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Blue Sky
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France
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Blue Sky
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France
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 Posted: Sun Jan 10, 10 6:21 pm Post subject: |
 
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| hardworkinghippy wrote: |
| Quote: |
| My scouting around the old threads did suggest that caravanning is pretty miserable (cold and damp) in the winter, but not so bad if it�s well insulated, ventilated and there�s a wood burner in it like the one I fancy. |
Cobnut, when a caravan's covered, insulated and surrounded by greenery in a wood it's very comfortable and very easy to heat. (Cool in summer too!)
Our friend Oscar lived with us for 11 years in an "extended" caravan and his place was really comfortable and very welcoming.
Getting individual power for lights, music, recharging torch, clock and little batteries is easy with solar panels and you can share communal internet access, freezers, washing machines etc.
The most important thing is to find the right place and the right people. Your address is where you live - nobody need know that you're in a caravan. |
Hey! I've stayed in that caravan.  |
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JohnB
Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 685
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 10 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Chez wrote: |
| Hasn't JohnB been living in a camper van for a couple of years? |
2.5 years 
The van is great because it fits in car parks, so it's easy to go shopping and visit places. But it's a bit too small to carry everything, and the trailer is a pain because I always needed somewhere safe to leave it. If the van hadn't cost so much, I would have rebuilt much of the interior, and then may have got away without the trailer.
I spent most of the time staying on Caravan Club sites and CLs. Certified Locations are great in summer, as they're cheap and basic, but having a solar panel is handy if you spend too much time on the internet! In winter, the Club sites are fairly cheap if you're on your own, and have hardstanding, electric hookups and laundries. I use electric heaters in winter, so need mains electricity. I stayed with friends on their drives or fields some of the time, but mostly I was on sites.
Watch out though, because once you've got used to the advantages of living in a small space, you might not be able to live in a conventional house again! I've owned one for 3 weeks, and I'm still in the van on the drive, because it's cosier. Having the kitchen, loo and shower within a couple of paces makes you realise how crazy it is to have a house with them so widely spread out. I'm planning a nice simple, low-impact bedsit in one room of the house, and letting the rest!
Part of me wants to keep travelling, but as I was living off the interest from my house sale and savings, when interest rates did a nose-dive I wasn't getting enough to live on. I'm trying to organise my life so I can travel part of the time. |
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cinders
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Posts: 2437
Location: norfolk The daft old bat club
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Penny Outskirts
Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
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JohnB
Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 685
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 10, 10 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Penny wrote: |
| If it's not too personal a question John, what sort of amount were you managing to get by on/ |
Too much  . It wasn't a cheap life. As I didn't have a mortgage before, it probably wasn't that much cheaper than owning a house, and harder to earn money. I worked on the assumption that if I could live on the interest from my house sale, and house prices were falling, or not above what I sold at, I was ok.
Sites are usually around �40-60 a week. You can't bulk buy food, and constantly moving means that I used to pick up food wherever I could, so it wasn't always cheap. I've got a grill and 3 gas rings, but no oven (except my Cobb BBQ), and tended to buy too much processed food, and definitely too much cake!
Van insurance for fulltiming is expensive, nearly �600 instead of the �250 or so it would be if I had a permanent address. I was doing a fairly low mileage, but diesel isn't cheap when you're doing 28mpg.
With an old van, plenty of WWOOFing and knowing the right people to stay with, you could do it a lot cheaper.
I was keeping detailed accounts to start with, but got a bit behind with them! |
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cassy
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 1047
Location: South West Scotland
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 10 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Don't know how much help this will be as we're not travelling and we've only been living in a static caravan for 3 months but here's what we've found so far. Most things have been less problematic than we thought, especially the composting toilet and washing facilities.
The composting toilet is better than I imagined it would be and I wouldn't change it for anything. There are lots of threads about composting toilets on here, including estimating the size of collection container needed. Could you use your woodland as a base and compost your toilet contents there on your return? Screw top barrels are very sturdy and watertight for transporting.
We are using much less water than I estimated. As an example, currently we use 1 1/2 litres each daily for washing (est. 2 1/2 l per person) and 5 litres each per week for a bath (est. 25 l per person). The bath in the caravan is small and deep with a ledge for a seat. That amount of water fills it about 6 cm deep which is enough to keep my feet warm and to get a jug filled for rinsing off the lather. You could use a tin bath as people used to do, then you could put it infront of the fire, on a bath towel if you're going to splash. The deep caravan bath seems much better at keeping the water from splashing out than a shower tray would.
