Serious question. Are you still enjoying bay ownership?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Poptop2, Nov 15, 2016.

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  1. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    I know, I know, builders vans are the future n all that yada yada yada, ( saw Ricks on Friday V nice) but this forum was based on late bay ownership of which when I joined I had one of.

    It wasn't my first, in fact it was my third in 30 odd years. I bought it because my family preferred it over my newer T25 and we had had fab times in our other ( newer ) bays, but it was a wreck.

    This place was a godsend. The gifts advice and help in getting it back on the road was beyond the call of duty and we made some great friends in the process, met some fab people and really enjoyed the four years of ownership, but alas reality caught up with us all in the end. Rhubarb my bay was old, we were older and illness made any proper use of her as a camper or daily totally impractical and we moved on.

    What we found was, bays are old and need constant maintenance to keep on the road. She was too small for comfortable family getaways in the wet English weather and we were never sure we would get there and back without a break down ( the van and us ) It ended up where me and Will ( my youngest) would go away and mum would stay at home. It wasn't the ideal vehicle 30 years on, and us with extra waistline. We swapped her for something bigger.

    My thoughts at the time were that bay ownership is becoming something akin to the split ownership scene. Lovely well kept vans, but not very practical for every day use, best suited as show motors and under cover when not in use. I think this is how the bay ownership scene has slowly become now and wonder how others see it.

    Are you still getting pleasure from your late bay ownership, or is it becoming a bit of a bugbear?

    I know, I could have just asked that question, but wanted to describe how it went for us and wondered if others felt similar!
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2016
    Poptop2, Nov 15, 2016
    #1
    Lazy Andy, mcswiggs, Sick Boy and 1 other person like this.
  2. Lord Congi

    Lord Congi

    Yea completely, going Keswick tomorrow for 4 nights winter camping (all cosey)
    Plus have spain/Portugal and Majorcia too look forward to this summer.
    Still my daily, wouldn't have any other vehicle.
    Its because I'm single and have no family though I guess, would be a nightmare with a family, what a shame I really miss screaming kids and ungrateful wives :(
     
    Lord Congi, Nov 15, 2016
    #2
    chrisniclia1, jivedubbin, Sick Boy and 10 others like this.
  3. 75swampy

    75swampy

    You sound like my wife :D

    But you have a valid point.
    (Don't tell my wife I agreed ;))
     
    75swampy, Nov 15, 2016
    #3
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  4. Day

    Day

    I am in my first year of ownership.
    Being now 47 years old I am enjoying it enormously....I hope to be able to carry on until it all becomes too much...that should give me 10 years yet I hope...

    They are wonderful vehicles.
     
    Day, Nov 15, 2016
    #4
    jivedubbin, Kruger, art b and 5 others like this.
  5. Lord Congi

    Lord Congi

    My thoughts will probably change on the next hard shoulder :thumbsup:
     
    Lord Congi, Nov 15, 2016
    #5
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  6. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Still enjoying ours, Gusbus drives well now, needs a good clean and polish before winter, I haven't got time to do this yet :(

    Major is under restoration, we don't have a huge amount to do but we don't need to hurry etc.

    Next year we have lots of plans, both locally into Derbyshire or Notts or further afield around the country :thumbsup:
     
    MorkC68, Nov 15, 2016
    #6
    Kruger, Lord Congi and Robo like this.
  7. Dubs

    Dubs Sponsor supporter extraordinaire

    Yes. Had current van for 17+ years now.. I don't camp in it now I'm familyed up, and it's a panel van, but still choose it over my car most days. :)

    I did get bored with it for a couple of years, but then swapped the lawn mower engine for a Scooby, and raised the suspension.. happy days again. :cool:
     
    Dubs, Nov 15, 2016
    #7
    chrisniclia1, Sick Boy, Kruger and 3 others like this.
  8. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Do you take kids Mark? I can't remember if you have kids or not!
     
    Poptop2, Nov 15, 2016
    #8
  9. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    yep, we have four between us! Ellie doesn't come camping anymore as she is studying her o levels but would do if she could bring a friend :)
     
    MorkC68, Nov 15, 2016
    #9
    Poptop2 likes this.
  10. orangefeeling

    orangefeeling

    Had a T25 with emotional attachments (it was a wedding present from all our friends and family and generally much loved). However, rot got it in the end and having approached over 30 'specialists' I couldn't find anyone willing to give me a price to repair it, and lacked the facilities to do it myself. Flogged it for almost what we bought it for to an optimist off ebay.

    Then we were going to get a sensible van and do a home brew - high top trannie most likely. But then one of us said well we could just have a look at a bay, and bought the first one we went to see.

    I love it (even though its currently got no MOT and its slowly killing lying underneath in the cold fixing it) - its strangely more practical than the T25 was and suits the family well. The wife has a bit of a love hate relationship with it, but is coming to love it (I think!)

    I hope to keep it until either me or the van are beyond economical repair.
     
    orangefeeling, Nov 15, 2016
    #10
    areksilverfish, mcswiggs, chrisniclia1 and 5 others like this.
  11. Bhubesi

    Bhubesi

    The Bus is part of the family, can't imagine not being able to see her everyday.
    So many good memories over the last 40 years.
    Tony
     
    Bhubesi, Nov 15, 2016
    #11
    areksilverfish, chrisniclia1, theBusmonkey and 12 others like this.
  12. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Yes still enjoying owning it and driving it hard and regularly. I find it engaging and entertaining to drive.
    If something is not right with it I enjoy fixing it nyself. I like camping in it. I like cooking in it and going to Techenders and some shows.
    I find it a slow therapy from the rest of the world.

    A T4/T5 builders van would just annoy me by degrading faster .

    I have owned the same small yacht for 20 years and I havent got bored with that yet.
     
    mikedjames, Nov 15, 2016
    #12
    areksilverfish, orangefeeling, chrisniclia1 and 10 others like this.
  13. Barry Haynes

    Barry Haynes I dance in leopard skin mankini’s

    Serious answer at the moment yes, but not very,I've a few issues
     
    Barry Haynes, Nov 15, 2016
    #13
    Poptop2 likes this.
  14. Terrordales

    Terrordales Nightshift

    Yes.
     
    Terrordales, Nov 15, 2016
    #14
    Dubs and Poptop2 like this.
  15. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    I was asking about the bus!
     
    Poptop2, Nov 15, 2016
    #15
    Dubs likes this.
  16. Barry Haynes

    Barry Haynes I dance in leopard skin mankini’s

    You said you wouldn't mention my little problem
     
    Barry Haynes, Nov 15, 2016
    #16
    Dubs likes this.
  17. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Did the splint work?
     
    Poptop2, Nov 15, 2016
    #17
  18. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Who?
     
    Baysearcher, Nov 15, 2016
    #18
    Sick Boy likes this.
  19. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    [​IMG]
     
    Poptop2, Nov 15, 2016
    #19
  20. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Ah, the self confessed "big name deserter"
     
    Baysearcher, Nov 15, 2016
    #20
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