Benny And The Breakers
Benny, the Breakers Yard, and the Buzzing Bargain Hunt
Why scrapyards are underrated (unless you’re a wasp or a mildly traumatised motorhome)
When you own a classic van like Benny, you get used to one truth pretty quickly: maintaining him isn’t always about popping into Halfords for a quick fix, it’s sometimes about full-blown foraging.
And that’s how I found myself in a local breakers yard last week, donning a hi-vis vest and channelling my inner Lara Croft, in search of treasure: a working spare wheel cage (thanks to the RAC destroying the original one) and some good old-fashioned cupboard catches (because apparently Benny’s like a game of Motorhome Roulette, and everything likes to fly out on corners).
Now, Benny was not fully on board with this little jaunt. In fact, I’m fairly sure he thought his time was up as we rolled into the scrapyard, surrounded by the skeletal remains of campers past. You could almost hear his hinges shudder. But I promised him this was about preservation, not punishment, and off I went with Grandad Dave (my stepdad) to scavenge what we could could.
Why Scrapyards Deserve a Bit More Love:
Breakers yards might not smell of new leather or have a coffee machine in reception, but they are the unsung heroes of budget-conscious, rare and older vehicle maintenance.
If, and it’s a big if, you can find the part you need, it will cost a fraction of the dealer price, that’s if the dealer even stocks it anymore, which in Benny’s case is a hard no.
But be warned: you may also find…
Rusty screws welded in by time and rain
Sharp things determined to find your shins
Entire hornets’ nests inside a decaying motorhome door
Yes, really. On this particular visit, we disturbed not one, but two enormous wasp nests while poking around a once loved motorhome. Cue poor Grandad Dave getting stung and doing a dance that not even TikTok’s ready for.
Still, we found what we came for (eventually): a solid spare wheel cage and those elusive cupboard catches.
The Aftermath (and the Victory Dance):
Yesterday, that spare wheel cage was lovingly fitted by Grandad Dave, and Benny’s spare is now safely secured beneath the van and not rattling around our living space like some sort of oversized bowling ball.
The cupboard catches are still to be installed so that our next adventure won’t be accompanied by a chorus of rogue utensils and slamming doors. The end result is more confident adventures knowing that should we ever get another puncture, we’re well equipped.
Benny might have feared for his life in that scrapyard, but I like to think of it as a little organ donation clinic for vans. He’s stronger, safer, and sassier than ever, and all the better for it.
Next stop: the open road. With our spare wheel not wedged behind Leo’s seat for once.
