Living in a camper 3 nights a week

[DanCat]

Is this feasible through the winter...
No mains hook up to start with but i'm hoping to arrange something.
Can it be done with a 10k budget for a camper?

Thanks

Dan

[jas xjr]

what kind of work do you do ?

do you have anywhere to park up ? i would say budget is ok-ish

i spent a few months sleeping in a car so it is easier in a camper

you would need to find somewhere to shower , maybe a join a gym

[Vipers]

Others live in worse, so why not, as long as you keep warm, and have fresh air.

[Vieste]

I did know someone that lived in a vw camper van for two years he used local gyms/swimming pools each morning to shower.

[DanCat]

Classic car resto, not anywhere to park as yet, i'm hoping my new boss is receptive to the idea!
Yeaah, i would join a gym in the area. I've just found another similar thread on here and they suggested coachbuilt rather than home built. So looking at german coachbuilt vans now.

[nagsheadwarrior]

An A class is what you need,the ones that look like a bus.
A-classes are much warmer.
£10k bags you a decent but older Hymer from when Hymers were built like tanks and buy right and it shouldnt depreciate much.
The older vans should have a gas fire rather than solely blown air heating which is good for battery consumption.
3 days off hook up in winter ideally needs a genny or solar paneks with twin leisure batterys.
Absolute perfect spec would have solar and a gastank which you might just find on an older hymer or a laika which were solid vans too.

[TheMobileChicane]

DanCat said:

Is this feasible through the winter...
No mains hook up to start with but i'm hoping to arrange something.
Can it be done with a 10k budget for a camper?

Thanks

Dan

Can you section off the internal space at all? (ie. to give you a smaller living compartment which you can warm with your own body heat?)

This may sound crazy, but there's a guy on Box Hill who has lived in a plastic shelter for 20 years - year-round - and that's what he does.

[Wacky Racer]

TheMobileChicane said:

DanCat said:

Is this feasible through the winter...
No mains hook up to start with but i'm hoping to arrange something.
Can it be done with a 10k budget for a camper?

Thanks

Dan

Can you section off the internal space at all? (ie. to give you a smaller living compartment which you can warm with your own body heat?)

This may sound crazy, but there's a guy on Box Hill who has lived in a plastic shelter for 20 years - year-round - and that's what he does.

Fit some curtain rail and thick curtains with linings, that's what we did in our motorhome, makes a massive difference in winter....take them down in summer.

Be careful of water freezing in extreme weather cracking water heater, piping etc.

[GAjon]

http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/mobile/stock-it...

Hope the link works as an example of what you can get, plus a few grand spare for fettling.

[DanCat]

Thanks for the imput, the search is on...!

[clockworks]

Bought a 1995 Elddis 6-berth last month (Peugeot Boxer) for £8750. Took it away for 3 days last week, just two of us in it.
It's surprising how much they can cram into a vehicle just under 7 metres long. 3 double beds, toilet/shower, oven, hob, fridge, wardrobe.
Plenty of storage space for two, but I reckon it'd be pretty hard going for 6!
Reckon I'd soon get fed up with converting sofas to beds every night, too.

The worst thing about old coachbuilts is the driving experience. Fair amount of wind noise, and plenty of rattles from the furniture and appliances. OK on smooth roads, but not good on country lanes. Almost impossible to hold a conversation while on the move.

[Vladimir]

A Bongo? 4wd in case of snow too!

Ours would work but it's a bit pricey; 4wd, double glazed, powerful heater, etc.

[Balmoral]

nagsheadwarrior said:

An A class is what you need,the ones that look like a bus.
A-classes are much warmer.
£10k bags you a decent but older Hymer from when Hymers were built like tanks and buy right and it shouldnt depreciate much.

This man knows what he's talking about.

Just spent a couple of weeks in France and there are loads of A class Hymers of a certain vintage on the French sites, they age really well, a classic you might say.

[BlueMeganeII]

TheMobileChicane said:

Can you section off the internal space at all? (ie. to give you a smaller living compartment which you can warm with your own body heat?)

This may sound crazy, but there's a guy on Box Hill who has lived in a plastic shelter for 20 years - year-round - and that's what he does.

As in box hill near Corsham?

[chrismcg1]

BlueMeganeII said:

TheMobileChicane said:

Can you section off the internal space at all? (ie. to give you a smaller living compartment which you can warm with your own body heat?)

This may sound crazy, but there's a guy on Box Hill who has lived in a plastic shelter for 20 years - year-round - and that's what he does.

As in box hill near Corsham?

Horsham?

[BlueMeganeII]

No corsham between Chippenham and bath.

[New POD]

I work away during the week, and have occasionally wondered if I could do this, as there are showers where I work.

[nagsheadwarrior]

No need for the work showers,bar basic campers all the vans have useable hot/cold showers.

[egor110]

Vladimir said:

A Bongo? 4wd in case of snow too!

Ours would work but it's a bit pricey; 4wd, double glazed, powerful heater, etc.

double glazed?

[santona1937]

I have a 1984 trafic high top that I have lived in when needed ( admittedly mostly away days, touring breaks etc).
I have spent a few nights in it in winter temps.
you dont need to spend 10k.
what you need are:
propex heating
passenger seat that swivels
open access to back from the cab.
holding tank for porta potti/ chemical loo ( we use a green version that uses sawdust)
sink with running water- foot pump is ok
comfy cushions to make a bed.
some form of lighting- we use oil lamps a lot of the time
good heavy curtains- that way you can park anywhere and sleep.

A coachbuilt will be less use as anything other than living in, more expensive to insure, run, tax. And its harder to park.