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CrashDive

Hi, just want some views from you guys n gals who are already full timing please.

I work in London (4 nights a week - I.T. for a bank) and live in Surrey, can I go full timing and where would I find pitches all year round as I need a base in Surrey area, near Cobham/Weybridge/Leatherhead area because thats where my kids live with their mum.

I'm recently divorced, skint and so don't want to continue to pay huge rent as with child support etc its a struggle. I have my kids to stay with me every other weekend and half the holidays so I can either continue renting a 3 bedroom house at an extortionate rate or go full timing, which I would prefer anyway, I have available a Fiat Ducato Camper van to start off with plus a car.

Have a dog and a cat.

Am I being realistic or is this just a nonsense and I should just keep renting.

Any thoughts very welcome,

regards

Steptoe

Full timing is generally taken as being continually on the move albeit with possibly extended stops, whereas your circumstances seem to require using the van as a mobile home and commuting to work in the car.

Were I in your position I would join the CC or the CC&C club, and try out a few of the CL’s or CS’s in your chosen area. They have maximum stays of 28 days but if you are open about your requirements you will soon find someone who will tuck you in a quiet corner on a permanent basis. On my travels I have seen this scenario quite often and I bet you will be able to negotiate a monthly fee of less than half what you might pay in council tax, never mind rent.

Whether your van will be large enough for permanent living is a whole new can of worms; but I suspect not, you will probably need a large coachbuilt, especially for when the kids stay

damondunc

Hi Crashdive and welcome

If you start off by scouting around the area you fancy and securing a pitch, this you will find easier than you might expect as you are offering a regular income to the landowner.
You will have to pick your vehicle carefully as one person can live in a small space but you will have kids to cater for, so you will need sleeping for all (berths) and space to move without getting on top off each other,
Sounds like an RV would be a good idea. The water filling & waste will not need to be done so often either.
Your biggest problem will be the pets, motorhomes can get very hot inside and i assume you wo'nt take them to work, also some campsite owners will not allow you to leave them unattended during the day.We fulltime in a RV with 2 dogs & would highly recommend it.
Duncan & Chris Laughing

Rapide561

Hi

I agree with the above. I will have some form of air con fitted before I go to Italy but - worse case scenario - I leave the dog in the van for a couple of hours whilst I do whatever. I come back and due to a power cut, the air con has gone off. I would never forgive myself. This is a problem I need to look at as I am hoping to work in Italy and so Oscar and I will not be together 24/7. (Unfortunately)

Also with pets, the dog might be ok, but would the moggy not go wandering off etc....

I think with careful planning etc, your plan might work. If you are on a site long term/permament, maybe even the site owner could offer some assistance with the dog etc

My house is for sale at the moment and if I sell quickly, I will take up residence in the van. What I would do with Oscar in the meantine is a mystery!

Rapide561

artona · Moderator

Hi

it might be worth you considering joing us on the full time rally next month where like minded people will be discussing all aspects of this way of life

stew

CrashDive

Tks for taking the time to provide some advice, much appreciated.

To clarify a little, I work nights (3/4 a week) so will be around all day with the dog and cat, usually get away with 4 hours sleep during the day when working.

The cat never leaves the house except for business, then straight back in thru the cat-flap but if necessary I can find a good home for her, the dog I think should be ok in a motorhome overnight as does already in the house presently, just sleeps anyway, at least I think so.

I like the idea of joining the CC/CC&C clubs to get access to the smaller sites and am heartened that it may be a little easier than I thought to secure a permanent pitch.

I'm probably going with the Fiat Ducato Camper van for the short time (its a friends who is looking to trade up) it has 4 bunks but is pretty small with the 3 kids in (7,8+9), even if its only weekends and some holidays, its all I can afford presently. But the idea is with the rent saving and possible other savings is that within 6 months? I can be looking for something bigger.

Don't know much about RV's, except that they are big? Again its a case of getting some dosh together from the rent saving's etc then trading up. How much should I expect (ballpark) to pay a farmer etc for a permanent pitch do you think and would that include water/elec etc

As you can see I'm a complete novice but the more I think about it the more it makes sense, difficult to start with but not impossible it seems.

Where and whats the rally mentioned please, that might be a fair idea?

CD

artona · Moderator

Hi CD

See

Steptoe

We have a pro-RV lobby on this site ( and why not indeed ) but in your case small is beautiful.

Remember what you are doing is against council rules, even the large commercial sites will have a closed period during the year built into their licence, the only legitimate way is to site on a mobile home park and this would cost the earth.

You need to co-operate with the farmer who will hate the local council as much as we do, tuck yourself inconspicously (hence no RV!) behind a barn, and appear to be ready to move off at a moments notice i.e. you are 'storing' it between uses. A hook up is no problem as many do this to keep the battery topped up but permanent water and drainage connections are not a good idea.

artona · Moderator

Hi Steptoe

what are the council rules

stew