87-year-old traveling: Adventure through Europe in the iconic VW T3!

87-year-old traveling: Adventure through Europe in the iconic VW T3!

Sometimes it's not the age that counts, but the passion to travel. This is proven by Dietmar Hesse, who is touring Europe with his 87-year-old mother Helga in a cult motorhome. In his car, a rare VW T3 from 1987, which was only built 29 times, the two of them let the wind blow in their faces. With over 400,000 kilometers on the clock, they are real mile eaters and don't give a damn about the typical clichés about age. As Nordkurier reports, Dietmar remembers that his parents wanted to take the first step into the motorhome world around 30 years ago - and now the family is going on tour again.

The travel-loving family has traveled to many countries in the past, including southern France, Italy and the North and Baltic Seas. After his father's death 13 years ago, Dietmar von Trier moved to the Uckermark, where the family found a new home to be close to daughter Ulrike. Four years ago, Dietmar and Helga began their journeys together, enriched by the numerous modifications to the motorhome, which is equipped with all the amenities you need for a comfortable trip.

Vacation planning and challenges for campers

Helga and Dietmar are currently planning an eight-day trip to Poland, Helga's homeland. For this trip, a wardrobe was integrated into the motorhome to create more space for personal belongings. Dietmar has also built a trailer to expand his mobile home because he prefers to shower in the motorhome rather than waste space. This leaves enough space for the two of them to travel close together, even though Dietmar doesn't want to share his sleeping area with his mother. On the long route, they are always looking for parking spaces that can be easily found even in midsummer.

But the joys of travel are not without their challenges. A new EU law requiring a tachograph for motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes is causing confusion and inconvenience for many campers, including Dietmar. Another important date that needs to be written into the calendar at short notice is June 19, 2025, when the obligation to carry out gas testing for liquid gas systems in mobile homes comes into force again. According to Stellfeld, many other regulations have come into force in recent years to improve safety on the roads.

New regulations for older vehicle drivers

Older motorhome drivers in particular also have to adapt to new rules from now on. From April 1, 2025, drivers over 65 will only be allowed to travel under “accompanied driving” conditions. As Promobil reports, the accompanying person must be between 18 and 45 years old and not related. This measure is based on results showing that the accompanied driving model leads to fewer accidents among young drivers. It remains to be seen how these regulations will affect older drivers' enjoyment of traveling and whether they will ultimately hinder travel or create safety.

The upcoming changes in the mobile home sector cannot be denied, and Dietmar and Helga will also have to face the new regulations. But the joy of traveling and exploring new landscapes seems to push all these challenges into the background. With a strong thought of the adventures to come, they are ready to conquer the streets of Europe.