Want to own a motorhome

[JoeyG]

Hi there
So Pleased to be a part of this group! Very wary of keyboard warriors as been bullied on Facebook in the past so please please be kind
This is going to sound very extreme but I’m looking at purchasing my first mh to live in
I’ve owned a touring caravan and loved it
I will be selling my home and cars and just going for it
Any help advice ideas on how I start and good or bad ideas?!

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Thankyou for your message
I am looking to sell up and live out of it tbh I know it’s a big decision that’s why I need all the help I can get
I’d be taking my dogs with me and yes you could say retiring

Welcome to the House of Fun!
THE place for motorhoming matters.
Don't know if this will suit, but if you are a member of either of the two camping , caravanning and Motorhome clubs, they are always looking for site wardens for a season.
Colleague I work with had several seasons doing that, and had a permanent pitch from March to October on various sites, working, and getting about in the local area when on days off.
Might suit if you are looking for something different and don't want to fully retire and could earn a few pennies to boot.

 

[JoeyG]

Go for it. It's a great life.

Thankyou theirs a lot to consider

 

[Reallyretired]

Welcome.
I suggest you read Tams threads Northernraider. He is full time solo traveller with dogs. The threads are very long but extremely informative.

 

[JoeyG]

If it was me I'd hold fire on selling the house until you've tried it for a few months to be sure it suits you. Also, a house is an investment, a motorhome will devalue eventually.

Why not rent your house out and use that income to fund your van life?

I see exactly where your coming from but I couldn’t afford a motorhome without the money off my house
I would get £120 k out the house but as im still away from retirement age I would still look for work around Wherever I can albeit on a farm in a shop etc

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[JoeyG]

Welcome to the House of Fun!
THE place for motorhoming matters.
Don't know if this will suit, but if you are a member of either of the two camping , caravanning and Motorhome clubs, they are always looking for site wardens for a season.
Colleague I work with had several seasons doing that, and had a permanent pitch from March to October on various sites, working, and getting about in the local area when on days off.
Might suit if you are looking for something different and don't want to fully retire and could earn a few pennies to boot.

I will look into becoming a member of those clubs thankyou!
I’m certainly not looking at just living off tne house proceeds as im pretty realistic and know theres no bottomless money pitt but i see living in a house as a lot of money too even with quite a well paid job but it’s 6 days a week of graft
Mortgage bills etc

 

[JoeyG]

Welcome.
I suggest you read Tams threads Northernraider. He is full time solo traveller with dogs. The threads are very long but extremely informative.

Ok thankyou!! Do kind to suggest

 

[JoeyG]

Ok thankyou!! Do kind to suggest

So*

 

[JoeyG]

That post worries me as I was going to suggest keeping the home and renting it for income.

So if not rental income where will your income come from? You are well off State Pension age. What are the 'finances' to which you refer?

Have you got a passport that allows you into Schengen for more than 90 in 100 days? It is easier and cheaper to live off-grid in Europe than UK.

Can I ask where Schengen is please? I’ve a full 10 year passport yes and only finances would be from the house sale
But I am due inheritance from my mother’s estate too

 

[Wildbill]

Welcome to the fun best staying away from facebook all the Facebook pages.
Especially motorhome pages there full of assholes.
You will be fine on this forum Jim will look after you
Good luck on your motorhome adventures
Wildbill

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[TheBig1]

have you considered taking a wardens job on a site? It would cover your camping through the silly season and leave you free to travel for winter sun

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

have you considered taking a wardens job on a site? It would cover your camping through the silly season and leave you free to travel for winter sun

Suggested that earlier.
Great minds and all that.

 

[Bailey58]

Can I ask where Schengen is please? I’ve a full 10 year passport yes and only finances would be from the house sale
But I am due inheritance from my mother’s estate too

A group of 29 countries make up the Schengen area of Europe and Scandinavia and, since we left the EU, there are rules governing how long non members, including UK passport holders, can stay. More here.

