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Hey all, I'm new to the forum and have come here to peruse the threads for random information that might help me. But, I might as well reach out and ask for advice from members. I'm a bit of a loner. I'm a HGV driver by trade and run an e-commerce business on the side. The thought of buying a house and signing up to a 25 year mortgage, then paying constant council tax, heating and water bills and pretty much getting shafted by companies left right and centre, also that a house also cannot move, which means I'd be stuck in one place. To be honest, it makes me feel sick to my stomach. Is this what life has to be? The UK seems to be extremely expensive too. My insurance for my motorycle goes up each year, and is at £550. My car is the same and that goes up by about £100 per year, despite getting more no claims (I have 10 years now). Anyway, I've been looking at getting something that I can live in all year round, but still be able to travel. As a HGV driver, I work 4 days on and 4 days off. So if I want to go away to the EU, I can book 4 days off and basically get 12 days to travel and see places. I'm self employed anyway so can basically take as much time off as I want, I just won't get paid for it. When I am working, I can park my motorhome/caravan/whatever at the RDC for those 4 days, and then go somewhere else for my 4 days off. The RDC has a shower room and stuff that I can use, but I'd probably just use my own. If I just need somewhere to park it locally, I can park outside my mothers house. She lives on an unadopted road in the country and there's a huge amount of space. I know the farmer and he'd be fine with me parking in on his road. If travelling, I'd stay in laybys and the odd country road, but use camping parks every so often for a break if I stay in one place for a while. I was in the RAF for 9 years, and before I got married lived in on base block accommodation. I paid £36 a month all in for a room that was basically a bedroom, with a small en-suite. I loved it, it was all I needed and my friends were just down the corridor. I got married and then got a bitter divorce. Now as a HGV driver, working in a sole occupation, doing a degree and running this side e-commerce business, friends can be hard to find and time can be at a premium. ------ So, what are my options? I have all DVLA licences so can drive anything I want. I also have a 2015 Honda VFR1200X which I would want to take with me (or downsize to something lighter as its 300kg). This is so when I go to Europe I can go off on that. I've just booked a month in Corsica, and go in June. I'm going on the bike, but staying in AirBnB's. The accomodation all in has cost around £1,800, which isn't too bad for a month in summer. I want to go away a few times each year preferably to see places in Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia. ----- Other than that, space is nice but not essential. Heat can be provided by a cab heater, but I'm fine with the cold. Air con would be important as I might go somewhere hot, I think they run off butane bottles? ----- Here's what I've been looking at: Caravans Good bit of space, but needs another vehicle to tow it which is an additional cost. Would need air con and cab heater retrofitted most likely. Also, i'd essentially be towing almost dead weight. If I go somewhere with hills or loose surface such as gravel or ice, then it'd be harder but by no means impossible. On alibaba, these look cool: Of course the cost to import would be prohibitive. Then I can get a fifth wheel trailer: Lots of space, and pretty cool. But, I would have to get a pickup truck too which can be expensive in the UK. Demand seems high. Again, aircon and cab heater may need to be retrofitted. Lastly, and currently my favourite option, American RV: Totally self contained, probably has cab heater and aircon fitted. One tax and insurance bill. If it's left hand drive, I'd probably try to re-register it in France via a PO box and then not pay tax and only have to MOT it every 24 months, plus I could maybe get cheaper insurance over there that might extend to the UK. Engine charges batteries when moving. Rigid which makes it easier to reverse (no blind side). It would also be able to take a motorcycle on the back. Where as on a caravan or fifth wheel trailer, this adds a degree of instability to both. I'm not sure it's advisable to put a 300kg bike on the back of a standard caravan. In fact, just typing that makes me feel silly, so it's probably correct... I'd be absolutely at home in this RV. It's more than big enough, and I'd have the freedom to go wherever I want. Only downside is it'd be thirsty on diesel. If I can get hold of a petrol one I'd consider LPG'ing it which might remove the tax in the UK anyway. The other downside is that they are expensive. This one is £25,000 on eBay. When I get back from Corsica, I'd be paying my bike off, which is my only debt. I can either save up for a year or two, or get an RV on finance and just pay it monthly, although £25,000 is a fair size finance. I'm highly employable as a HGV driver so job security isn't a worry. The issue is getting finance on a vehicle from a private trader like from eBay. Of course, with no bills pretty much, I'd be able to save a fair bit of money and as I can't fill it with junk, I might actually be able to enjoy life. Maybe even save up for a large deposit and buy a house in the UK on a buy to let. So the tenants can pay the mortgage. Let them pay the mortgage and fees for me. I'd probably settle eventually, but I doubt it 'd be in the UK. Maybe Spain or in central europe. So that's my issue(s). I'd really appreciate any input that you may have. (PS, no wife or kids, I'm 33 and from Durham UK)