Face Book Effect

[nut17]

Hi. It is some time since I have been on here. We still have our motorhome but both have serious health issues which are severely limiting our meanders. I handed over to another willing volunteer the Admin duties of nzmotorhome.co.nz about two years ago - I was about to take it off line as the daily post count and active member activity had dropped to about 25% from about 5 years ago. I note that this site has suffered a similar drop in patronage but is still alive with the original stalwarts. Terry, I still refer my initial move to LiFePO4 to your enthusiasm and experience back in 2012 when I first took the plunge. You even made up an auto switching relay and sent it to me in NZ to enable auto switching of my mains charger to act as a DC DC charger. It is amazing how some of the absolute anti lithium brigade have finally begun to accept the technology.
We have really enjoyed the last 3 years with our Aussie built 2020 Winnebago Iluka and have in recent times been towing a 2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara Toad.

[T1 Terry]

Good to hear you are still getting out and about a bit. The whole forum thing ebbs and flows, without new blood it will eventually die I guess, but it's still a great place to share experiences.

We are off for our first adventure that has only minor time constraints to be in certain places at certain times, like Sydney airport for Margaret to fly out to Germany for her daughters wedding and mid July to be back in the Adelaide area for medical stuff. Kinda hard to get the feel for not having to rush so we can get back for customer jobs, the workshop burning to the ground at least forced us into retirement so we can actually do the travelling we set up other people's vehicles to do .....

T1 Terry

[Swisslulu]

Hi. It is some time since I have been on here.

Good to hear from you again. We know what you mean about health issues. It’s now 5.5 years since Erich had his prostate removed due to cancer but his PSA reading has now crept up to the level where further treatment is indicated. 33 rounds of radiation over 6.5 weeks together with hormone treatment.

As we had already booked a Northern European cruise for mid-September, Erich decided to postpone treatment until our return so as not to deal with side-effects on the trip. The radiation oncologist was not unhappy with his decision.

So, with a few months free, we are tripping around and plan to be home early August.

We wish you and your wife all the best with your health and hope you can keep enjoying your MH for many years to come.

PS your Suzi looks like the twin of ours.

[Dot]

Nice to hear from you Mr Nut keep on keeping on as long as you possibly can. This getting old is no fun when things jump and tries to stop us in our tracks but do not give in. Keep warm over there.

[Greynomad]

Hi Nut17,
Welcome back!

Know the feeling about health getting in the way of the touring lifestyle.
Twenty-three years fighting a life-threatening cancer, with a final victory (remission) in 2016…
Then last November shortness of breath led to the discovery of another cancer: a massive tumour in the bowel. So big it was compressing my lungs!
(You can catch up with the full story elsewhere — search 'Crappy News from Greynomad'.)
This time I'm facing 18 months of treatment every three weeks.
As that puts a severe cramp in our touring plans, the new caravan (18 months) is on the market, and may put a permanent end to our nomadding.

However, we're hopeful that won't be the case…

[native pepper]

That's sad to hear Ray, luckily don't have any health problems which constrain my travelling and getting old healthily is good fun. Sadly getting a bit cool down here for cruising on my VTX, but have found the ladies love it and not short on pillions, having joined the Ulysses crew. Got it in the workshop at the moment, making some changes and contemplating a chair for it. But enjoying it as is at the moment and researching a way to make and fit a quick release for a chair, so can choose which way to ride on the day.

Welcome back Nut 17, hope you come good and continue cruising.

[nut17]

Jump forward another nine months and sadly after over 25 years of RV ownership we are now confined to base. Health issues (radiation treatment damaged my bone marrow in 2022 and it is not recovering) I am having scheduled blood transfusions to boost my low white blood cell count along with a myriad of other blood deficiencies. Marg is now 14 years into her battle with Parkinsons and is the main reason for giving up the RV meandering lifestyle. Have recently moved from our lifestyle block and sold off all my toys with just a brand new BYD Sealion 6 plug in Hybrid and a 1963 Morris Minor as my only wheeled possessions. Sold the two TEA 20 fergy tractor projects, Motorhome and Suzuki Vitara toad, Yamaha Grizzly 550 Quad and custom 14' Alloy jet boat I built in 1999. We have moved into a small 2 bedroom flat with single car garage in Havelock North.
At least I still have a connection with LiFePO4 Terry with the BYD Blade battery. I ditched the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as it has lost one third of its battery capacity in a little over two years and 30,000km (Warranty only covers battery failure - not degradation.) The car also left us stranded on three occasions and was always back in the shop having warranty issues attended to. The Chinese built BYD is a real revelation and a quantum leap in build quality, refinement and technology compared to the Mitsubishi and $15k cheaper!

[T1 Terry]

Not good news as far as you and Marg, but I think you made the right choice to give up travelling, for Marg's sake .... the familiar is all important once Parkinson's sets in and appliances and every day used items can be easier tailored in a fixed abode rather than an RV.

I've heard a number of bad reports about the Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid battery issues and a group on the AEVA forum have started a class action against Mitsubishi https://forums.aeva.asn.au/viewtopic.php?t=7633 I never realised they had any class it the best of times, but beauty is in the eye of the beer holder I guess

Heard a lot of good reports about the BYD Seal, not much about the hybrid model, so please keep us informed on how it goes over the longer term, they are all great when they still have that new car smell

T1 Terry