part timing (1 Viewer)

[Gromett]

I have had a few minor issues recently and am starting to think about getting a Static caravan to use as a base of operations. I am not going to come off the road but a few of the recent niggles have been a touch inconvenient.

I also don't have quite enough room in the van, I could upgrade to a bigger one but I actually like having a compact one that can go anywhere. I don't want to rent a house that I won't enjoy staying in and will probably only use 1 or 2 months a year.

The static caravan seems to be a nice balance. From what I can make out it costs about £2,000 per year in site fees. But you get running water, electric and phone line (for broadband). It will give me somewhere to register my vehicle and insurance etc. If the vehicle has to come off the road I don't have to stay in a B&B.

I went to look at a few this morning and even the smallest ones are a little too big for me . I have gotten used to living in a 2mtr x 3.5Mtr box and anything bigger and I feel like I am rattling around too much...

Just mulling it over at the moment as one possibility......

Do any other Fulltimers use a static as a base?

 

[JJ]

Traitor!





JJ :Cool:

 

[Landy lover]

I know of a few full timers who have a static as a base - you do have to be a shade carefull though many of the static sites will not allow 12 month habitation and many will not allow the use as a postal address - mainly due to planning issues I understand. Also once you get a static you will start the usual rounds of community charge gas bills elillsctric bills water and sewage bills etc. etc.


Would help other full timers if you gave an idea of what issues you had that has made you think of this.

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[Rayb182]

We live in a static in Great Bentley, we use it for a base to do the washing, etc we park the van at the top of the park, its closed for two months but we're in Spain for 3 to 4 months or away elsewhere.

 

[Gromett]

I won't be living there for any extended periods. Maybe 2 months around Sept-Oct to get van taxed etc, do end of year company accounts and self assessment etc. I would probably use it at the beginning of the year as well to visit family.

The one I looked at closes from Dec through till the end of Feb which suites me as I intend to be in Spain in future. They have BT phone lines to each pitch and individually metered water and electric and you can have mail sent to the address.

The insurance problem was extra minor clauses such as I am not allowed to carry flammable liquids. I am waiting for them to clarify the extra clauses.
This is a custom policy as I am a fulltimer, business use and self build. It looks like it is no longer going to be practical.

This is one of the reasons I am looking at a static as for the £1900 per year I can get much cheaper insurance, I can get rid of my accommodation address etc etc.

I am not stopping fulltiming and this has not put me off. I am just looking at simplifying things.

There are a number of reasons as follows;

1. I recently closed down my self storage unit due to cost and now have to carry everything with me. This is doable but not perfect. I will either need a bigger van or sort out storage again which isn't cheap. I don't want a bigger van.
2. The new Insurance and license issue with the accommodation address I was using. I can work around these but I would rather get a more permanent solution that doesn't rely on relatives or friends. I prefer to be self sufficient and not put upon anyone else.
3. Emergency backup option. I did have somewhere to stay in an emergency but this is no longer available as the friend has sold up and moved to a smaller house. If I write the van off now I am screwed.

The increased annual costs of my Insurance and storage etc adds up to almost as much as the ground rent on a static. This makes the static a viable option I think?

 

[Gromett]

Traitor!





JJ :Cool:

You getting rid of your flat and land then JJ oh:

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[JJ]

We were not talking about my failings... we were talking about yours...

I don't live in my flat and I certainly don't do end of year accounts or self assessment there

JJ

ps... Are you thinking about a visit on your way to Zahora or on the way back?

 

[Gromett]

Ok JJ, I have failed on so many levels this year I have lost count

Do I care? Of course not

I am not sure which to be honest I was planning on the way down but you sounded busy so decided to do it on the way back....

However, That all depends on me sorting this insurance issue out. I will PM you.

 

[stuurman]

What I would do for a static caravan to just store my books and other things (not much) and stay there in the summer for a few weeks to sort out what needs to be done, MOT etc., then start the engine again and travel some more, wintering in warmer climates (as I do in Spain every year) and come back for the same the next summer! Your thoughts are exactly what I am thinking as a fulltimer. Our governments and its rules allows us so much, but at the end of the day we need a base, even if we don't stay there all year. Great post, Gromett!

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[JJ]

I am not sure which to be honest I was planning on the way down but [HI]you sounded busy[/HI] so decided to do it on the way back....

Malicious rumours...

Can't have my image damaged in this way...

but... I might be the number one follow spot operator in the new Luis de Matos show called "Chaos" in the Casino at Estoril which is at least one and a hours of hard work a day!



