Permanant/long term pitches for full time living?

[grumblebee]

Hello,

I have purchased a motorhome conversion that I am looking to live in fulltime from about April onwards next year. My circumstances are complicated though (I won't bore you with the details as that's a lot of info and quite personal) and unfortunately I can't qualify for the HGV licence required to drive a 7.5t vehicle for quite some time. As it stands, I will need to hire a driver everytime I need to move on to a new site. I doubt this will be affordable to do every 21-28 days, so I was looking for pitches I can stay at for several months at a time ideally.

The motorhome is fairly self-contained with solar panels, shower, toilet, kitchen, fridge, log burning stove, so whilst full facilities would be preferred (electric hookup, waste disposal, laundry, wifi, shower/toilet block), they are not necessarily absolutely necessary as long as I can empty waste somewhere and amenities are within (car) driving distance.

I've had a brief look at other threads that talk about longer stays, but all mention requiring having to stay elsewhere every 21-28 days for at least 3 days before being able to return to the same pitch. I've also looked at the Caravan Club website and although it is possible to purchase season pitches from March - November, they still have the same rule of actually living there for no more than 21 consecutive days. Unfortunately I will not have a home to go back to and no family or friends to stay with, so I can't go and stay with someone for 3 days then come back. (Though if I could stay in a nearby hotel that accepted dogs for 3 days then that could be dooable. Though I'm sure that's a rare find!).

This has put a bit of a spanner in the works for my plans. Are there places one can go on a more long term basis? Off-grid alternative communities? Farmer's land etc? (Not traveller's yards, somewhere safe and preferably peaceful).

Also I have noticed that some sites state "no commercial vehicles". Although I wouldn't say it looks like one and is not classified as such in terms of road tax and insurance, my vehicle is technically a small lorry (though looks like a very homely horsebox with a wooden porch). Is this likely to present a problem with certain places? Conversions are incredibly popular these days so I would be surprised if they were excluded.

Thanks in advance.

 

[big map]

Parents of a friend became property guardians; living on sites in their motorhome to prevent squatters. One property they stayed on site for nearly a year. Free pitch, electric, water etc and some pocket money too.

 

[Figaro]

Welcome to the forum



Can't help with your question except to say that you're unlikely to be welcomed at a caravan and motorhome club site. They can be a bit sniffy about conversions.
I'm sure others will be along to give more constructive advice

 

[Jim]

The 28-day rule applies to sites that have an exemption from planning regulations. The big club sites are geared for recreation so they also impose their own 28-day rules. However, there are plenty of private, regular licensed sites that will let you stay as long as you like.

 

[reckless]

If you're stuck, Travelodge hotels accept pets and can be cheap if you book in advance.

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[DBK]

Why do you need a MH if you want to leave it in one place? A caravan would be much cheaper to run and getting a long term pitch somewhere shouldn't be difficult.

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

It depends on your circumstances, but have you thought of wardening on a camp site?
I met a family living in a converted truck on a campsite in Cornwall and they were working on the site doing ground maintenance etc to have a free pitch and enough money to live on.

 

[ianthebuilder]

What area are you looking for?

 

[Shrimp]

No campsite will legally allow you to stay for more than your 28 days, they could loose their licence!
There are some places that will allow long term but they ar few and far between.
I see no point in haven’t a MH-conversion or otherwise-if you want to stay in one place all the time!
We find UK difficult and expensive to stay in permanently, we have found a place in Suffolk that will allow winter camping for a couple of months at a time, we’ve been here for nearly 2 months now but they are closing this Jan for a month.

 

[chaser]

Hello,

I have purchased a motorhome conversion that I am looking to live in fulltime from about April onwards next year. My circumstances are complicated though (I won't bore you with the details as that's a lot of info and quite personal) and unfortunately I can't qualify for the HGV licence required to drive a 7.5t vehicle for quite some time. As it stands, I will need to hire a driver everytime I need to move on to a new site. I doubt this will be affordable to do every 21-28 days, so I was looking for pitches I can stay at for several months at a time ideally.

The motorhome is fairly self-contained with solar panels, shower, toilet, kitchen, fridge, log burning stove, so whilst full facilities would be preferred (electric hookup, waste disposal, laundry, wifi, shower/toilet block), they are not necessarily absolutely necessary as long as I can empty waste somewhere and amenities are within (car) driving distance.

I've had a brief look at other threads that talk about longer stays, but all mention requiring having to stay elsewhere every 21-28 days for at least 3 days before being able to return to the same pitch. I've also looked at the Caravan Club website and although it is possible to purchase season pitches from March - November, they still have the same rule of actually living there for no more than 21 consecutive days. Unfortunately I will not have a home to go back to and no family or friends to stay with, so I can't go and stay with someone for 3 days then come back. (Though if I could stay in a nearby hotel that accepted dogs for 3 days then that could be dooable. Though I'm sure that's a rare find!).

This has put a bit of a spanner in the works for my plans. Are there places one can go on a more long term basis? Off-grid alternative communities? Farmer's land etc? (Not traveller's yards, somewhere safe and preferably peaceful).

Also I have noticed that some sites state "no commercial vehicles". Although I wouldn't say it looks like one and is not classified as such in terms of road tax and insurance, my vehicle is technically a small lorry (though looks like a very homely horsebox with a wooden porch). Is this likely to present a problem with certain places? Conversions are incredibly popular these days so I would be surprised if they were excluded.

Thanks in advance.

