Full Time Caravan Living
Hi all,
I realise there a quite a few threads out there already on this topic but would like to ask a few questions specfic to my situation.
Me and my girlfriend are considering living full time in a caravan as we both love the outdoors, don't like routine, have geographically mobile jobs, and as recent ex-students we dont like wasting money on excessive rent, council tax etc!
This would be our first caravan so our knowledge is very limited hence all the questions.
So far we have decided we would like a large caravan that importantly has a seperate shower, large fridge/worktop areas and a fixed double bed. We don't need a large lounge area or other sleeping areas. Ideally we would like to be able to achieve this within the 3500kg so we don't have to do the B+E test and get a large 4x4 to save costs, but that is not essential. I would want to buy a caravan that is a couple of years old to avoid the worst of the depretation and have a budget of around £15000.
Do you have any suggestions for a suitable caravan? At the moment we like the look of the Bailey Unicorn Valencia, Bailey Pegasus Veron and Lunar Delta RI. I also like the look of some of the European brands such as Eriba but the weight and price puts me off a bit. Are the British brands of suitable quality to stand up well to living in full time or is it worth getting a more heavy duty European caravan? Also I assume that most of the higher end caravans are suitable for year round use e.g have inboard water tanks and sufficent insulation?
In terms of the practicalities of year round living I like the look of CL sites due to the fact that they have a limited number of spaces so hopefully don't become overcrowded. How easy is it to secure places at these site during peak months and how willing are the site owners to let people stay for 28 day periods? Also what is the average cost of a CL site? From what I have seen £10 a night seems typical.
Also what do people do about clothes washing? I have seen that you can get mini washing machines but can't imagine they cope that well with towels and then it is not ideal to have to go to laundrettes regularly.
One final question I understand that getting caravan insurance for full timers can be difficult. Is safeguard the best company to use and if so how much is caravan insurance?
Sorry for the essay, but want to try to get a full understanding of the pros and cons before I commit. Thanks in advance for the advice!
Comments
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3500kg would need a B+E licence and you would need a 4x4 or large van to tow. What i would suggest is that you put in the tow car that you have or would want to buy and then use the club matching service to find which van will suit, but you still
may find that you will need to take the B+E test. Look in the help and advise section at the top of the page. Another problem you may find is by law you are only allowed a certain amount of time on the same site, unless of course you find another routePaul
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If you passed your Driving test after 1 January 1997, Category B entitles you to:
- Drive a combined weight (car and caravan) of up to 3,500kg. If the combined weight exceeds 3,500kg, the B+E test pass is required
- Drive a motorhome without a trailer up to 3,500kg. Passing the LGV test entitles you to drive a motorhome up to 7,500kg
- Drive a motorhome with a trailer, providing the trailer does not exceed 750kg and the combined weight is not more than 4,250kg. If the trailer exceeds 750kg, a LGV test plus the B+E test will need to be passed.
A list of B+E Driving Instructors can be found
hereThe Club’s Driving Licence leaflet can be found
here0 - Drive a combined weight (car and caravan) of up to 3,500kg. If the combined weight exceeds 3,500kg, the B+E test pass is required
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In my experience there is no problem with staying the maximum 28 day on a cl. Some CLs will become full quite. My favourites, I book a year ahead. Sometimes that's not enough. Speak to the owners as soon as possible.
All modern touring caravans are built with wieght in mind for ease of towing. It follows therefore, that many fixtures and fittings are not as robust as those found in your home. Be careful and be gentle and keep on top of the maintanance.
Washing. Ever heard of a 'Bucket'? That's what we do. Also use the local launderette service. Forget those plasticy washing machines, spend the money on a couple of bottles of wine for the house warming. For drying clothes, I find the proprietry caravan rotary
driers are pretty good. Some site owners don't like washing hung on fences or lines tied to them. Some dont mind. Never had any probs with the rotary drier.
Start thinking about solar power. Not paying for electric hook ups is going to be significant for you. At £15000 budget, get as much out of the dealer as possible, or if private sale, haggle hard. Damm, haggle anyway.Good luch and enjoy.
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Great idea - I tried to point my daughter in that direction when she was going through a divorce but she didn't fancy it! HGV licence but terrified of towing!
