Hi from Suffolk

[james64]

Hi James,

We hired a van about 6-6.5m long with a double bed over the cab and a make up bed in the living area, it had a reasonable sized water tank and a gas/mains powered fridge. Nice van to be honest.

But on night 1 we realised the bed over the cab was not for us, then we worked out we didn’t like turning the living area into a bed each night, and I didn’t like not being able to get up and read while SWMBO slept in, we also worked out the van wasn’t great for several nights off grid, in fact it was basically designed campsites with EHU and facilities to hand.

Next issue was needing to turn the cab seats around to be able to sit with the bed down, didn’t like that one bit.

Now remember, you may not be of the same mind, another member on here I talk to has a van that would drive me mad, but it suits them.

Little point asking someone else for your opinion James, if your going to full time then you need to get some experience under your belt first imho.

Hi Boris ,

Many thanks for the reply , much appreciated

I think I'm getting a good idea of what I need layout wise but as you say , first hand experience is probably the way to go.

Much to think about!

 

[james64]

One thought James, the club has a sister site https://motorhomer.com/ and they have lots of meet ups, there one in May in fact, you could pop along and introduce yourself and ask to look in vans that are actually being used, bet it’s a world away from new shinny ones at the NEC or in dealers car parks.

Another great idea , thanks!

 

[james64]

And for full timing I imagine most peeps will need a LOT OF STORAGE.

Currently clearing out/selling stuff from my house but you're right , still going to need a lot of storage!

Thankfully I have my parents garage and will be renting another garage from a mate (at mates rates) in June

 

[marchie]

Hi Steve ,

Thanks for the info , I didn't realize that was even do-able!
Something else to look into

Hi James,

Another tip, though not specifically aimed at would-be full-timers, is to visit the Motorhome, sit inside and take time to envisage how you would carry out (think 'Give us a Clue' mimes for a walk through!) each of the activities of daily living. And speak to people such as Neil @Nabsim who have experience of van modification and what workarounds have been used to cope with the inevitable limitations of full timing. One tip we use to stretch the refillable LPG intervals is to use an induction hob via the inverter when solar power is abundant and boil enough water to fill 2 Thermos Flasks. They'll remain hot enough to wash dinner or breakfast dishes the following day, and the lithium will have the late afternoon to recharge from the Solar Panel

Steve

 

[Nabsim]

Not sure anyone should speak to me Steve, I treat my van as if it was a self build without concern for what may happen to residual value. Also I don't like spending a grand if a ton will do the same job lol

 

[TJBi]

And for full timing I imagine most peeps will need a LOT OF STORAGE.

And a lot of available PAYLOAD for everything that goes into all that storage!

 

[marchie]

Not sure anyone should speak to me Steve, I treat my van as if it was a self build without concern for what may happen to residual value. Also I don't like spending a grand if a ton will do the same job lol

Yer miserable ol' bugger, Neil ... : -)

It's a consequence of my character and my professional training that makes me think about residual values et al when I look at upgrades and similar

I thought you would have some practical advice on what to do, and, at least as important, based on hard won experience, what NOT to do. There's nothing worse than making an expensive mistake and then finding that someone else has also made that mistake ...

Steve

 

[james64]

Hi James,

Another tip, though not specifically aimed at would-be full-timers, is to visit the Motorhome, sit inside and take time to envisage how you would carry out (think 'Give us a Clue' mimes for a walk through!) each of the activities of daily living. And speak to people such as Neil @Nabsim who have experience of van modification and what workarounds have been used to cope with the inevitable limitations of full timing. One tip we use to stretch the refillable LPG intervals is to use an induction hob via the inverter when solar power is abundant and boil enough water to fill 2 Thermos Flasks. They'll remain hot enough to wash dinner or breakfast dishes the following day, and the lithium will have the late afternoon to recharge from the Solar Panel

Steve

Thanks for that Steve , more great info/tips! (2 x thermos flasks now on the ever growing list )

Having been looking for some while now at layouts , specs etc I've come to the conclusion solar/lithium/dc-dc & mains chargers are
going to be on my shopping list if not already on the home on wheels I end up with....which will add quite a bit to the overall spend!
Luckily there's a well thought of local guy that does that kinda thing if it goes that way.

I really do need to take a trip to some local dealers and sit in a few I think. There's one very local to me (in Ipswich) which seems to have some good deals when it comes to selling , but has a bad reputation for after sales. The other 2 are at opposite ends of the county-ish but have a much better reputation thankfully.

 

[james64]

And a lot of available PAYLOAD for everything that goes into all that storage!

Yes , something else to think about.....I can't believe how little some of them have!

I have my C1 so guess up-plating is a possibility if needed , but hoping with my storage facility's I can just take what I need for any said trip.

 

[marchie]

Yes , something else to think about.....I can't believe how little some of them have!

