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bignick

Hi would appreciate any advice on choice of vans.

Now the funds are finally coming together to purchase a van and we have worked out a travel plan hopefully by the end of this year we will purchase, we have been trying to find a suitable van but nothing seems to fit for us.We have 2 young children both under the age of six and there are a lot of things on our wish list.But everything seems to old, not quite right or well out of our price range.So one solution we came up with is a race transporter we have also found a possible builder www.scsporthomes.com who will supply us with a 28ft chassis cab and fully fitted body for what we feel is a reasonable amount but we will have to fit out ourselves (which i can do with relative ease after 20yrs in the trade).

Does anybody have any advice or tips about this mode of transport as we have never seen sombody living in one of these or even touring?

I know the build will take some time but do you think this will offset against the lower purchase price and having a layout designed around us?

Do you think campsites etc would be willing to accept a van of this kind?

And most of all does anybody think this is a good or bad idea?

Any advice however good or bad would be very much appreciated before i sign on the dotted line.

cheers Nick & Kate

zaskar

Having been a full timer (still working for a living) for 6 years now, I can only say that if you and your partner are really up for it, then GO FOR IT! Wink

It wouldn't suit everybody but it's the best thing we ever did and I wouldn't change a thing.
The only thing we will change in the future is our coach. At the momement, we full time in an American R.V ' with slide out cos we want the space in the winter when its cold and dark outside. Plus, the locker space is phenomenal (watch that payload!) but when I get to retirement age and intend to over-winter in Spain, we'll get a large car and caravan. What's the point in having a 6.5 Ltr engine sat doing nothing for 6 months?

From your own point of view, the best thing for campsites/owners is to make a god job of the exterior finish of the unit. Like it or not, there is a lot of snobbery in caravanning. I remember a letter in the C.C Magazine from someone complaining of a Dutch couple pitched at the side of them in a home conversion. The photo showed a superb classic panel van but the paint job was a tad garish by British tastes so this bloke thought he'd go to the trouble of writing to the club and complaining whilst not forgetting to point out that he owned a top of the range Mercedes and a Carlite and why should this thing be parked at the side of him..............Oooooooh, well 'lah - de - dah!' Thankfully he was lambasted by members in the next issue!

Another question is that of yours kids schooling. Have to found enough campsites withing a reasonable radius of your chosen school 'cos strictly speaking you have to move on every 21 days or you're liable to council tax ( at the moment, if you stay less than 21 days in one place, the authorities consider that you pay enough within your site fees to cover amenities used - at least thats been my understanding)

Insurance is a biggy, especially with a home conversion and all the new caravan habitation regs (especially the gas system). There are less and less companies prepared to insure large expensive units and as par as I am aware only one who supposedly recognize full timers in black and white on the policy. I've not put them to the test yet, this is just what I was told by TravelWorld American Motorhomes. Most companies say............
"we'll insure you and it's up to you how much you use the coach, but if you actually tell us that your sole residence is the R.V then we'll void your insurance"........................nice!!!! ;-(
We're in a grey area at the moment because as far is the world is concerned, we live at my mothers house (where we are on the electoral role and pay full pole tax (yes I know it's called council tax now but it's still a bl**dy rip off!) and are very quiet about the way we live. It's not that we've anything at all to hide, but because of the mentality and the beaurocracy of this country, it's the only way we can enjoy what is an idyllic and peaceful life style. We both pay full taxes at source (probably a lot more than most!) but to no avail. It's the old, "an Englishmans home is his castle" thing.
Any way, I could bore the pants of you all day with the pro's and con's (not that I can think of many con's) but time and space limit us all.
Hope this helps, if you need any more, feel free to ask.
Regards (and good luck)
Zaskar.

johnsandywhite

Hi bignick. I agree with all that zaskar has said, although in our case our address is still our original address so we don't have the residential address problem. With regards the cost of an RV? It can cost as much to have a conversion done as it is to buy an RV. You can buy an American RV for around the same price as European C*** but have all the conveniences of an house. The size can be from 24ft to any size you want. Wink