One or two things , by your avatar you don't appear to be in UK, is the van registered for the UK, do you have a UK licence, because it's not difficult to get a 7.5 ton c1, do you have to be in one place for work if so is there somewhere to park there , industrial estate , for example, and as DBK says, a caravan would be a lot easier to site, but presumably you havnt got a towing licence either so the same problem would come up.

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[Jim]

No campsite will legally allow you to stay for more than your 28 days,

That is not true. It depends on their licence.

 

[Shrimp]

Yes as shown by the campsite we are on at present.
I should have said most campsites!

 

[The Wino]

I think the question about if your MH is UK registered and if you are a UK resident is really important!. The best bet might be a small private site but if you are going to park your conversion up for a long time it might end up being permanent I don't think vehicles like not being used

 

[Wild Brambles]

I had a grandfathered 7.5t rating which was removed when I hit 65 or 70 or so. I needed a medical certificate to keep it, and the doc wanted £150 to write it. I decided it wasn't worth spending the money, but I gather I can still revive it by buying the certificate. Another point, is that I've been told that I don't need the rating for a motor home, although some have said that I do.

I posted this because as others have said, do you have a UK licence, and is there the possibility that the vehicle could be registered as a motorhome in the UK?

 

[chaser]

I had a grandfathered 7.5t rating which was removed when I hit 65 or 70 or so. I needed a medical certificate to keep it, and the doc wanted £150 to write it. I decided it wasn't worth spending the money, but I gather I can still revive it by buying the certificate. Another point, is that I've been told that I don't need the rating for a motor home, although some have said that I do.

I posted this because as others have said, do you have a UK licence, and is there the possibility that the vehicle could be registered as a motorhome in the UK?

If it's over 3.5 ton gvw you need the c1 never mind that it's classed as a motorhome, although when it comes to mot and such, being classed as a motorhome does make a difference.

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[busby]

I had a grandfathered 7.5t rating which was removed when I hit 65 or 70 or so. I needed a medical certificate to keep it, and the doc wanted £150 to write it. I decided it wasn't worth spending the money, but I gather I can still revive it by buying the certificate. Another point, is that I've been told that I don't need the rating for a motor home, although some have said that I do.

I posted this because as others have said, do you have a UK licence, and is there the possibility that the vehicle could be registered as a motorhome in the UK?

150 pounds,,ridiculous..Look on line,,40 pounds max..BUSBY.

 

[olley]

Over three year period we stayed on 3 sites near Ipswich, two had 11 month licences the other 28 days, we stayed 1.5 years on that one.

 

[pappajohn]

unfortunately I can't qualify for the HGV licence required to drive a 7.5t vehicle for quite some time.

Makes little sense and only two reasons I can think of for that.

Your well below 18 years old
You're disqualified from driving.

1st reason, you won't get insurance anywhere
2nd reason, you won't afford insurance.

 

[Fletton]

Makes little sense and only two reasons I can think of for that.

Your well below 18 years old
You're disqualified from driving.

1st reason, you won't get insurance anywhere
2nd reason, you won't afford insurance.

Or perhaps a health issue... Or financial issue? ?

 

[Fletton]

There are plenty of site that allow "seasonal" campers....
I've just left one that charges £30pw + metered leccy....
Although I was paying £60pw as an intermediate.. ( was there for 7 weeks whilst doing a kitchen refurb for a friend).
My leccy bill was £12 .45 ....

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[Allanm]

First, a couple of questions for grumblebee
Why did you buy a 7.5 ton vehicle if you can’t drive it and where are you keeping it till April?
Can’t you live in it there?

Wild Bramblee, you lose your C1 entitlement at 70 unless you ask to keep it.
And you can’t drive a motorhome or any other vehicle on the road over 3.5 tonnes without a C1 category on your licence

 

[Bumblebees]

Over three year period we stayed on 3 sites near Ipswich, two had 11 month licences the other 28 days, we stayed 1.5 years on that one.

I’ve just seen your post from 2019.
Do you know of other place in Suffolk that offer more than the 28 day rule ? We are looking to live in our motorhome anywhere from Saxmundham to Lowestoft area, coastal preferably but more inland if necessary.

 

[DBK]

olley

 

[olley]

Sorry can't help never went any further than the Ipswich area.
Many small sites are happy for you to stay far longer than 28 days.
Easiest way is to book 28 days and near the end ask if you can stay longer.

 

[Nanniemate]

Started reDong this and realised the post is 5 years old
I wonder what the outcome was

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[Threeracers]

Appreciate this is a very old thread but full time here and just thought it might help to mention my arrangements.

I chatted up a local farmer who allows me to park up on a corner of his farm between trips. Sometimes I am away for a couple of months, sometimes on the farm for a couple of months, sometime less. I have fresh water, grey disposal but not black. My black tank lasts a little over two weeks and as I don’t have any laundry facilities on the truck I book a campsite visit once a fortnight to empty my black and catch up with laundry. I am not sure of the rules regarding duration when staying on private land for council tax but I think a well documented pitstop for laundry together with my trips helps prove I am not permanently in one spot.

I pay £100 a month and continue to pay when I am away.

If you are trying to set up a similar arrangement its worth reminding the landowner that someone regularly around is quite a plus for the point of deterring petty theft etc.

Hope that helps.

Mark

 

[Jev88]

Our local storage / campsite allows long term stays just outside Peterborough and a couple of long termers are HGV drivers as lots of work local to Peterborough and Spalding.