Nice! I've been looking for info on the legalities and practicalities of off-grid/tiny house living in the UK and yours is the first I've seen. Nicely filmed and presented too :)
Thanks for this information Andrew. We are newish to motorhoming, having been tent campers for years, so the details regarding CL sites is fantastic. Thanks for the tip.
Loved your video. One of the best on living off the grid I have seen to date. I will be visiting this video many more times to tweak and improve my own off grid resources. Thank you so much. :)
I just posted lots of cheap energy solutions for off grid / camping. always drive around your daily trips with something plugged into vehicle cig lighter socket, ( charging as you go ) try not to ever plug it in at home / off grid van / caravan while parked. If you do pay for power hook up on site, then you Must charge everything to the top before leaving to go roaming. and carry a Mains electric fan heater in cold weather to heat the van, and dry the van and damp items inside it. electric heating gives out DRY warm air. combustible /burning fuels give out moisture into the air. combat the damp heat with warm air when you can at low cost or no extra cost. Insulation is great ! , But, ventilation is needed to avoid damp, mould, moisture build up. open a window but run dry heat any chance you get. open all doors and windows on hot days as much as is practical. hang all soft furnishings on a washing line in the sun and breeze any chance you get ( or a tree ) on warm sunny breezy days. Always cook with maximum vents / windows / doors open as much as is practical. connect a tube or pipe, to a cab heater vent with tape ? etc ? to push hot air as you drive to the rear of the van / bed area, run the cab heater on full as you drive in cold weather = Free heat ! OK wear Tshirt and shorts as you drive if it's too hot, and open a window but it will heat your bed / bed area ready for a cold night. and stop items from freezing up in icy temps. ( use a hose from a vacuum cleaner or similar ? ) I have many more simple cheap ideas needing almost no skills or big money to make work. anyone who cannot apply my ideas or adapt them to suit should book into a 5* hotel and forget van living. I'm talking UK English weather and temp's here, not tropical, or polar extremes !
Never thought of going off grid, always been to sites with play parks and swimming pools for the kids, but after your video, we are thinking of trying it for a weekend. Thanks
Well, you have started something here. Weekend away booked on a CL site without leccy . £7 per night all in and we are not geared up for this. One leisure battery and a car to charge it if needed, by the way, never ran caravan on gas, but as she is only 3 years old hopefully all will work ok but that all adds to the fun.
Good info on boondocking. I too like travel trailers vs motorhomes. Cause sometimes...well almost always when u boondock you are not close enough to places that have trails, a grocery store or laundry mat , ect. I have two 90 watt panels and they are great. Have a good day.
I Would love To do some travel for couple 2 yeas with the set up like your someone to cheer the moment, special with all the options of a transportations you have ( the car and the motocycle, make so much fun !!! Great choice, good luck ,
Just for people watching - if you're thinking 'oh damn, I'd really like a TV in there though' then you can just put some more solar A solar panel costs approximately £1/W - new And obviously buying used (if you can find it) will be cheaper You can get 12v TVs and you can calculate the power usage etc pretty easy (just one KwH is the equivalent to running something 1Kw for 1 hour Or 500w for 2 hours etc) You don't need to give up as much as he has, if you are willing to spend some extra money (perhaps if need be on a lithium battery for better performance) then you can keep nearly all the things you'd like
Hi Andrew, I found you this morning (due to rain so I am staying in the tent :) ) Good tips regarding the gear. I'd mentioned in a previous comment that I am just about to start building a caravan with the intent to tour Europe. Being horse drawn I won't have the benefit of a car to assist with charging, but my electric needs are minimal, laptop, camera and phone (soon to be replaced with 3G tablet, so I'll be even more frugal with my needs.). As far as the other stuff is concerned, I've lived for about 8 yrs without a fridge, so my storage is generally pickling, smoking, curing or fermenting (I'm been fairly nomadic to date, but fortunate enough to be able to take on abandoned farms as on site security, caretaker etc. I'm looking at the fact that I am unable to put down long term roots, so rathr than see it as a failure, I am embracing the enforced lifestyle and become a fully fledged nomad.) But I digress. My cooking is done with a self made rocket stove, it uses far less wood than traditional wood burners (twigs and small branches) it's also far more efficient and my one hot meal a day is generally done to a turn. Water heating I heat up water a couple of times a day and then fill my large thermos. I've also come to enjoy cold coffee and tea :) Heating is going to be my issue as I will be living year round in my caravan, however, Ihave used a wood burning stove before (which doubles as a slow cooker) and with the availability of peat as a fuel out here, I find that closing the damper in the evening I will wake to a stove that is still warm in the morning and will reignite when I put fuel in. I have also recently been making penny, or hobo stoves from old beer cans (simple and easy to do) they run off spirits such as meths, and this week I will be trying one out as a heat source to see how efficient it is. Our lifestyles may be at different ends of the spectrum, but I find your tips both informative and entertaining. I'll shortly be starting my own channel when I start the vardo project, might send you the link if you ask nicely :) Thanks for the vids!
So, here's my newly created FB page that will follow the highs and lws of building my new mobile home, feel free to pop by :) facebook.com/The-way-of-the-fifth-wheel-1465768156842699/
very useful had not thought about the solar panel if portable being stolen if you went out for the day. We had a trailer tent for 10 years before moving up to a caravan last year. We never had anything pinched but times have changed.
flexible / portable solar panels in windscreen / dash wherever / whenever. always in the sun and always secure. sorry no figures on cost vs efficiency but the sun shines before you awake and every minute of sun is charging. and panels are safe from theft. + plus have a portable panel for times when you are in good company,/ or far away alone to catch extra rays ! Why camp where they would steal a portable solar panel ? bad choice in the first place ! ( BAD JUDGEMENT of area / site etc ! ) use your portable panel when you are with it or close by. better still use your head and think before leaving it outside ! have multiple battery charging options to suit where you intend to be. NOBODY CAN LIVE FOR FREE ! It's nice to live Green, it's nice to live cheap, Its also just as much fun to work in a job you enjoy, or trade or deal, or run a small hobby business, or do a couple of hours overtime. Everyone needs money to live. sadly there is no FREE TICKET OPTION ! ( ok there is actually but don't come crying and begging to me )
The fact that I haven't thought of using my truck's gigantic 100 something amp alternator to charge my battery bank when it gets low after a few cloudy days... makes me very upset at myself. Thank you for pointing out something I overlooked, good sir.
True! We're going to be outfitted with solar so lots of sun would definitely help. But after this summer in Southern AZ in the Airstream we will prioritize following the cool temperatures over sun. Too much sun is a bad thing too since then we NEED our AC. Thanks again :)
+RV Ken Living Free Hi Ken, I had a look at US T@bs and T@gs while I was in Georgia in September - SOO cool! Our T@bs in Europe don't have the washroom in the small model like the US version. Happy travels!
Yes, the wet bath was a decisive feature for me (I think it's their best-selling version). It's quite amazing that all of that fits withing 15 ft (including hitch). I think T@Bs& T@Gs are among the best-made and designed small American travel trailers. And the Alde system is fantastic. Thanks -- I'll continue enjoying your channel.