I would also think of investing in Safefill gas cyclinder - gas is so much cheaper bought for a refillable - and you can see the gas level as the bottle is transparent so no danger of running out as you just take it away to fill it when necessary. I would have thought CL owners would welcome a regular customer unless they are suspicious of your youth! If you get funny looks - try booking for 5 days and extend? In other threads it is often said how useful it is to have an address you can use rather than being of No Fixed Abode - so perhaps friends or parents can help there. Very best of luck.
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Also what do people do about clothes washing? I have seen that you can get mini washing machines but can't imagine they cope that well with towels and then it is not ideal to have to go to laundrettes regularly.
We caravan for most of the year, doing 8-10wk spells and we have one of the small twin tubs which we use every week. It travels on the back seat of our tow car and we do our washing in the shower compartment. They have enough capacity to was a double duvet
cover (we use one instead of a sheet sleeping bag) and do all our washing in it including towels. Wash with liquid detergent and use fabric conditioner in the rinse. A bowl of hot water and 2 buckets of cold water will give a decent wash, and 2 further buckets
of cold water for the rinse. You should recoup the cost of the machine in 9 mths against using a laundrette. Easy peasey.
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With regard to the problem of time limits on stays on CL's, I have stayed on a few sites where the owner ran a small commercial site adjacent to the CL which may not be subject to the same rules as the CL, or if they are tend not to be scrutinised as closely.
I have often seen workers on these. So although the CC may not be able to accommodate your lifestyle looking closely at those CLs and CSs run by the other lot with adjacent sites could help you.0 -
Thanks for all your help so far everyone! It is really appreitated. It is great to get some experienced opinions as for some things you just can't tell what the pros and cons are before hand.
Some really interesting points so far. I will definitley have a look at solar panels. Can solar panels alone generate enough power for day to day living? I have also seen small wind turbines - would a combination of the two provide
a more reliable power source? It is good to know that the range of clothes washing options work well as that was the major practicality that was worrying me the most. The info the sites is also great.I think my next step will to be to phone round some of the sites in the areas I would be planning on staying to ask about if they are happy for long term living/booking requirements.
One other question I assume security is good on sites/comparable to living in a flat?
If anyone else has any useful info to add then please feel free as it is all useful!
Thanks
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Yes, you can run on solar for a large portion of the year. There will be a power gap around to shortest days, so I'm afraid electric hook ups are probably the way to go. I'm not to sure about wind power. Speak to the site owners. It might be possible. Noise and visual compromise likley to be the main issues. But wind would possibley cover the winter power gap. Have a read on this thread >>>Here<<< Speaking to site owners is always good. 28 days at a time should be no probs. 48 hours off site before a return is allowed, or something like that. Sometimes landowners have a wee off site corner in a field that could be made available if they take to you. Hence my insistance, face to face talking is allways good.
I've never had an issue with security, but my insurers insist on wheel clamps or hitch locks. Nothing extra on the doors or windows, but then I go to the more desolate places. Suggest others pitch in here with their views. Get the expensive stuff right before hand, power generating capacity, fit 12 volt everything, tv lights, whatever. Minimise 240volt as much as possible. I just run my computer from a small pure sine wave inverter. Thats it. Microwave is a no, no. Inverters are wastful, but sometimes neccessary. You will learn lots along the way. Just get the expensive bits correct right at the beginning. Remember, as a young person, you are more adaptable than retired old f@rts like me. Take that into concideration when you read what is said. ;-)0 -
Thanks John. That is good advice and I definitely agree it is good to get the expensive stuff right before commiting!
What would you say the average price is per night for a CL site with electric hookup? Around £10 a night seems to be what others have said, but I suppose if we were to be staying for longer periods we may be able to negotiate
a lower rate.As you mentioned insurance do you know of the best companies to talk to for full time insurance? I have heard Comfort and Safeguard mentioned the most but don't know if there are any others that are suitable?
Thanks
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Sites differ in some way. £10 as good an average, but £14 is not uncommon in my neck of the woods. http://www.caravanguard.co.uk/ works best for me. Shop around, premiums vary dependant on lots of risk factors.
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Don't forget the Safefill gas joined with a solar installation and you will be well away to independence at the less expensive sites.
