it works and doing basic maintenance etc. The van passed its MOT without problems and has basically not let me down at all. It wouldn't be anything like as good though without all the VW people you meet along the way, if fact it probably wouldn't be possible. Hoping to have a big holiday in France in 2013 with wife and dogs.

 

Has been a nightmare of a year.


Front beam needed a small repair before mot then found out it was worse than throughout and ended up having to replace it.


Would not restart when hot traced to burnt out starter.


Engine running rough, new sparkplugs,Ht leads,coil, second coil traced to warn dissy
replaced dissy and electronic unit with new one much better but still not right final problem traced to a faulty ht lead.


Misfire trace to faulty electronic unit in dissy


Random loss of all electric power ended up replacing most of cable from battery to dash.


Radio broke


noisy exhaust started blowing so got a 2nd hand original and heat exchangers to replace it all with a plan to get heating working but never got round to replacing centre pipe or cables


Replaced door seal slammed door to find the bottom of the door is made of filler and now have a big crack and the bottom of the door is about to fall off.


Carb linkage broke and found out the carbs really need a rebuild.


We have come so close to selling the thing but just cant do it.


I think that most of it the tax has run out so have sorned it for now to save up


We did getaway for around 28 nights but that well down on normal


Work planed for next year
Find heating parts and fit (centre tube, diverter bit 2x cables)
Replacement drivers door
Replace right hand sill
replace both battery trays
Fit spare wheel rack

 

Good idea for a thread Mr Roo.

After contemplating the idea of a Vintage camper since 2010, we finally decided to bite the bullet around the end of May. First was to get much needed advice on conversion types and what to look out for when buying. This came from various sources, not least of all TLB. Then the search started. Whilst good fun, this was frustratiing as the summer gradually disappeared (did it ever start ?) meaning the ability to use a van with good weather diminished rapidly.
However, one bus had caught my eye in June but it was going to go through a respray etc and would not be ready for a little while. I carried on looking at others and nearly bought a couple but something always made me come back to this one bus. Finally it was finished and after seeing some pics and seeing it once again in the flesh, the deal was done and finally we had our camper . (I was told that the right bus would find me. It certainly 'feels' right).
As you know, it needs some work on the interior but what I also have found is that less obvious bits are missing or are not working. The funny thing is, instead of getting :arrggh: and having :rant:, I just laugh and then go on a journey to source items or learn how to fix things. Hopefully this honeymoon feeling never goes away.
As it is taxed for 6 months, I plan to get it out (ooer missus) on dry days through the winter to give it a run, plus I will be working on the van.
So far it's been great fun and I hope next year if I write something similar, it will be to describe how the travelling and using the van has brought just as much joy and fun.
Finally (you will be pleased to know), the TLB has been both fun and supportive in equal measures. A big :mwave: to you all.

 

Interesting, having got her back after 6 years off the road, its been the usual constant improving/upgrade/maintenance,,fell on big bad times so live in her, mostly >seriously NOT!!!recommended !!! still!. disappointment wiv result (wrong) of my 1st call out wiv my a.a. membership(not alcoholics annon.!)fixed it myself,as u tend to do.funny how, all those years ago when i saw/bought her i never knew ....but i do love my camper.i"d previously lived in a tent for 3 years dont have to sorn ,mot,ins.! a tent (obviously.

 

3 weeks with girlfriend and daughters on holliday. 4 vw events and lots of weekends away whit it.
No problems what so ever. hmm,,i forgot,,gearbox is broken, if i put it in 3. it gets stuck, so been driving since august in 1. 2. and 4. gear
Losen has worked good this year, drove it too and from scc, and set a new pb. with it, 14,36.
Winter will be used replacing GB on the camper, put a new engine in it. Rebuild Losen's engine with new heads and cam from JPM

 

been a bizarre year, had more downs than up tbh... but time with Molly have been the positive times, i havent even camped in her yet :'( so extremely looking forward to Wilma's Birthday next week and meeting TLBers for the first time i'm sure you're all lovely as most of you are on here ... doesn't stop me being scared though...

anyway i look forward to spending much more time camping and having weekends away in her... and she's better than i could have ever imagined x

 

Booze. New friends. Booze. Laughter. Booze. Mud. Booze. Tears and booze

 

:yeah that:

Minus the tears

 

Started badly when I took the engine out to fit flaps and refresh tinware, as well as a few other related jobs, then couldn't get the damn thing back on the gearbox again.

But it has behaved itself all year since, been generally reliable, no need to call out Big Yellow, and coped well with the ups and downs of the Welsh countryside.

Next year I want to make more use of it - the wet summer this year kind-of put a big wet blanket over most of this year, and the only thing that's been a real git is the fact that I've not been able to camp in it as much as I'd like.

 

haha i forgot about my first mental first journey which nearly involved me killing myself, molly, some sheep and a mouse... haha ahhh Tiny-Pie's Epic Adventure!! x

 

Well....


5 Break downs. 3 after driving to work resulting in me being towed home.
1 fuel filter blocked, managed to blow it clear and get some more fuel through the lines to make it home
1 wires fell off coil on the way to VW Action South West - easy

Interior ripped out, new floor welded in place, new front panel welded in.

She's in the garage having the roof done now, I have new interior trim panels to go in, been a busy year though, I've moved twice, got married, left the RAF, got a new job, son had Pneumonia, I could go on!

Can't wait for the Bus to come out the garage, get the interior in, have her MOT'd ( need a new battery tray though) and go to more shows next year!

Desperate to meet more people at more shows, the missus is completely won over and I catch her looking at pics of vans now as well!

 

On reflection is been a most exccelant van year ,
first time at camperjam, realy enjoyed that , dispite the weather, dubs int dales was great and a reaminder of how shows used to be. Happend across the late bay quite by accident, who could have guessed what that would lead to.
We turned up at Burnby hall to be welcomed by a very ecclectic bunch of easy going people who made us fell so welcome.
scince then we have enjoyed some great weekends and made some most exccelant friends.Only last night i commented to mrs B that i was missing the whole campfire / whisky /talking Marmitee /weekend away thing.
And dare i say , the first year in eleven years of bugcatcher ownership with no breakdowns.
Other highlights are, new wheels , 90mph ,back to standard hight, foster the people,and the volks world show.

 

Nice one phil