Selling my motorhome?

[antiquesam]

Why not rent a mobile home or a cottage and take the car. No toilet emptying or water filling. Despite having the van we still book a cottage a couple of times a year in a town and close to those important establishments we used to have called public houses I seem to remember.

 

[jagmanx]

I couldnt do a long trip right now because my knees are now so bad it would just become incredibly tiresome and difficult, plus I cant walk around anywhere. The saving grace is the scooter as it gets us about so I do enjoy that more than anything but touring involves a hell of a lot of getting in and out, filling up and emptying, and lots of stuff on your feet that you wont notice if you dont have knee problems. Going static like we have been doing in one spot is a lot easier. I am hoping to lose weight and then eventually get new knees but how far away that will be I have no idea. Everything has gone to pot with Covid sadly and my knees wont be a priority for the NHS and private would blow the motorhome budget!

So I guess I was thinking of maybe a short trip this year in the UK, sell the van and get my health sorted, get covid behind us and then perhaps buy another one. If prices have gone down its a bonus if not then so be it. Its just possible we wont get away anyway this year and the van will sit unused for another year if I dont sell it..

Tough decisions.

Will anyone get a trip this year ?
If you can get a good price maybe sell now ?
Difficult decisions as you say

 

[witzend]

Actually if I do sell early on. The caravan idea is not a bad one. Maybe get a seasonal pitch for the summer and then just flog it when I finally get a new van. I don't have a suitable tow car of course. Actually, its probably a load of extra hassle.

Another consideration for touring Europe is Motels we travelled for years prior to buying a motorhome using them and if in your position (almost the same Barry just a newer motorhome) I think I'd be temped to do it again now with the 90 day rule and no wish to tour UK . Never booked anywhere never went in August never not got a room the 40K spent on a van + running costs will keep you touring for years

 

[yorkieowl]

Approx 18 months ago we finally sold our mh having got very little use out of it in the previous couple of years, hard decision, but with Covid we are so glad we did. For the amount of trips we have then b&b’s etc make a lot more financial sense for the present at least, and we make do with a tent when possible. Hopefully when things get back to normal(ish) we will go for a people carrier/small van and just have basics put in which will work for us. If I was in your shoes I’d sell now, and then buy when you can travel properly again/get your knees sorted, as your needs may be different if and when.

 

[rugbyken]

the classified e bay system is definitely worthwhile i sold my last van for £25k by classified £25 fee instead of £2,500 min , think if i was thinking of selling my van i would do it now there is no stock anywhere

 

[mark61]

Have done the motel/ B&B thing. Not my cup of tea at all, but better than not going away I suppose.
Car + tent ok too, say every third night in B&B if you wanted.
Van with windows, mattress chucked in back, basic camp stuff, cooker and loo. Do a mixture of B&B campsites and wilding. Certainly wouldn't sniff at that option.

 

[Robmac]

Car + tent ok too, say every third night in B&B if you wanted.
Van with windows, mattress chucked in back, basic camp stuff, cooker and loo. Do a mixture of B&B campsites and wilding. Certainly wouldn't sniff at that option.

I used to do loads of this type of stuff Mark, still do occasionally and absolutely love it.

I would return to it in a heartbeat, Julie's not keen though, I may have to refer her to that article in the other thread so she can learn how to behave.

 

[Fazerloz]

I couldnt do a long trip right now because my knees are now so bad it would just become incredibly tiresome and difficult, plus I cant walk around anywhere. The saving grace is the scooter as it gets us about so I do enjoy that more than anything but touring involves a hell of a lot of getting in and out, filling up and emptying, and lots of stuff on your feet that you wont notice if you dont have knee problems. Going static like we have been doing in one spot is a lot easier. I am hoping to lose weight and then eventually get new knees but how far away that will be I have no idea. Everything has gone to pot with Covid sadly and my knees wont be a priority for the NHS and private would blow the motorhome budget!

So I guess I was thinking of maybe a short trip this year in the UK, sell the van and get my health sorted, get covid behind us and then perhaps buy another one. If prices have gone down its a bonus if not then so be it. Its just possible we wont get away anyway this year and the van will sit unused for another year if I dont sell it..

Tough decisions.