We heat the water on top of the woodburner and keep it in a flask overnight for a hot wash in the morning. In the summer, we'll use solar to heat the water. I thought I would miss having a shower and feel less clean, but it's been absolutely fine so far. I wash my (shoulder length) hair after I had a bath, in the same water or sometimes in a basin (using about 2 1/2 litres).
There is lots of info available on collecting, cleaning and storing rainwater. You can estimate the yield of your roof and work out if it's enough for your needs. Perhaps you could increase your collection area with a portable frame, if needed. We were going to use rainwater but luckily found a spring which has saved us lots of water storage problems. You can use a WAPI (Water Pasteurisation Indicator) tell you that your water became hot enough to kill microbes, with having to boil it or keep checking it. You can heat it on the stove and let it cool overnight to use next day or use a solar cooker.
Living in a smaller space is so much easier to heat (we've got a small woodburner with a hotplate for 2 kettles on top) and keep clean (2 minutes to sweep out). I would agree with Rob R, you need somewhere to dry and store boots and coats - maybe an awning if you're travelling around? Your washing could dry there before you bring it in and put them over the woodburner.
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes
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Cobnut
Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 475
Location: North Herefordshire
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 10 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| lettucewoman wrote: |
I would recommend park homes to anyone...they are great and the sites are usually friendly and very "fifties"!
Good luck....I hope you do it!!
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Thanks Lettucewoman. I rather like static caravans and was toying with one of those a while back and is something I may do in the future. But the appeal to me about being mobile is that if I don�t like my neighbours I just drive away, and also I want to experience life with no electricity as much as possible, like a living history experiment, LOL. In a way the �better� the home the less appealing it is.
| Rob R wrote: |
The stove is fantastic- it provides all our heating and cooking, but of course you need to have outdoor storage for the wood, but it does keep you warm chopping it I guess if you've got some wood then sourcing fuel won't be an alien concept to you but the logistics of it need thinking about, particularly if you're on your own. Windy Smithy's ovens are definitely recommended- so much more versatile than a normal hotplate one.
Having freezer space elsewhere is also useful, but it depends what kind of things you eat- meat and dairy can be bought/obtained seasonally and stored, and summer/autumn produce can also be made to last longer without having the bulk of it in the caravan. |
The issue of fuel for the burner varies depending on location and length of stay. I�d hope if I was staying somewhere for a while I�d be able to get wood in and have a place to store it, but it would be trickier when travelling. I�d need a plan; I�m wondering how suitable coal would be when on the road, ie, how much I�d need to lug about compared to the heat output.
It would be a bonus to have access to a freezer to put the dog food in mainly, but it wouldn�t be the end of the world if he had to eat dry complete food. I reckon I could do without it though and would try and make an evaporation cooler for storing butter and see how well it works.
| Bulgarianlily wrote: |
This might be too much information....
When travelling in our caravan with a portipotti, we used the German idea of a double plastic bag (one inside another) popped into the portipotti pan, with the top edges trapped under the seat. Use once for 'solids', knot and dispose of in a community rubbish bin. Actually this might be useful information if people's toilets freeze up with this bad weather!
Once on a permanent site we moved over to a wooden throne with a bucket and sawdust as a covering material, then put into a compost bin. |
Oh no, not too much information at all, Bulgarianlily! The poo situation whilst wild camping is/was one of my biggest concerns so that�s really useful, thanks. And while I was Googling �portipotty� I found these very simple and compact loos:
https://www.1st-harrison.com/shop2/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=290
https://www.campingloo.com/products.html
The first one is perfect for in caravan dumping, especially if the biodegradable bags from the second loo fit. Also, if I have to �go wild� and go in a hole it would take the strain off my legs. Oh heaven!
Compost toilets are great things and I�d definitely like to have one if I was staying in one place, especially on my wood.
| The.Grange wrote: |
Hi cobnut - like the name brings images of a large bump on the head.
I know in Buxton there is a public tap, locals, and visitors alike use it to fill up spa water for free, you often see people with large water barrels or bottles filling up.
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LOL, I was thinking nuts or horses when I thought of the name.
Thanks for the info, that�s really useful to know. I�d heard about the springs in Malvern where the public can take the water, and funny enough whilst looking for something else I found 2 websites with lists of public taps along the South Downs Way and Offa�s Dyke Path. So I expect if I put my detective�s head on I�d find lists of more.
| Nat S wrote: |
Periods have been an issue for me - bathroom arrangements are still 'primitive'. The mooncup has gone; it was just too messy and fiddly�.
�Officially, campsites do have maximum stays, but I've found that a quick chat with the owner to say you're wanting to stay a bit longer is all it takes - they are not going to turn down a few months worth of garanteed income!...
farming - I think livestock work sounds unlikely unless you're lucky, as even shovelling s*** is done by tractor thesedays. You'd easily get working picking veg though I'd think, they're crying out for fruit pickers, I may even do some myself this summer and take some wages in fruit! |
Ah yes, the Mooncup! I can see mine will be used only if I have use of proper private bathroom facilities �coz they�re a bit�well�enough said me thinks!