JJ :Cool:

 

[upmarkethippy]

Or if you can find a very good cl owner, you may be able to store a large caravan and have it moved on to a pitch for your use then put into storage again when you are away. this would work out a lot cheaper than having a static sat for 10 months of year empty. You also have the option of moving the tourer if you find the neighbours to be a little nosey or something.

Just a thought.

Happy travels

Cheyne

 

[Gromett]

Cheyne!!!! Wash your mouth out with soap.

Me a tugger? Never!!!

Problem is Cheyne I can only tow a 750KG max weight due to my license.

Having looked at this every so briefly I decided I didn't want something so flimsy and small.

The other reason the static is appealing to me is I can have my family over to stay for a holiday. I see very little of my nephews at the moment as I cannot take my Van onto the RAF base they are at currently.. Well I can but no where to park overnight...

The idea is growing on me the more I think about it.

BUT!!! for JJ and other doubters This is not me giving up fulltiming it is just my way of keeping the box ticking bureaucracy happy and give me a little storage space.

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[artona]

Don't knock Cheyne's idea too quickly Karl. If you never tow the caravan we promise not to call you a tugger

Seriously if you did go down the caravan route its going to be smaller so you will not get lost as you say you would in a static. If the site is not as good as you initially thought you could move it on....obviously getting someone else to tow to preserve your status

etc etc

 

[chatter]

Cheynes idea is a good one, it is actually cheaper to have a large touring van in storage on a site where they can pull it out for you and site it, that way you only pay top rate for the nights you actually use it.

 

[sedge]

I thought exactly the same thing.

Eldest "kids" (age 40 LOL) have just bought a 'huge' 2nd hand Avondale for them and their kids, by heck it's a solid lump - and it is a lump. But then most Avondales were; Pete and first wife's 1981 Avondale Osprey which they rallied in 51 weekends a year plus holidays when the girls were young, went abroad for the first time ever last year as the 'base' for their fishing holiday.

I should think that's (the big 'un) just the sort of caravan you could live in and be quite comfortable for what you want, on a site that did storage as well as the site itself.

I know you might not want to rely on asking others for help to get it there in the first place or if you decided to change sites - who does? - but to my mind Grommett - that's exactly when you need friends, isn't it?

Pete's done it before and he'd do it again Grommett, given that he was in around the same area and had whatever the appropriate tools were, for the job. And so would a lot of other folks on Fun, I'm sure.

And may I mention a little problem that sometimes happens with statics? - the site owners decide they are going upmarket and decide your van is too old/small/whatever doesn't suit them this week ......

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[Gromett]

Thanks for the feedback on the caravan idea. I am still not happy with the idea.

I couldn't use it as a permanent address. I have checked with two sites near me and both allow it to be used as a mailing address if I have a static but I must be able to prove I live elsewhere if I do. That is achievable. With a tourer the answer would be no.

I could have my family visit me in the static which I can't do in a small tourer.

I looked at a bunch of caravans today and I really don't like them at all. I found some much smaller statics today that although they are bigger than they need to be for me would suite me just fine. The only caravans I looked at today that I could accept were £10K and too big for me to tow.


I can't afford either this year but will start saving and postpone any decisions until the middle of next year but the static is in favour at the moment.

 

[Carol]

Carl just read the post and my thoughts are what you seem to have come up with, why not give your self 12 months to see how things pan out then decide if you want to buy a static van or not, so much to think of but what a great time you have ahead of you.

 

[Gromett]

Thanks Carol,
I have been Fulltiming for 2 and a half years now and love it. It's mainly the bureaucratic nonsense that is making me think about these things at the moment

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[chesterfield hooligan]

Hi I like your idea but as you mentioned what happen's if you write your van of Dec through till the end of Feb if you had a caravan you could move to a cl in the meantime

 

[rainbow chasers]

I would also suggest a caravan as a base, not a static but a large tourer. You can sie it seasonally on a site somewhere, or even move it around occasionally. Don't worry about licence issues, to move around will cost you about £40 with a towing company - you will only need a maximum of a couple of sites, and if the site has you as a seasonal ticket holder, they won't care anyway!

We have motorhomes, obviously, but we do full time in a Dethleffs West star - the build quality is there, and the space is there. It is only 23ft, but the design is very good, with fixed bed, lounge, dinette, full toilet and shower-room....we stilll havn't filled all the cupboards yet.

Might be a good idea, without the expense of having a static - it isn't just the site fees, it is the maintenance, the bills etc which are all inflated!

Tourer would be worth looking into!

