I'm a 68y/o single man. Due to various circumstances I have decided to buy a 5th wheel van as a permenant live aboard with a view to travel the country in my dottage and indulge myself in my photographic hobby. Already I'm finding various "roadblocks" and I was wondering if I can get advice. I've been told that being a single man people assume you are trouble or going to "hit" on their wives or worse, at my age I don't want a relationship with a Man, Woman, Cat or Dog! Also I'm told that a 27' van will not fit on a 9metre pitch because it's too long? Surely 9metres is 29.5'? Is this just another way of preventing me, a single man, booking a pitch?
Obviously I don't want to spend a lot of money on a van and give up my home if I'm going to be totally restricted from enjoying my "adventure"?
Has anyone else experienced these issues and if so how were they resolved, if at all?
Also out of season pitches. Are there many sites in the UK that are open all year round? My intentions are to travel up the north of the UK & Scotland in the summer and down south in the winter....but that's not written in stone.
I'd sincerely like to here from anyone who can enlighten me.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I dont think being single is the slightest problem on campsites. More of an issue will be your choice of equipment. A better bet would be to buy a normal touring caravan. Twin axle if you like but a normal tourer such as a Bailey or Swift & then you will be good to go on any site. Some sites do take very large units but not that many whereas with a conventional touring caravan you can go anywhere.
Plenty of sites are open all year. Normal limit of stay is 28 days. It might be cost effective for you to join one of the clubs CMC or C&CC. I am sure somebody will advise on that.
Ditch the paranoia about single campers! I and many others caravan/MH/camp alone, never heard of a camp site rejecting anyone on that basis alone. There are a multitude of reasons why people camp alone, quite often it's because partners don't like it, so people either go alone or give it up, doesn't make them single people, just single campers! Plenty of single campers on this forum.
You may find some sites can't accommodate a fifth wheeler on size alone, sometimes it is just inadequate pitch size, others it will be lack of manoeuvring space on site or restricted entrance size/access. Last year friends found on one site whilst the pitch space was adequate, there was inadequate room to reverse their 'normal' 4 berth caravan onto pitch, they had to use their motor mover to site the van, bit naughty of site to market the pitch without making clear ONLY vans with motor movers/hand manoeuvred could get on pitch! You would need to do your research on potential sites quite carefully.
Under their licencing (Local Authority) conditions, most sites are forced to limit stays to 21 or 28 days at a time, at which point you MUST move off site for minimum of 1 day, but can return for another 21/28 days after that break, ad infinitum. Not unknown for sites to 'bend' that rule! Many sites are only open for part of the year, usually those with grass pitches, which suffer too much damage in wet winter months. There are sites open all year round, but perhaps only around 25% of the overall number. Use the UKC site search facility to search for sites open all year.
A serious concern for winter camping is how accessible the site is in bad weather, many are down narrow lanes that can become tricky/impossible to access in icy/snowy conditions. Winter camping brings it's own problems with stopping various liquids (clean/grey/black water) freezing in you actual unit as storage is often external and not insulated.
Not an extensive insight, but hopefully food for thought.
Most sites quote pitch sizes of 7m x 5m which if you keep within these limits you will be fine. But going over it you will have to contact sites individually and enquire if they can accommodate you. As for being single no problem, lots of single people on campsites.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Thank you for your reply. I do realise sites have size restrictions and obviously I only be in contact with those sites that are able to take the van. I am going for a 5th wheel, the one I'm considering is 27' with double axle, because a permanent live aboard they offer more internal space and facilities. They are fully insulated and all the tanks are heated and as it's from the US it's designed for weather conditions in Canada and the northern states. My neightbour has just brought a new Swift van at 25' so not much shorter than a 5th Wheel.. I'd be tempted to winter in the south perhaps the Cambridge area if possible because it is a little more temperate the the highlands for instance. I do take your point about the law and amount of time allowed on one site.
As for the single man issue. I've now been told on a number of occassions ... "They won't like you cos you're a single man" one guy told me. One booking agant for a nmuber of sites did say some of their sites wouldn't entertain singles. Yet another said that the would take singles but my 27' van would not fit on a 9m pitch because it would be too long. Now as we all know 9metres is nearer 29.5'...I'm not sure if that was just said to put me off?
So it could be paranoia on my part. But if you say that it isn't generally a problem then I think I'll start making plans for my adventure to start in the spring.
Thank you all for your messages, they are much appreciated.
Plan an approximate route and then get in touch with the sites direct.You will get a more accurate picture than by using an agent who tend to just read a rate card.