Soon to take delivery of a new motor home. Loved the video and whilst I wouldn't want to live this life full time I admire those that do. My one thought is that if you are mortgage and rent free, then living in a motorhome or caravan isn't much cheaper than owning your own home.
I guess this is now two years old so no guarantee you still use the same gear (even though you do use the same Airstream) but the electricity situation could be improved markedly. You could get over 300 watts out of a single panel these days, and could probably fit 500+ in total up there. And the batteries could be Lithium ferrous, which is also a major improvement and give you literally days of power. But of course, that would set you back a few grand in total.
Thank you for this video. A few questions, if I may - How much does your caravan weigh? I am looking for something that seems roomy but can easily be towed by my Honda Pilot vs having to sell it, buy something else AND also buy the trailer/caravan - that's a lot of buying that I'd like to avoid. Second question: Is it possible to have 2 solar panels on top of the caravan to boost power? Or, perhaps have one mounted and one portable? So far I have not see any that have more than one panel which is why I ask this question. Perhaps the Airstream is not designed for more than one panel or there is no place for extra batteries I do not know. I did not see where your batteries are stored. Again, thank you for sharing. Please tell us where you are in that beautiful countryside where you are staying.
I note you using an inverter to charge Canon ... as another little tip, for those batteries (and probably others) you can get USB powered chargers from 7dayshop or (I think) Amazon for about £5. At that price I keep one permanently in my van - which proved useful when I went off to Italy on a photo trip and forgot the regular charger.
Years ago when our children were young we had one leisure battery and ran everything for 2 weeks in summer as we didn't use a tv. The lights weren't led then. You never put the awning light on as this gobbled up juice. We had one large calor with a small one for emergencies. The children were fairly feral but they became inventive for entertainment. I still find hook ups complicated and forget to use the electric.
Your Airstream is already nicely setup with the fridge, stove and heater that run on gas so my suggestion will be not good for your van but can be of use for other viewers. One way to be off the grid will be to fit in the car an second high amps alternator (250 amps or more) instead of a portable generator. The other option is to have a diesel stove-HWS and heater. They are very economic to run.
Freetasman Thanks! Diesel HW and heating systems are popular in motorhomes over here and as rare as Unicorn Droppings in Trailer caravans for some reason. I guess because you really can get the cylinders of LPG everywhere - including every island in the Outer Hebrides. I think it's always a good idea to have an alternative powered source for everything and as you say, your suggestion is a good one especially for folks who might be renovating an old unit or fitting out a camper van/Moho. Thanks a lot!
I use gas and solar panels when I'm off grid in my tent which is great. For WiFi i have a pod for 6 hours continuous use without charging so I can check my emails as I can take it on my boat with me.
this is what i am doing in 3 weeks. Or so I hoped. I have got to get a caravan and a car that can tow one. I live on the edge lol. I have just done an 8 month stint on a caravan park. I am tired of working for other people, so this is scary. I have 2 dogs to content with also . This is my 3rd year of leaving my old life. Its all a learning process)
@Andrew Ditton, firstly, Merry Christmas! Actually stumbled across your channel yesterday as am subscribed to "the more we explore" who are Airstream owners as you are and love the design and concept not to mention the lifestyle! More intrigued when I saw your options for off-grid power and the Triumph transport set-up as am a biker myself so I happily subscribed. I get with your views on the minimalism concept, it is a journey. Now where do I get an Airstream 532 International................
Nordkapp Thanks for your message, Merry Christmas to you too! No doubt you've already found the video to loading the bike on the truck. And I know that Adventure Leisure Vehicles in Tebay UK have a couple of immaculate 532s for sale! Will check out those other Airstreamers, cheers!
Cheers for that, need to research more so booked in to the NEC for February to the Caravan and MH exhibition. Have moved from campervan to RV to Caravan in my research! Like to unhitch the load and explore, no need to bring your M home to every town and trailhead.
An interesting video thanks. I'm a caravanner but we always have hookup. My shed at home is very much off grid - up to 350 watts of solar on the roof now but I can't convince my wife we can live without the mains for a weekend. Anyway the point I want to make is this... all those things you have charging up during the day are DC devices. However you are converting your 12 volt DC to 230 volts AC then back down to 5 volts DC again for example. Very inefficient not least because of the multiple conversions, but the modified sine wave of the cheap inverters makes many AC devices less efficient. May I suggest a good Cigarette / accessory socket USB charger for your iPad, phone etc, a DC powered camera battery charger, and you can also get a step-up converter for your mac book. Thanks again for the video.
Adam Welch Thanks for the tip Adam, I do use the 12v chargers for the iPad, iPhone, and AA battery charger. When it comes to the MacBook I've not yet found something 12v that is man enough for the current, and with the Canon charger I've not found a 12v lead. It was Apple who sold me the 'posh' invertor, I guess for its sine wave pattern, and that's why the cheap invertor is only used for the shaver etc. I take on board your point about inefficient, but this is a way of not buying and then storing a load of leads for specific electronics- it's just cheaper and easier to use an invertor with the supplied mains plug. Cheers!
Andrew Ditton, I have 12v car chargers for my Canon batteries. I don't know if they sell them on Amazon UK, but I got mine from Amazon in the US. I can dig up the link if you like...
I can see sense in what you say here, Yes modern cars have cig lighter sockets front / rear and in the boot / far rear, and have done for 20 yrs ! use them all to charge everything. Cars / Vehicles have makers warranty ! use it ! alternators / batteries have makers warranties 1, 3 , 5 yrs etc even replacement parts have warranties / guarantees etc USE THEM ! make the most of them ! Converting AC to DC and back etc is not very efficient i see that sense. No-ONE can live forever for FREE ! Life comes with a COST ! TIME or MONEY ? HOW ABT ? GET A FRIGGIN JOB ? DO BUSINESS, Create, Generate, give more than you beg or scrounge ? if you can't give it, then you don't deserve it. Nothing is cheap or for Free anywhere in this world ! you have to get off yer arse and invent it generate and create it. Or ? Steal it then go to Jail ! the only place you can live for free ! BEHIND BARS and Locked doors.
Inspirational, only found your vlogs as my husband and I were looking at anything related to Swifts new basecamp. We have decided to give up on our Granvia campervan next year and we've been thinking of getting a caravan for years, the basecamp gives us everything that we've felt has been missing from other vans. Anyways would you be willing to share the location of the campsite featured in this video (or are you wanting to keep the spot secret so you can carry on enjoying it!). Thanks for the videos!
Raymond Lindley-Reynolds Hi Raymond, thanks for the lovely message. I'm afraid I keep my whereabouts a bit of a mystery for the reasons of van security and to keep my insurance company happy! I'm envious at you and your hubster getting a Basecamp as I used to have an ABI Adventurer which was similar, and it was a huge amount of fun. Enjoy! :)
I'd like to be a full time tourer in a campervan I could base it near my job .. but without an address how would I manage? For DVLA Police etc Is it possible to get by without a residential address? ..apart from using someone else's address? I know that a P.O.Box is not acceptable with DVLA and some authorities
Cool :) looks the same as my set up ! You can get car chargers for the apple gear, which negates the need for inverters altogether ... All the best ! .....J
jools.in.a.motorhome.uk Thanks Jools! Will look into the Apple stuff, but it was Apple that sold me the posh inverter, and while not so efficient, it does have a wider use. Cheers!
