Meet The Fockers

[gratedenini]

Well, yer bugger a hell--its worked!!! So, here is Meet The Fockers .... its BIG its WIDE and its LHD --so watch out for me round those narrow Gloucestershire roads my friends... I tell yer--a few ford fiestas were driven off the road on the way back after collecting this Mother!

You can see the awning I removed--or a narrow bridge removed it should I say! (didnt want it anyway--what a faff on putting that up!).

I reckon, about 14 people could sit in it (plus a few refugees under the seats) -- its too big man!!

I still havent got fully used to it yet. Although used to LHD --this is quite wide--and on narrow roads, you think you are going to tip into the gutter--- but here is poor Silke sat with her hands over her eyes as I`m over the white lines and (another) car veers into the gutter ---- I`ve now taken on Trucker Man syndrome-- ie I`m bigger than thou--so you shift. Not nastily, but just like a survival instinct-- I`m not going ANY further over to the left chore I`m telling thee!

Den The (now) Technically Proficient Twig

[jollynolly]

Why how fancy, are you taking along your cat for the ride?

I am most jealous of your vehicle.

[mr blue]

Wow Den wow den* that's some behemoth you have there my friend,

Let me know what time you're planning on travelling through the lanes of Gloucestershire so's I can be somewhere else.

*fantastic Jimmy Saville impression. Godd wasn't it? Just like he was in the room.

[gratedenini]

Wow Den wow den* that's some behemoth you have there my friend,

Let me know what time you're planning on travelling through the lanes of Gloucestershire so's I can be somewhere else.

Course --it looks a bit different without the awning! But serioiusly-- we not too bothered.. theres holes in the side--but its nowt.

Got it off Ebay and have got to say ( in relevent terms) -- feel very happy with what we paid. Quite honestly-- when you see all these posh new and new-ish vans-- I wonder how fokls can afford them-- I mean there are lots of them about aren`t there.

Its still just a vehichle. We couldn`t bring ourselves to spend that much--esp living over here where the weather plays such a part.

We toured / lived in NZ for some time-- just travelled both islands--stopping wherever we wanted--catching breakfast/dinner/tea/supper from the shore etc etc-- now THAT is the life I tell thee... but in the context of spending what you have to over here for these vans --its obscene. Before we pressed the button on ebay-- we`d been looking at statics--which we`d wanted for a lot of years--esp me. Anyway, we found one which fitted all our criteria (number 1 for me being? of course a club on site!!).. long story-- but we put a ridiculous offer in and were amazed that it was taken.

The however bits to these statics is thought --that you can only have them for so long --in this case 6/7 yrs before iot had to be moved off site and basically yer get nowt for em. How these foks buy em for 60--70k knowing that they will lose a fortune on them i just dont know.

We def thought it greedy to have both and it defeats the object of having a big (ger) motor home.

This motor home is ancient you know -- we arent "car" people and all our vehichles are getting on -- but it does the job.

Yes--- I would steer clear when we are on the way... glad I decided at last to take insurance out!

Isnt Chelters quite easy to get to from the motorway?

den

[gratedenini]

These are the specs the lad sent us...... now please do not think for one minute I`m sw*nking here--cos honestly we just aint that type of folk--- but just as with trying to spread the word re music and fests and that--well so be it with the likes of these motors--- I suppose I`m championing Ebay really--cos we do buy a heck of a lot of stuff on there--big stuff too-- this will be our 4th vehichle off ebay--and apart from an olg MGB which basically blew up after 300yds (300 to put right) --the others have been absolute bargains... now i know its simply not in a lot of peoples heads (blokes in particular) to buy things without seeing em--but if you do some research and with experience, you can narrow down the risk imo.

Oh anyway-- here are the specs......