Are you actually in the queue for new knees. If not I would suggest you start now and get in the queue. by the time you are offered surgery we hopefully will be past this crap and you might be a little happier at the thought of a short stay in hospital. First and foremost you have to get in the queue.

 

[maingate]

Barrys motorhome is so old that it was insured against Viking raids.

 

[barryd]

Are you actually in the queue for new knees. If not I would suggest you start now and get in the queue. by the time you are offered surgery we hopefully will be past this crap and you might be a little happier at the thought of a short stay in hospital. First and foremost you have to get in the queue.

No I am not. I think I am one of the ones that is in the invisible queue they were talking about on the news the other day. I had Xrays in December and my doc said did I want her to refer me for Physio but I just thought it pointless, I need to get the weight off and get two new knees. To be honest I didnt press it (it wasnt offered) but maybe I should have. Im only 54 so hopefully not a right off just yet. five years ago I had Xrays and MRi scans and they said they would get worse but I was way way to young to have the operations and they said for me they would be risky because of my age and the likelihood I would wear them out quickly. Repeat ops are not always successful apparently. Ive heard that many horror stories also I just went along with it but now its just too bad to live with for much longer. I need to get the weight off first as Ive piled loads on in the last year. Im working on that. That might make a big difference, it did last time.

So I dunno about the van. Its not that big a deal really. Being able to walk is though and I thats more important. I guess when I feel like this the prospect of going motorhoming is not that appealing anyway. I think it needs a few more conversations with Mrs D really. See what she wants to do. I suspect if we sell, it will be after we have had one last trip in it.

Really appreciate all the suggestions. Ill never be going back to Tents though!!!

 

[jagmanx]

Yes you wre too young before (you gave all the reasons)
But once you have lost weight a full re-assessment needed.
Best wishes !

 

[Tookey]

After reading more info Barry I think you should sell as you will never get a better price and having the advantage of no time limitations you can price high. I would wait until spring and the impulsive buyers have felt some sun on their face and get all excited about parking next to beaches in Cornwall (little do they know). Presently the type of buyers that are looking will have done proper research and won't pay premium prices.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

I used to do loads of this type of stuff Mark, still do occasionally and absolutely love it.

I would return to it in a heartbeat, Julie's not keen though, I may have to refer her to that article in the other thread so she can learn how to behave.

Compulsive death wish syndrome, Rob?

 

[Fazerloz]

No I am not. I think I am one of the ones that is in the invisible queue they were talking about on the news the other day. I had Xrays in December and my doc said did I want her to refer me for Physio but I just thought it pointless, I need to get the weight off and get two new knees. To be honest I didnt press it (it wasnt offered) but maybe I should have. Im only 54 so hopefully not a right off just yet. five years ago I had Xrays and MRi scans and they said they would get worse but I was way way to young to have the operations and they said for me they would be risky because of my age and the likelihood I would wear them out quickly. Repeat ops are not always successful apparently. Ive heard that many horror stories also I just went along with it but now its just too bad to live with for much longer. I need to get the weight off first as Ive piled loads on in the last year. Im working on that. That might make a big difference, it did last time.

So I dunno about the van. Its not that big a deal really. Being able to walk is though and I thats more important. I guess when I feel like this the prospect of going motorhoming is not that appealing anyway. I think it needs a few more conversations with Mrs D really. See what she wants to do. I suspect if we sell, it will be after we have had one last trip in it.

Really appreciate all the suggestions. Ill never be going back to Tents though!!!..

What do you do though, suffer now and get to a point where eventually you can't do anything or bite the bullet now and set off down the road to get them sorted which could possibly take 3 years before you are running around like a spring chicken again.
If your area is anything like ours you have to go see the physio first for a muscular skeletal review and they then refer you on to see a consultant if they don't think they can help you. In my own case I am not letting my left hip get as bad as the right one did before having a 2nd hip replacement I saw the physio initially, qpprox 12 weeks later saw the consultant early last March and we agreed to put anything off for 6 months in light of what was coming, I saw the consultant again just before Christmas and again put it back due to what was obviously coming and opting for a telephone consultation in another 6 months. These things take time that's why i say get in the queue now, these things don't get better on their own. Consider how much worse you are now than 2-3 years ago. It is a big daunting desicion but one that could turn your life around. It's all good fun and something to look forward to.