+Andrew Ditton The charger for my MacBook Air is made by Lavolta - Amazon uk - they make a range of 12v chargers for all Apple laptops. I'm curious... What else do you use the inverter for ? I found I needed an inverter to charge 'hair clippers' ... If I were continuing this lifestyle I'd probably get one to run a coffee grinder... I had a 1000w inverter for a year, never used it because I found ways of getting direct 12v into appliances. Love the Honda generator ! Awesome bit of backup kit !
jools.in.a.motorhome.uk Mainly charging batteries - camera, flash, video lights, and also if I need to charge phone/iPad in a hurry. Yup, the Honda genny is the business!
So sad this CL has had to close down, can you recommend any others in the Midlands area, as I (we) are new to Caravanning and have been to 2 full service pitches so far, and would like to try off grid for a couple of days as we are at a couple of festivals later on this year which will also be off grid.
Great video - thanks! How do you transport your motorcycle? At first I figured you use the bed of your pickup truck but then I saw on the video you have a cover over it.
Hi, Andrew: First of all, my wife and I love your channel. Being into both simplicity and camping, you are a welcome kindred spirit. My question doesn't really relate to this particular video, but in it I see you're towing your Airstream with what I believe is a Nissan Navara (I believe it's the equivalent of the Nissan Frontier here in the States). Do you (or did you) find the Navara a capable vehicle for towing the Airstream? I need to find a replacement truck for towing our 2270 KG travel trailer. I currently have a massive diesel 3/4 ton 4x4 truck, but it's pushing 23 years, the body is rusting rapidly, and is overkill for our needs. We do live in the mountains here in North Carolina, and I do wonder if a truck as small as the Navara could handle the ups and downs. Any thoughts? Thanks and keep up the great work!
Either stay on a rural site where there is a tap and an emptying pit, or use council facilities like the ones on the Isle of Harris which incur a small charge.
Love your vids, so good to get info that relates to the UK. I have three questions: how do you find sites like this one?, are there things in the UK like the American tribes where people travel in a group? People keep talking about amp hours, what does it mean? Many thanks.
Why not use more cheap solar lighting to save the Hse batt's ? £ shop / cheap supermarket camping lights with built in solar chargers as background / or table light glow. Also i would have a fold out portable solar panel for times when needed or appropriate as an add on to existing set up. ( sunny days in winter + long cold dark nights etc.) 2 house batt's ? put a 3rd hse batt' in a spare space in the pick up truck charged by the alternator as you drive. as a back up for when your caravan is pitched up for a while. Charge up - as you drive to the shops etc. Also place a flexible solar panel in the pickup windscreen while parked wherever you happen to be on a sunny day. ( i charge many mini / cheap solar lights in my south facing bedroom window sill all yr round just for fun / trial / experiment even those at £1.00 ) OK not a big fix solution but every amp helps, and they are cheap ( or every self powered Lamp helps ) look at camping equipment in the ? Cheap four letter supermarkets we have in every town in UK. you know the ones i mean. ( Lidaldi and the others ) Gadget guru's will fault them and spend 20X the price but why not, buy it, use it , Bin it, buy another. cheap and simple. Also, Why not charge every rechargeable device up as you drive to work / jobs / shopping trips / other road use ? work that car alternator while its under car warranty / replacement warranty ? ( they are £150 - £350 on most cars /vans. ok may be £500 ? so use it every mile you drive. endless electricity if you balance it. Yes it will cost in the end but hey ! unlimited electric if you get the balance right of charge vs useage.
Thanks, I like this lifestyle, Financial sense and REALITY makes Sense. No- one can live for free ! MAX out Every single opportunity for free/ green / cheap power. have a small windmill / turbine system for extra / backup power. kick out the junk and hobbies equipment and carry a small potable water turbine. ( when near flowing water.) Live by Candle light as much as possible / or streetlight via roof vents,glass sunroofs etc. Earn Money / Charge money to sleep all day in a van, C'van / Motorhome . WHAT LAWS and Regulations ? European countries , = No intende Espaniol NO Hablar INGLAIS. NO ITALIANO ! Danke Spagettii Gratzi TWADDLE EM OFF into the wilderness with bullshit ! Yorkshire style ! NO COMPRENDE' Nature reserve conservation study. Govt Scientific Research vehicle university of WANG PON TOON nature study in Progress please do not disturb. Paint your van with CORPORATE LOGO's etc. and KEEP it under 5 yrs old ! fit cameras to record any intrusion by anyone in uniform or official in a suit & tie . FREEDOM IS A HUMAN RIGHT !
Thanks Andrew, i like to watch your vid's. i think 100 Good ideas X 100 people = Genius ! add every idea to the 'POT' One day one will make a Million ! and the best of the rest will save a lot of people a lot of money. ok not all about money, but save time effort, or environment. every hour of light is Treasure if you are ' OFF GRID ' ( light or heat, or fone charge could save a life. ) if you never need it, Maybe a friend or stranger who is not yet your friend may need extra power. The same as in life, - IF Your POT is Full - then you can give or share a small amount. IF your POT is Overflowing everyday you can give freely to others who are in real genuine need. if your POT is EMPTY - it then turns into a begging bowl. then you must ask others to give more than they can spare. This applies to - energy, money, food, water, wood, coal, gas, And MOST OF ALL HAPPINESS. People stick together and help eachother if you are in the same Boat. Classic cars always flash lights and wave as they pass. White van men are never rude or bad mannered on the roads we all flash OTHER VANS out of junctions and we all drive classics, or Merc's or Beemers or Rangey's after work. Canal boaters open bridges and share help and advice. Caravaners do same. off griders i hope would do same.
About the caravan, do you ever leave it there alone? I mean can you drive away with the navara and let the caravan behind for a few hours not being afraid of theft? Can't someone just go there and tow it away? Thanks
+Billy McQuade No point Billy. When I left, the owner told me she's decided to close it down - not enough revenue to justify her time :((((( That's why I think it's even more important to try and keep these cheap 'basic' CLs afloat.
I have heard other Airstream owners say that the trailer rides so low to the ground that it makes going into the wild and off-grid a challenge to avoid bottoming out. Have you experienced any such problems camping in areas out in the open where there are no other people around? Also, did you install the solar yourself or did the panel come with the caravan when you purchased it?
I love the idea of living in a caravan full time and not having to pay for a house and stuff like that, the airstream looks very good quality but I honestly don't see the point of spending about 80k euros or more in a caravan like that, plus an 4x4 in this case a beautiful nissan navara. Thats easily more than 100k euros, you could buy a house with that much money
Kind of late to the party here but great video. Sorry for my limited knowledge here but how do you use the truck alternator to charge the trailer batteries? Some type of direct connection from the truck battery as in jumper cables or something more technical in nature?
Hi Doug, cool dudes never turn up early to a party ;@) When you hook up the caravan to tow it, you plug in the caravan's electrics to the car then. In Europe, the 13 pin socket is the standard way to do it. Running the engine with this plugged in will charge the caravan battery through the caravan's controller using any excess power left over from charging the car battery. In days of old you had to flick switches and stuff but now it's all done automatically.
