Living in Caravan

[Julie_5081178]

We are thinking of selling our home and living in our caravan full time and travel round using CLs and sites, settling near family for longer periods as and when.

Has anyone any experiance of this and how did they get on? What were the pros and cons?

 

[Surfer]

We have been living in our touring caravan full time since the middle of January 2006. An issue is laundry, i.e. washing and ironing so you need to have the awning up. Otherwise no real issues although it is great if you can find a site that has fully serviced pitches. Great not having to worry about council tax or utility bills! If you don't like your neighbours you can always up and chuck unless you are thinking about a static caravan. Any other questions please feel free to ask.

 

[JandP]

Some friends of ours recently sold their house and bought a static van on a holiday site to live in. This is obviously not the same thing as your question but there are some similarities. They have only been in it since december and they have to vacate the site for the whole february but they seem to be ok so far. They chose to ignore our advice which was not to sell their house but to raise a buy to let mortgage on it and rent it out to cover the mortgage payments. They could have put it with an agent to take on all the management and then if it doesnt work out with the caravan they would still have a house to come back to. Jim.

 

[andyyorks]

Hi

My parents sold there house 9 years ago & have been living in there twin axle ever since.

They do 6 months in Spain (Benidorm), then 6 months in Cornwall, for the last 2 years they have helped out at the site they stay at near Mevagissy cleaning static vans, for a free pitch.

Over the years they have accumilated a few extra bits n bobs, & decided to get an annex to put them in leaving the awning free of clutter.

They both say it's best thing they have ever done & do not regret selling up.

Both are now 74 & 73, still planing to return to warmer climes again this winter, saying it's keeping them feeling young, & not having any of the normal bills we house holders have, there pension goes along way.

Andy

 

[tim_5084604]

Hi

My parents sold there house 9 years ago & have been living in there twin axle ever since.

They do 6 months in Spain (Benidorm), then 6 months in Cornwall, for the last 2 years they have helped out at the site they stay at near Mevagissy cleaning static vans, for a free pitch.

Over the years they have accumilated a few extra bits n bobs, & decided to get an annex to put them in leaving the awning free of clutter.

They both say it's best thing they have ever done & do not regret selling up.

Both are now 74 & 73, still planing to return to warmer climes again this winter, saying it's keeping them feeling young, & not having any of the normal bills we house holders have, there pension goes along way.

Andy

I keep dreaming of doing this, but i would still like to work, i am an hgv driver, and 52, so not ready for retirement yet. We love it around weymouth and portland, and i keep meaning to check out the work situation at the Quarries in the area.

Tim

 

[tim_5084604]

We have been living in our touring caravan full time since the middle of January 2006. An issue is laundry, i.e. washing and ironing so you need to have the awning up. Otherwise no real issues although it is great if you can find a site that has fully serviced pitches. Great not having to worry about council tax or utility bills! If you don't like your neighbours you can always up and chuck unless you are thinking about a static caravan. Any other questions please feel free to ask.

How do you get on with bank statements etc. do you have a box no.?

 

[Surfer]

How do you get on with bank statements etc. do you have a box no.?

We use a relative's address for all mail, basically rent a room from them at a nominal price.

 

[Julie_5081178]

We are thinking of living in our Lunar Lexon EB possibly upgrading it one with a fixed bed and an end bathroom..... Where about do you stay - Cls, sites or are you static? Do you move around much? How do you socialise if you're on the move?

What did you do with all your household things -storage, sale?

Do you use an awning? Does it have an annex etc?

Do you regret it selling up? Do you miss having a base to come back to?

I have a million questions!!!

Any advice you can give us will be much appreciated!!

 

[colin(bridgend)]

The important question here is regarding registering with a GP and dentist especially if you are retired as generally it is at this age that the pains, etc. start to show through.

Many people in south Wales sell up and buy a static at Trecco Bay in porthcawl. For the one month where they have to move out of the van they stay B&B in a guest house and return to the van for the day. They use the excuse that they are keeping it up to date - decoration, cleaning, etc.

 

[Surfer]

We are thinking of living in our Lunar Lexon EB possibly upgrading it one with a fixed bed and an end bathroom..... Where about do you stay - Cls, sites or are you static? Do you move around much? How do you socialise if you're on the move?

What did you do with all your household things -storage, sale?

Do you use an awning? Does it have an annex etc?

Do you regret it selling up? Do you miss having a base to come back to?

I have a million questions!!!

Any advice you can give us will be much appreciated!!

We both work and the idea was to stay in the caravan fo a few months however we are now in our 4th monthand have decided to carry on staying in it for the rest of the year. Our household things are in storage in a garage. We have the awning up full timeand no problems there. TV chairs etc in awning. Bigger than our original lounge Ming you nit is a twin axle Lunar 640. In addition we have 4 x Yorkies with us and the cat. No problem. For the summ er months we will be purchasing one of tjhose evaporation air conditioners for the caravan and dogs. Cost