AIBU to think we could happily live in a van?

[spiritofadventure]

My OH and I have been talking recently about buying a van and converting it into a self contained home to live in full time.

It started off as a joke when we had to change flats, yet again, as our landlord was selling up, but it is now something we are seriously considering.

We are in our early 30's, both work full time 50 hours a week and are still nowhere near close to saving a deposit to be able to buy in this area.

We've done the maths and think we could do this for less than £12k, including the van.

The van we would buy is a LWB Mercedes Sprinter, which would give us a living space of approx. 4.3m x 1.8m. Inside, we would have a double bed, small dining area, kitchen and a small shower/toilet room.

It would be cosy, for sure, but it would have everything we need.

We live in an area that has lots of places suitable to park up for the night so that wouldn't be an issue.

Monthly costs we think would be in the region of £3-400 excluding food costs

Obviously this wouldn't be a forever home, but we were thinking 2 or 3 years so we could build up our savings.

Are we crazy, or could this really work?

You are possibly a little romantic about the reality.

Those saying a caravan is always cold in the winter are likely talking about older models. Our new caravan is well insulted and has Alde wet central heating - it is FAR warmer than our house at the moment (I know as I was living in it last week. It was minus temps overnight but my heating came on as programmed at 6am and the caravan was toasty enough to eat breakfast in just my shorts and vest within 30mins). Old caravans are often cold and can be damp. The new ones (ours is < 5yrs old) are a bit pricier but much better for heating. These are even EU cold weather specced models in the market now designed to be used in more Northerly places that the UK. They are heavier insulated with internal water tanks and better designed piping and can be used down to -20oC quite comfortably.
That said a home conversion van needs to be carefully thought about to make it warm.

I think it's worth a try. If it doesn't work out you can sell the van and go back to conventional living. Why would it cost as much as £300 -£400?

Those saying a caravan is always cold in the winter are likely talking about older models. Our new caravan is well insulted and has Alde wet central heating

I was going to say this. The Alde wet heating would also be a non-negotiable in my fantasy caravan/motorhome. They can even be controlled via an app on your smartphone.

Check out the reviews on the Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome channels on YouTube.

OP,
There's amazing RV living "tips" on Pinterest. It's all down to you as a couple how you proceed. At the end of the exercise you'll know for sure if your suitable?
All the best.

These vans are an eyesore and one of the reasons we moved areas

Would you move areas if your neighbours bought a car you found aesthetically unacceptable, too? What about people who use vans for work?

Haven't rtft yet but have you considered the impact on your credit score and paper trail without a permanent address? It will be hard to get a mortgage if you have no proof of where you have been living for the last few years.

Have you actually lived in a caravan long-term, in sub zero temperatures in the winter?

My friends spent 7 months in a static caravan after their house was flooded. It was hell. The gas bottles froze and they had no heating, cooking or hot water for 10 days. The waste water pipes froze solid and they couldn't drain the sinks, shower etc. They put on loads of weight because they were eating crap that was easy to cook and needed minimal prep, and they weren't going up and down stairs several times a day. Their daughter was in her A-level year and had nowhere she could work in peace and quiet (still got As and A*s though, the smartarse). They were on top of each other the whole time and things got very fraught.

They now look back on it as the worst winter of their lives.

One way around the credit score issue. Do you have a willing parent that will let you use there address for bills etc. that’s what we did.

Then collect you mail once a week when you visit.

Have you actually lived in a caravan long-term, in sub zero temperatures in the winter?

Wrap pipes in electric heat tape.
Wood stove for cheap heat

I say give it a try. As you have said already if it's a disaster you can go back to living in a flat.

Can you not get a caravan instead. More space and actual toilet and shower ?

This isn't the best way to spend 12k I'll admit.

Why don't you buy a canal boat?

How does a shower/toilet work in a van? You’d have to empty your own shit and scummy shower water and dispose of it somewhere? confused. For that reason alone, I think you’re mad.

In a motorhome, the toilet flushes into a removable tank (known as a cassette) that contains a chemical, the flush water contains a different chemical cocktail. When the two fluids mix, they dissolve all the solids (turds and bog roll) into a khaki-coloured liquid that has no offensive smell. The cassette detaches and the contents are disposed of at a "chemical toilet disposal point" if on a site, down the lave in a public toilet, or just poured down a drain if elsewhere.

If you park over a drain, you can run a short hose from the waste water tank into any drain for the sinks/shower, or just let grey water out onto the road, where it dries in no time.

And if you're like DP, you can enjoy the perverse pleasure of taking a dump while parked in the high street and people walk past chatting just inches away ...

I think you should try having a look at the sort of 2nd hand motorhomes you can get for around £10k. They don't tend to depreciate much, and you may well get more for your money than you would by doing the conversion.

Also, you'd start saving sooner and house prices won't have risen so far by the time you're ready to buy!

Pay rent or mortgage like the rest of us

This has got to win some kind of prize for narrow minded boringnsess, surely?

Pay rent or mortgage like the rest of us

😊 how dare you not conform OP!! Prepare to be assimilated, resistance is futile!

Shuddering at the thought of living in a park and ride or car park in Matlock.

Should I should have explained, you don't live in the park and ride or the car park in Matlock. If you have a campervan, you spend your day out and about. For example walking in Derbyshire, exploring Bakewell, etc. We just retire to the car park to sleep. Quite honestly, once your blinds are closed and you are cosy, it doesn't matter where you are.

Surely buying a pie and a pint to park overnight in a pub car park and having to invest in gym membership is defeating the object of being frugal and putting money away to buy a first home.
The whole thing sounds incredibly expensive and more like a flight of fancy

We have a motorhome that is on a Mercedes sprinter base. I love it and we spend about 4 weeks in the summer living in it after driving down to the south of France. It's ok for us as it's a holiday. Not sure I could 'full time' in it, trying to remain presentable for work etc. We all look a bit feral by the time we get home.

We had a homemade former van conversion, great in spring/Autumn and summer but certainly not in winter months! Despite heating and ventilation it was very prone to condensation and very difficult to keep clean if muddy outside. Drying wet coats and boots was a big problem.
Best of luck op, I think you're going to need it!

Oh my word what s lot of negativity!

Apparently in mumsnet once you turn 30 you have to buy a sensible semi and start saving for your retirement. Anything else is madness.

I'd totally do it. But just don't get pregnant 😂

Van conversions can be re registered with the dvla as motor caravans as long as it has all the requirements listed on this link.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/registering-a-diy-caravan/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motorhome

Always fit a carbon monoxide detector.

Watch out for weight categories. One of my offspring bought a van conversion , ex mini bus, but for a while only I could legally drive it ( pre 1997 licence) until they got the van re registered as a motor caravan and proved its weight ( public weigh bridge)

As I said before theres a few forums and facebook pages to give you information.

I have a campervan but its really only used for holidays and festivals although we may be sleeping in it over Xmas depending on who is coming to stay and when

Have not RTFT but wouldn't it make more sense to buy a camper van?