 

[Obanboy666]

No I am not. I think I am one of the ones that is in the invisible queue they were talking about on the news the other day. I had Xrays in December and my doc said did I want her to refer me for Physio but I just thought it pointless, I need to get the weight off and get two new knees. To be honest I didnt press it (it wasnt offered) but maybe I should have. Im only 54 so hopefully not a right off just yet. five years ago I had Xrays and MRi scans and they said they would get worse but I was way way to young to have the operations and they said for me they would be risky because of my age and the likelihood I would wear them out quickly. Repeat ops are not always successful apparently. Ive heard that many horror stories also I just went along with it but now its just too bad to live with for much longer. I need to get the weight off first as Ive piled loads on in the last year. Im working on that. That might make a big difference, it did last time.

So I dunno about the van. Its not that big a deal really. Being able to walk is though and I thats more important. I guess when I feel like this the prospect of going motorhoming is not that appealing anyway. I think it needs a few more conversations with Mrs D really. See what she wants to do. I suspect if we sell, it will be after we have had one last trip in it.

Really appreciate all the suggestions. Ill never be going back to Tents though!!!

It sounds like you are in the same position I was regarding your knees. I suffered for years gradually getting worse, on a high dosage of ibrufon prescription drugs etc, etc.
4 years ago went to gp who referred me and had X-rays and scans. had physio and injections in both knees to no avail and was finally referred to a consultant.
Within 8 weeks of seeing the consultant had first knee done followed by the second knee 6 months later.
I have to say I wish I had pushed my gp to go down the replacement route years ago, now have no pain, can walk for miles and Im 3/4" taller into the bargain as my legs were bowed due to my knees collapsing.
You need to push your gp and get on the waiting list asap. regarding your age and repeat ops my neighbour had both knees done 20 years ago and 2 years ago had one replaced. He had no problems and was up and about 6 weeks later aged 80.

 

[barryd]

Ok thanks. Sorry for the late response. Been a bit busy for a change!

Ill call my GP I think and see what they can do without me seeing someone. Im not going for Physio or face to face stuff in a hospital though until I have had a vaccine. Apparently I am pretty high risk so its just not worth it. Plus the NHS have enough to cope with right now.

I suspect I wont get on the replacement list though as already suggested unless I go through the physio / consultant route first. Maybe not, I dont know.

As for the van. Still undecided but I agree that its probably best waiting until the nice weather arrives.

 

[rugbyken]

my knees are painful rather than disabling but jan used to work in an orthapedic ward and she made me report it just to create a record of a problem because that countback is one of the tools used to prioritise treatment , too many people soldier on and then the problem is irreversible when they are looking for treatment,

 

[barryd]

my knees are painful rather than disabling but jan used to work in an orthapedic ward and she made me report it just to create a record of a problem because that countback is one of the tools used to prioritise treatment , too many people soldier on and then the problem is irreversible when they are looking for treatment,

Booked a telephone call appointment with my GP this morning for 11am just now. will discuss it with him. I hadnt considered however that if you leave it too late the problem might be irreversible. Thats a bit scary!

 

[rugbyken]

sorry barry not meaning to be a doommonger (enough of that around) she means that if you leave it too long you stop almost all activity because of the pain by the time you have the surgery muscles etc are too far gone at your relatively young age i’m sure you’ll make a full recovery

 

[barryd]

sorry barry not meaning to be a doommonger (enough of that around) she means that if you leave it too long you stop almost all activity because of the pain by the time you have the surgery muscles etc are too far gone at your relatively young age i’m sure you’ll make a full recovery

No its fine. Its spurred me on to speak to the quack which I have now done. He is referring me to the Physio now who he says may well be able to work with me remotely. Apparently its the Physio that will refer me to the surgeon, my GP cant. He can refer me to a private hospital but even they might not do the operations until I get my weight down. Plus it will be about £30k for two knees. Mrs D is moaning about me spending £3-4k on a bike so she will have a heart attack if I tell her Im blowing £30k on two new knees. He said there is no chance of the NHS doing it until I am no longer fat. Again perhaps because of my age I dunno.

So at least I am on some kind of list now and I am tackling the weight.

So. All I have to do, is lose about four or five stone, do some remote Physio, not get Covid, get two new knees and then a new motorhome!