How perfect do you keep your camper ?

Might sound a stupid question but reason I ask is that my bus Polly that I have recently purchased was restored 5 or so years ago so in places there are chips in the paint (door thresholds, door edges, a bit on gutters) and there is the odd bit of what looks like surface rust about on bumpers mainly but also a bit in gutters.

How obsessed are you about making sure the body work is kept perfect ?

Should I just go with the flow and accept that she is a 32 year old bus, resored 5 years ago and now showing a bit of wear and tear or should I jump on these issues now and get them all sorted for what could be £300 - £500 of work in a body shop (I don't know this by the way I am just guessing).

 

I have begun to realise that Pinky will need serious work in the next few years so gonna just enjoy her and not worry too much for the time being.

I like to keep her fairly tidy - but as long as she runs and passes her MOT I will be happy

 

i find imperfection's everywhere on my bus, the harder i look the more i find.
So i just don't look now, i just enjoy

 

Prefection for me with my bay is

Mot
Insurance
Road tax
Tank of fuel
Beer in his fridge
Scotch in the cupboard

8)

 

i saw a guy at SGP who's van was like mine but run down and tatty - mechanically it was sound and he said that is all he cares about. i now tend to agree

 

We had £3000 worth of work done at the start of the year to sort out George but.... He really needed it, there was so much rust along the bay window that it was getting to a point where we could have poked so much rust out that the window would fall out.

After having a new front and both front wheel arches done, also all along drivers side seel George is getting perfect. There are some rust bubbles behind back wheel arches and a few bubbles on the B post. These will be tackled next.

I would say if its not bad just enjoy. If its getting bad then sort it.

 

When I purchased my bus it had already been restored (not up to my requirements mind!) but its ok - the rear panels are badly flattened off and the rear quarter panels will need sorting, but after spending my whole life trying for perfection and being obsessed with it, I decided time is much too valuable to waste on this sort of thing. : Its had 18 previous owners!!!

Even if I did my van to be a show winner I would never enter it in , I dont care what other people think of it.
For me the most important thing was to get a good solid van that only needed the inside doing and the odd bit here and there. With a little un I dont get time like I used to.
Its been spot on ,I use it daily, its been reliable (so far!!) I am plugging away at the inside as I go but overall its a good van that has served me well.
Yes keep on top of stone chips etc as they rust and then your into more work/money. Yes wash it regularly and wax it. Keep an eye on it generally not just the nice bits. Keep those 3000 mile services going and it will reward you with years of good service.
I am desperate to finish it so we can go camping as a family - that was the reason why I got it.

Everyone has their own reasons and wishes but a little story for you. A friend of mine had a beetle, his dad died about the time he purchased it and to be fair I think it helped him get over everything. He spent a fortune doing it up and did a lot himself learning as he went, when it was back from the paintshop it looked the dogs. Must have been about 2 years until he finished it. The very next day we had snow and a lady lost control of her car and smashed into it! It was never the same, I mean poor guy! !! Make your own moral up for that one!

 

Hmmmm

Yes makes you think doesn't it.

I will keep her clean, I will wax her and I will get her serviced regularly.

Fortunately for me other than stone chips etc I have a very lovely bus that I am sure has 10 years in her yet.