Full Timing in the UK

Hi Tom and fellow RVF members,you may rember us?

Well Pat and I are currently sunning ourselves in Spain with the RV we purchased during our two year visit to the US & Canada, since then we have also joined a UK forum called Motorhome 365.  http://www.motorhome365.com/

This forum as its title suggests is for persons who are or considering living in their motor home or RV 24/7/365 days a year or Full timing. 

Now, what you guys don't know, unlike in the USA the decision for one to full time in the UK in anything other than in a house is frowned upon by the authorities. 

I have suggested to the Motorhome 365 forum members and its owner Jim that we liaise with fellow RVF full timers to compare notes to see what exactly is involved in each country to become a full timer and try and find out what the UK authorities are so frightened of?

Only one UK insurance company offers Full timing insurance and that compared to 'Normal' insurance is nearly twice the price, is that the same as in the US?

Can you help?

Mick

Insurance isn't a big factor for fulltiming in the USA, but I guess it depends on what the insurance has to cover. In the USA, the there are two factors:  (1) some extra personal liability coverage, akin to that which is usually included in homeowner insurance, and (2) a modest increase simply because the RV is in constant use rather than weekends and vacations.  In my case, this amounts to less than 10% extra premium cots annually.  I've seen some policies, especially on trailers, where it is greater than that, but I think that is because the basic coverage on a trailer is low to begin with. A trailer insurance package doesn't include any liability coverage to start with, so the add-on for that is greater than a motorhome, which include liability in the base.

Hard to make any comparisons without some knowledge about what sorts on insurance coverages are customary in the UK for both houses and vehicles.

Gary RV Roamer said:

Hard to make any comparisons without some knowledge about what sorts on insurance coverages are customary in the UK for both houses and vehicles.

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Gary, That is my intention If both sides agree to see with a few message exchanges just why full timing works in the US so easily but not in the UK..........I just wish that Progressive RV would open up a branch in the UK, they would make a killing 

Mick

Hi Mick, good to see you here again. Be glad to exchange info, and it would make some interesting reading, assuming info is flowing in both directions. I'm rather out of date when it comes to things like UK insurance nowadays.

to full time in the UK in anything other than in a house is frowned upon by the authorities.

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The old gypsy syndrome?

.... try and find out what the UK authorities are so frightened of?

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Any inside information from your days on the beat?

I have suggested to ..... its owner Jim ...

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Just curious, is this ScotJim (ScotJimland?) from the old RV Fulltiming forum, or Jim from MHF? Thought ScotJim had thrown in the towel and that you'd taken over the reins 

Hi Tom, The gremlins must be at it again as I thought I'd already replied to your last message? 

First, there are two Jim's one being the Scotjimland and the other Jim owns and now runs three motor home / RV related forums.

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/

http://www.rvoc.co.uk/

http://www.motorhome365.com/

The Motorhome 365 is Jim's serious attempt at trying to get together a large number of Full timers in order to give him some clout with the authorities who for some reason as yet unknown do not recognise full timers, the full circumstances are explained within the front page of the forum.

I possibly used the wrong word 'link' in my opening message, this to some suggests an actual URL click on button link between forums, no all I ask is a thread between the two forums where we can possibly find out WHY full timing has been accepted in the USA & Canada but is still frowned upon here in the UK.

Insurance is one of the biggest problems with only one UK broker/company claiming to offer full timing insurance and even to this date that is debatable. I just wish Progressive RV would open up a branch in the UK for full-timing insurance, they would make a killing.

Well thats it folks so let your questions and answers rip 

Mick

Thanks for clarification on the forum ownership Mick. All is now clear.

I possibly used the wrong word 'link' in my opening message .... all I ask is a thread between the two forums ...

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I read & interpreted it the way you intended. If folks in the UK have questions about fulltiming in the US, they're always welcome to come here and ask; I believe our members have always willingly offered help and advice.

Tom said:

Thanks for clarification on the forum ownership Mick. All is now clear.

I read & interpreted it the way you intended. If folks in the UK have questions about fulltiming in the US, they're always welcome to come here and ask; I believe our members have always willingly offered help and advice.

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Tom, Thanks, I have and will continue to direct any 'new' potential RV purchaser to what I believe is the No1 RVing US forum, heck if you guy's don't know about RVs we might as well shut up shop and go home.  ;D

mick

Mick,

I took the liberty of splitting your 'first question' message off and giving it a subject line that might have a better chance of attracting a reply. I also cross-linked the two subjects. See here.

Mick & Pat said:

Now, what you guys don't know, unlike in the USA the decision for one to full time in the UK in anything other than in a house is frowned upon by the authorities. 

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This is something that mystified me too here in the US mostly they don't care.
It might be that it's not considered a "proper" way to live or that they don't like people that they can't keep track of.

I worked in England several years ago for a couple of months with a lot of "travelers" and none of them used RV's.
I use mine for travel work for the auto industry here and it's really good i have my own stuff and my wife,kids and dogs can all come along.
Edit: Fixed quote.

Mick, I see your suggestion got the cold shoulder over at the other place.

Tom said:

Mick, I see your suggestion got the cold shoulder over at the other place.

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Tom, I'm very embarrassed about the lack of interest at our end,  Famous saying, about leading a horse to water springs to mind. 

Why do people join a specialised forum like motor homes then happily complete several pages on a thread about blinking stickers or flags, beats me I give up 

Thanks again

Mick

Mick,

One suggestion for next time ... instead of linking to our web site, link directly to the topic or message you're asking folks to read &/or reply to. OTOH I'm not sure it would have made any difference in this case.

glen54737 said:

This is something that mystified me too here in the US mostly they don't care.
It might be that it's not considered a "proper" way to live or that they don't like people that they can't keep track of.

I worked in England several years ago for a couple of months with a lot of "travelers" and none of them used RV's.
I use mine for travel work for the auto industry here and it's really good i have my own stuff and my wife,kids and dogs can all come along.
Edit: Fixed quote.

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Hi

I was born in the UK and lived there over 50 years. I still keep in touch via my relatives and news media and part of the problem is that bands of "travellers" take over fields, put in electricity, etc, before the councils have a chance to react and are then a @#$% to eject.

E.G http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/8972128.Travellers_have_driven_us_off_our_playing_field/

These folk are not the same as legitimate motorhome/RV owners that act responsibly but, unfortunately, they blacken the attitude to local authorities so you will find that, in most cases, you can't park overnight in council car parks, etc.

I would draw a parallel with the folk living in RV's in the streets of Venice, CA, who even dump their black tanks in the residential street. They give RV'ing a bad name. The locals don't turn a blind eye to those antics but it's hard to shift them.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-venice-rv-sewage,0,4384226.story

I have an RV here in the USA and, in the next week or so, will purchase another in the UK. When not in use I will have in stored but it will give us much more scope (with no car rental or hotel bills) whenever we visit.

Geoff & Sally