Thanks for the reply Andrew. Hopefully the charging would work the same here in the states. I can check, just didn't realize the connection also charged the batteries. That would certainly lessen the fear of draining the house batteries. Trying to decide between a small trailer (BaseCamp or Sport 16J) and a camper van.
Not to my knowledge. Your best bet is to join one of the Clubs - Caravan Club or Camping & Caravan Club, and peruse their directory of 'Certificated Locations' (Caravan Club)/'Certificated Sites' (Camping & Caravan Club). I may be wrong, so if anyone knows of such a website...
Another great video Andrew, do you have more information about your gas conversation, also with solar panels if I had more than 1 100w say 3 100w panels would this power things like the fridge etc in affect to keep gas costs down while off grid. Thanks Adam
Hi Adam, it would be pretty impossible to power a regular 3-way fridge from the battery even with solar panels. You would need a compressor fridge as fitted to many camper vans, and then it would become a viable option with 3 x 100 w panels in an appropriate climate. You'd be OK in most places in the UK from April to October. Cheers.
...and the gas system is from Gaslow, so check out their website. But do bear in mind that LPG is becoming increasingly difficult to source at the pump. I'd recommend one refillable (Gaslow or SafeFill) and one Calor. A Calor 13kg propane/15kg Butane is the best compromise for price and ease of availability.
You *could* but with anything like that it all depends on your consumption, size of battery etc. Best get a battery meter if no reader in your van and keep an eye on the battery levels.
There's a really nice caravan park next to RAF Mildenhall, if you'd like to watch the planes. And, there is an AWESOME Indian restaurant in the town of Mildenhall (g.co/kgs/WAAUhA)! I drove past it every day on my way home from work at the base. Enjoy touring your country.
watching this dreaming that we were brave enough to do this kinda thing with our toddler in tow . ugh what I would give lol I'm ill with chronic fatigue syndrome and hate the stress of bad neighbours above us in our tiny non sound proofed housing association flat. ... maybe 1 day . I want to homeschool anyway
There *ARE* people who do this and homeschool their kids, do a search on the Meek Family who have been doing it in the UK. I don't know a lot about your illness and if it might ever pass, but it sounds rotten and debilitating, so obviously you need to be 'realistic' too. Living like this depends on being fairly healthy, or having an understanding partner! Whatever you do, don't stop dreaming. All the best.
Andrew Ditton thank u 😊 my hubby is great with helping me. my condition is exacerbated by stress and I absolutely don't enjoy being here . We'd obviously need to be based close enough to hubby's work though I guess that limits us mon to Fri
Hi. Isuggest to relieve your chronic fatigue to try universal peace energy healing video on Satorial light channel. Its very powerful . If you require further fre remote energy work u van leave a comment . I had chronic fatigue and now do not. pEace
Studies link CFS with inflammation in the body. Address this in many ways with someone like a Functional Medicine doctor or a Naturopathic doctor with understanding in treating the whole body (not just symptoms). Diet would be the easiest and cheapest place to start before saturating body with man-made chemicals. see: th-cam.com/video/Cr3c6Ahr8Ks/w-d-xo.html and simmaronresearch.com/2017/08/major-stanford-study-indicates-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-is-inflammatory-disorder/ Take charge of your life...your body with good healthy living guidance...not simply relegate responsibility to someone else who dishes out meds to treat symptoms only and at the end of the day goes home and doesn't give you another thought (which you probably are not doing, I just say this for everyone to read). My cousin had this and was able to manage it by changing her diet and reducing inflammation triggers in her life (environmental, stress, etc.). And I pray you fell better so you can go out and explore the world like you dream of doing. :-)
well, you kinda can go off grid but you would need solar panels and 2 filters (just for half a year or so) and a pump. you also need petrol (if you are travelling) and also gas (but you can also bring a grill and some wood)
I'm sure these kind of guys do some real hard core stuff. But after finding out a few 'behind the scenes' facts about some of these so-called adventure types (not Mr Grylls who I consider to be a Gentleman of the highest degree as I do Sir Ranulph) I remain a little sceptical about how rugged and tough they really are. Just ask the good people of the Uist chain in the Outer Hebrides...
Buy a 4x4 or you'll be stuck when the grass is sodden, most pitches are on grass fields, some but not many might have a hard standing area. FWD or RWD family saloons pulling a caravan get stuck surprising easily.
+Azureecosse On your cars were you using Mud and Snow / winter tyres or normal summer tyres? I used to tow with a RWD Volvo and FWD Ford and I was always spinning wheels on wet fields and getting stuck on the slightest incline. Never mind the ruts I was leaving. In the end I bought an Audi quattro estate to solve the problem - which clearly doesn't use much extra fuel.
Raymond Juancito Hi Raymond, I have a rear cycle carrier that you can get from Airstream Europe in Germany which is custom made for EU Airstreams and goes on the front or back.
The UK is a very windy country, kill all the arguments about solar power failings in winter / night / dark. by having a fold out extendable wind turbine set up to back up your solar. solar is fine in Auz / California, Tropical areas. in Britain i would also look to WIND ! wind is constant 24/ 7 / 365 . Windpower is best in UK. i have lots of ideas and ways a good engineer could make it work very cheap and practical. car / vehicle exhaust gas spins the turbo at high rev's . ok a secondary turbo just behind it would spin almost as fast with the draught / spent force of the primary turbo to add a charge to a battery.
Great ideas, but many folks have tried - and failed - to use wind on a small scale. Anything smaller than a community turbine seems to end up generating more maintenance and repair bills than it does electricity! Hopefully smaller turbines will become more robust, but few have yet made it work on a realistic scale although you do see a few boats with small turbines. Cheers.
Punter fodder. small wind is designed to fail because IT WORKS ! and they are scared stiff that someone will build small scale wind that works and sell it cheap = the end of fracking, and nuclear, and the price of solar will crash. = free or very cheap power for all. Domestic wind is the next billion £ boom industry. the wind turbines i look at spin 24 hours a day they hardly ever stop.
This is honestly mostly poppycock. The only way you can get any reliable power out of wind is if you build it very high, which means you have to start carting around a giant pole or tower. The wind only blows reliably way up in the air, the higher you get the better. Great for your off-grid homestead, but mostly nonsense for a mobile offgrid person.
Nice! I've been looking for info on the legalities and practicalities of off-grid/tiny house living in the UK and yours is the first I've seen. Nicely filmed and presented too :)
+treeefrogUK Thank you! Yes, there is lot out there about 'The Makeover' but not a lot on the practicalities.
Thanks for this information Andrew. We are newish to motorhoming, having been tent campers for years, so the details regarding CL sites is fantastic. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you very much :)
Loved your video. One of the best on living off the grid I have seen to date. I will be visiting this video many more times to tweak and improve my own off grid resources. Thank you so much. :)
I just posted lots of cheap energy solutions for off grid / camping.
always drive around your daily trips with something plugged into vehicle cig lighter socket, ( charging as you go ) try not to ever plug it in at home / off grid van / caravan while parked.