I have never felt insecure on sites of any sort here or in France and I am a Solo OAP (with 4 legged body guards admittedly!) and like the others the insurance insists on hitch lock and wheel clamp - (sometimes specific manufacturers).
You will find a lot of technical info in the thread on How to Survive without EHU - to give you the ability for the less expensive and more rural sites. Rather a long thread but worth reading I would say. I have a smallish inverter to run the occasional thing (made mayonnaise with a hand held mixer the other day) but wouldn't dream of a microwave. So while the largest solar panel you can afford is good advice I am not sure I would bother too much with control panels - my caravan one gives me a reading for the battery which is helpful. I have a "wonderbag" (amazon have them) which works like a slow cooker but really I use my pressure cooker more often. (I am not overkeen on chopping up onions first thing in the morning! And a pressure cooker cooks a beautiful stew from cheap meat in 20 mins) Lakeland have smaller pressure cookers and of course they can be used as ordinary pans too.
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That is good to know. The gas point is interesting. Perhaps a stupid question, but is the only thing that uses electricty in a campervan lighting and electrical appliances such as laptops and the fridge?
If so how long would a bottle of gas last when in use for everything else on a daily basis (by two people)? Also how long would you be able to go without charging the battery when it is been used for everything that can't be powered by gas? I wouldn't want
the hassle of moving every few days seening as I will be working full time.Thanks
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Have you considered a motorhome rather than a caravan? A winterised motorhome, such as a hymer, would keep you toasty warm in winter. The over cab can be put away easily during the day and you would still have a good sized living space. Ours is under
3.5 tonnes, which means I can drive it in my post 97 license.0 -
The trouble with a motorhome, unless you have a car as well, is that if one of you goes out in it the other must as well.
Fridge runs on gas. Only thing that EHU is essential for if long term in one location is to charge the battery for internal lights, fridge control pannel and maybe a heating pump. A decent size solar pannel can cope with that aspect I would have thought.
Charging laptops etc and phones can be done using inverter or I suppose phones can be charged when driving.
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We did think about getting a campervan but the main issue was that we both needs cars to get to work so having three vehicles would not be practical. Also we decided you got more living space in a caravan for the amount of money spend whihc is clearly vital
to us if we are going to be living in it full time. I would be very interested to hear what other experices people have with electricty consumption.Thanks
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That's why I suggest the Safefill - I have their largest cylinder but can't say how long it lasts as I have topped it up everytime it's convenient. The Fridge and water heater are your largest consumers of gas rather obviously. You will find that some
lights work on 12v so you want LEDs bulbs for those and the mains lights don't work if you aren't plugged in - I have plenty of 12v ones in the caravan - the important ones are 12v. i.e kitchen, hall and bathroom as well as spots over the seating area/bed.
As you are comuting to work you can charge laptops and phones in the car? My very small solar kept the battery topped up fine for a few days one very dreary early February long weekend although the tv was probably the only draw as I use candlelight. I think
you could have a spare battery to recharge on your commute in the car I used to have an aligator clipped wire that plugged into the socket on the tow car - however that was MANY years ago so that may not be up to date! I still have it actually but would need
an adaptor now I have the new electrics! So far one battery has sufficed for me - and I don't need the extra weight of a second one. Also lots of CLs have battery charging facilities so a spare battery might be helpful to you.0 -
Wind generators for caravans are not very efficient as they need a reasonable bit of wind to generate any decent current. I come from a sailing background and several friends had wind generators, either windmill or the more compact vertical axis type. They
will cost you quite a bit more than a solar setup and whilst they work well on a yacht out on an exposed mooring with clear wind, in a caravan site environment with lots of trees they wouldn't be charging a lot of the time.0 -
In the summer months a solar pannel should be fine for keeping the battery topped up. Personally in the winter I suspect that an extra £3 or so a night for an EHU is good value. compared to running heating and fridge on gas. Even if using a Safefill with
savings in the cost of gas. Also the convenience factor. The heating needs to be on most of the time if the weather drops to freezing to avoid water freezing problems as well as having somewhere that does not need heating up from scratch every time you return
from work.0 -
....whilst they work well on a yacht out on an exposed mooring with clear wind, in a caravan site environment with lots of trees they wouldn't be charging a lot of the time.
