Any fulltimers out there?

clarabo
clarabo Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited February 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi there, I am new to the club.  As well as enjoying camping and caravanning, my partner and I are considering renting out our properties to live in our caravan for a while.  Mainly to escape the rat race and to feel like were on holiday all the time.  I
didnt realise how difficult it would be to locate a site to stay on for longer than a few weeks at a time.  Does any one know of a site who would accept us on long term stay? we are not travellers, just two people looking to try something different.  Thanks
in advance.

Comments

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #2

    Try and have a chat with one of our regular posters 'Malcolm Mehta', he has his own home, travels in his caravan all year round and works as a Pizza delivery man for something to do
    Happy He could advise you on the pitfalls of trying to stay in one place for over 28 days.

    Your other alternative is to take your caravan and yourselves over the water.

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #3

    I've stayed 6 months on one site in Portugal, it should have been 3 months had a break in Spain and returned there for another 3 months, but I stayed put. Weather is usually a bit warmer and sunnier in winter. In the UK there are farmers who have people
    on site for long periods of time. I had to go to East Anglia for nearly 12 months for work purposes and the caravan was all set to go, on a  farm site, when job was cancelled.  I remember finding the site on the Internet by googling 'caravan sites' in the
    area needed.Good LuckI

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #4

    Worth looking in at:-

    http://www.motorhome365.com/forum/

    'Motorhomes' but the situations are the same!

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #5

    Why not move every 21 - 28 days that will give you a much better "On holiday" feel rather than staying in one place. We rarely stay any longer than 7 days in one place the norm being 5 days. The joy of being able to move is that you can follow the weatherWink The
    suggestion of going abroad is a good one especially in the winter months.

  • Biggarmac
    Biggarmac Forum Participant Posts: 364
    100 Comments
    edited February 2016 #6

    We full timed for 2 years in our caravan between houses.  We had one site we used as a base near to where our new house was being built, but we travelled about as well. Both winters we spent in Spain/Portugal/France. France in spring only - too cold in winter. 

    You may feel the need to move around or it gets too routine.  Good luck

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,146 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #7

    My brother motorhomes full time.  He spends the winter November to end of Feb in Sicily and splits the rest of the time in Germany and Eastern Europe.  Last year he stayed on one site for four months and negotiated a real good deal, about €10/night.  He
    returns to the UK for 2 weeks in March for MOT, doctors appointment and to visit families.  He has no house in the UK so uses a relatives address as a contact.

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #8

    Hopefully the OP will clarify, but I got the impression he/she wanted to live in their touring 'van whilst renting out their houses and continuing their jobs? I think that would indeed  mean (at least officially) moving every 21/28 days?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #9

    Hi there, I am new to the club.  As well as enjoying camping and caravanning, my partner and I are considering renting out our properties to live in our caravan for a while.  Mainly to escape the rat race and to feel like were on holiday all the time.  I
    didnt realise how difficult it would be to locate a site to stay on for longer than a few weeks at a time.  Does any one know of a site who would accept us on long term stay? we are not travellers, just two people looking to try something different.  Thanks
    in advance.

    Have you looked into things like insurance, registering with a GP, receiving mail?

    If you have a relative who would let you use their address, this would make things easier as you will need an address for car insurance and for receiving mail.  There may also be very few companies that will insure your caravan if you are using it full time.

    Renting out property also brings its own problems, so be sure you check into all that too.

  • clarabo
    clarabo Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2016 #10

    Hi there, thanks for all the replies, We do want/need to continue with our jobs at the moment.  My partner lives and works in Edinburgh and I stay in Hamilton so somewhere in between would be best.  I wouldnt mind staying for 28 days and moving that would
    be part of the fun for sure....but it is so expensive! we were looking to get a pitch for around £8-£12 per night all the ones weve looked at kind of defeat the purpose of escaping the mortgage lol

    We both have address to use so no worries there :-)

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #11

    It's probably why some pool funds, buy land and set up communes, but it all costs money and has planning issues. People can let out their properties, "live in a wood" but have to put up with self sufficiency and irate neighbours! Is it worth it, who knows.
    Further down the line will you want to be permanently in a van or would you rather have a van to escape to when needed?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #12

    Hi there, thanks for all the replies, We do want/need to continue with our jobs at the moment.  My partner lives and works in Edinburgh and I stay in Hamilton so somewhere in between would be best.  I wouldnt mind staying for 28 days and moving that would
    be part of the fun for sure....but it is so expensive! we were looking to get a pitch for around £8-£12 per night all the ones weve looked at kind of defeat the purpose of escaping the mortgage lol

    We both have address to use so no worries there :-)

    A CL (or a CS with the "other club") would be the best solution in that case, but there are very few that will offer you full facilities at that price.

    Can you exist without a toilet, shower, and clothes washing facilities on-site?  If so you will have a greater choice.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #13

    There are a couple of CLs (with toilets)  in the Edinburgh area, but central Scotland is very poorly served.

    I searched only for EHU and open all year.

    These 2 seem to charge £10-£14.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2016 #14

    Hi there, I am new to the club.  As well as enjoying camping and caravanning, my partner and I are considering renting out our properties to live in our caravan for a while.  Mainly to escape the rat race and to feel like were on holiday all the time.  I
    didnt realise how difficult it would be to locate a site to stay on for longer than a few weeks at a time.  Does any one know of a site who would accept us on long term stay? we are not travellers, just two people looking to try something different.  Thanks
    in advance.

    Write your comments here...Try ukcampsite.co.uk for a seasonal pitch.

  • Biggarmac
    Biggarmac Forum Participant Posts: 364
    100 Comments
    edited February 2016 #15

    The site we used as our base was the CL no 2103 listed under Penicuik.  It is on the A702 and would be ok for Edinburgh and Hamilton.  It has narrow hardstanding pitches with water and waste to each pitch. No toilet or shower. 

    We also looked at the site at Douglas Water no 2102 in the book. (Both on page 519). It is easier for Hamilton and still ok for Edinburgh. It has more facilities, but was not as convenient for us.

    Have a look at these as there is not much else around this area. Good luck

  • Oldgirl and Staffy
    Oldgirl and Staffy Forum Participant Posts: 414
    edited February 2016 #16

    There are sites where it is possible to set up your caravan on a semi-permanent basis.  It all depends on the conditions of the site license whether the site is able to offer pitches for longer-term use.  I can think of a couple we have stayed on where the
    residents seemed permanent fixtures but your best bet is to contact privately owned sites in the area you want to be and negotiate with them.

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