I have my C1 so guess up-plating is a possibility if needed , but hoping with my storage facility's I can just take what I need for any said trip.

We have a Burstner Ixeo Time IT590 (5.99m long, so the signwriting takes 3 lines ...), with a drop-down bed. We do at least one 57-60 nights trip each year, ideally two, and just manage within 3500kg weight. Were I to be more disciplined, and weed out the 'Justin Case' toolboxes and sundry odds 'n' sods, the weight would decrease, and the space increase. But then I would spend even more time in the Fereteria and the Chinese Shop, buying the tools and screws, nuts etc that I had left behind ...

We carry 2 electric bikes, and the bike locks plus batteries, helmets, saddlebags etc do add to the weight and put pressure on space; but they do make the supermarket food run a lot quicker and easier!

Steve

 

[TJBi]

Yes , something else to think about.....I can't believe how little some of them have!

I have my C1 so guess up-plating is a possibility if needed , but hoping with my storage facility's I can just take what I need for any said trip.

One thing to bear in mind if fulltiming, is that, if you have up-plated or gone for a motorhome with a higher MAM in the first place, once you reach the age of 70, anything that causes you to lose the C1 entitlement can have awkward consequences.

 

[iandsm]

Hi all , I've been for a full member for 18 months now (well worth it for the info gleaned so far) and not posted until now!

I'ts been my intention , for several years , to sell the bricks and mortar and use the equity/modest savings to buy/live in a motorhome full time whilst still fit and able.
I had the chance to take voluntary redundancy at the end of February last year at the age of 59 and even though it was a year too early in an 'ideal world' , I'd had enough of surviving instead of living so jumped at the chance.

A year on , the ducks are getting into line slowly but surely. If (a big ask I know) things go to plan , when I'm not looking after my elderly parents , I'll be travelling/fishing my way around the uk this time next year.

I have my list of 'needs' and 'wants' in a motorhome , and intend to visit some shows/dealers this year , but realize I'm going to have to compromise when the time comes to buy....so there may well be some questions coming!

Enjoy your weekend , spring has nearly sprung!

I dont know where you are in Suffolk but you might like to take pride to a well known motorhome dealer in Great `Yarmouth, they have a very good selection of motorhomes both new and used and arecwell worth a visit, they dont mind if you just pick their brains and will help you find something in terms of layout that would suit you. Good luck.

 

[james64]

We have a Burstner Ixeo Time IT590 (5.99m long, so the signwriting takes 3 lines ...), with a drop-down bed. We do at least one 57-60 nights trip each year, ideally two, and just manage within 3500kg weight. Were I to be more disciplined, and weed out the 'Justin Case' toolboxes and sundry odds 'n' sods, the weight would decrease, and the space increase. But then I would spend even more time in the Fereteria and the Chinese Shop, buying the tools and screws, nuts etc that I had left behind ...

We carry 2 electric bikes, and the bike locks plus batteries, helmets, saddlebags etc do add to the weight and put pressure on space; but they do make the supermarket food run a lot quicker and easier!

Steve

Just had a look at a few for sale , looks a lovely bit of kit
Being 6ft 3 I'd be worried about the head room with the drop down bed , and the garage looks small, But I guess if you're managing to get 2 bikes and all the kit that goes with them in...
The "just in case" comment reminds of my fishing gear , always take far too many odds n sods!

 

[james64]

One thing to bear in mind if fulltiming, is that, if you have up-plated or gone for a motorhome with a higher MAM in the first place, once you reach the age of 70, anything that causes you to lose the C1 entitlement can have awkward consequences.

Good point
10 years away though so will 'worry' about that down the line if I end up going that route.
But certainly something else to throw in the brain blender

 

[james64]

I dont know where you are in Suffolk but you might like to take pride to a well known motorhome dealer in Great `Yarmouth, they have a very good selection of motorhomes both new and used and arecwell worth a visit, they dont mind if you just pick their brains and will help you find something in terms of layout that would suit you. Good luck.

Outskirts of Ipswich here so they are certainly on my very short preferred dealer list , and intend to pay them a visit soon

 

[Nabsim]

Yer miserable ol' bugger, Neil ... : -)

It's a consequence of my character and my professional training that makes me think about residual values et al when I look at upgrades and similar

I thought you would have some practical advice on what to do, and, at least as important, based on hard won experience, what NOT to do. There's nothing worse than making an expensive mistake and then finding that someone else has also made that mistake ...

Steve

Haha, I am honorary Yorkshireman now Steve so can't go throwing brass around for nowt

My advice would be have a look at layouts then when you have a van use it. Don't buy anything you don't need to be able to eat, sleep, drink and stay warm in it until you know you need it.

