A rookie thinking about fulltiming

BreweryDave said:
The thing is, we don’t ‘come back’ to anywhere to re stock, as we have nowhere to go back to, that’s just the point! We live in the van, that’s it. We stay in Europe full time, returning to the U.K. once per year for an MOT, and nothing more. There’s no point in having storage as long term that ends up costing more than whatever you’re storing is worth, and if you plan to store it, arguably you don’t need it. As for planning where to go, well, as we have no agenda and no timetable, there is no planning, but a lot of spontaneity. I could be bodyboarding in the Algarve one day, and decide to go skiing in the Sierra Nevada the next.
I have no doubt that we could do it with less, and like you say, you could full time with what you have in your van right now, but the point a few of us FT’ers are making is, we generally carry a lot more stuff with us all the time, as it’s all we have and what we do, as opposed to an extended tour where you can leave things at home where you will return to, and take what you need depending on the destination/route of your trip.
We’ve been full time since 2011 ( apart from 18months in an appartment in Spain) and love it. No regrets. It’s a lifestyle we don’t intend to change anytime soon ( except maybe a slight tweak next year ;))
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Ditto

I have no storage...everything is with me
 
And just to add, we don’t exactly ‘rough it’. Therefore we carry bits and pieces just to make life nice, exactly as most people would do at home, like a few ornaments and pictures, we have a few plants ( currently loving my Venus fly trap:D2) and odds and sods which for a trip might be considered luxuries. We have a full inside and outside kitchen, and everything that goes with it, I bloody love it, and fortunately have a 5.3T van with over a tonne of payload. I also carry lots of beer:p
After all, it’s our home(y)
 
I'm actually parked in my mum's driveway of a 4 bedroom house lol and I'm still living in my van. I don't even go in the house for a shower .....ok I have plugged in to the electric mainly because the weather is crap so my solar isnt doing great but I prefer staying in the van.
 
We couldn't contemplate full timing with the amount of stuff we've got. A garage and shed full of tools, an extensive wine cellar just to name two. The best we could manage would be long timing but keeping the house. Perhaps a large his and hers pair of motorhomes might be feasible :D
 
I think if we fulltimed we'd rent a storage facility or at least store things with family and friends. Its very brave to cut loose entirely I think.

We do carry a lot of things with us which are strictly non essential too though... at the moment I've got a selection of fir trees (small ones) potted up in the garage which I want to bring home for Christmas pressies! :D
 
Reallyretired said:
We couldn't contemplate full timing with the amount of stuff we've got. A garage and shed full of tools, an extensive wine cellar just to name two. The best we could manage would be long timing but keeping the house. Perhaps a large his and hers pair of motorhomes might be feasible :D
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Yes, I think that would be what we may do. I'm not sure I'd want to reach old age and not have a bricks and motor home to return to.
 
Southdowners said:
Yes, I think that would be what we may do. I'm not sure I'd want to reach old age and not have a bricks and motor home to return to.
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That's ok if you don't require a care home
Then they sell your house to pay for it lol
 
Now, this is how to identify a full timer :rofl::rofl::rofl:

2E6DE9C5-AA22-4CF4-A6CE-744C86FE10A8.jpeg

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Southdowners said:
What about this one - its just arrived.



It has levellers and everything else you want.
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Thanks for that. I agree, but I'm still waiting to see if I've got my C1 back (I relinquished it last year, not on medical grounds, but because I'd I hit 70). As you say, it's got a lot going for it, but I'm not sure I could live with the decor, particularly the colour of the wood. And, despite the spec and kit, the price would have to to come down somewhat.
 
Mattyjwr said:
@Rookie Phil just a thought; you may be looking to get a van for your own needs but you may find that you'll not be on your own for long so you may consder getting a van suitable for 2 people rather than just one.
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You read my mind. I've always been a glass half full person.
 
Rookie Phil said:
Thanks for that. I agree, but I'm still waiting to see if I've got my C1 back (I relinquished it last year, not on medical grounds, but because I'd I hit 70). As you say, it's got a lot going for it, but I'm not sure I could live with the decor, particularly the colour of the wood. And, despite the spec and kit, the price would have to to come down somewhat.
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Well, if you get your C1 back, for 20 grand less, you could have mine!;)


https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/carthago-chic-s-plus-52qb-a-heads-up.184793/
 
I've j
Rookie Phil said:
Thanks for that. I agree, but I'm still waiting to see if I've got my C1 back (I relinquished it last year, not on medical grounds, but because I'd I hit 70). As you say, it's got a lot going for it, but I'm not sure I could live with the decor, particularly the colour of the wood. And, despite the spec and kit, the price would have to to come down somewhat.
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Yes, I agree the wood dates it. I did see a Concorde with a similar wood that had had the overhead lockers, drawers, etc wrapped in an oyster colour. It really looked much better.

As I said earlier, I don't know how much that vehicle would be new but knowing Concorde I'm guessing it would have been close to £150K. That being the case it doesn't look overpriced to me. Certainly there's a couple online advertised at €119K

Hope you get your C1 back!
 
Southdowners said:
No, I have plans in place for that eventuality which involves a large quantity of pills!! :D
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Viagra? Now that would be going out big time ... you'd probably have a lot of fun though! :p
 
Rookie Phil said:
Thanks for the heads-up and I'll bear it in mind. I hadn't thought about LHD. (n)
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Depends where you intend to spend most of your time. For us it’s europe, so always had left hookers. Wouldn’t be such a good choice for long term U.K. use tho, but perfect for long term or full time in Europe, in the sun!
 
Northernraider said:
Thanks for that ...actually I've spent today fixing the only 2 non mechanical issues I've had in 13 months of fulltime use in my van.

That was one side marker light replaced , and the catch for holding the habitation door open which I broke :p


My van actually has the best design fixed bed garage you can get ....its a huge garage that can hold a scooter plus bikes etc. But When you take the scooter out and lie the bike on its side you can lower the bed down to sofa level and still have a huge garage.

Like this View attachment 259734 View attachment 259736

For fulltiming it's very handy I have to say
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It looks good! But, regrettably, I'm not a fan of the transverse bed.

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fastpat said:
We are on our second van, and we don't full time. A couple of observations I would make are:
  • As others have said the continentals insulate better than the British
  • Buying a 2019 continental van is going to cost a LOT more than a 2018 van that a dealer will have ordered and paid for in 2017 - taking delivery this year - the 15% change in the £ / euro will see to that.
  • Cannot give an actual figure as we part exchanged our old van but I reckon we got over a 10% discount on this years price, which with the change in price next year will be nearly 25% on 2019 prices.
  • There are a lot of vans on forecourts now - I knew what I wanted and asked five Hymer dealers for prices - three responded with competitive offers.
  • Don't wait until the NEC show - the dealers know they can shift old stock there without a big discount - act now. Otherwise buy a forecourt model AFTER the show.
Best of luck.
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Thanks, I appreciate it. It's a strategy that had crossed my mind, too (but still waiting to see if I've got C1 back). (y)
 
Reallyretired said:
We couldn't contemplate full timing with the amount of stuff we've got. A garage and shed full of tools, an extensive wine cellar just to name two. The best we could manage would be long timing but keeping the house. Perhaps a large his and hers pair of motorhomes might be feasible :D
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I could help you out there - I could use the tools and drink the wine for you if that helps in any way.
 

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