Hello. 👋
We have done tents, caravans, seasonal pitches and now a Motorhome. I’ve read lots about statics and the financial nightmares associated with them, there is lots of material on here alone about the downsides.
Does anyone have positive experiences, or examples of why it worked for them?
My Motorhome is coming up to 3 years old, and I did love it but am now thinking I want more space and comfort - my bed is super comfy but the overall experience isn’t given lounge and space limitations even though our van is 7.5 metres long.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thanks
I have had some lovely holidays in statics, but I always rent one when I need one. That way I have none of the risks of ownership and I can go to different places. Even if I could afford to buy a static I don't think I would want to be limited to just the one place.
Agree with Colin21. Statics were a great way to holiday with my parents, on small independent sites. There are some excellent deals for hiring a static when I looked for a friends gathering a while back.
But never tempted to buy: as expensive as a new car, plus annual site fees & depreciation & static age limits on some sites.
Most of the time, people only come to forums or post on social media when they have problems.
There are lots of very happy static caravan owners out there.
One thing I have noticed is that a very high percentage of complaints come from those who did not undertake any INDEPENDENT research (i.e, simply read the brochures/believed the sales pitch)and did not realise or even bother to find out what their commitments would be.
A static caravan is, indeed.. static. Meaning that if you buy one, and decide very soon after you don't like it/cannot afford it, you (a) have a problem getting shot of it, and (b) will almost certainly lose a lot of money in the process (ignore anyone who tells you that if you don't like the park you can move it to another park. You almost certainly can't).
There are 2 parts to buying a static - one is the static itself, which you own outright, the 2nd is the pitch it is on - and this is where it is so, so important to know exactly what you are buying, meaning how long it can stay on the pitch, how long in any season you can use it for, how much it will cost (and how the annual increases will be calculated) etc., etc.
I would suggest renting for holidays first, to decide if you even like the static lifestyle. If you think you do, the order of importance is: the area, the park itself, the location on the park, and finally the static.
A not-quite-right static on a good park will make you happy.
A perfect static on a park that does not suit will never be enjoyable.
Talk to as many of the other owners as you can (there should be a variety of views, with some saying they wish they had never purchased, some saying how wonderful it is, and - hopefully - a majority saying "may not be perfect but we have no regrets".
Ask to see a draft copy of the contract so you know what the terms and conditions are. Anything important - get it in writing. NEVER believe a verbal promise - it may not be a lie, but it may be wishful thinking on the part of the salesman. Never assume, always ask.
Think hard about why you want a static, what you will use it for, what you need from the park and the area, and base your research on that.
Happy research.
You can have some great holidays in a static. There is loads of room compared to a tourer, decent beds usually, a good kitchen, and a proper spacious lounge separate from the bedrooms.
If you have plenty of spare time, don't mind going to the same place regularly and frequently, and have plenty of money that you don't mind losing most of, a static just might be for you. Me, I'll just rent one when and where I need one.
There are lots of people who love their static caravans, you will hear negatives from people that have never even owned one. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a new one and can purchase used for half the price of a new caravan with five times the space.
Look at it as no different to purchasing a caravan, camper, motorbike, or car, it’s not an investment it’s purchasing holidays and will depreciate. Don’t start by spending a fortune on a new static, purchase a 10/15 year old one for 10/15k, if you get five years and have to sell it for a couple of grand it’s not a fortune lost and if you are still happy you can then upgrade. I would never spend 120k on a new lodge straight out.
Find a site that been family owned for decades and passed down the generations, ( there are a good few) rather than a massive holiday company. Many family owned ones do not have an age limit on caravans on-site with many still having statics on from the late 1980s which is very important. Go and see it and speak to people who are owners there, most will be happy to give you honest answers. If you’re still interested sit down and go through all the paperwork and only when you understand all the costs move on to the next step.
Try to be honest about how often you will use it and from there you can start to break down how much each short break is costing you. Over our lifetime we’ve spent s much as 10k plus on one two week holiday abroad, we can get a full year of holidays for that in the UK. Is that good value ? We think so but that’s for others to judge.
I bought a second hand static on a site in Cumbria, in the middle of last year. The site fees were paid until this year by the previous owner. I've never regretted it. 8 years old, £14.5K. The site doesn't mind them being over ten years old, no hassle to sell, as long as they are maintained properly, you can keep them there for years longer.
It's on a site at a location where I have spent many holidays in the past - self catering, camping, caravanning - it's a happy place for me, and I don't mind returning as often as I can. Yes, there are a few charges that took me aback at first. Apart from the site fees, there are charges for draining down in the winter months, cleaning the exterior in the spring, and a yearly compliance certificate for gas safety.
Also these vans don't come equipped with bedding, pillows, kitchen stuff like pots and pans, etc. An extra electric heater might be needed as well. (Even though my static has central heating, it can get very cold out of the summer season.) I had a lot of camping equipment to start with and picked up other things I needed along the way.
I still think that the comfort of owning my little piece of heaven, to which I can go any time, outweighs any expenses. But you do need to keep those expenses in mind, and budget for them.
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Topic: Positive static experiences
via mobile 20/4/2024 at 6:45pm