If you do pay for power hook up on site, then you Must charge everything to the top before leaving to go roaming.
and carry a Mains electric fan heater in cold weather to heat the van, and dry the van and damp items inside it.
electric heating gives out DRY warm air. combustible /burning fuels give out moisture into the air. combat the damp heat with warm air when you can at low cost or no extra cost.
Insulation is great ! , But, ventilation is needed to avoid damp, mould, moisture build up. open a window but run dry heat any chance you get.
open all doors and windows on hot days as much as is practical.
hang all soft furnishings on a washing line in the sun and breeze any chance you get ( or a tree ) on warm sunny breezy days.
Always cook with maximum vents / windows / doors open as much as is practical.
connect a tube or pipe, to a cab heater vent with tape ? etc ? to push hot air as you drive to the rear of the van / bed area, run the cab heater on full as you drive in cold weather = Free heat ! OK wear Tshirt and shorts as you drive if it's too hot, and open a window but it will heat your bed / bed area ready for a cold night. and stop items from freezing up in icy temps. ( use a hose from a vacuum cleaner or similar ? )
I have many more simple cheap ideas needing almost no skills or big money to make work.
anyone who cannot apply my ideas or adapt them to suit should book into a 5* hotel and forget van living.
I'm talking UK English weather and temp's here, not tropical, or polar extremes !
good tips - bad attitude
Never thought of going off grid, always been to sites with play parks and swimming pools for the kids, but after your video, we are thinking of trying it for a weekend. Thanks
Cheers! A weekend is a good call to start just in case everyone hates it! But hopefully the family will enjoy the enforced change.
Well, you have started something here. Weekend away booked on a CL site without leccy . £7 per night all in and we are not geared up for this. One leisure battery and a car to charge it if needed, by the way, never ran caravan on gas, but as she is only 3 years old hopefully all will work ok but that all adds to the fun.
Good info on boondocking. I too like travel trailers vs motorhomes. Cause sometimes...well almost always when u boondock you are not close enough to places that have trails, a grocery store or laundry mat , ect. I have two 90 watt panels and they are great. Have a good day.
Ok. You've pretty much convinced me. I need to do this.
I've only just discovered your channel and I love it already. Thanks for some great tips.
Campervan Mike Cheers Mike, look forward to checking out your channel too!
Great tips! I'm thinking about getting a small caravan and I would do mostly off grid camping.
You're a very inspiring person and I just love your lifestyle. Stay safe and I stay tuned 👌🏼😀
Thank you so much - and welcome aboard! :)
Triumph? Silver colour of choice? Very nice! New to the idea of vanlife. Interesting! 👍
Excellent stuff Andrew, thoroughly enjoyed this one. Very informative.
Thanks Mr T. Not terribly tecchy but hopefully will give folks some ideas.
I Would love To do some travel for couple 2 yeas with the set up like your someone to cheer the moment, special with all the options of a transportations you have ( the car and the motocycle, make so much fun !!! Great choice, good luck ,
Just for people watching - if you're thinking 'oh damn, I'd really like a TV in there though' then you can just put some more solar
A solar panel costs approximately £1/W - new
And obviously buying used (if you can find it) will be cheaper
You can get 12v TVs and you can calculate the power usage etc pretty easy (just one KwH is the equivalent to running something 1Kw for 1 hour
Or 500w for 2 hours etc)
You don't need to give up as much as he has, if you are willing to spend some extra money (perhaps if need be on a lithium battery for better performance) then you can keep nearly all the things you'd like
Hi Andrew, I found you this morning (due to rain so I am staying in the tent :) ) Good tips regarding the gear.
I'd mentioned in a previous comment that I am just about to start building a caravan with the intent to tour Europe.
Being horse drawn I won't have the benefit of a car to assist with charging, but my electric needs are minimal, laptop, camera and phone (soon to be replaced with 3G tablet, so I'll be even more frugal with my needs.).
As far as the other stuff is concerned, I've lived for about 8 yrs without a fridge, so my storage is generally pickling, smoking, curing or fermenting (I'm been fairly nomadic to date, but fortunate enough to be able to take on abandoned farms as on site security, caretaker etc. I'm looking at the fact that I am unable to put down long term roots, so rathr than see it as a failure, I am embracing the enforced lifestyle and become a fully fledged nomad.)
But I digress.
My cooking is done with a self made rocket stove, it uses far less wood than traditional wood burners (twigs and small branches) it's also far more efficient and my one hot meal a day is generally done to a turn. Water heating I heat up water a couple of times a day and then fill my large thermos. I've also come to enjoy cold coffee and tea :)
Heating is going to be my issue as I will be living year round in my caravan, however, Ihave used a wood burning stove before (which doubles as a slow cooker) and with the availability of peat as a fuel out here, I find that closing the damper in the evening I will wake to a stove that is still warm in the morning and will reignite when I put fuel in.
I have also recently been making penny, or hobo stoves from old beer cans (simple and easy to do) they run off spirits such as meths, and this week I will be trying one out as a heat source to see how efficient it is.
Our lifestyles may be at different ends of the spectrum, but I find your tips both informative and entertaining. I'll shortly be starting my own channel when I start the vardo project, might send you the link if you ask nicely :)
Thanks for the vids!
Wow! That sounds fantastic Mike. Please please please please... ;@)
So, here's my newly created FB page that will follow the highs and lws of building my new mobile home, feel free to pop by :) facebook.com/The-way-of-the-fifth-wheel-1465768156842699/
Would love to see a video from you on how to make a penny (hobo) stove.
Thanks for this video! I found it really helpful, as I'm planning to move into a motorhome in the new year and want to be as independent as possible.
Well done that man!
Cheers Ian.
Some very good tips there, thank you.
very useful had not thought about the solar panel if portable being stolen if you went out for the day. We had a trailer tent for 10 years before moving up to a caravan last year. We never had anything pinched but times have changed.
It's just a consideration Andrew. Solar panels can be quite costly things.
flexible / portable solar panels in windscreen / dash wherever / whenever. always in the sun and always secure.
sorry no figures on cost vs efficiency but the sun shines before you awake and every minute of sun is charging.
and panels are safe from theft. + plus have a portable panel for times when you are in good company,/ or far away alone to catch extra rays !
Why camp where they would steal a portable solar panel ? bad choice in the first place ! ( BAD JUDGEMENT of area / site etc ! )
use your portable panel when you are with it or close by.
better still use your head and think before leaving it outside !
have multiple battery charging options to suit where you intend to be.
NOBODY CAN LIVE FOR FREE !
It's nice to live Green, it's nice to live cheap,
Its also just as much fun to work in a job you enjoy, or trade or deal, or run a small hobby business, or do a couple of hours overtime.
Everyone needs money to live.
sadly there is no FREE TICKET OPTION ! ( ok there is actually but don't come crying and begging to me )
Really good advice, thanks.
The fact that I haven't thought of using my truck's gigantic 100 something amp alternator to charge my battery bank when it gets low after a few cloudy days... makes me very upset at myself.
Thank you for pointing out something I overlooked, good sir.
No worries... although it *IS* a bit like taking a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, but good as a back-up plan.
