Pros and Cons of Fulltiming

[Nabsim]

We pulled up on a motorway services one evening in autumn for the dogs to have a pee and a ciggie break for Caz. Walking along the grass I spy some funny mushrooms so calls Caz to have a look. We got the foraging book out and it said they were okay for eating but can’t remember what sort now. Anyway Caz wouldn’t have them, said they wouldn’t be good at side of motorway so I left them.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

We pulled up on a motorway services one evening in autumn for the dogs to have a pee and a ciggie break for Caz. Walking along the grass I spy some funny mushrooms so calls Caz to have a look. We got the foraging book out and it said they were okay for eating but can’t remember what sort now. Anyway Caz wouldn’t have them, said they wouldn’t be good at side of motorway so I left them.

Hi ya Nab,
Yeah you have to be careful when tapping into Natures bounty at the best of times, so I guess if you have the choice of getting such things where it’s less busy & Less Chance of contaminants then it’s obviously better isn’t it.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

yer need more than a couple..o. mushrooms.....,,,,you have an excellent butchers near to hand......need good meat in you in winter time.......donuts wont supply you with energy.

aye im keeping waarm....hot water bottle up me jumper........cant go wrong....lol

im on a mission now,,,,,,,no central heating going on till new year........although temp is due to drop to 3 next week....so may have to give in.....lol

Oh & YES Trixie, I DO Know the butchers your on about, in fact on my last visit I went in & partook of its lovelyness.





Almost right next door to the Icecream shop, & Yesss I did !.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

WOO WHOOO !....



& Tomorrow it’s Rabbit !.

 

[trixie88]

how do you catch the rabbits zombie............just wondered

 

[Nesting Zombie]

how do you catch the rabbits zombie............just wondered

Exactly the same way I take Duck, Muntjac, Pigeon, Pheasant, Even the very occasional Goose if I’m lucky & the season is right.
I’m a first generation Zombie & my Shuffling isn’t that fast Thease days to effectively catch them as they are just too Blinking fast n Bouncey, So I normally just wear them down to the point that they just Give up on life by Being a Constant presents to them. Although I have to say I even find Catchng Mushrooms hard work Thease days !.

 

[Brusan]

Total freedom

I can’t tell you how much I love the total freedom . I keep track of the weather and head to the best area s and if it is too bad I plan to cook, write , sew or have duvet days

For all the full timers out there,what do you think is the best and worst of our chosen lifestyle?
For me the best is freedom....
The worst is endless rainy days,and all the difficulties that raises,especially with a dog.

 

[stewheeler]

Fulltimers gone landed!

I used to knockabout a bit and caravanned full time for several years in a row once as had access to static on unused farm land. It was great, and also character building so no journey ever seemed too much as long as had basic stuff I.E essential. Noted periods of harder times some extreme winters where heating barely beneficial. Frozen water supplies at times, both in and outdoors. Damp from Gas type heaters can be an issue, that is despite being on' general moisture is high due to outside air being moist. Found ways around things as you do though also in some ways things were made better in good old days. That said some modern tech is useful these days. If full timing serious thought needs to be put in to your rig as it makes a massive difference to your overall experience. I think by todays standards a heck of a lot of full timers bought Land etc, which nowadays is not a cheap resource as it used to be. It has also meant that people with land look for returns on investments etc and have different atitudes than they used to. I have also seen this Gentrification thing mean lots of loosely organised spots have become too serious, and maybe over used or converted to other uses. There was also a time 90's ish, when councils proactively aimed to build semi permanent sites for full timers. This lead to them not really being Travellers as such anymore and going static etc with a car. You may see these sites occasionally when you travel they look a bit like a Campsite though with no signs and usually gated like a gated community.

 

[gratefulj]

For all the full timers out there,what do you think is the best and worst of our chosen lifestyle?
For me the best is freedom....
The worst is endless rainy days,and all the difficulties that raises,especially with a dog.

So far (less than 2 months in) it's all the best as I'm learning and experiencing new things/places literally everyday and as a 49 year old with a colourful past this is fantastic. Yes Il's cold, wet and windy at times but I genuinely feel the most alive I've felt in a very long time.
I have a dog and I have wet weather gear so we are gonna go out and play no matter what though when we get really wet he stinks and I struggle to get all my wet kit off in such a small space.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Isn’t it funny how as ‘Full Time Livaboards’ or even Long time users of such vehicles it makes you re-evaluate what is actually useful & important to fellow ‘Livaboards’ to make life aboard Genuinely easier or more comfortable FOR THEM when giving Gifts !.
I have to say that I have got a GREAT bunch of Friends, Mates & Aquantences that understand this & I certainly regard as a MASSIVE PRO in my chosen lifestyle.
Christmas Gifts received-




& Today’s Birthday Presents received-



Used Thease a few times now on Nesty my onboard Multi Fuel Stove & Blinking BRILLIANT!

(Yesss The Fuel Can has 5lt of Petrol in it)

SO so Thougtfull, Practical & Useful & How absolutely lovely.
a big HARTFELT Thank you people.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Ok,
So it’s time to give The Nest it’s ‘Thank you’ present from me, & this year have decided to get -
an isolation switch fitted to main Battery,
Clean up & Greese all 4 Front Brake Pipes,
Get New Discs & New Pads for both the Front wheels,
New Cylinders & New Shoes for ALL 4 of the Rear Wheels,
Greese up the Front Bearings & Both Rear Axel’s, & Anything else that might need it.

