Moving house problems so we may need to live in MH for a bit, very many questions so help please.

[Mack100]

We are in a chain that's complete except for the very top, looks as though their solicitor has just sent out searches!
Our agent says we can break the chain and live in rented, with friends or family until the chain completes but all this seems a bit daft as we have a perfectly good MH ( well it is a Swift) sitting in storage. Also as we have a dog this complicates sharing homes.
I'm contacting the people we are buying from to see if they could do it easier but I don't hold out much hope there.

Our MH is not winterised in the Continental van sense so this being winter I'm looking for tips on how we can safely live in the MH during the bad weather.
Is it best not to fill the fresh water tank at all and just rely on site facilites? Also what about the toilet with a separate tank, would that be advisable?

I've probably got lots of niggly points in the back of my mind, just can't think of any more ATM.
I'm sure you lot will raise lots of points!

 

[Gromett]

I live in my van all year round. Your fresh tank and toilet are inside your van which means providing you keep your heating on your won't have any problems.

If your waste tank is underslung it may freeze occasionally. Mine are underslung and not insulated and it only froze over night a few times but defrosted during the day. No problems.

I would just keep your heating on and deal with any issues as they arise.

 

[hilldweller]

Our MH is not winterised in the Continental van sense so this being winter I'm looking for tips on how we can safely live in the MH during the bad weather.!

The obvious solution is, if possible, avoid the bad weather, follow the sensible FUNsters and head south.

 

[Mack100]

I live in my van all year round. Your fresh tank and toilet are inside your van which means providing you keep your heating on your won't have any problems.

If your waste tank is underslung it may freeze occasionally. Mine are underslung and not insulated and it only froze over night a few times but defrosted during the day. No problems.

I would just keep your heating on and deal with any issues as they arise.

I'm not really sure if our fresh tank is not under slung as well, must have a look.

The obvious solution is, if possible, avoid the bad weather, follow the sensible FUNsters and head south.

That would great except for the fact that we would still have to complete our purchase and all our stuff would be in storage, very expensive.

 

[funflair]

If you are living in the van you should have no problems unless it gets a lot colder than it is now, we lived in our caravan in between houses and at -10 we still did not freeze up and the water tank was underslung.

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[Hollyberry]

I lived in mine through 2 winters and had no Robles. The fresh water tank was under a seat so I kept it full,thinking it would have to get very cold to freeze 100 litres of water. Loo was fine. In fact I had no problems at all.
As I stayed on C&CC sites I kept a heater on all the time and we ( dogs, cats & I ) were very toasty.

I'd say go for it.

 

[Mack100]

Looks like this is very feasible then, why couldn't we have moved in the spring?

 

[Wildbill]

As long as you have hook up run a fan heater during the day have carbon monoxideg detector working give it go for a week set it up in your garden like you would when away.
chose the coldest days you can the worst weather if you can't cope in your garden you wont cope any where.
While in the van camping out try not to use house facility's use man hole to dump your casket outside tap for water.
if after a few days getting it all sorted in your garden go a bit further a field Use next doors drive or a family member go to a site near you for a few days
it's surprising how you will adapt.
We can give you all the advice but it's your van and only you know what is best and works for you.
And the most important thing have fun when on your adventure
bill

 

[Chockswahay]

Why not indeed Hollyberry and Gromett have given practical advice, and in spring it will be even less of an issue

(and HB...just saw his post)

 

[Mack100]

As long as you have hook up run a fan heater during the day have carbon monoxideg detector working give it go for a week set it up in your garden like you would when away.
chose the coldest days you can the worst weather if you can't cope in your garden you wont cope any where.
While in the van camping out try not to use house facility's use man hole to dump your casket outside tap for water.
if after a few days getting it all sorted in your garden go a bit further a field Use next doors drive or a family member go to a site near you for a few days
it's surprising how you will adapt.
We can give you all the advice but it's your van and only you know what is best and works for you.
And the most important thing have fun when on your adventure
bill

We would be on EHU, why would you use a seperate fan heater and not the Truma Combi on electric only?

