Pep talk needed please.

LindsayH

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I'm really struggling. I've been full time for getting on for 2 months now. Quit job/career after 15 years so I could travel with my dog who died 2 weeks before I left the flat. I've spent my entire savings that I was hoping to travel for a year on fixing things on the van. Everything I touch breaks and everything I try and fix fails. I'm staying at Mum's for 2 days, just popped out to the van and the fridge isn't working (again) and the roof light is leaking. Quite a lot. This is on top of existing power issues that mean I've been managing without lights or any unnecessary power use for the last 2 weeks. Apart from checking a fuse, I have no idea what to do or much money to throw at it. I'm sorry for moaning, but I'm just so fed up. I have no one I can talk to in the real world about it, they all think I'm an idiot for buying the van in the first place. Maybe they are right.....
Can someone please just say something nice to me?
 
poor lindsay - sounds like my van !!! i bought a dog of a van and have been fixing it for 4 years now !! but i dont regret buying it..... old things do break down and wear out - whatever part of life you are talking about. But one thing i have learned now is that i will no longer accept repairs from well-meaning folks who tell me they know what they are doing - until you know for sure that they do. i would rather save money for a proper repair, or work round it. For example in France last year for 3 weeks i had virtually no water as i thought i had damaged my main water tank... when i got it home it turned out that the plug had come out !!!! so an easy cheap thing to fix... made me laugh i can tell you....

being on the road has its up and its downs - its fab days its lonely days its happy days its quiet days and its hard to get out of the blues... but... use your van to move to a different location if you can where you will see different things and get a different perspective - l look out for a big green "W" sticker in a vans window - that will be a member of this forum... stop by and say hello.

bw
 
There are loads of people who'll help fix things for beers / doughnuts.

I'm electrical - where are you?

You can also earn a few quid to fund things quite easily if you put your mind to it. What are your skills.

You'll be fine :)

Thank you, that helps.
You're right, I can work if I get desperate. The point was to not have to for a bit but of course I will if I need to. I was also in too much of a state after the dog. I did do a few days last week to get a bit of money and food so at least now I have diesel. It was something I agreed to a while ago but worked out well.
I'm in Berkshire at the mo but leaving for destination unknown tomorrow. I'll probably head west and north a bit but haven't made anything resembling a plan yet.
Beer, the international currency! I'm rather ashamed that mine is currently warm :-(
 
poor lindsay - sounds like my van !!! i bought a dog of a van and have been fixing it for 4 years now !! but i dont regret buying it..... old things do break down and wear out - whatever part of life you are talking about. But one thing i have learned now is that i will no longer accept repairs from well-meaning folks who tell me they know what they are doing - until you know for sure that they do. i would rather save money for a proper repair, or work round it. For example in France last year for 3 weeks i had virtually no water as i thought i had damaged my main water tank... when i got it home it turned out that the plug had come out !!!! so an easy cheap thing to fix... made me laugh i can tell you....

being on the road has its up and its downs - its fab days its lonely days its happy days its quiet days and its hard to get out of the blues... but... use your van to move to a different location if you can where you will see different things and get a different perspective - l look out for a big green "W" sticker in a vans window - that will be a member of this forum... stop by and say hello.

bw

Thanks Delicagirl :)
You are absolutely right. I don't really begrudge looking after the van and I don't blame her. She's a good van really, solid and lovely but 15 years old so you have to expect things to break. I'm just shocked how many things can break in such a short space of time and how expensive it is every time!
Thank you for reminding me, I need to request/buy a sticker so hopefully people like you will say hi if they see me x
 
Don't let it get you down as we have lived in vans for pretty much the last 10 years, Ok we slept in my Mums house for about 6 months as she kept falling, then slept in our bungalow for 5 months last year .
We've had posh vans and tatty caravans and most in between.
We have the 100k PIG now !
At the end of the day it doesn't matter much if nothing works, we really only need a bed and somewhere dry and warm.
The PIG is horrible to drive and falls to bits but it's somewhere to sleep , as Steve says get to a meet and the idiots on here will gladly help bugger up some more stuff but it's fun to watch :lol-049:

Thanks Cheerful Charlie, you are just what I needed, great name :-D
I'm normally quite positive but my positivity has just completely deserted me at the moment. I've just been looking through the meets section, I think that would be a good idea. Just what I need! If the idiots buggered up some different things it would help take my mind off the fridge and leaking roof :-D
 
Thanks Delicagirl :)
You are absolutely right. I don't really begrudge looking after the van and I don't blame her. She's a good van really, solid and lovely but 15 years old so you have to expect things to break. I'm just shocked how many things can break in such a short space of time and how expensive it is every time!
Thank you for reminding me, I need to request/buy a sticker so hopefully people like you will say hi if they see me x

ANY spare part with "campervan" in its title is triple the price !!! my van is 25 years old, japanese and very rare, so its a dog to get parts for... but i somehow manage.....
i love it now really i do.... lol !!
 
