[Travel] Has anyone ever lived in a camper van?

[m@goo]

To the OP, the quip in post 2 you didn't understand was a reference to the Palace equivalent of NSC, and the trope that Palace fans live in caravans. Just thoght I'd mention it. Good luck with your endeavours

Haha yes I thought it might be. Cheers.

 

[maltaseagull]

What's that?

You must not read many threads on here.

 

[el punal]

Yes a houseboat is another fantasy, slightly more restrictive on where you can travel though I suppose.

If that’s the case give a narrow/canal boat a whirl. All the home comforts with the added bonus that you can zoom (well, not quite!) up and down Britain’s waterways taking in the gorgeous scenery, visiting canal and riverside pubs. Bit of a bugger to cross the Channel though.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

It's interesting if you search for Vanlife UK videos on Youtube most of the videos are about people who travel, be it the UK or more widely, rather than the reality for many others, where it is their primary residence, not always out of choice.

There are a few people who do give glimpses into this lifestyle, but I bet it's a lot less glamorous living in a basic van in a layby in the Midlands in the middle of winter, than say, a couple who are doing a 6 month trip round Europe.

 

[zefarelly]

Only recently heard about people living on canal boats in London. You can moor somewhere for 2 weeks max (I think) if you don't have a permanent mooring and then have to move on. So they just keep moving and have a cheap(-ish) central London accommodation.

Band mate and his Mrs had a canal boat in London, used it as a base for mid week and work, until they moved back to town from Brightonon lock stock.

compared to london property it was very affordable, albeit a bit cramped. laterally at least.

houseboaats are great, but generally immobile and very location dependant.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

I've seen a lot more Vanlife people in Sussex in recent years. I know councils in the UK do their utmost to discourage such behaviour (unlike France for example), but Worthing seafront (from Heene Road to the end of the Prom) where the parking meters stop has lots of vans permanently residing there, some 'stealth' others less so. Further West used to be popular, but Worthing council made it illegal to park there after 10pm.

Arundel is also a popular site for people to live in a van, with the road before Swanbourne Lake free to camp on.

I follow a number of really interesting #Vanlife Youtubers, both UK and elsewhere, from those in large Luton / Horsebox conversions to people in basic transit vans, all very insightful.

As I alluded to above, in the UK I'd say the biggest challenge is finding places to stay overnight. Many people seem to get visited by the police or pester by busy-bodies, as there are large parts of the country where overnight stays are not welcome - which is a shame.

Not the most relevant, but this couple have been self-converting a horse box, and it's quite nice to watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKyT2GAYUm3EonvbjPJHCAA

At the moment, yes, unfortunately a tiny minority seem to have spoilt it for the majority with careless waste disposal and litter, I think there are plans afoot to change the parking rules, and they've also created an off road park behind Mill Road Car Park.

 

[CPFC G]

I have a motorhome, Longest I have travelled/lived in it for is 4 weeks. I'd happily go away in it for longer, Just waiting on possible redundancy next year and I will be off around Europe. If redundancy doesn't turn up I will head to Norway for 4/5 weeks in the bus in May.

Plenty of van builders out there to build a van for you these days if you don't feel you have the skills to do it yourself. 100% get something with a shower and toilet though. I'd build something with a decent lithium battery, B2B charger and solar setup, that way you will be completely independent and not reliant on shore power. Try and give inverters a miss as they can **** batteries over if over used. Stick to 12v wherever possible.

Plenty of van lifers in and around Brighton, Up by the race course or parked in the road leading to the campsite near the marina. Maybe stop off and have a chat with some of them to gauge how good life is on the road. Best of luck.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

At the moment, yes, unfortunately a tiny minority seem to have spoilt it for the majority with careless waste disposal and litter, I think there are plans afoot to change the parking rules, and they've also created an off road park behind Mill Road Car Park.

Whenever we've been there (we like to walk in and around Arundel) it always seemed amazing / surprising that it was possible to 'wild camp' so close to Arundel. It seemed such a perfect location. Shame a few tw*ts have ruined it for everyone else.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I have a motorhome, Longest I have travelled/lived in it for is 4 weeks. I'd happily go away in it for longer, Just waiting on possible redundancy next year and I will be off around Europe. If redundancy doesn't turn up I will head to Norway for 4/5 weeks in the bus in May.

Plenty of van builders out there to build a van for you these days if you don't feel you have the skills to do it yourself. 100% get something with a shower and toilet though. I'd build something with a decent lithium battery, B2B charger and solar setup, that way you will be completely independent and not reliant on shore power. Try and give inverters a miss as they can **** batteries over if over used. Stick to 12v wherever possible.

Plenty of van lifers in and around Brighton, Up by the race course or parked in the road leading to the campsite near the marina. Maybe stop off and have a chat with some of them to gauge how good life is on the road. Best of luck.

I recently upgraded our campervan to a Lifepo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) 100ah battery, with a Renogy Hybrid DC to DC charger (takes both alternator and Solar input) and 300w of solar on the pop top. Worked a treat in the summer (Aug bank holiday week) and was able to run the lights, fridge, water pump, phone charging and a plug-in cool box during the day for 6 days straight... The cool box did run on a small Inverter though, as my setup doesn't have any additional 12v sockets, yet. It was very liberating.