I'm a sailor too and agree that you need pretty unobstructed wind to get 'em going. When attached to the yacht hull and no doubt the 'van body as well they are very noisy for the crew/occupants; rumbling, thrumming and droning. Besides, for long term 'vanning (especially in winter) I would definitely choose a sheltered pitch not an exposed windy one.
Changing the 12v filament light bulbs for LED's is a great way to save power, and it's simple and inexpensive to do.
Oh, and have propane rather than butane as it won't freeze in severe cold.
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Thanks for your advice everyone. I had got the idea for a wind turbine from yachts but I agree that they aren't ideal for a caravan. I agree with EasyT and was thinking it would make most sense to pay the extra for a pitch with electricty during the winter
and then save the money during summer when I need less electricty. I could combine that with Pippah45's suggestions.I realise this might be opening a can of worms but what manufactuers do people think build the most durable caravan? At the moment from what I have read, and bearing in mind avaliability second hand, I am leaning towards either a Lunar Detla or Swift Conqueror.
I do like some of the European caravans as well but there seems to be less avaliability second hand.0 -
We have a Bailey Pegasus Verona and love it, excellent shower and decent bed. However,
like most 'vans from the major brands it is optimised to save weight and therefore is not as robust as a Hobby, say. So - suitable for living in full time ? Yes, in terms of kit. No in terms of longevity.Even this 'van - stripped to the bone - is no lightweight and I'd not like to tow it with a light car. We have a Discovery. So, as others have mentioned I'd bite the bullet and get your B&E.
I'd be inclined to just go for it on the basis that you'll learn as you go and will probably, therefore, want to change whatever 'van you get after a year or so anyway (or maybe even give it up as you decide this whole thing is not for you ...)
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Thanks for your advice everyone. I had got the idea for a wind turbine from yachts but I agree that they aren't ideal for a caravan. I agree with EasyT and was thinking it would make most sense to pay the extra for a pitch with electricty during the winter
and then save the money during summer when I need less electricty. I could combine that with Pippah45's suggestions.I realise this might be opening a can of worms but what manufactuers do people think build the most durable caravan? At the moment from what I have read, and bearing in mind avaliability second hand, I am leaning towards either a Lunar Detla or Swift Conqueror.
I do like some of the European caravans as well but there seems to be less avaliability second hand.Write your comments here...Not sure if you can get sued for posts on this site but Lunar lightweight is marketing speak for flimsy
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we are about to go full time, but we have gone for an american fifth wheel, simply to have the space to live in and store all the crap we have acumalated over the last 40 years!. we have trimmed down as much as we can, and still are struggling to fit everything
in, its different for you younger peeps though as you dont have as much stuff! I would think carefully about a safefil cylinder, yes they are cheaper to fill but most forecourts do not allow filling of portable bottles. and the sites that do are few and far
between, so it depends where you are siting full time.We have a couple of solar panels, but you do need large batteries to store the energy, otherwise its a poinless exercise.
Also there is then the trade off with they weight if you are restricted.
in winter solar is not reliable as there just arnt enough hours of sun, so EHU is probably the only way to go, but a small generator is a good way to charge up if you dont have EHU, but works out more expensive in fuel, so only for emergencies.
best of luck going full time, hope it works out for you....
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We have a Bailey Pegasus Verona and love it, excellent shower and decent bed. However,
like most 'vans from the major brands it is optimised to save weight and therefore is not as robust as a Hobby, say. So - suitable for living in full time ? Yes, in terms of kit. No in terms of longevity.Even this 'van - stripped to the bone - is no lightweight and I'd not like to tow it with a light car. We have a Discovery. So, as others have mentioned I'd bite the bullet and get your B&E.
I'd be inclined to just go for it on the basis that you'll learn as you go and will probably, therefore, want to change whatever 'van you get after a year or so anyway (or maybe even give it up as you decide this whole thing is not for you ...)
I think that is what we may well do as if we are going to do it we might as well do it properly! In terms of whether we would actually like it does anyone know of a place where we could hire a caravan for a few days, without a car to tow it, just so we can
get the feel for what it is like? We have done quite a lot of hiking and camping and enjoy that, and we are both used to living in smallish spaces as students so in theory we should like it, but you never know till you actually do!Maybe I won't get a lunar van then!
Thanks
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