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stu-art

Hi All,
Retired and getting sick of living in a concrete box and getting ripped of by the government, we have been caravanning for a year and love it but have decided we would like to sell up and go full time on the road so we have just looked over an Autotrail Cheyenne 840D, I would like to hear from anyone who has decided to live fulltime in one of these units.
Thinking of living the winter in Spain or some part of Europe, and then six months back in the UK for summer, surely someone has done this already.
There are lots of questions like
How long can you stay on a site in the UK are you time limited?
Is it the same in Europe?
What insurance cover do you need?
What breakdown cover do you need?
Do you get sites that will not allow Tagged axel motor homes UK & Europe?
Are there problems with length and height (Ferries Etc?)
How did you get over the problem of access to cash and mail do you take out a European credit / debit card?
If anyone has done this would appreciate your advice.
Stu

silverlocks · Central Rally Co-ordinator

Hi and a warm welcome, standby and info will just keep coming from our fulltimers

Bob

baldybazza

Hi Stu

We are just about to collect our 840D so we haven't got actual experience of living in one yet but we have already had 5 vans over the last 15 years so when we saw the 840d we knew it would be suitable for our needs. We don't want to sell up but intend spending many months each year traveling either in the Uk or Europe.

There are lots of people doing what you want to do so they should be along to give you some answers but do a search in the full timing forum as I am sure you will find lots of tips.

In the UK you can only stay on a site for 28 days then I believe if you go off for 1 day you can do another 28 days. That is the law but you would be better to discuss it with the site owner. I don't know the law in Europe.

I am sure there are sites that will not allow a 8.5m van with tag axle but lots do so just look for your site earlier in the day and then you can be prepared to move on if necessary. If you phone ahead the site owner will let you know.

You can use either ferry or the tunnel to go across and charges aren't too bad. It is more expensive to use the toll roads in France but we don't intend to as we like the slower pace of the other roads.

It is recommended to open a Nationwide current account to withdraw cash as they don't charge for withdrawals abroad. I think you would need to use a relative's address for mail and over here you can have it sent to a post office for collection but I don't know about Europe possibly something similar. I have stopped lots of statements etc sent by post and I will access them on the internet.

Regarding insurance there is a company that will insure you if you are living in your van but again do a search on the forums on this site as I am not certain which one it is.

I thoroughly recommend joining Motorhome Facts it is invaluable and the £10 membership is worth every penny. There are so many people on here with all sorts of advice and you can also have a good laugh as well.

If you do decide to buy a MH whichever one, enjoy yourself it is a great way to spend your retirement. Let us know how you get on.

Jan

chapter

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