If wanting to travel to different cities where would I park the van if I want to live for indefinite

cashmonger

What I am thinking I would like to do is the vanlife thing but to visit many different uk cities/large towns until I find one which I liked the most and then probably move back into a flat once I really liked a place.

I would like to visit country etc but that would be a side thing.

The reason I would want to live out of a van for this is that I moved about 2 years ago to a new city and knew very little about it and I really don't like it and feel I want to get out of here but am stuck for the time being due to the magnitude of moving with non mobile living and all it entails.

I thought if I do the same again moving into a flat then I could be in the same position again of being 'stuck' in yet another place I don't like for x amount of time before being able to move on again.

Living from a van I can test places out as I please without any commitments. But since it is cities rather then country type places where would I be able to park the van if I am wanting to stay for a few weeks or even months before moving on? With countryside I imagine it is easy to park out of the way for a while but in the city even though it is possible to park a stealth van on some street for a few nights it would be inconvenient to be having to move around the city constantly to find parking spots and worry of break ins would be more of a concern not knowing the areas well in new cities. So what would be my options there?

Also regarding the van I am thinking to get one which would run on biodiesel/cooking oil since I would feel too guilty about using a petrol based one since I like to be kind to the environment. Would running a cooking oil van be the same/better/worse environmentally in terms of overall footprint than living in a 1 bedroom flat?

I would not plan on driving any more than I needed to in order to get from one place to the other and park up and live til I moved on.

AdrianC

cashmonger wrote: »

What I am thinking I would like to do is the vanlife thing but to visit many different uk cities/large towns until I find one which I liked the most and then probably move back into a flat once I really liked a place.

I would like to visit country etc but that would be a side thing.

The reason I would want to live out of a van for this is that I moved about 2 years ago to a new city and knew very little about it and I really don't like it and feel I want to get out of here but am stuck for the time being due to the magnitude of moving with non mobile living and all it entails.

I thought if I do the same again moving into a flat then I could be in the same position again of being 'stuck' in yet another place I don't like for x amount of time before being able to move on again.

Living from a van I can test places out as I please without any commitments. But since it is cities rather then country type places where would I be able to park the van if I am wanting to stay for a few weeks or even months before moving on? With countryside I imagine it is easy to park out of the way for a while but in the city even though it is possible to park a stealth van on some street for a few nights it would be inconvenient to be having to move around the city constantly to find parking spots and worry of break ins would be more of a concern not knowing the areas well in new cities. So what would be my options there?

Also regarding the van I am thinking to get one which would run on biodiesel/cooking oil since I would feel too guilty about using a petrol based one since I like to be kind to the environment. Would running a cooking oil van be the same/better/worse environmentally in terms of overall footprint than living in a 1 bedroom flat?

I would not plan on driving any more than I needed to in order to get from one place to the other and park up and live til I moved on.

I'll play it at face value...

You can park anywhere that there's no applicable parking restrictions - if your van is over 3.5t, that will be considerably harder than if it's under. There may be local bylaws preventing you from sleeping in a van parked on the street - they'll obviously vary around the country. You are quite likely to get local residents complaining, quite probably taking direct action on occasion.

Have you considered water supply and grey/black waste emptying? I presume you'll have solar panels for electricity (but will they produce adequate charge?) and diesel or gas spaceheating. How do you propose to obtain a suitable supply of oil for the van's fuel? Proper biodiesel, new cooking oil or waste cooking oil?

What will you do about contact address for post and vehicle registration, and where will your van insurer believe it's kept? What will you do if your vehicle ceases to be road legal, or becomes unroadworthy?

How will you fund your lifestyle? A string of casual work? Or savings?

waamo

Why not join up with a band of fellow intrepid travelers? There are people who wind their way up and down the country performing important environmental tasks such as removing dangerous lead from buildings then recycling it.

I'm sure they would welcome a new addition to their green lifestyle and show you how to find parking places with minimal environmental impact.

Clearly travelling communities have overcome the problems of registration and taxation of vehicles so should be able to help you out.

cashmonger

AdrianC wrote: »

How will you fund your lifestyle? A string of casual work? Or savings?

I already earn my money online (self-employed) so no problem there. As I recently found out they call it a 'digital nomad'.

The other issues seem to have already been dealt with by people before me doing the same thing (though no mentions of where to park and/or it is mainly US focused the stuff I've seen online so not relevant) so I will just follow in their footsteps.

Do cities not have caravan park type of things where you would pay a certain fee for a certain amount of time and not have to worry about security/permission issues? or is that relegated to touristy locations which would probably not be in cities?

Herzlos

It's probably a lot easier/safer to just book something like a Travelodge or B&B for a week or so at a time - can be really cheap if you book in advance.

Not many caravan parks that are near cities and I'm not sure many will take vans.

facade

waamo wrote: »

Clearly travelling communities have overcome the problems of registration and taxation of vehicles so should be able to help you out.

They actually have a mail-drop address to register them to.


As they are all top of the range Mercs, RangeRovers, X7s, Cayennes etc (bought for cash usually) they wouldn't risk getting clamped or lifted like anyone else if they were not taxed & insured.

gardner1

cashmonger wrote: »

I already earn my money online (self-employed) so no problem there. As I recently found out they call it a 'digital nomad'.

The other issues seem to have already been dealt with by people before me doing the same thing (though no mentions of where to park and/or it is mainly US focused the stuff I've seen online so not relevant) so I will just follow in their footsteps.

Do cities not have caravan park type of things where you would pay a certain fee for a certain amount of time and not have to worry about security/permission issues? or is that relegated to touristy locations which would probably not be in cities?

I think inner city caravan parks are reserved for our Irish friends;)

Jackmydad

Herzlos wrote: »

It's probably a lot easier/safer to just book something like a Travelodge or B&B for a week or so at a time - can be really cheap if you book in advance.

Not many caravan parks that are near cities and I'm not sure many will take vans.

Friend of mine has a van for his work, his wife has a small car for her work, and he used to run a 4WD for towing their caravan. He uses his van now for towing. It's a decent clean van and caravan, and he told me that as long as you don't look like a traveller a lot of sites are fine with it.
I've met one or two people who do travel like the OP suggests. They travel on their own and don't leave a mess. The one woman we were talking to told me that she has friends all over the place who will let her park for a day or two. Similar with some people who were travelling with a large motorhome.

Arklight

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walden-Wheels-Open-Road-Freedom/dp/1477800751

I don't know how easy this would be to pull off in the UK though. You'd probably have to find a new place to park every day or so in residential areas.

sheslookinhot

gardner1 wrote: »

I think inner city caravan parks are reserved for our Irish friends;)

What do you mean by that comment ?

AdrianC

sheslookinhot wrote: »

What do you mean by that comment ?

Just the usual dig at "travellers".