Tractor_Saint Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Wondering if any SWF folks own a static caravan and can share their experiences? We've just been looking this weekend, I've got two kids aged 7 and 10 who I think would love the site we're looking at (West Sands at Selsey). We're looking at a 3 bed 12 ft wide static but want to know if there are things to watch out for and what pros and cons anyone can tell us about. Stayed in many a park and enjoyed it with the kids but owning a caravan is completely different! We'd be looking at renting it out as well to cover some if not all of the site rental... Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Tracky. Let me run this by you: 55ft long, 12 foot wide, 1 dbl ensuite, single ensuite, newly fitted to very high level, in sought after location. Berth available. Have you considered a converted Dutch barge. They are amazing inside. And although you probably won't ever attempt it, bear in mind that they are SEA worthy, high build quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor_Saint Posted 9 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Tracky. Let me run this by you: 55ft long, 12 foot wide, 1 dbl ensuite, single ensuite, newly fitted to very high level, in sought after location. Berth available. Have you considered a converted Dutch barge. They are amazing inside. And although you probably won't ever attempt it, bear in mind that they are SEA worthy, high build quality. Lived on a 65ft barge for over a year many years ago. Was a great time but not huge amount of entertainment apart from feeding the ducks for 7 and 10 year olds Also, hated the pumping out bit..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Tracky. Let me run this by you: 55ft long, 12 foot wide, 1 dbl ensuite, single ensuite, newly fitted to very high level, in sought after location. Berth available. Have you considered a converted Dutch barge. They are amazing inside. And although you probably won't ever attempt it, bear in mind that they are SEA worthy, high build quality. My aunt and uncle spent a few years living on one of those. Always talked about taking it across the channel and down France. Seemed nice apart from when the toilet system broke down when I visited once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillyanne Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Worked for this fella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 My parents owned one when I was in my teens, or 'developing years', as I could call them for the purposes of this, as we had a touring caravan we used for holidays when I was a kid and my sister and I had outgrown it. It was located at Shorefield Country Park, near Milford-on-Sea and New Milton, and I loved it! It was comfortable, it was nice to have a place where you could go on many holidays, it was nice being at a park with two swimming pools, and I had my own set of friends that were there every holiday. I even had a couple of romances, I lost my virginity in one too... I was gutted when my parents sold it. I had just passed my driving test and was looking forward to driving down on my own, but alas it was not to be. They did go on to buy an apartment in Cyprus (which I'm not moaning about!). The static itself? Three bed, very spacious, very comfortable. One night we had a massive storm, severe winds, and the caravan barely moved. Sigh, good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Jim Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 Maybe you should try POL, they're experts in caravans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbury Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 I find it impossible to say 'Shtatic Caravan' in anything other than an East Yorkshire accent and a lisp, with the emphasis on 'van'. Other than that, take plenty of board games and tea and be prepared for spending hours staring out the window at bleak weather while the kids wreck the place. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 I find it impossible to say 'Shtatic Caravan' in anything other than an East Yorkshire accent and a lisp, with the emphasis on 'van'. It's a Sean Connery Scottish accent all the way for me. Right up there with 'quails eggs' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningtonCrescent Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 My parents have one down in Weymouth and its brilliant! Some things to think about.... 1) Don't get one too far away from home. Weymouth is c.1hour away and its great for a late weekend away, without all the planning. 2) Some come with "proper" central heating. if you're thinking of using it in the winter months - this should be considered. More expensive to buy, but the use you'll get by knowing you can stay warm...... 3) Local facilities - most sites have a pool (or pools) and some sort of entertainment complex. One with childrens club will go down a storm - as they will get to know the team and give you a few hours peace and quiet! If you're considering Haven, let me know and we canget you a referral! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 My parents had one when we were kids down near New Milton/Highcliff/Christcurch somewhere. (Never more than a 40 minute journey even on August Bank Holiday which meant we used it far more) It was on a site with a river. You could get one day fishing permits from the camp site shop. It was that which I remember more than anything, sunny days was the beach, but the not so good ones and even in the winter there was always fishing. Of course we never actually casught anything more than the odd midget thing, BUT it was just something we as kids could go off and do. Sure it had a pool and "games room" but they were always packed out - but also when you think it through what use is that on a cold windy Bank Holiday weekend?. Find a site with more than just the pool would be my advice - are the kids "big walkers" or are they PS3 freaks? - 'cos you won't find them enjoying long beach rambles on windy days which would rather spoil the whole point. Then work out the maths. Sign up to one of those clubs and stay in different places or be fixed and hope to get a return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deeps Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 Have you tried the skates website, I would imagine there will be quite a few who could help!! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 My parents have one down in Weymouth and its brilliant! Seconded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 Just a word of caution about West Sands, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there are problems with long term coastal erosion there, may be worth checking out before you spend any significant amount of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 you only get so many holidays in life. Why visit the same place every year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor_Saint Posted 10 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 10 April, 2012 Thanks for the replies so far. To answer a few of the questions, we're expecting to probably rent it out at some peak times (hopefully to work colleagues) during the year to cover the rent for the site. This site has multiple swimming pools, evening entertainment, ice rink, leisure centre, kids clubs etc. so enough to keep everyone busy and all included in the yearly maintenance costs (6 adult passes - 12+ and then as many under 11 passes as you want). We have the kids every other weekend so could rent it out every other week. Family and friends would use it at other times. Finally, there was an issue with flooding at the site / Selsey itself but the EA have just put in 15M sea defenses. Question is, do we keep the cash sitting in a savings account making not much interest or do we put it into a caravan for a bit of fun in the knowledge that we would probably not make it all back again but the kids would (hopefully) have fantastic memories as some of the replies have already shown! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NACO Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Tractor_Saint The absolute key thing to investigate when buying a static holiday caravan is the contract that the park offers you. You will be wanting to get some years' worth of enjoyment from your purchase, so you need to check the length of tenure. 10 years has been the norm over recent years, but you could find some particularly favourable terms at the moment, given that many parks have some empty pitches. How much is the pitch fee and what does it include? What are the factors that govern pitch fee increases? Are you happy with those? Are you able to sell the caravan privately at the end of your stay on park? (I know you're not thinking about this now, but people do get in difficulty over it, especially the park's commission on the sale) Are you happy with the length of the season? Are there any restrictions on buying products from third parties (eg bottled gas)? You appear to accept that the caravan will depreciate, but bear in mind that, like a car, this is heaviest at the start of its life (if buying new). I really don't want any of the foregoing to be off-putting, but these are some areas that people kick themselves for not confirming at the outset. If you go ahead, I hope you and the family have a great time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsdinho Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 you only get so many holidays in life. Why visit the same place every year? My thoughts entirely, I've always thought caravan's (static or mobile) are for people too scared to leave home, so if they do, they have to take a bit of it with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Maybe just maybe its because they want more holidays, by being able to go away every weekend if they want. Young kids dont want to be dragged round Mayan temples or the Rio carnival after 14 hour flights just so the adults can congratulate themselves on how enlightened and travelled they are. Beach, bikes and a ball is what they want - a view which has a lot going for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 We used to spend our holidays at West Sands when I was in my teens ..long time ago now. It was twinned with two other sites White Horse and Green Lawns? The entertainment was really good. As others have said its close so you can just nip down quickly if you want to - even get away from the wife! I was going to mention the flooding issue but see thats been covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsdinho Posted 24 April, 2012 Share Posted 24 April, 2012 Maybe just maybe its because they want more holidays, by being able to go away every weekend if they want. Young kids dont want to be dragged round Mayan temples or the Rio carnival after 14 hour flights just so the adults can congratulate themselves on how enlightened and travelled they are. Beach, bikes and a ball is what they want - a view which has a lot going for it. Fair enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 25 April, 2012 Share Posted 25 April, 2012 Not forgetting 'pulling mussels from a shell' behind a chalet. Makes a holiday complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor_Saint Posted 25 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 25 April, 2012 Thanks everyone. We decided to stay for a weekend at the site to mull over whether it was for us. Whilst we had an absolutely fabulous time (and Tight Fit live at the club was a top night!) we've decided against ownership for now. We decided that we'd rather rent a caravan every couple of months than have the problem of looking after our own! Also, the caravan we had was going to be single glazed and no central heating.. something that didn't appeal after a breezy weekend in a Caravan with all the mod-cons. Maybe we'll revisit the idea in a couple of years time but then the 20% VAT on caravans would have come in. Hey ho! Thanks again to everyone that took the time to respond. Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 25 April, 2012 Share Posted 25 April, 2012 Don't rule ou a narrowboat Tractor Saint. Tight Fit every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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