Hi everyone :-) Cardiff Newbie signing in

Hi Guys,

 i can't quite believe i have finally got my own proper little camper complete with fitted fridge, cooker and oven and ...... Toilet and shower !!!!!

I've been a tent camper for the last 15 or so years, born out of necessity, after trying to find affordable holidays whilst bringing up a family of 4 after their dad moved on to pastures new. I can smile now and say that altho he may have got a new wife, i think i actually got a new life too :-)

I started off cramming everything into an old 1.6 Vauxhall Zafira and heading down to the Gower where i learned the fine art of camping. Ten years ago was lucky to be able to replace my Zafira with an Ex AA T4 which a good friend was selling and she has been my daily drive since then.

I became a member of one of the T4 forums and made friends with more like minded people and discovered the brilliant camaraderie of the VW crowd ( and festival weekends!). After a few years of just using the van to pile everything in ( and occasionally sleep on the floor on an airbed ) one of the guys helped me to fit a couple of very basic units and we worked out how to use the folding seat and a slotted in piece of wood to make a bed. I was in seventh heaven.......it was as close to a camper as i could afford to get and it worked !!!

Most of my kids have now grown up and left home and most of the time its now my partner and i who go camping with my youngest coming along sometimes with a friend. 

Our needs are changing (my partner is recovering from a stroke) and things like being able to stand up properly in a campervan have suddenly become a bit more important. 

I saw the advert for my new van on a T4 site and it sounded exactly what i was looking for......the same short wheel base T4 i am happy driving but all the added luxuries. I didn't even know the Trophy existed !!! Although since doing my homework i realise now that there weren't actually that many made.

So after a rather long trip to Leicester on the last bank holiday to go and view her the decision was made !!!

We enjoyed our first weekend camping just outside Evesham last weekend, and have begun to familiarise ourselves with her little quirky ways !!!

She is currently having a little bit of TLC in a local VW garage and has actually passed her MOT no problem. So big smiles all round :-) They have recommended a bit of welding which has now been done and i am having the cambelt and water pump are changed too as they definitely haven't been done in the last 4 years and have no idea if and when they were done last !!!

So hopefully next week we should be all ship shape and ready to go :-) 

Ramble and life history done.........;-) 

I look forward to making some new friends on the autosleeper-ownersforum and am sure i will be picking a few brains for some helpful advice too !!!

Regards

Claire xx

Welcome from t'other end of Wales  

Hello   Claire and  from Leicestershire, also a T4 owner and member of the T4 forum, my first van was a Topaz, similar to your Trophy, exciting times ahead, enjoy.

And Creoso / Welcome from a lot nearer your home!

What a nice introduction you've written: you deserve to enjoy your new AutoSleeper. Don't hesitate to ask questions on this Forum - it's really the friendliest, most constructive and helpful Forum. If you follow it regularly, it becomes addictive, and after a while you feel that you know many of the contributing members.

Best wishes,

Cymro

Welcome from Bonnie Scotland.

Hi Claire and welcome to the forum from a very wet Leicestershire

Enjoy your new Trophy autosleepers are a lot more comfy than camping 

A big welcome from the highlands of Scotland.

Hi and welcome to the forum 
Boaby

Hi Claire and a warm welcome to you and your partner, from a fairly dull Norfolk.  Shirli and I have done the camping route and have, about 16 months ago, graduated to a T4 based Clubman and its one of the best moves we have ever made.  
Perhaps see you out there sometime. 
KR
Ken

Hello & welcome from S/Yorks.