Know how you feel, we bought an old Bedford Daeuville, (38 years old) because of some problems we have had SWMBO has named it the Deville, had it for 5 month's driven it for 4 weeks. Still in garage having repairs done for mot.
 
You are part of a wonderful family of like minded eejits with a multifarious range of talents. They go from wrecking stuff all the way to creating magic. I've had a few problems whilst being a member here, and the help and advice has been terrific, it's got me started with solar power, saving me £1,300 on bodywork repairs, coming to our house and repairing a none functioning heater and much more recently advising on my fridge which wouldn't work when we were driving------a £3.50 relay, beer tokens or a bottle of red is usually the asking price. Just ask and ye shall receive, and get a sticker, you'l find the membership pack listed on the right
 
Thanks Delicagirl :)
You are absolutely right. I don't really begrudge looking after the van and I don't blame her. She's a good van really, solid and lovely but 15 years old so you have to expect things to break. I'm just shocked how many things can break in such a short space of time and how expensive it is every time!
Thank you for reminding me, I need to request/buy a sticker so hopefully people like you will say hi if they see me x

Get a request pack top right on front page or if you send me a address I can mail you them tomorrow
Don’t put it up on the forum
Pm me your destination you want it sent ,I organise Scottish meetings and ok to send me your mail destination .
As others have stated esp if you are in a area there are meetings or gatherings on we will try to help /assist a damsel in distress ,this is a great group and don’t be afraid to ask even if you think it’s daft .as we all have done it before
 
Just think you are doing something that a lot of people would love to do but may be too scared to do savings are nothing in the big scheme of things I have lived my life with very little savings but I work hard and live life to the full look for a rescue dog and give them a chance as well we will be lost when ours has gone
 
Sorry to hear you have a few problem but you will find tons of help on these pages. Someone will always know how to fix it. Roof light leaking could be down to how much sun we have had and its either dried the sealant out or everything got very hot and expanded and different rates. Removing the roof light and resealing is not a major problem.

You could probably do with a few basic tools if you don't already have them and a multimeter for checking electrics. If you get one someone will show you how it works and how to test fuses. You could also do with a roll of gaffer tape. Don't buy a cheap one you want it to stick. This can be used for all sorts of purposes.

You have to remember that the average CARAVAN is used for 2 weeks a year and a couple of weekends away. Most of the parts for MH's have come from the same source and were never designed to be used daily. Everything is just that little bit weaker than it should be and as the bits get older the plastic gets very brittle and bingo. You can find lots of bits on EBay at realistic prices and there are also a number of breakers that have parts.

Hope you get it all sorted

..
 
Full timing there are downsides as you are finding out ....Worry not it all comes right in the end,,,,,, how ?no idea but it does.

Sometimes for me it was winter, what am I doing and why ? you brave it learn quickly, Every day is a learning curve, I am based in West Yorks and happy to help if and where I can if you get stuck. And if its something out my depth I know a man that can.

Try and see it all as part of the adventure, put it down on paper one day you can write a book.

If you can get to meets lots of people here to help you,Let it all test your resolve by all means but don't give in

Channa
 
You are part of a wonderful family of like minded eejits with a multifarious range of talents. They go from wrecking stuff all the way to creating magic. I've had a few problems whilst being a member here, and the help and advice has been terrific, it's got me started with solar power, saving me £1,300 on bodywork repairs, coming to our house and repairing a none functioning heater and much more recently advising on my fridge which wouldn't work when we were driving------a £3.50 relay, beer tokens or a bottle of red is usually the asking price. Just ask and ye shall receive, and get a sticker, you'l find the membership pack listed on the right


Thank you Oppy :) x
 
Get a request pack top right on front page or if you send me a address I can mail you them tomorrow
Don’t put it up on the forum
Pm me your destination you want it sent ,I organise Scottish meetings and ok to send me your mail destination .
As others have stated esp if you are in a area there are meetings or gatherings on we will try to help /assist a damsel in distress ,this is a great group and don’t be afraid to ask even if you think it’s daft .as we all have done it before

Thanks, I will do. I've ordered a few bits for the van so will need to arrange to get a package sent to me somewhere anyway. I can't wait to get my sticker! x
 
If nothing else make sure you get her sealed first,electrics is the next thing to brush up on,multi meter is a must in all vans and can be bought from £5 up,dont give up ,learn and live it up.:banana:
 
there. can't be too many people on here who have not had a fridge problem.
give a description of what's happening,or not happening,
if you' going to be full timing, suggest you start improving your DIY skills.

Thank you, it's good to know I'm not alone. I suspected as much when I typed 'fridge' into the search box :-D
I agree about the DIY skills. I'm fairly good at carpentry, flat pack, decorating and I can just about do tiling and lay a lino floor. Not very useful skills in a van! I can't see myself ever being very good at plumbing or electrics and I'm certainly no good on the roof as I'm awful with heights. Does anyone with good electrical skills need their lambs ear-tagging, their goats hooves trimming, their horses clipping or their dogs nails doing?? :lol-053::lol-053:
I need to try harder, at least with the electric side of things but I'm just awful at it, it goes in one ear and out the other.
 

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