 

[CRD]

I see exactly where your coming from but I couldn’t afford a motorhome without the money off my house
I would get £120 k out the house but as im still away from retirement age I would still look for work around Wherever I can albeit on a farm in a shop etc

You’d be swapping an appreciating asset for a depreciating motorhome, so how would you get back into the property market when you want, or have to, stop the van life?

 

[TinaLes]

I would suggest you follow as many UK based van lifers on you tube as you can, some are very helpful, some are just not bearable. I like many, have followed a few, and they all discover that after a time of travelling all over The UK & EU, that they eventually need a "Home Base" which is why so many have already suggested renting your current property out. We now know you feel this is not possible as you need funds to buy a van etc, but to me selling up is a one way street that very difficult to recover from independently.
My biggest worry would be where I would live if the van had a major breakdown (new engine/gearbox) as an example, you will see reading some posts on here how much, in some cases many thousands it takes to get even newish van vans back on the road....where will you live, how will you fund the repairs etc.
Full time van insurance is limited to only a few insurance companies, most are well over a £1000 per year.
You will need Dog Passports showing updated vaccination's, Rabies tests, and need them worming before returning to The UK....Read Tams thread he has 4 dogs now, all rescued from his travels, and he knows all about what is required.
The Schengen arrangement that we all have to adhere to since Brexit restricts our EU travel to a max of 90 days away in every 180, if you overstay that amount there could be heavy fines, plus a travel ban imposed for returning. You will see that some extend their 90 days away by visiting countries that are not in the "Schengen Zone" ie The EU, like Morocco & Turkey, but getting insurance other than 3rd party is difficult.
Make sure you get your EHIC medical health card renewed, it will give you basic medical cover in the EU, you apply via the Gov website.
EU breakdown assist cover is more difficult and expensive to get for older vans, get some quotes then come back on here for further advice.

Last but not least, if it were me looking to full time, I wouldn't want a big white box motor home, I would want a normal looking Long Wheelbase Van, preferably in a dark colour so it didnt stick out too much when parked up along with other vehicles. This would be even more desirable here in The UK where wild camping is becoming harder than ever as you will find out for yourself.
You need to be able to be self sufficient type, not get too lonely quickly, the winter months will be the worst, its helped if you have Friends & Family to stay in touch with, stay close to them if possible. One of them will probably be needed to get a permanent address for the van insurance etc.
I for one would feel a lot happier for you if you already had some campervan experience, most that decide to go full time, already have a much better idea of whats involved warts and all, but you would be jumping in the deep end, so think it through as its not so easy as many think, certainly not a bed of Roses all of the time.

MH Fun is great place with many caring members, most of which will try and help with any questions that may arise, choosing the right van, with the right layout, at an affordable price will be the 1st hurdle and may take some time to locate, just take your time, look at as many as you can so you can see the different layouts.
Good Luck.
LES

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[cliffanger]

And

I’d also be loathe to jump off the housing ladder.

Hope you get all the information you need here

 

[Kups]

Trying to be helpful, do "try before you buy" if at all possible, borrow or rent a Motorhome for a week, you'll learn alot.
Also be prepared to shrink your world into a 7m x 2.5m metal box possibly with reduced headroom and maybe no onboard toilet that you will share with your dogs. Of course it can be done but it may be a major shock for some.

 

[Al-Di]

 

[Jake Royd]

I really do appreciate your honesty I can’t just jump into it and I have heard slot of people say the same I for both say I’m 50 now and possibly a mid life crisis but I have been thinking about it for a few years I’m not on instagram and definitely not Facebook anymore

Have a think about NOT selling the house and buying a starter van or hiring one , possibly?
This way you can sample the life without burning your bridges.
Remember it is illegal to sleep overnight in a layby in the whole of the UK , I think I'm right, but of course you will get away with it many times.
Think of your budget, £20 a night would be a good start.
In winter if off grid gas will be costly.
Depending on money of course but a canal boat might also suit or fit into your wants and needs.
Hope this helps.

