Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I spent ages writing a long post on this laptop but a palm accident took me to a pop up ad that wiped 40 minutes of typing, which I couldn't get back. Cheers Fubra. So before I go again, I just want to know about those 20' motorhomes based on a van chassis. If over 3.5T do you need a cat C or Cat D licence to drive them? I have full manual cat D but missed out on Cat C1 grandfather rights as I prioritised passing my Motorcycle (A) licence when I was 17. Edit: I have typed up what I wanted to say last night now, see post #9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I think I'd be happy to drive one on a Cat D and say see you in court if you were ever pulled as motorhomes aren't really a bus or a goods vehicle anyway. I think any fine, if you were unlucky enough, would be less than the cost of an HGV course they couldn't very well argue you were technically incapable of driving it. I got pulled in driving an artic, not long ago, and to start with they had a bit of excitement about my lack of DCPC but after a discussion in their little site portakabin they decided they weren't going to take it further but said their view was I ought to have it. I don't intend getting one or stopping occasional HGV joyrides at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I wonder how many foreign drivers are on the roads without HGV licences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 https://www.gov.uk/driving-motorhome There! I didn't know so I had to look it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilf Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I wonder how many foreign drivers are on the roads without HGV licences? It's all fine, there is now an EU wide standard (CPC) which I'm sure is enforced just as well and to the same exacting standards in bumble******nowhere as it is here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 https://www.gov.uk/driving-motorhome There! I didn't know so I had to look it up. Ah cheers Pinny. I could have done that myself I suppose. Anyway that's a bit of a shame; but I would only need a small one in any case, thinking about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 I got pulled in driving an artic, not long ago, and to start with they had a bit of excitement about my lack of DCPC but after a discussion in their little site portakabin they decided they weren't going to take it further but said their view was I ought to have it. I don't intend getting one or stopping occasional HGV joyrides at work. I think you're probably treading on thin ice if you're actually carrying goods about. Just driving an empty truck from A to B I think you're O.K. There was some discussion at our bus company whether controllers like me needed it - we don't drive buses in service but are sometimes required to drive them around on the road. It was eventually concluded that we didn't need them, but the company decided to put us through the training anyway, so I have one. Which is lucky, as having IMO been constructively dismissed from my current role, I'm going back to driving next week... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 Anyway, let's have another go at typing what I wanted to post last night. I'll be 37 this June, my wife and I live with my mum (something that she's getting less and less pleased about as time goes on), and I'm not really going anywhere work wise. I had been planning to rent a flat and trying to make a living doing matched betting full time, however rents round here are around the £1200 quid a month mark for a pretty average 2 bed place. I have over £100k in the bank from an inheritance which I would like to spend on a house, but obviously I'm not going to buy when prices are this stupid. And then it occurred to me that a fairly decent secondhand motorhome can be had for £15k. I've never travelled much in this country and so a summer of touring round the country sounds quite appealing. On rainy days I can do matched betting over a 4G connection, and on sunny days I could see the sights, ride my mountain bike etc. I suspect my wife would miss her mum (she is an only child) but if you plan in advance you can get to most places in the country for 15-20 quid each way on the train or a coach so she could pop back to London to see her quite easily. Depreciation on the motorhome should be considerably less than renting a London flat, albeit that they're a discretionary spend and demand for them might plummet in a recession. I reckon I could probably get away with only paying for a pitch one night out of three when I need to fill the water tank and empty the toilet? Visit a laundrette once a fortnight. Obviously fuel will cost a bit but I'd be quite content to bimble everywhere at 50mph. We might even find somewhere where house prices are reasonable that the wife is prepared to live... What do you all reckon? Good idea, or utterly foolhardy? I'm not really concerned that much about eating into the inheritance money, the powers that be seem intent on stealing it with nirp and the like anyway, but you can make a tidy amount from matched betting if you put the effort in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilf Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 What do you all reckon? Good idea, or utterly foolhardy? Sounds brilliant to me, what's the wife's view because there is no way my partner would go anywhere near that idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 Sounds brilliant to me, what's the wife's view because there is no way my partner would go anywhere near that idea? She is surprisingly keen on the idea. She doesn't like her job much either, and she only works part time anyway so losing her money wouldn't be the end of the world; she barely pays her own way as it is, and living in a motorhome would put a stop to her addiction to constantly buying books on Amazon... I suspect in reality she would be at risk of getting a bit stir crazy, fed up with me, and missing her friends, but as I say she can always get the train home for a long weekend, and everyone has WhatsApp and the like anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 She is surprisingly keen on the idea. She doesn't like her job much either, and she only works part time anyway so losing her money wouldn't be the end of the world; she barely pays her own way as it is, and living in a motorhome would put a stop to her addiction to constantly buying books on Amazon... I suspect in reality she would be at risk of getting a bit stir crazy, fed up with me, and missing her friends, but as I say she can always get the train home for a long weekend, and everyone has WhatsApp and the like anyway. You've clearly thought about it and talked it through. In your position (living with your mum) you have a superb opportunity to give it a go. You may both totally love it, or you may decide when winter comes around you've had enough. If so no loss, just flog the motorhome and go back to where you were before having lost very little but had a superb