 

[Gromett]

Ok, thanks guys

I will look again at the flimsy shed on wheels idea

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[Landy lover]

Only point I would make with a normal caravan is the issue of not being able to use the site address as a postal address. That surely is a part of the savings you were trying to make

 

[rainbow chasers]

34mm thick walls, 46mm thick floor and roof. You cannot hear 'normal' rain, only when heavy, and as yet we haven't had the heater on for anymore more than 20 minutes on a 'frosty' night.

If you think of the weight being a good indication of quality of construction...this weighs 2 tonnes, unladen & empty....and it is only 23ft!:thumb:

SORRY for the large pic, cannot seem to make it smaller!

I haven't added the mounge pic as the pics are too big!

 

[artona]

Nice looking van Rainbow Chaser

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[Gromett]

Caravan is a no go unfortunately.
I have been round to two caravan sales places and 3 of the local sites.

The caravan is not suitable for having guests over without a load of messing about and this is not convenient for what I had in mind.

The caravan cannot be used as an address.

I cannot have Broadband installed at a Caravan this is not totally essential but is one of the upsides I was considering with a static.

If you add storage fees to active pitch fees it can very quickly cost more than the static ground rent....

You also don't get running water with a caravan you have to use external water tanks which need filling. I am ok with driving the motorhome over to a tap once a week but I am not prepared to do roller tanks daily etc.

There are just so many ways I don't like caravans sorry, but I did look again.

I am looking at another couple of static sites who open year round so I can if I choose have winters in the UK and spring/summer/autumn in France. Winter is the busy time of year for my business so having a comfortable area to work in with broadband would make things easier.

The static is appealing to me more and more.....

Oh well, plenty of time to mull it all over.

 

[rainbow chasers]

There are sites that will allow post! The site we are on take post for a number of full timers that are on site.

One of them is a web developer, running broadband through one of those new hyperfast gizmos.

I understand what you are saying with water tanks, ours has on board tanks, and luckily we have a lovely hose reel that runs from the tap to fill up with - we still have a couple of carriers for drinking water (old habits!)

Local site to us, do a seasonal for £600, - nice site too - others up to £2000 but that only covers you for 8 months - but that shouldn't be a problem with the motorhome as well.

Don't forget that statics are nowhere near as well insulated and require far more maintenance!

Well done for looking anyway!:thumb:

Good luck with your search....maybe have a gander at park homes too - the site fees, and inflated bills are the same as on a caravan site - only you will have a drive to park your motorhome on and an official address along with far better insulation and facilities!

 

[Pat4Neil]

They look like a good quality caravan, its a shame that you need something pretty big to move it.

are there any sites out there that let you full time in those caravans, one where you can use it as a proper address.

Pat

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[Gromett]

Here are some costs;
Storage: Best I have seen that is local is £14 per week = £875 per year inc vat.
Two mailboxes one business one personal: £410 per year Inc. (I do need both)

That is Almost £1,300 towards my site fees.

Gas costs will be the same or cheaper as it will be the large cylinders rather than the small ones. However I expect I will use quite a bit more during the winter as it is a larger space to heat. I will have water and electric to pay for extra but that is on a usage basis and I use very little now. These extra fees are offset by the fact I don't have to pay £10.00 per night to stay and I don't have any issues with double booking or other inconveniences.

The charges on the local sites I have looked at are very reasonable and don't appear to have been inflated overly.... There are at least 5 local sites who appear to compete with each other so I think that keeps pricing reasonable.

I do want to be on a site near where I am as my Sister is moving back here with my nephews in a year or two and my mother lives here. It makes sense to get one near the family as they can then use the static when I am not there as a weekend break place etc.

I can get a cheap static for around the £8-12,000 mark but for an extra £5,000 I can get one that is well insulated and has double glazing. Fully winterised.

Anyway, time to look at finances and work out how long I will need to save up for. May have to take on extra jobs this winter :Sad:

 

[olley]

The site we are on charge £2300 for the year plus leccky and gas, that's for 46 weeks of the year. No fixed phone only mobile for broadband. Legally as long as you are paying council tax on another property, static Holiday homes don't attract rates or council tax (no idea how the council would know) unlike static residential homes which do. The best time to look for statics is at the end of the season, when the invoice for the following year hits the floor, that's when most people put them up for sale.

The owners on here have a 15year rule, once its that old it has to go, I believe most are similar, he then charges you 15% markup on a new one plus a grand to site it and connect the services. However in the present economic situation, I think he might be reconsidering, as one or two are due for the boot, and the owners can't afford another.

Ian

 

[the stig]

With a static could you not rent it out in the summer weeks whilst you are away in MH, that would give you a decent income for a short while?

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