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[Gromett]

I would be very surprised if your fresh water is underslung. It is usually under one of the seats if you don't have a double floor model.

 

[Mack100]

I would be very surprised if your fresh water is underslung. It is usually under one of the seats if you don't have a double floor model.

The brochure calls it "an underfloor insulated fresh water tank".

 

[eddie]

We own a campsite and I would be that if I looked at the campsite software at anytime we have half a dozen or so caravans and motorhomes booked on on 28 day pitches as their between sales or have completed soas not to loose their sale, but waiting to complete on their purchase.

So yes, it's a good idea, your not alones and lots of people do it!

Eddie

 

[DBK]

Probably best to use a campsite who will take mail for you as well - unless you want to redirect everything to a relative or your solicitor, who may charge!

 

[MattR]

The brochure calls it "an underfloor insulated fresh water tank".

Underfloor insulated - just what you need.
Underslung uninsulated would not be good good.

Possibly use the time on site to do some winterising - insulating the waste tank, consider a heating unit if funds allow to stop it freezing etc. See what works best and then be ready for lots of trips in cooler times.

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[Mack100]

Probably best to use a campsite who will take mail for you as well - unless you want to redirect everything to a relative or your solicitor, who may charge!

Thanks.
I'm now investigating fitting water heating elements to the fresh and waste tanks. Just saw your post Mattyjwr, cheers!

 

[Chockswahay]

In the UK it really is not a problem........ if you are worried it would be simpler and cheaper to use salt in the waste tank

 

[alfandM]

In the UK it really is not a problem........ if you are worried it would be simpler and cheaper to use salt in the waste tank

A point to Remember salt only works down to -7 ,but a good and cheap tip.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you are staying in one place a skirt wrapped around the van may help to reduce undefloor heat losses and also keep any under slung tanks warmer.

 

[Wildbill]

We would be on EHU, why would you use a seperate fan heater and not the Truma Combi on electric only?

I stand corrected never had one of those

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[denisejoe]

I'd still go with a fan heater and/or oil filled radiator rather than the Truma - just to save wear and tear on the Truma, especially long term.

Joe

 

[Wildbill]

I'd still go with a fan heater and/or oil filled radiator rather than the Truma - just to save wear and tear on the Truma, especially long term.

Joe

when I used to work away from home and lived in my van for two years I used a fan hetter

 

[Mack100]

when I used to work away from home and lived in my van for two years I used a fan hetter

Sounds like a plan

 

[mitzimad]

if your on ehu i would use an oil filled rad

 

[treetops1]

Whatever you do its better to be uncomfortable for a few weeks than lose a sale and get a lot of experience to boot lol.

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[BwB]

We lived in our motor home for 11 months during a house move and took to the long term living quite well. The house sale was a bit of a 'mare but made easier by having access to our MH. We did have internal tanks etc but come December we still ran south until April. However, I don't think not having external tanks would be a problem - if the weather is freezing then keep water containers inside the van, flush toilet with a squirty bottle of water (old fairy liquid bottle is very effective and we still use this to swish round the bowl, saves loads of water), salt down the drain helps in all but coldest weather. The days you need a shower can be overcome with a cup shower.

And on and on. Go for it, you'll find a way around problems and it's all part of the fun.

Good luck with things going more swiftly from now on

 

[TheBig1]

just how do you imagine the travelling community manage in winter? its a state of mind living in a motorhome/caravan in winter. of course it is do-able and as comfortable as you wish to make it.
personally the coldest weather i have experienced in a van was -15, and it did no harm, very cosy in fact. you just adapt and learn to only open the door briefly when you have to. like taking the dog/s out for a walk

 

[Mack100]

Thanks for all the replies people. After a good read and more research on all the tips and advice given here I'm raring to go, almost hoping that we do have to live in the MH, which is plain ridiculous!

 

[denisejoe]

Not ridiculous at all - most people love being in their motorhomes whenever they can.

Denise

 

[Forestboy]

Like others we lived in ours for 6 months between houses no problems.

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