two things even when you get one, They aren't really designed for 24/7 living. Even static ones are made for the seasonal/second home style market.

A decent dehumidifier that's mains powered will be needed.
Make sure the fan in the shower room works and that the door for the room fully seals as well as this helps a lot, adn the same for an above cooker unit.

Dehumidifier unit should ideally be then run once a week with all internal doors open but external doors and windows closed.

On days with a little bit of wind cracking the windows open for a few hours a day will help massively and when it comes to a pitch avoid the grass/fields. Hard standing, ideally a solid concrete base with a good angled run off will help keep moisture away from the van and air flowing around it. Dont have one side onto a hedge or such like without at least a meter or two of space between the two for airflow. And dont forget to make sure it can get some direct sunlight for a few hours a day.

Even if its not a static you can still supplymains water and leccy to it, and for waste its just a case of a bigger waste storage tank with wheels or a bit of water tight home plumbing  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
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Rosco
King plebs advice is right on the button, although a supplementary heater would be a good idea, given our sub arctic climate up here.

I have friends in northern France who have an old LMC parked in a field where they live. Its out in all weathers and has never been damp. (I have slept in it a few times). LMC were very well put together.

There are a few accredited mobile caravan servicing/repair outfits is west Scotland, whom could give it a habitation/safety check before you put the employee in it . might be wise

Not been mentioned but essential to ensure that any cooking or heating using gas is in good working order and not producing noxious fumes. John
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^^ dictating what they cook is going a bit far isn't it?

All the German caravans are well put together, they use an aluminium / polystyrene / ply wood sandwich which is a lot stronger than the thin and flimsy timbre frames that are clad either side in this country. Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
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 John
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Rosco we have just bought a second hand Willerby Aspen 37ft by 12 ft static caravan which sleeps 4 for our stable hands and comes fully equipped with gas central heating, showers, furniture etc etc we had hoped to have hooked up to the septic tank and power this week but got told not to do that until we got planning consent I was under the impression that as long as it had wheels there was no requirement for permission but clearly that was wrong  The forums premier drug dealer and human trafficking consultant


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Ah Jim, now I was under that impression as well, why does it need planning, is it the water/sanitary connections ? My water comes off the hill and sceptic tank like yourself so not on the "grid" at all

I suppose it depends where it's sited ,I'm going to use the argument that the van lies within the curtilage of the house

http://www.joalleisure.com/mobile-home-pla...tions.html The forums premier drug dealer and human trafficking consultant


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I think you'll find that a mobile home requires planning permission, because after a period of time you can apply to have it made into a permanent structure, unless it is stated in the permission that it is to be temporary. Where as a caravan is always temporary, no matter how long it sits. It would not be beyond the wit of man to fit a proper loo into a caravan, provided that you have the room. Which most don't, but if you get a big one then all is possible  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
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Or ensure that said mobile home on wheels is well hidden from public view maybe....

Other option is to just have a big storage tank for it with wheels on that can be wheeled over to septic if needed. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
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Just to contradict what people have said regarding damp and dehumidifiers.

Years ago (mid - late 90's) we had problems with damp on a touring caravan. The seals around the back of the van started to degrade and cause problems. At the time we put a dehumidifier in it to dry it out until the seals were done.

When collecting it from the manufacturers repair centre we were told that putting a dehumidifier in a caravan could do more harm then good as you're effectively attracting the moisture into the van as it's trying to dry it out.

When we visited the Van Master factory a few years ago they said the same thing.

The Swift Conqueror that we've got now, and the Lunar Delta we had before it never once had a dehumidifier in them and when serviced annually the damp readings taken all over the van were minimal. The Swift was serviced a few weeks back and the damp barely registered a reading despite not being used this summer and never having had a dehumidifier in it.

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I agree with David, My current Lunar has never had a dehumidifier in it and had never suffered damp.

It is all down to the failure of the mastic seals round the awning rails, tops of the windows and base rail. water can also get in round any opening in the structure. Basically you have to stop the water getting into the van then it will dry out on it own. My last Lunar was a bit damp, not too bad but, after stripping off the rails and resealing them it dried out all by itself! Its not rocket science really, all the holes on the outer skin are sealed with non setting bedding mastic usually caraseal IDL99, which can dry out over time and lead to water ingress.

best way to dry the van out once the leak has been fixed is to crack open the windows and let the fresh air dry the van out.  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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Apologies for resurrecting this thread however I have narrowed my search down and now at a stage where I HAVE to buy something, the following vans are all fairly similar re spec and all dry but I have no idea regarding build quality etc.

Abbey Lancaster
Ace Celebration
Abbey Award
Bailet Senator
Eldiss Typhoon
Hobby 660
Swift Conqueror

Not a small list but any help/guidance would be much appreciated, they are all of a similar age but varying prices that are within budget, I like the Swift Conqueror which happens to be the most expensive

Thanks

Hobby

I would add I would require PROOF that they are in fact dry .

Last edited by 362bkr on 28th Nov 2015 1:55pm. Edited 1 time in total