Very informative mr Ditton..great vid.
Cheers!
Very good video. Full of great advice. Best wishes.
Awesome video! We plan to live off-grid a lot once we hit the road next year. Picked up some good tips here. Thank you!
Thanks! Of course, if you want to *live* off-grid then it is far easier and cheaper to do that somewhere with a sunny climate!
True! We're going to be outfitted with solar so lots of sun would definitely help. But after this summer in Southern AZ in the Airstream we will prioritize following the cool temperatures over sun. Too much sun is a bad thing too since then we NEED our AC. Thanks again :)
Thanks, Andrew, for the practical tips. I made notes of a few things to pick up. I just bought a T@B travel trailer made by Little Guy in the USA.
+RV Ken Living Free Hi Ken, I had a look at US T@bs and T@gs while I was in Georgia in September - SOO cool! Our T@bs in Europe don't have the washroom in the small model like the US version. Happy travels!
Yes, the wet bath was a decisive feature for me (I think it's their best-selling version). It's quite amazing that all of that fits withing 15 ft (including hitch). I think T@Bs& T@Gs are among the best-made and designed small American travel trailers. And the Alde system is fantastic. Thanks -- I'll continue enjoying your channel.
fabulous information
Soon to take delivery of a new motor home. Loved the video and whilst I wouldn't want to live this life full time I admire those that do. My one thought is that if you are mortgage and rent free, then living in a motorhome or caravan isn't much cheaper than owning your own home.
You're right - it's not. I'm now (a couple of years down the line) thinking that it has a finite life span...
great vid loads of useful info what a great life you lead. slan leat.
Tapadh leat Joe.
Keep up the good work greetings from a panda from poland
Thank you! I would say 'djeukje' (djen-koo-yah) but I can't spell it ;@)
I guess this is now two years old so no guarantee you still use the same gear (even though you do use the same Airstream) but the electricity situation could be improved markedly. You could get over 300 watts out of a single panel these days, and could probably fit 500+ in total up there. And the batteries could be Lithium ferrous, which is also a major improvement and give you literally days of power. But of course, that would set you back a few grand in total.
Thank you for this video. A few questions, if I may - How much does your caravan weigh? I am looking for something that seems roomy but can easily be towed by my Honda Pilot vs having to sell it, buy something else AND also buy the trailer/caravan - that's a lot of buying that I'd like to avoid. Second question: Is it possible to have 2 solar panels on top of the caravan to boost power? Or, perhaps have one mounted and one portable? So far I have not see any that have more than one panel which is why I ask this question. Perhaps the Airstream is not designed for more than one panel or there is no place for extra batteries I do not know. I did not see where your batteries are stored.
Again, thank you for sharing. Please tell us where you are in that beautiful countryside where you are staying.
This one's my favorite! 👍🏾
I note you using an inverter to charge Canon ... as another little tip, for those batteries (and probably others) you can get USB powered chargers from 7dayshop or (I think) Amazon for about £5. At that price I keep one permanently in my van - which proved useful when I went off to Italy on a photo trip and forgot the regular charger.
Top tip thanks Peter, will look into that. Cheers!
very informative, thanks.
You're welcome! Thanks for taking the trouble to say so.
Couldn't you just put two squirrels in a small treadmill to generate your power?
Ha ha! ;@)
Years ago when our children were young we had one leisure battery and ran everything for 2 weeks in summer as we
didn't use a tv. The lights weren't led then. You never put the awning light on as this gobbled up juice. We had one large calor with a small one for emergencies. The children were fairly feral but they became inventive for entertainment. I still find hook ups complicated and forget to use the electric.
I still miss the gas lights we had when I was a kid... but don't miss constantly replacing the mantles!
looks bliss.
Your Airstream is already nicely setup with the fridge, stove and heater that run on gas so my suggestion will be not good for your van but can be of use for other viewers.
One way to be off the grid will be to fit in the car an second high amps alternator (250 amps or more) instead of a portable generator.
The other option is to have a diesel stove-HWS and heater. They are very economic to run.
Freetasman Thanks! Diesel HW and heating systems are popular in motorhomes over here and as rare as Unicorn Droppings in Trailer caravans for some reason. I guess because you really can get the cylinders of LPG everywhere - including every island in the Outer Hebrides. I think it's always a good idea to have an alternative powered source for everything and as you say, your suggestion is a good one especially for folks who might be renovating an old unit or fitting out a camper van/Moho. Thanks a lot!
Excellent thank you
I use gas and solar panels when I'm off grid in my tent which is great. For WiFi i have a pod for 6 hours continuous use without charging so I can check my emails as I can take it on my boat with me.
How do you find sites like this? We want to be in our T25 a lot this year, but can't afford to spend a lot of money on sites.
Thank you :)
Hi did you find a way to locate all year sites?
this is what i am doing in 3 weeks. Or so I hoped. I have got to get a caravan and a car that can tow one. I live on the edge lol. I have just done an 8 month stint on a caravan park. I am tired of working for other people, so this is scary. I have 2 dogs to content with also . This is my 3rd year of leaving my old life. Its all a learning process)
Wow, great news! All the best with it Kelly.
@Andrew Ditton, firstly, Merry Christmas! Actually stumbled across your channel yesterday as am subscribed to "the more we explore" who are Airstream owners as you are and love the design and concept not to mention the lifestyle! More intrigued when I saw your options for off-grid power and the Triumph transport set-up as am a biker myself so I happily subscribed. I get with your views on the minimalism concept, it is a journey. Now where do I get an Airstream 532 International................
Nordkapp Thanks for your message, Merry Christmas to you too! No doubt you've already found the video to loading the bike on the truck. And I know that Adventure Leisure Vehicles in Tebay UK have a couple of immaculate 532s for sale! Will check out those other Airstreamers, cheers!
Cheers for that, need to research more so booked in to the NEC for February to the Caravan and MH exhibition. Have moved from campervan to RV to Caravan in my research! Like to unhitch the load and explore, no need to bring your M home to every town and trailhead.
An interesting video thanks. I'm a caravanner but we always have hookup. My shed at home is very much off grid - up to 350 watts of solar on the roof now but I can't convince my wife we can live without the mains for a weekend.
Anyway the point I want to make is this... all those things you have charging up during the day are DC devices. However you are converting your 12 volt DC to 230 volts AC then back down to 5 volts DC again for example. Very inefficient not least because of the multiple conversions, but the modified sine wave of the cheap inverters makes many AC devices less efficient. May I suggest a good Cigarette / accessory socket USB charger for your iPad, phone etc, a DC powered camera battery charger, and you can also get a step-up converter for your mac book.
Thanks again for the video.
Adam Welch Thanks for the tip Adam, I do use the 12v chargers for the iPad, iPhone, and AA battery charger. When it comes to the MacBook I've not yet found something 12v that is man enough for the current, and with the Canon charger I've not found a 12v lead. It was Apple who sold me the 'posh' invertor, I guess for its sine wave pattern, and that's why the cheap invertor is only used for the shaver etc. I take on board your point about inefficient, but this is a way of not buying and then storing a load of leads for specific electronics- it's just cheaper and easier to use an invertor with the supplied mains plug. Cheers!