 

[CPFC G]

I recently upgraded our campervan to a Lifepo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) 100ah battery, with a Renogy Hybrid DC to DC charger (takes both alternator and Solar input) and 300w of solar on the pop top. Worked a treat in the summer (Aug bank holiday week) and was able to run the lights, fridge, water pump, phone charging and a plug-in cool box during the day for 6 days straight... The cool box did run on a small Inverter though, as my setup doesn't have any additional 12v sockets, yet. It was very liberating.

Pretty much the same as my setup, Upgraded mine in May.

200ah Lifepo04
30amp DC to DC
260W Solar
Victron smart shunt

Never really worry about battery levels now. Plan a long weekend away in December, will be interesting to see how I go with minimal solar for a few days.

 

[The Clamp]

A bit like life in general. Some parts were amazing, others not so much. Life was a lot simpler. No TV or microwave. Just a wood burner, a guitar and a few books to read. Life on the River Avon was pretty much as good as it gets. Watching the seasons change and being so close to nature was like living in a BBC documentary (Before they made them about that) Was obviously a lot younger then and waking up with ice on the duvet because the fire had gone out was no big thing. Could sit and look out the window at the scenery for what seemed like months. I could go on and on about it to be honest, but Im sure you get the drift.

I do. Sounds good.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Pretty much the same as my setup, Upgraded mine in May.

200ah Lifepo04
30amp DC to DC
260W Solar
Victron smart shunt

Never really worry about battery levels now. Plan a long weekend away in December, will be interesting to see how I go with minimal solar for a few days.

That will be a real test, low sun etc. Do you have a heater?

 

[CPFC G]

That will be a real test, low sun etc. Do you have a heater?

It has a Truma boiler which runs on gas when offgrid. Provides hot water and heating. The motorhome is well insulated so have never really felt cold in it. Fully winterized.

My brother has a self built VW, He has a diesel heater which kicks out a massive amount of heat, Really effective.

 

[gripper stebson]

Not sure if any if you current RV owners are interested but I am doing some design work for these guys at the moment. Based in Newhaven and business is BOOMING!

Underbody rust protection for 4x4's / campers etc.

www.lanoguard.co.uk

 

[m@goo]

You must not read many threads on here.

Not really

 

[m@goo]

It's interesting if you search for Vanlife UK videos on Youtube most of the videos are about people who travel, be it the UK or more widely, rather than the reality for many others, where it is their primary residence, not always out of choice.

There are a few people who do give glimpses into this lifestyle, but I bet it's a lot less glamorous living in a basic van in a layby in the Midlands in the middle of winter, than say, a couple who are doing a 6 month trip round Europe.

Yes that John & Mandy video I posted are full timers and do post honest videos on what it's like.

 

[m@goo]

I have a motorhome, Longest I have travelled/lived in it for is 4 weeks. I'd happily go away in it for longer, Just waiting on possible redundancy next year and I will be off around Europe. If redundancy doesn't turn up I will head to Norway for 4/5 weeks in the bus in May.

Plenty of van builders out there to build a van for you these days if you don't feel you have the skills to do it yourself. 100% get something with a shower and toilet though. I'd build something with a decent lithium battery, B2B charger and solar setup, that way you will be completely independent and not reliant on shore power. Try and give inverters a miss as they can **** batteries over if over used. Stick to 12v wherever possible.

Plenty of van lifers in and around Brighton, Up by the race course or parked in the road leading to the campsite near the marina. Maybe stop off and have a chat with some of them to gauge how good life is on the road. Best of luck.

Thank you. I have seen those clapped out vans that seem to be permanently at the top of Wilsons avenue I don't intend to be like that.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

That's the problem with wanting to spend winter in Europe. If you go on 1st January you will have to return by 31st March, and then can't return until September. It's 90 days in any 180 days rolling.

I’m not sure that’s correct. I believe that you could return to the EU on 1st July for another 90 day period. As you say, it’s any 180 days rolling period. On 1 July you would have spent 90 of the last 180 days in the EU. By 30 September you will still have only spent 90 of the previous 180 days in the EU.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Whenever we've been there (we like to walk in and around Arundel) it always seemed amazing / surprising that it was possible to 'wild camp' so close to Arundel. It seemed such a perfect location. Shame a few tw*ts have ruined it for everyone else.

It's worked fine for years and all of a sudden instead of vans staying 2-5 days, it's more perm / semi-perm and all the generators, bonfires (BBQs) and litter associated with it.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Got a friend that has done this for past few years. As you can imagine there are plenty of positives to it but also negatives as well. Tiny space, trouble keeping yourself and van clean, staying warm. It's great in the summer with warm weather and light evenings but come winter it's rotten even in a warmer clime. He is torn as he likes the low cost and freedom but also ends up getting an airbnb for a week occasionally just to have normal life!

Not necessarily, I think your friend is a bit of a fuss pot.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a...uxury-motorhome-on-caravan-site-56432695.html