Now I’ve had one guy out to have a look, The Second Guy is Meant to be coming out on Tuesday. So hopefully once I pick myself up from getting the cost it should all be done by the end of January then we will go for a Shuffle to bed in the new Kit & for it all to make friends with The Nest.
Now,,,,I wonder how much ?.

As some might know I tend to do ONE major thing a year, like -
New Tyers all round, or
Major Service & Cam belt change, or
Giving it a bit of a cosmetic Face lift with New Main & Leasure batteries thrown in as well or something like that.
its allowed for in my budget for the year. a lot of the above is just being Pro active in the Maintenance of my much loved Nest, as well as Hopefully being more prepared for the MOT beginning of April.


(1996 Peugeot Boxer 2.5TD TAG AXEL)

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Sooo,
The second guy (Mobile Mechanic) came to have a look at The Nest, I’m very comfortable with him to just do the work, So The Nest is Jacked up nice & Level (That’s a Novelty) Wheels Are off, Drums, Cylinders, Pads & all sorts are off, Suspect areas of the Brake Pipes are scrapped & inspected (All seems ok, just going to be well Cleaned up & Greese up). So The Nest is on Blocks for a week, So Making sure Your Van is Somewhere it can stay for a bit, is Safe & that you can still use it
Is what you have to think about when you’re a Full Time Livaboard !.

 

[Asterix]

Sooo,
The second guy (Mobile Mechanic) came to have a look at The Nest, I’m very comfortable with him to just do the work, So The Nest is Jacked up nice & Level (That’s a Novelty) Wheels Are off, Drums, Cylinders, Pads & all sorts are off, Suspect areas of the Brake Pipes are scrapped & inspected (All seems ok, just going to be well Cleaned up & Greese up). So The Nest is on Blocks for a week, So Making sure Your Van is Somewhere it can stay for a bit, is Safe & that you can still use it
Is what you have to think about when you’re a Full Time Livaboard !.
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MOT...the three scariest letters in the full timer alphabet,good to see you pre-empting the stress of it all.

 

[Deleted member 69467]

Mot time

Hello Asterix, Do you take your 7.5 to the test station or get a mechanic to pre mot then drive it to the test station? Do you use visa or an approved independent testing station?

 

[trixie88]

morning zombie.........just read your posr.....nest on jacks for a week..oohherrr.....would a garage have managed to get it done in a day.........just wondering.........
good luck with your mot.......however, like you say, pre mot and work completed it should sail thru............

 

[Nesting Zombie]

morning zombie.........just read your posr.....nest on jacks for a week..oohherrr.....would a garage have managed to get it done in a day.........just wondering.........
good luck with your mot.......however, like you say, pre mot and work completed it should sail thru............

Hey Trixie,
He is here NOW !.


He Has attacked the Front Brake pipes, Brake assembly’s & Underside with all sorts of Wirebrushes, Pokey & Scrapey Things, Has also Coated a thick layer of Wax oil on all that I can see. He has fitted Both the new Discs, & is now playing with the Pads, So I’m leaving him to it as I’ve got a 42 x 13 Static to Pitch this afternoon & I can just see the Arctic lorry arrived

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Well it just goes to show how doing Pro active work & preventative planed Maintenance when it’s convenient to do so rather than when on a time scale can pay off !.
Thease are my Rear 1st axel Brake Shoes -

Yep Both sets on the same Axle was like this


Would have been let’s say ‘Questionable come MOT time in April me thinks !.

 

[trixie88]

like it zombie....stitch in time saves nine.........must make a note to myself.......what with new mot law it certainly makes sense,,,,,,,,,ive taken a note of mobile mechsnics number,,,just in case.....

 

[Nesting Zombie]

like it zombie....stitch in time saves nine.........must make a note to myself.......what with new mot law it certainly makes sense,,,,,,,,,ive taken a note of mobile mechsnics number,,,just in case.....

To be honest I try & always use a local (To where I happen to be at the time) Mobile Mechanic, Yes I suppose they might be a few quid more expensive, but They come to YOU, They Get all the parts, They do the job, Saves you Phoning or driving Around, & They Know I need to use my vehicle as I live in it !.
It just suits me.

 

[jagmanx]

Yep MOT ! ? *

Is a stressful time..
As we only use vehicle for 5 months.
It is in storage for 7 months..
A garage local to the storage collect and Service MOT etc
They know we need it 100% and I always give them sufficient time to do it all.
Last year I got they to replace the cambelt etc
New brake pads were also needed.
The Engine battery also failed (12 years = not bad)

This year maybe just an intermediate service and MOT
MOT anniversary 7th May ..SO do service and MOT ASAP after 8th April !

With plans afoot for 2020 I may well ignore the MOT anniversary and get it all done mid-March for 2019
SO they can then do work from mid-Feb in 2020.
Still pondering !

For Habitation issues a mobile mechanic is sometimes handy.

I gave up habitation checks 3 years ago...
It would not have prevented or alerted the 2 problems we had with the fridge in 2018
Problem 1 Burnt out gas burner (Italy Dealer)
Problem 2 Gas control valve faulty (Germany Dealer)

2017 Bulkhead gas regulator Faulty (Gloucester Mobile techie)

So just pay for repairs as and when and save on the ineffective habitation check.

However Engine service always with MOT !
If possible with a Renault specialist.