For the majority of people solar is not going to do much for 5 months of the year if they are in the UK so don't worry about that til you get in it. Don't worry about batteries unless what is in it is goosed already. If van has 3 way fridge, gas hob and gas heating you won't need a lot of power. If you intend always being on sites then you can maybe save by using EHU instead of gas but that's not a given.

Storage - my take is the ideal is have somewhere you can store what you need to. If you have somewhere you can put a shipping container that's probably cheaper long term. Don't try to take too much with you, you probably won't use it. You can store winter clothing in the summer and summer clothing in the winter rather than carting it around with you. Since I downplated my van I run round with empty cupboards.

Main thing is get a van and get out in it to see what you need. You don't need BBQ's, power banks, dry robes, fancy tables and chairs to get started. Don't follow the crowd and buy into the latest gadgets, follow your nose, its more fun

 

[james64]

Haha, I am honorary Yorkshireman now Steve so can't go throwing brass around for nowt

My advice would be have a look at layouts then when you have a van use it. Don't buy anything you don't need to be able to eat, sleep, drink and stay warm in it until you know you need it.

For the majority of people solar is not going to do much for 5 months of the year if they are in the UK so don't worry about that til you get in it. Don't worry about batteries unless what is in it is goosed already. If van has 3 way fridge, gas hob and gas heating you won't need a lot of power. If you intend always being on sites then you can maybe save by using EHU instead of gas but that's not a given.

Storage - my take is the ideal is have somewhere you can store what you need to. If you have somewhere you can put a shipping container that's probably cheaper long term. Don't try to take too much with you, you probably won't use it. You can store winter clothing in the summer and summer clothing in the winter rather than carting it around with you. Since I downplated my van I run round with empty cupboards.

Main thing is get a van and get out in it to see what you need. You don't need BBQ's, power banks, dry robes, fancy tables and chairs to get started. Don't follow the crowd and buy into the latest gadgets, follow your nose, its more fun

I get the feeling I have some Yorkshire blood in me,...apart from 2 weeks making sure my new boiler works as it should I've had no heating on all winter. Also only use it to heat the water every other day as figured out there's enough hot water left for a shower etc the day after its been on for an hour. Also stopped using the dishwasher , already payed to heat the water so just go 'old school' and wash up when needed. Hate giving my hard earned to these money grabbing big company's

I can see how easy it is to just buy stuff you don't actually need , especially being a 'newbie' to this world. Hopefully I can reign it in and just get the stuff needed to survive to start with.

Thanks for the tips

 

[liz]

Hi Boris ,

Thanks for the advise , It's something I've looked into briefly but not taken any further as yet. I took one look at the prices for a long weekend (let alone 2 weeks) and all the hoops they put you through and it kinda put me off. Logically though a few hundred quid could save me several thousands and the stress that doubtless goes with the realization you've picked the wrong one!

Can I ask what you hired and what experiences made you completely change your minds to buy something different ?

I've already changed my mind from originally wanting a pvc to a motorhome after my NEC visit.
I had a good look at an Adria twin pvc and just sitting in it made me realize the set up was not right for my needs.
A compact motorhome with a decent separate garage and preferably under 6.5m is now my starting point.

We have an Elddis accordo bought from new ,big big regret .we now know we would like fixed bed ,and little longer ours is 5.99 .Coil spring broke within months of buying ,we had damp reading last year .Warranty paid to seal around cabin door ,we sealed everywhere else .our van is flimsy ,screws on doors have been replaced ,foam on seating area has

been replaced as corners started to show wear and tear at the corners due to bed being put up and down .We are very careful and take good care of it but big regret buying it but my husband will not spend any more money to replace it ,,we hired 3 times .Wish I could start again but too late so choose wisely .Good Luck

 

[james64]

We have an Elddis accordo bought from new ,big big regret .we now know we would like fixed bed ,and little longer ours is 5.99 .Coil spring broke within months of buying ,we had damp reading last year .Warranty paid to seal around cabin door ,we sealed everywhere else .our van is flimsy ,screws on doors have been replaced ,foam on seating area has

been replaced as corners started to show wear and tear at the corners due to bed being put up and down .We are very careful and take good care of it but big regret buying it but my husband will not spend any more money to replace it ,,we hired 3 times .Wish I could start again but too late so choose wisely .Good Luck

Hi Liz ,

Thanks for the heads up about your Elddis , and sorry you've had so much trouble with it.

I must admit I'd pretty much discounted the Elddis range having read so many horror stories about them.
It's a real shame a lot of British made Motorhome marques seem to have such a bad reputation , but it seems you can find fault with any
of the brands.....what a lottery!
I had an Auto-trail 620G on my short list as it ticks most of my needs and is relatively 'cheap' , but I'm getting the feeling it's 'cheap' for a reason going by the build quality issues a lot seem to have.

The home work and hunt goes on.....