<<6 berth 2x doulbles 2x singles,full size shower,vanity unit ,flushing toilet ,full size fridge freezer,4 hob burner full size oven ,exstractor unit,microwave, twin sinks mixer tapps hot /cold water ,6 gallon hot water tank ,gas /diesel/electric heating,air con front cab /lounge ,cruise control ,mp 3 player ,brake energizers ,twin fresh water tanks 75 gallon plus ,front swivel seats twin diesel tanks ,gas tank /5/6 kva geny belly lockers ,rear roof ladders roof rails walk able roof ,tow bar ,motor bike carrier + push bike carrier for three bikes ,7 new tryers air ride assisters,full night running lights out side and in ,full serviced errrrrrrr electric entery step with lights drivers door fully alarmed all tanks are full fuel/water/gas ,side awnings out side night lights ,bbq out side conection mot november tax end april 300 a year fully comp insurense,arve owners club registered,caravan club registered,registered 1993, chevrolet coachmen classic v8 diesel 21+mpg 30 ft long , just ask den if i have forgotten any thing .it weighs roughly 6 ton >>

den

insurance I actually got for £150... and thats a tale for round the camp fire!

[mr blue]

Bought mine on what you call evil-bay too. It's a bit nerve wrecking after you've pressed that button, wanting the van but half hoping someone will outbid you and take the decision of your hands. Then there's the journey to pick it up praying the description was accurate and you won't have to face the guy and say 'you're joking, that's never worth that money'. Then the drive home, listening out for every creak and knock, wishing you weren't so soft and could sleep in a tent for a few more years.

Having said all that I'm pleased with mine. Compared to my old Merc conversion it's like a palace. It's about as long as yours is wide, but size isn't everything, as the current ms blue keeps telling me (a little to readily for my liking).

edit: ooh I just read your second post there. I bought my MGB of ebay too! Real man-bonding now (must be the wine I drank tonight)

Edited May 21, 2008 by mr blue

[gratedenini]

O LORDY MAMA-- theres a chance we might like each other Blue.

We bought our 1st van off ebay--- and just like you were a bit concerened--the bloke offered to half deliver it --he was in doncaster--we in Newcastle--- we met at Scotch Corner-- me wondering if the van was actually his,was it nicked--on and on--is he bringing it up cos it never starts on a morning etc etc --every emotion thinkable.

The BIG howver here mind-- we were only talking abouy a grands worth.

It was an old tranny which he`d done out himself. Had an oven and fridge ---which we never touched. It was all we wanted--- what a difference to be able to at least stand up when you wake in the morning.

I tell yer--that van owed us NOWT-- we went ALL over Europe in it--- had not one bit of trouble with it--- it was one of the only vehicles we`ve had--which I just KNEW it would get us there. No power steering so it was a bit heavy to manouver into small spaces-- but crikey,what a reliable thing that was. We would have the two of us-- Jordan above the cab and Larmer in his travel cot--wedged in like a brazil nut in Barbara Widsors crim.

Wouldn`t be everybodys cup of tea-- we still had to "doss it" a bit--but for us--it was great. Went back and forth to Germany amny times that did--Berkin to Holland 3 times at least for gigs and fests.. really sorry to see it go--but space was getting tight--and with the new baby etc etc.

I do feel a teeny bit pretentious with this new one--even though its almost a relic--- the 1st fest we were at--- some anoraks who`d pulled up in their brand new vans , ambled over and began discussing the reletive merits of waste disposal and the benifits of LPG and how good Winnebago Coachbuilts are! I got me smokin bag out and called over some youngsters --about 8 of em crammed in to a tent--y`know--how it SHOULD be--that got shot of the anoraks.

Yours didn`t look so long from the pics? Its not the length for me--its the width thats the potential problem--does take a lot of getting used to--and i seem to be constantly gnawing away at the inside of my mouth when i`m driving!

den

Edited May 21, 2008 by gratedenini

[shooting star]

O LORDY MAMA-- theres a chance we might like each other Blue.

Yours didn`t look so long from the pics?

and i seem to be constantly gnawing away at the inside of my mouth when i`m driving!

den

[gratedenini]

Quote: Mr Blue:

It's about as long as yours is wide, but size isn't everything, as the current ms blue keeps telling me (a little to readily for my liking).

Wow, Den, how WIDE is it?

Or youre not listening?

The one and only Shooting Star