Andrew Ditton, I have 12v car chargers for my Canon batteries. I don't know if they sell them on Amazon UK, but I got mine from Amazon in the US. I can dig up the link if you like...
www.amazon.co.uk/Rechargeable-Battery-Charger-Adapter-markIII/dp/B00HD3R9EW/
I can see sense in what you say here,
Yes modern cars have cig lighter sockets front / rear and in the boot / far rear, and have done for 20 yrs ! use them all to charge everything.
Cars / Vehicles have makers warranty ! use it !
alternators / batteries have makers warranties 1, 3 , 5 yrs etc even replacement parts have warranties / guarantees etc USE THEM ! make the most of them !
Converting AC to DC and back etc is not very efficient i see that sense.
No-ONE can live forever for FREE !
Life comes with a COST !
TIME or
MONEY ?
HOW ABT ?
GET A FRIGGIN JOB ?
DO BUSINESS,
Create,
Generate,
give more than you beg or scrounge ?
if you can't give it, then you don't deserve it.
Nothing is cheap or for Free anywhere in this world ! you have to get off yer arse and invent it generate and create it.
Or ? Steal it then go to Jail ! the only place you can live for free ! BEHIND BARS and Locked doors.
get rid of your wife and save loads of money.
Inspirational, only found your vlogs as my husband and I were looking at anything related to Swifts new basecamp. We have decided to give up on our Granvia campervan next year and we've been thinking of getting a caravan for years, the basecamp gives us everything that we've felt has been missing from other vans. Anyways would you be willing to share the location of the campsite featured in this video (or are you wanting to keep the spot secret so you can carry on enjoying it!). Thanks for the videos!
Raymond Lindley-Reynolds Hi Raymond, thanks for the lovely message. I'm afraid I keep my whereabouts a bit of a mystery for the reasons of van security and to keep my insurance company happy! I'm envious at you and your hubster getting a Basecamp as I used to have an ABI Adventurer which was similar, and it was a huge amount of fun. Enjoy! :)
Totally understand! We've been hooked this afternoon on your adventures! Fingers crossed we take the plunge with a Basecamp!
Andrew do you work from your Airstream? Do you live in it always and just move around?
Pretty much! I have a 'real' job too.
:)
I'd like to be a full time tourer in a campervan
I could base it near my job
.. but without an address how would I manage? For DVLA Police etc
Is it possible to get by without a residential address? ..apart from using someone else's address?
I know that a P.O.Box is not acceptable with DVLA and some authorities
Cool :) looks the same as my set up ! You can get car chargers for the apple gear, which negates the need for inverters altogether ... All the best ! .....J
jools.in.a.motorhome.uk Thanks Jools! Will look into the Apple stuff, but it was Apple that sold me the posh inverter, and while not so efficient, it does have a wider use. Cheers!
+Andrew Ditton The charger for my MacBook Air is made by Lavolta - Amazon uk - they make a range of 12v chargers for all Apple laptops. I'm curious... What else do you use the inverter for ? I found I needed an inverter to charge 'hair clippers' ... If I were continuing this lifestyle I'd probably get one to run a coffee grinder... I had a 1000w inverter for a year, never used it because I found ways of getting direct 12v into appliances. Love the Honda generator ! Awesome bit of backup kit !
jools.in.a.motorhome.uk Mainly charging batteries - camera, flash, video lights, and also if I need to charge phone/iPad in a hurry. Yup, the Honda genny is the business!
Great channel, subscribed!
Papa Lazaru Then you have amazingly good taste :) Thanks very much, it is indeed appreciated. All the best.
So sad this CL has had to close down, can you recommend any others in the Midlands area, as I (we) are new to Caravanning and have been to 2 full service pitches so far, and would like to try off grid for a couple of days as we are at a couple of festivals later on this year which will also be off grid.
Great video - thanks! How do you transport your motorcycle? At first I figured you use the bed of your pickup truck but then I saw on the video you have a cover over it.
Hi John, I did a video about it which is here... the cover is an Armadillo so it retracts fully: th-cam.com/video/vVORD-zhz_c/w-d-xo.html
Hi, Andrew: First of all, my wife and I love your channel. Being into both simplicity and camping, you are a welcome kindred spirit. My question doesn't really relate to this particular video, but in it I see you're towing your Airstream with what I believe is a Nissan Navara (I believe it's the equivalent of the Nissan Frontier here in the States). Do you (or did you) find the Navara a capable vehicle for towing the Airstream? I need to find a replacement truck for towing our 2270 KG travel trailer. I currently have a massive diesel 3/4 ton 4x4 truck, but it's pushing 23 years, the body is rusting rapidly, and is overkill for our needs. We do live in the mountains here in North Carolina, and I do wonder if a truck as small as the Navara could handle the ups and downs. Any thoughts? Thanks and keep up the great work!
Hi Thomas, I don't know if a Frontier will have the same engine as a Navara, but the 2.5 diesel has no issues towing my 1900KG Airstream. Cheers!
Andrew very nice video, you explained how to gi off grid for up to month... what do do for water, bathroom, and so on?
Either stay on a rural site where there is a tap and an emptying pit, or use council facilities like the ones on the Isle of Harris which incur a small charge.
Loving your videos! Being a British Airstreamer in America what do you with black and grey waste when boon docking for four weeks ?
Love your vids, so good to get info that relates to the UK.
I have three questions: how do you find sites like this one?, are there things in the UK like the American tribes where people travel in a group? People keep talking about amp hours, what does it mean? Many thanks.
Why not use more cheap solar lighting to save the Hse batt's ? £ shop / cheap supermarket camping lights with built in solar chargers as background / or table light glow.
Also i would have a fold out portable solar panel for times when needed or appropriate as an add on to existing set up. ( sunny days in winter + long cold dark nights etc.)
2 house batt's ?
put a 3rd hse batt' in a spare space in the pick up truck charged by the alternator as you drive. as a back up for when your caravan is pitched up for a while. Charge up - as you drive to the shops etc.
Also place a flexible solar panel in the pickup windscreen while parked wherever you happen to be on a sunny day.
( i charge many mini / cheap solar lights in my south facing bedroom window sill all yr round just for fun / trial / experiment even those at £1.00 ) OK not a big fix solution but every amp helps, and they are cheap ( or every self powered Lamp helps ) look at camping equipment in the ? Cheap four letter supermarkets we have in every town in UK. you know the ones i mean. ( Lidaldi and the others )
Gadget guru's will fault them and spend 20X the price but why not, buy it, use it , Bin it, buy another. cheap and simple.
Also, Why not charge every rechargeable device up as you drive to work / jobs / shopping trips / other road use ? work that car alternator while its under car warranty / replacement warranty ? ( they are £150 - £350 on most cars /vans. ok may be £500 ? so use it every mile you drive. endless electricity if you balance it. Yes it will cost in the end but hey ! unlimited electric if you get the balance right of charge vs useage.
Some great points there, cheers!
Thanks, I like this lifestyle,
Financial sense and REALITY makes Sense.
No- one can live for free !