They have larger pitches over 7m in length, however, numbers are very limited.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Quote: Originally posted by billy on 14/7/2022
I dont think being single is the slightest problem on campsites. More of an issue will be your choice of equipment. A better bet would be to buy a normal touring caravan. Twin axle if you like but a normal tourer such as a Bailey or Swift & then you will be good to go on any site. Some sites do take very large units but not that many whereas with a conventional touring caravan you can go anywhere.
Plenty of sites are open all year. Normal limit of stay is 28 days. It might be cost effective for you to join one of the clubs CMC or C&CC. I am sure somebody will advise on that.
I agree with Billy:camping solo isn't a problem but a 5th wheel behemoth might be. Many UK campsites just aren't set up for them (think height as well as total outfit length). A good sized caravan or motorhome is far less conspicuous and campsite-friendly.
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 15/7/2022
I agree with Billy:camping solo isn't a problem but a 5th wheel behemoth might be. Many UK campsites just aren't set up for them (think height as well as total outfit length). A good sized caravan or motorhome is far less conspicuous and campsite-friendly.
Indeed size of a 5th wheel is likely to be the issue.
The number of 5th wheelers that I have seen since 2009 could be counted in one hand, and all apart from 1 were at Birchwood Tourist Park, and they could only accommodate them on 2 specific pitches.
Even of sites could physically accommodate such big vans, the roads leading to the sites would also need to be accessible, and this could be an issue as they could be very narrow single-track country lanes.
Hence we have sat nav dedicated to caravans and MHs so as to avoid roads that are not suitable such as steep hills, low bridges and narrow lanes.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Manners54 on 14/7/2022
... I am going for a 5th wheel, the one I'm considering is 27' with double axle... it's from the US it's designed for weather conditions in Canada and the northern states.'
With respect, they're better suited to the road systems and campsites in Canada and the US.
A big twin-axle caravan can be un-hitched and manoeuvred onto a pitch with a good mover, a 5th wheel is less manageable because it has to be positioned by the vehicle.
I used to camp on my own in a tent (can’t lock the door…) & never felt lonely because people passing by would say a cheery hello. I’ve seen plenty of solo campers in tents, caravans, MHs.
But a TA caravan for one person is a bit excessive? If I was on my own again, I’d be going down the campervan / panel van conversion route: small enough to go down narrow roads & under gantries at car parks, quick to set up on site. An en-suite She Shed / Man Cave on wheels
I’ve only seen 5th wheelers at Mortonhall (Edinburgh). And at events like golf tournaments being used as equipment workshops etc.
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 15/7/2022
With respect, they're better suited to the road systems and campsites in Canada and the US.
A big twin-axle caravan can be un-hitched and manoeuvred onto a pitch with a good mover, a 5th wheel is less manageable because it has to be positioned by the vehicle.
It reminds of the ginormous vans as seen in the TV programme recently, and I thought they were not very practical on our roads and campsites.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 15/7/2022
I used to camp on my own in a tent (can’t lock the door…) & never felt lonely because people passing by would say a cheery hello. I’ve seen plenty of solo campers in tents, caravans, MHs.
But a TA caravan for one person is a bit excessive? If I was on my own again, I’d be going down the campervan / panel van conversion route: small enough to go down narrow roads & under gantries at car parks, quick to set up on site. An en-suite She Shed / Man Cave on wheels
Same, never felt unsafe being on my own, however, I only stay at larger sites with on-site wardens and good securities.
My van was designed with my needs and wants in mind and she is my en-suite She Shed on wheels, small and short enough to go down single track lanes and just about squeezed into a standard size parking space. Just need to watch out for height restriction.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Oh well ... that'll be plan B then? A "normal" caravan will be no good, in my opinion, for full time living. They are fine for a holiday but full time living would become oppressive. Thank you all for your comments.
Quote: Originally posted by Manners54 on 15/7/2022
Oh well ... that'll be plan B then? A "normal" caravan will be no good, in my opinion, for full time living. They are fine for a holiday but full time living would become oppressive. Thank you all for your comments.
I met a couple of full time MHers in a 7m van, well-equipped with a washing machine onboard!
It really depends your creature comfort requirements, each to their own and all that.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Just to add it is highly unlikely that a commercial site will ask you to move on after 28 days. We have stayed on sites for several months no issue.
Your biggest issue will be insurance as no fixed abode for car or caravan. Plus of course that your driving licence needs a fixed address.
We lived permanently in our twin axle caravan on a commercial site. The only stipulation was that we had to move off for December and January. No issues as we used another site close by that was open all year.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Single Person Issues
via mobile 14/7/2022 at 1:44pm
