Using a motorhome or a campervan as a permanent home is something which could be an enticing prospect for any ‘van owner.
After all, a look at the best motorhomes for full-time living show just how comfortable and luxurious leisure vehicles can be, providing a spacious interior, a generous spec, and oodles of storage, which could also make the prospect a much more enticing proposition. Then there’s the freedom to go where you want, when you want. However, even the most luxurious motorhomes will have compromises, and living in your ‘van full-time could make you more aware of them.
With that in mind, we asked Practical Motorhome’s Editor, Sarah, Reviews editor Peter Baber, and Content Editor Peter Byrne whether they would consider living in a ‘van full-time or not. This is what they said.
Reviews Editor Peter Baber says, “Yes. I would, because I sort of already have. For two consecutive summers in the late 1980s I worked for three months as a holiday rep for a UK camping holiday firm. I lived full time in a large tent, not a motorhome, but I know I didn’t mind spending such a long time confined in a relatively small space.”
“In fact, I look back on those two summers when I lived very simply by necessity as some of the happiest times of my life (apart, of course, from writing for Practical Motorhome). Even today, just the sound of an awning door opening can get me feeling all nostalgic for those happy summers – a bit like Pavlov and his dogs.”
“I concede that now that I am older I would probably prefer to live under the solid roof that a motorhome can provide, especially if this was to happen in the UK, rather than central Europe, where I was before.”
“But I still sometimes think I might like to spend early retirement being a site warden on some caravan park in England, if they would have me. Failing that, when I finally reach retirement I would like to do as many other motorhome owners do, and leave these shores some time in early December to head for sunnier climes. I know of course that post-Brexit, I would only be allowed to stay for three months, but that would give me enough time to miss Britain when it is really awful and come back when days are getting longer and warmer. And because I would be taking home with me, I wouldn’t have all the hassle that owning a property abroad clearly entails, and I could choose to go somewhere different the following year.”
For editor Sarah Wakely, it’s a less clear-cut decision. “I would love to spend life on the road full-time, but I would want it to be a real adventure – for example, I’d be more than happy to pack up and head for Continental Europe for a few months, particularly over the winter when I could spend the colder months in the sun (and see our tips on touring Europe in a campervan if you’d like an overseas getaway).”
“That way I could explore somewhere I’d never been before with no time constraints – it would be fantastic to be able to stay in one place for as long as I want without needing to think about having to leave and make my way to the ferry or Eurotunnel.”
The size of motorhome or campervan you have would undoubtedly factor in here though, as Sarah highlights: “That said, I would need to have the right motorhome to be comfortable doing so. I currently own a six-metre Ducato-based van conversion campervan – while I absolutely love it, its compact dimensions would mean that it wouldn’t be my first choice to live in for months at a time.”
“If I was going to live in a motorhome full-time, I’d like it to be in a compact A-class. It would have a drop-down bed, a great-sized kitchen and a really good washroom – oh, and be well winterised so I won’t be cold in the winter, and have a garage for storing my bike so I can get out and about without moving it. I don’t ask for much, do I?”
For Content editor Peter Byrne, it’s an easy decision. “Personally, I wouldn’t want to. For me, the best part of touring is the freedom it provides to go wherever I want, whenever I want. But there is a very simple reason that would put me off living in a motorhome full time.”
“There’s something magical about setting foot inside your ‘van and knowing your latest adventure is underway. Everyday life is left at the door, and the moment you set off, you know you’re away from it all”
“However, familiarity can breed contempt, and even the best motorhomes will have compromises – for instance, you may not have enough storage for everything, you could have payload concerns, or you may have opted for a make-up bed to give yourself more space inside. Or, perhaps, you don’t want to worry about emptying the cassette toilet on a regular basis.”
“I know full-time living in a ‘van works very well for some people, but for me, I want to keep the novelty of setting foot in a motorhome or campervan when it’s time for an adventure.”
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