I figured that if I mentioned my plans to campsite owners they would possibly be flexible so nice to know that in your experience they are.
Fruit and veg picking is something I wouldn�t mind doing, and there are plenty of places around too. Orchard that make their own cider or perry are the most appealing!
| alice wrote: |
We lived and travelled on a narrowboat for 5 years. I used my sister's postal address when necessary, it helps if its someone you can trust to open your mail and sift out the dross. You could have a PO box but this is unacceptable to some bodies - the Inland Revenue for a start.
You can use any Doctor's surgery on your travels, but if you need a hospital referral you have to be registered at a surgery. Our old GP allowed us to stay on his books but if he hadn't I would have just registered at the surgery nearest to my sister - they don't need to know you don't actually live there.
There's a lot of 12v narrowboat technology that would be suitable for a caravan. |
| hardworkinghippy wrote: |
Getting individual power for lights, music, recharging torch, clock and little batteries is easy with solar panels and you can share communal internet access, freezers, washing machines etc.
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Very useful to know, thanks.
| boisdevie1 wrote: |
| If you already own a bit of woodland can't you have a caravan/tent/yurt on your land there and use your Mums' address for correspondence? If it's too cold in winter rent a flat for the coldest months. Or buy a narrowboat and constantly cruise - a narrowboat would also let you move around for work quite easily. |
Much as I like narrow boats they will only allow me to move around on waterways so are rather restricting unfortunately. Would like to have a little break on one sometime though. I can see myself spending some time on my woodland when I�ve explored the UK a bit, but would have to be careful of the man who owns the wood next door in case he�s a squealer.
| JohnB wrote: |
Watch out though, because once you've got used to the advantages of living in a small space, you might not be able to live in a conventional house again! I've owned one for 3 weeks, and I'm still in the van on the drive, because it's cosier. Having the kitchen, loo and shower within a couple of paces makes you realise how crazy it is to have a house with them so widely spread out. I'm planning a nice simple, low-impact bedsit in one room of the house, and letting the rest!
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Love the bedsit idea, sound cosy. That�s why I fancy a fairly small caravan as I just don�t need or want the space. Plus it�s less to clean and maintain and easier to heat and tow. When I�m studying I spend most of my time in a room measuring about 12 x 11feet and I feel as though I�m rattling around in it, even though it�s got a low ceiling. I�ve had the urge to get rid of most of my stuff for quite a while too and only have the things that are either essential or highly prized.
| cassy wrote: |
The composting toilet is better than I imagined it would be and I wouldn't change it for anything. There are lots of threads about composting toilets on here, including estimating the size of collection container needed. Could you use your woodland as a base and compost your toilet contents there on your return? Screw top barrels are very sturdy and watertight for transporting.
�.You could use a tin bath as people used to do, then you could put it infront of the fire, on a bath towel if you're going to splash. The deep caravan bath seems much better at keeping the water from splashing out than a shower tray would.
We heat the water on top of the woodburner and keep it in a flask overnight for a hot wash in the morning. In the summer, we'll use solar to heat the water�
There is lots of info available on collecting, cleaning and storing rainwater. You can estimate the yield of your roof and work out if it's enough for your needs. Perhaps you could increase your collection area with a portable frame, if needed. We were going to use rainwater but luckily found a spring which has saved us lots of water storage problems. You can use a WAPI (Water Pasteurisation Indicator) tell you that your water became hot enough to kill microbes, with having to boil it or keep checking it. You can heat it on the stove and let it cool overnight to use next day or use a solar cooker.
Living in a smaller space is so much easier to heat (we've got a small woodburner with a hotplate for 2 kettles on top) and keep clean (2 minutes to sweep out). I would agree with Rob R, you need somewhere to dry and store boots and coats - maybe an awning if you're travelling around? Your washing could dry there before you bring it in and put them over the woodburner.
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do. |
Great ideas, Cassy, Thank you. I�m really interested in all the stuff like compost toilets, rainwater harvesting and purification, etc. so it all depends on where I am at the time. |
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bagzi
Joined: 11 Jan 2010
Posts: 84
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Bulgarianlily
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 1667
Location: South West Mountains of Bulgaria
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Dogwalker
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 1231
Location: Mid Wales
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JohnB
Joined: 09 Jul 2005
Posts: 685
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!
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gardening-girl
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.
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Bulgarianlily
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 1667
Location: South West Mountains of Bulgaria
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