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Hello all

We are new to this and luckily stumbled across this site so hoping to get some advice...

We are thinking about getting a van as having a very young family, think it will be ideal holiday. Prob have about £8,000 to spend, but willing to pay more if nec. Our main problem is where to keep it. We have a garage which is too low (width and length no problem, but door only 6ft high)

We have wondered about a) raising height of garage or b) lowering floor. Don't have any idea what cost these would entail and wondered if anyone had done it.

We have a smallish forecourt in front, but if we used this would lose our parking space. We live in an area where people already complain about parking and don't really want any agro. Anyway don't really want to keep it outside for security reasons and weathering etc.

We want the next step up from the smaller vans so the ones where the roof pops up wouldn't be big enough for space inside (unless anyone knows of any bigger models which have this??)

Does anyone have any advice or experience that might help us? Any info gratefully received.

Many thanks

Heidi

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/directory2/arearesults.asp?region=South+West&type=20

This list shows a storage place in Bristol, (1st one).No idea as to cost but lots of people do keep their vans in storage so as not to advertise they are away. There may well be others around, try yellow pages.

As to van type, I'd go to a large dealer or one of the motorhome shows and have a good look at all the different types and layouts. It also depends if you intent doing lots of weekend breaks or longer trips abroad.

Also welcome to this wonderful site. You will find just about everything you will need to know is here somewhere, but be warned, it's VERY addictive.

jules

Hi there Heidi,

The best thing you can do is to look around at as many diffferent types of van as you can, in and around Bristol there are several places as well as just outside, for example Western Super Mare, where you have Davants and West Country Motorhomes both have large selections of vans on show that you can look all over and take your tape measure to get accurate sizes.

We got our first van 6 years ago and have never looked back, I wish we had got one a lot sooner rather than trying trailer tents which we hardly ever used. Now we are hardly home when we have days off. The big bonus for me is I can take the kids away on my own if hubby has to work. I couldnt do that with the tents!

Happy hunting

Tina

Hi Heidi

we have  a VW fixed roof autosleeper which lives on the drive outside our garage. We started with a 'pop top' but changed as the advantage was non existent from having a pop up roof and the disadvantages were it let in the cold in chiller times (we are all year campers) and there was less storage. We only have our van it is our only vehicle. This year we have added  an awning and that has greatly increased living space it also has a bedroom if needed. We have done many trips and many miles and love it. Good luck in your searches.

Jen

Guys,

Thanks all for your advice. We will definitely get around to some dealers to look inside etc and weigh up the storage option. It seems as though there is one cost after another with owning a motor home/van, but from reading postings on this site, many people obviously think it is worth it. You have raised some other issues I never thought of as well... what a great site!

Thanks again

Heidi