Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 18/11/2024

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I relocated from Central London to Wiltshire back in 2006, and can appreciate your dilema with parking.

I would advise adding some form of security like a wheel clamp and steering wheel lock if you were to park it on the street.

It is worth investigating if there is any secure and affordable parking near you. Plenty of airport parking near Heathrow for example, to check if they would offer long term parking at a reduced rate.

Probably worth fitting a tracker too.

Good luck!

As for my van, she is parked outside my house behind a set of electronic gates where the garage used to be.

DK

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 18/11/2024

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Number of unknown (to us!) variables in there that could influence advice given, such as the dreaded collection of penalties/costs associated with having a vehicle on the road in London which may apply to you! Diesel penalties, residents parking fees/restrictions etc.

Generally insurers would favour secure offroad storage, may even find some declining cover for on road storage, or a hefty hike in premium! Caravans/MHs/Campers are probably higher risk of theft than most ordinary cars! - Quite a lot go missing and are never recovered! There's a 'hidden' negative aspect to storing at/near home! - when the camper is missing for any time, you have advertised your house is unoccupied as you're on holiday! If kept offroad, you may have option of SORNing it to save on road tax! Most storage yards would likely insist it was still insured though!

Proper secure storage facilities around London are often oversubscribed, with quite a waiting list for a space, AND pricy! - my caravan is stored in Hertfordshire (and I live in London near A406), this year's renewal notice quotes just under £900 pa, and that is NOT the most expensive I could find! - charges will vary depending of size of storage space required and the unit. Secure storage in a recognised storage facility usually brings an insurance premium discount, which does offset the cost a little bit.

Disadvantage of remote storage is that you have to make some effort to visit and maintain the vehicle! Not good to leave it standing in same spot for months on end, damages the tyres for one. It's a vehicle, so battery (there'll likely be two, the normal vehicle battery and a leisure battery!) needs keeping charged or it (they) will be damaged beyond recovery in a few months, possibly weeks if any discharge from say alarms and trackers etc. Solar panels can help with that. Few, if any, have EHU to the individual storage bay. The vehicle mechanicals in all forms would benefit from regular driving.

Most storage yards have access restrictions, the best it's probably only restricted to daylight hours but otherwise free and unobstructed 365 day access by electronic pass or key lock, but some need a day or two notice of your intent to access and require staff to grant you access! Some allow you to access your vehicle yourself, others will use staff to bring the vehicle off site to you! There is quite a lot of variation in operating practice, you need to check T&Cs carefully! TBH, some are really not very convenient to the user! The better sites will have something like a service area with water and EHU so you can wash and maintain your vehicle, AND get a mobile service engineer to do routine servicing, ideally you need the habitation part checked/serviced periodically by a specialist engineer (for gas, mains electric safety etc.), as well as base vehicle servicing, most will prevent any kind of work being done on the vehicle whilst in it's storage space/bay!

There's a host of variables in all aspects, so cant be too specific, but hopefully some insight.

There are a few places to check out for secure storage, there is a storage yard trade association, and both camping clubs have storage on some of their sites. Storage can be found on farms, and various more general storage facilities with highly variable benefits/disadvantages too!

https://www.cassoa.co.uk/
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/taking-care-of-your-outfit/carav........
https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/

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Quote: Originally posted by benjamin163 on 18/11/2024

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 18/11/2024

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Number of unknown (to us!) variables in there that could influence advice given, such as the dreaded collection of penalties/costs associated with having a vehicle on the road in London which may apply to you! Diesel penalties, residents parking fees/restrictions etc.

Generally insurers would favour secure offroad storage, may even find some declining cover for on road storage, or a hefty hike in premium! Caravans/MHs/Campers are probably higher risk of theft than most ordinary cars! - Quite a lot go missing and are never recovered! There's a 'hidden' negative aspect to storing at/near home! - when the camper is missing for any time, you have advertised your house is unoccupied as you're on holiday! If kept offroad, you may have option of SORNing it to save on road tax! Most storage yards would likely insist it was still insured though!

Proper secure storage facilities around London are often oversubscribed, with quite a waiting list for a space, AND pricy! - my caravan is stored in Hertfordshire (and I live in London near A406), this year's renewal notice quotes just under £900 pa, and that is NOT the most expensive I could find! - charges will vary depending of size of storage space required and the unit. Secure storage in a recognised storage facility usually brings an insurance premium discount, which does offset the cost a little bit.

Disadvantage of remote storage is that you have to make some effort to visit and maintain the vehicle! Not good to leave it standing in same spot for months on end, damages the tyres for one. It's a vehicle, so battery (there'll likely be two, the normal vehicle battery and a leisure battery!) needs keeping charged or it (they) will be damaged beyond recovery in a few months, possibly weeks if any discharge from say alarms and trackers etc. Solar panels can help with that. Few, if any, have EHU to the individual storage bay. The vehicle mechanicals in all forms would benefit from regular driving.

Most storage yards have access restrictions, the best it's probably only restricted to daylight hours but otherwise free and unobstructed 365 day access by electronic pass or key lock, but some need a day or two notice of your intent to access and require staff to grant you access! Some allow you to access your vehicle yourself, others will use staff to bring the vehicle off site to you! There is quite a lot of variation in operating practice, you need to check T&Cs carefully! TBH, some are really not very convenient to the user! The better sites will have something like a service area with water and EHU so you can wash and maintain your vehicle, AND get a mobile service engineer to do routine servicing, ideally you need the habitation part checked/serviced periodically by a specialist engineer (for gas, mains electric safety etc.), as well as base vehicle servicing, most will prevent any kind of work being done on the vehicle whilst in it's storage space/bay!

There's a host of variables in all aspects, so cant be too specific, but hopefully some insight.

There are a few places to check out for secure storage, there is a storage yard trade association, and both camping clubs have storage on some of their sites. Storage can be found on farms, and various more general storage facilities with highly variable benefits/disadvantages too!

https://www.cassoa.co.uk/
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/taking-care-of-your-outfit/carav........
https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/

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A very helpful answer, thanks so much for taking the time to type it.

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 18/11/2024

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Context is relevant here: not all streets are well suited to parking. We got our first MH because the guy could only store / park it on the Streep outside his house. He lost sleep every week when the big bin lorry squeezed by with inches to spare.
If a gang wants your vehicle (stolen to order), they’ll take it from a secure compound even if it’s got multiple security gadgets. Similarly, an opportunist will take it from outside the supermarket if you haven’t put a solid steering wheel lock on. Maybe check a few insurance policies, as location for the “usual” place might affect how much the premium is.
Having said all that, we can all remember the excitement of the first (or next) MH, caravan, tent or whatever. Thanks for reminding us!

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Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 21/11/2024

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Just make sure it will not block the road for lorry’s or Fire Engines etc. My Neibour is a fireman and if any obstruction they are told to just ram out of the way,

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Quote: Originally posted by benjamin163 on 19/11/2024

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 18/11/2024

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Context is relevant here: not all streets are well suited to parking. We got our first MH because the guy could only store / park it on the street outside his house. He lost sleep every week when the big bin lorry squeezed by with inches to spare.

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Someone down the road has a very smart VW and that's been there a few years so I guess you just gotta go for it!

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