experience most people would want but aren't in a position to do. I've posted before that I've worked with two people who lived in motorhomes. One was a cheapo camper, bloke saving up for a house deposit, the other was a big luxury one that the bloke (contractor in his 50s) moved to a new campsite every time he moved jobs. He had a decent car too and from speaking to him this was how he intended to live always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 Living in converted van could be pretty "bijou". There are ones with beds above the cab. If you take a piano with you, make sure it's an electric one, and it will run on 12 volts. . It sounds like an adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Democorruptcy Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 She is surprisingly keen on the idea. She doesn't like her job much either, and she only works part time anyway so losing her money wouldn't be the end of the world; she barely pays her own way as it is, and living in a motorhome would put a stop to her addiction to constantly buying books on Amazon... I suspect in reality she would be at risk of getting a bit stir crazy, fed up with me, and missing her friends, but as I say she can always get the train home for a long weekend, and everyone has WhatsApp and the like anyway. This forum might help. http://www.motorhome365.com/forum/ One option once you get used to it, is to become a warden on a camping/caravanning park in the UK for the summer, to earn some money to help pay for a winter somewhere warmer? This couple did that https://ericandshazza.wordpress.com/author/ericleech1/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CunningPlan Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 Any reason you are restricting yourself to the UK? With your 'job' I would have thought time zones are fluid. I would love to do six months across the U.S. or even Europe. Would be more appealing than Scarborough in November and the cost of living would be much lower. I say go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 I was expecting everyone to say that this is a completely foolish plan, but since everyone seems to be telling us to go for it, including my mum, it sounds like it's on! Thanks for the links Democorruptcy, will check 'em out. Any reason you are restricting yourself to the UK? With your 'job' I would have thought time zones are fluid. I would love to do six months across the U.S. or even Europe. Would be more appealing than Scarborough in November and the cost of living would be much lower.I say go for it. We'll start with a trip round England, just because it'll be a lot easier to bail if we end up hating the experience, 4g internet is a known quantity and relatively cheap, we can easily get TV etc. etc. If it all goes well then winter in Southern Europe could well be on the cards... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CunningPlan Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I think you are doing what a lot of us wish we could do / hope to do in the future. There could be a successful blog in it. Don't let us down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 6, 2016 Author Share Posted April 6, 2016 Cheers. I just hope the tax and insurance on it won't be too mental... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economic Exile Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 Cheers. I just hope the tax and insurance on it won't be too mental... I say go for a road trip. What have you got to lose? If you don't like it at least you've tried it and can rule it out as something that's not for you. There are loads of blogs out there about people who are on prolonged motorhome/campervan trips or who have chosen that way of life. I have a 1998 Toyota Hiace Supercustom campervan and the tax, insurance and breakdown cover is approx £600 per year. It's a one person camper IMO and ideal for me. I just love it. It's the best vehicle I've ever had! One day in the future I hope to sell my 2 bed house and go in my campervan on a grand tour of the Scottish coast and islands. Sometimes I'll stay an odd night or longer in B&B's and sometimes I'll offer to volunteer in some communities I know about if I'm still travelling midwinter. I've no idea how long I'll be away. While I'm away I'll be on the lookout for a one bed place to buy in this area for my old age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 I say go for a road trip. What have you got to lose? If you don't like it at least you've tried it and can rule it out as something that's not for you. There are loads of blogs out there about people who are on prolonged motorhome/campervan trips or who have chosen that way of life. Ravey should watch out for your Punk tartan bondage van! Because I got my licence before 2000, I get the C1 "grandfather's rights" as ravey calls it, so 7.5 Tonnes is OK for me. I've hired a few 7.5T vans, and I didn't realise the law had changed. Mind you they all had dents in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 The rules actually changed on 1st January 1997 MrP. Thanks for the info EE. I daresay the insurance on a full fat motorhome will be a bit more but hopefully not too silly. I'll need to go fully comp really, and I think I'll fit a tracker of some description to be on the safe side! See you on the road! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 I still have a copy of my original driving licence written on a stone tablet, before papyrus took over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianb78 Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 Sounds like a great plan Just out of interest, how much do you make on matched betting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 My best ever month was about 800 quid, I had a couple of big wins doing slot machine offers. At the moment I'm not really putting the effort in and just doing the easiest/lowest risk offers, made 150-200 quid each of the last few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long time lurking Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 The rules actually changed on 1st January 1997 MrP. Thanks for the info EE. I daresay the insurance on a full fat motorhome will be a bit more but hopefully not too silly. I'll need to go fully comp really, and I think I'll fit a tracker of some description to be on the safe side! See you on the road! Nope insurance is quite good on motor homes ,look for the specialist insures like Adrian Flux and the like it`s also worth looking at joining the caravan club for discounts most policies will have the option of limited mileage and very reasonable breakdown recovery costs / European cover generally its pretty flexible/tailored to suit your intended use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R K Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 Lots of info on this site from a young couple who have done it. http://www.europebycamper.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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