Not got one, but thinking about it...

[maryinoxford]

Hi All.

I'll be retiring in about 4 years, and moving from my flat in central Oxford to a small town in Scotland. I've lived all my life without a car (although I do have a licence) and I'd planned on getting a car when I retire. (Space to park, and weight of traffic here, are part of why I don't have one now.)

A colleague mentioned her ambition to own a Romahome R10 Solo. I looked them up on the web, and was surprised to find a campervan small enough to use as an everyday car. Sounds like a great idea.

However... lots of money if you buy new. (Maybe by that time, there will be some used ones available.) And since I started looking into this, I realise that there are some other small-size one-person campers around. I have one requirement that others may not have... I want to be able to carry a 5-metre kayak on the roof. (Maximum weight 25 kg.)

My web-browsing for info led me here, and the forum seems like a nice place, so I'll spend some time reading other people's experiences, and I'm sure it will help me make the right decision when the time comes.

Mary

[Graham]

Hi Mary

A big welcome to you our 500th member no prizes I'm afraid but its great to have you on here. You'll pick up lots of tips as you read the forum, we have a lot of knowledgeable people on here so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Graham

[jayjay]

A quick Hi from me too! I ahve a small Romahome but I wouldn't know where to start with putting a kayak on the roof! I remember reading a post on here somewhere about blow up roof racks though - bet they would come in handy! Whereabouts in Scotland are you thinking of moving to? Lot's of wild camping to get into up there and it's a lot safer the further north you go!
JayJay:)

[maryinoxford]

Hi Graham & JayJay, thanks for the welcome.

I'm finding my way around the forum. Some bulletin boards have a "view new posts" button that lists everything new since the last time you logged on. Can't find one of those here...? I expect the "smilies" and "frownies" beside the forum names are giving information about new posts, haven't quite figured it all out yet.

JayJay, kayaks on a roof are okay, you just need a substantial roofrack. The blow-up ones aren't ideal, because you need to run the straps through the car, and if it rains they run the water straight inside. It's easier to load a kayak if there are 2 of you. But to do it solo, you put the kayak behind the car, lift the front of the kayak on to the rack, then pick up the back of the kayak and slide it forward. Then lots of straps. A web-friend of mine puts a kayak on top of a standing-height campervan, but she has to use a ladder...

My eventual home will be Dumfries in the south-west of Scotland. I've bought a house there, currently rented out. The whole "Dumfries & Galloway" area is pleasant and quiet, and it will be nice to have the freedom to get out and about. It's also within striking distance of the Borders, Lake District and Northumberland, without doing any marathon journeys.

Looking forward to it.

Mary

[paul]

Jul 4, 2009 18:17:17 GMT maryinoxford said:

Some bulletin boards have a "view new posts" button that lists everything new since the last time you logged on. Can't find one of those here...?

It's in small print, way down the bottom of the home page.

this will take you to it, then you can save it as a bookmark / favourite.

[maryinoxford]

Thanks, Paul.

[Graham]

You are right about the smileys and frownies. If you see a frown that means you have posts in that section that you haven't read, the posts that haven't been read will have a "new" at the side of them if you click on that it will take you to the last unread post in that thread, hope that makes sense.

The link that Paul posted is the last 50 posts on the forum, some you may have read already.

Graham

[aileen]

Hello Mary,
I loved romahomes from afar for a long time, probably around ten years. Eventually I got a C15 hylo in 2006 with a view to not having a car, and we loved it so much that we bought an Outlook a couple of months ago and sold the car and old van. I'd by the kayak thing, I kayaked many years ago in my teens, and it's on my list of things to do. I want to start soon, so perhaps you can offer advice, or we can have another thread on this site?
Good luck with your van search, I don't think you'll regret it,
A x