 

[dazandandrea]

Andrea and i have considered doing something very similar. Ie selling up and living full time in a MH also more realistically on a narrowboat.
However selling the house and getting older what fo we do when we get to an age where travelling is less fun.
Getting back into property would be near impossible.
Living out at this time of year but concider between November and April. You have lots to think about. Theres lots of crap on YouTube/ Facebook about jow great it is or is it BS from what ive seen most have other incomes or renting their property out .
Have fun and keep us posted.

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[Richard n Ann]

Try it first, it sounds a nice idea but when I've been in the van 2 months I'm ready for home.

We're all different of course but I'd hate it.

 

[Scotch mist]

Are you going to be working or are you retired? It's a lot easier if you are not working as you will never be away from the van for too long. I'm currently living in mine fulltime and working away but wary of leaving the van all day in the places where I would park for free. That means I am having to pay site fees for now.

Where did you end up ?

 

[VXman]

I see exactly where your coming from but I couldn’t afford a motorhome without the money off my house
I would get £120 k out the house but as im still away from retirement age I would still look for work around Wherever I can albeit on a farm in a shop etc

Each to his own of course but personally I'd be wary of giving up a house for a motorhome. Even if it did work for you now what about in years to come, as you get older, less able etc. getting back into house ownership after selling up would be very difficult/impossible.

For me, after 2 months on the road I'm ready to go back to a house!

 

[RM_Marine]

Ooh apps and links? Are they linked on here? It will obviously take a lot more f research and planning
I wish I could keep my home and rent it out but need the funds for a motorhome and finances

Here is a site which you can use

M H Aires Stops Sites & Informal Camping

These are Places for Motor-homers to stop, in Pubs, Parking, Informal Camping and Aires, this web site has many to suit you all, no registration needed. People ask for recommendations on Facebook and get answers, then they get lost among the thousands of following messages. So I decided to

sites.google.com

 

[Minxy]

Hi and welcome to the fun house!

I don't think anyone has asked you what you expect living in a motorhome will be like and what it will really give you. I appreciate you are asking for what to consider but how do you view living in one with your current knowledge?

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[Wildbill]

I wish the op all the best in there motorhome dreams but there's a few sobering post her you shuld read and read and read again #44 in particular very sound advice
Wildbill

 

[poppycamper]

Remember it is illegal to sleep overnight in a layby in the whole of the UK ,

Not sure that is correct.... Unless it states no overnight parking...
However probably not be able to get in a layby at night with all the truckers sleeping overnight

 

[monzer]

Where did you end up ?

Working in East Kilbride at the moment. Tried a week in Strathclyde campsite as its the nearest place. Not sure it's financially viable in the long term though.

 

[MichaelT]

Since retirement a couple of years ago we have had a few long trips between 6 & 10 weeks, after all of them we are glad to get home for some normality and some space to stretch out, a 7m * 2.3m box can be very restrictive after a while especially in bad weather. All have been mostly in Europe where it's easier to live in a MH, if you staying in UK then look around industrial estates where you will find full timers skulking for somewhere to stay for free, is that the life you envisage?

You will likely have to use sites more in the UK so that will add costs, plus you need to fill, empty etc plus do washing and all the usual chores.

 

[CRD]

We’ve just returned from two months touring in France, Spain and Portugal. We met a few Brits who live full time on camp sites in Spain in their caravan or motorhome.

This could be a viable alternative, however they have Spanish residency permits and also rent out their UK homes for income and long term financial security.

If you bought a caravan instead of a MH, it would be far cheaper to buy and maintain, and you’d have a car to travel around in, using the caravan as a base. You can buy caravans in Spain and get them transported to a site of your choice.

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[JoeyG]

Hi and welcome to the fun house!

I don't think anyone has asked you what you expect living in a motorhome will be like and what it will really give you. I appreciate you are asking for what to consider but how do you view living in one with your current knowledge?

Hi thankyou for your message
I’ve been caravanning fir over 10 years and do we know what something’s going to be like until we try it
I wouldn’t just buy one and sod off n live in one straight away lol
As much as I’d love to