MAX out Every single opportunity for free/ green / cheap power.
have a small windmill / turbine system for extra / backup power.
kick out the junk and hobbies equipment and carry a small potable water turbine.
( when near flowing water.)
Live by Candle light as much as possible / or streetlight via roof vents,glass sunroofs etc.
Earn Money / Charge money to sleep all day in a van, C'van / Motorhome .
WHAT LAWS and Regulations ?
European countries , =
No intende Espaniol
NO Hablar INGLAIS.
NO ITALIANO !
Danke
Spagettii
Gratzi
TWADDLE EM OFF into the wilderness with bullshit !
Yorkshire style !
NO COMPRENDE'
Nature reserve conservation study.
Govt Scientific Research vehicle
university of WANG PON TOON nature study in Progress
please do not disturb.
Paint your van with CORPORATE LOGO's etc. and KEEP it under 5 yrs old !
fit cameras to record any intrusion by anyone in uniform or official in a suit & tie .
FREEDOM IS A HUMAN RIGHT !
Thanks Andrew, i like to watch your vid's. i think 100 Good ideas X 100 people = Genius ! add every idea to the 'POT'
One day one will make a Million ! and the best of the rest will save a lot of people a lot of money.
ok not all about money, but save time effort, or environment. every hour of light is Treasure if you are ' OFF GRID ' ( light or heat, or fone charge could save a life. )
if you never need it, Maybe a friend or stranger who is not yet your friend may need extra power.
The same as in life, - IF Your POT is Full - then you can give or share a small amount.
IF your POT is Overflowing everyday you can give freely to others who are in real genuine need.
if your POT is EMPTY - it then turns into a begging bowl. then you must ask others to give more than they can spare.
This applies to - energy, money, food, water, wood, coal, gas, And MOST OF ALL HAPPINESS.
People stick together and help eachother if you are in the same Boat. Classic cars always flash lights and wave as they pass.
White van men are never rude or bad mannered on the roads we all flash OTHER VANS out of junctions and we all drive classics, or Merc's or Beemers or Rangey's after work.
Canal boaters open bridges and share help and advice.
Caravaners do same.
off griders i hope would do same.
About the caravan, do you ever leave it there alone? I mean can you drive away with the navara and let the caravan behind for a few hours not being afraid of theft? Can't someone just go there and tow it away? Thanks
Andrew, can you give details of the CL site in your video?
+Billy McQuade No point Billy. When I left, the owner told me she's decided to close it down - not enough revenue to justify her time :((((( That's why I think it's even more important to try and keep these cheap 'basic' CLs afloat.
Andrew, thanks for your reply. Have a good New Year.
I have heard other Airstream owners say that the trailer rides so low to the ground that it makes going into the wild and off-grid a challenge to avoid bottoming out. Have you experienced any such problems camping in areas out in the open where there are no other people around? Also, did you install the solar yourself or did the panel come with the caravan when you purchased it?
I love the idea of living in a caravan full time and not having to pay for a house and stuff like that, the airstream looks very good quality but I honestly don't see the point of spending about 80k euros or more in a caravan like that, plus an 4x4 in this case a beautiful nissan navara. Thats easily more than 100k euros, you could buy a house with that much money
So you don't live off grid? Like all year round? This is just about summer fun off grid?
Pick up more panels (for about 600W total) and some deep cycle glass pack batteries and you're done.
Noted.
Cliff Booth 😁
is it legal to live in a static caravan I.e. postal address/pension etc..
Hi Poppy, I cover that in my video here: th-cam.com/video/nEZaQSWi--Y/w-d-xo.html
Andrew Ditton . thankyou andrew. best wishes.
Hi Andrew - love your videos keep up the great work! The site you are on in this video looks idilic. Where is it?
Thanks Leon! Sadly the owner of this CL has decided not to renew her licence so it's no longer available - a real shame :(
Thanks Andrew. That is a real shame :-(
Kind of late to the party here but great video. Sorry for my limited knowledge here but how do you use the truck alternator to charge the trailer batteries? Some type of direct connection from the truck battery as in jumper cables or something more technical in nature?
Hi Doug, cool dudes never turn up early to a party ;@) When you hook up the caravan to tow it, you plug in the caravan's electrics to the car then. In Europe, the 13 pin socket is the standard way to do it. Running the engine with this plugged in will charge the caravan battery through the caravan's controller using any excess power left over from charging the car battery. In days of old you had to flick switches and stuff but now it's all done automatically.
Thanks for the reply Andrew. Hopefully the charging would work the same here in the states. I can check, just didn't realize the connection also charged the batteries. That would certainly lessen the fear of draining the house batteries. Trying to decide between a small trailer (BaseCamp or Sport 16J) and a camper van.
Me too.... which did you settle on?
many great tips mate - just one question: how does this work when you need a CPAP machine at nights to sleep?
Interesting video thank you. Is there a website that lists all the off grid sites in the UK? Many thanks
Not to my knowledge. Your best bet is to join one of the Clubs - Caravan Club or Camping & Caravan Club, and peruse their directory of 'Certificated Locations' (Caravan Club)/'Certificated Sites' (Camping & Caravan Club). I may be wrong, so if anyone knows of such a website...
Andrew Ditton
Thanks Andrew. Your videos are very informing and well made.
👍🏽
Another great video Andrew, do you have more information about your gas conversation, also with solar panels if I had more than 1 100w say 3 100w panels would this power things like the fridge etc in affect to keep gas costs down while off grid. Thanks Adam
Hi Adam, it would be pretty impossible to power a regular 3-way fridge from the battery even with solar panels. You would need a compressor fridge as fitted to many camper vans, and then it would become a viable option with 3 x 100 w panels in an appropriate climate. You'd be OK in most places in the UK from April to October. Cheers.
...and the gas system is from Gaslow, so check out their website. But do bear in mind that LPG is becoming increasingly difficult to source at the pump. I'd recommend one refillable (Gaslow or SafeFill) and one Calor. A Calor 13kg propane/15kg Butane is the best compromise for price and ease of availability.
ah ok that's great ill stick with the normal fridge . cheers
Greatstuff thank you, really appreciate your advice and speedy reply
Could you just use the generator to charge the leisure batteries? How long would it take and how many times a day would you need to do it?
You *could* but with anything like that it all depends on your consumption, size of battery etc. Best get a battery meter if no reader in your van and keep an eye on the battery levels.
Do you have to pay a cousil tax? Do you have to pay any taxes living off grid in the UK?
Hi, if you run out of gas can you disconnect the bottles and take them to a garage and fill up with autogas?
Not the Gaslow ones I have Cliff, as the filler is on the trailer. You can get removable refillables from SafeFill now I believe.
There's a really nice caravan park next to RAF Mildenhall, if you'd like to watch the planes. And, there is an AWESOME Indian restaurant in the town of Mildenhall (g.co/kgs/WAAUhA)! I drove past it every day on my way home from work at the base. Enjoy touring your country.
Hello Andrew - do you carry the motorbike in the pick up when towing or in the back of the caravan?
Simon Humphries Hi Simon, I do indeed carry the motorbike in the pick-up. I made a video of how I do it here: th-cam.com/video/vVORD-zhz_c/w-d-xo.html
Andrew Ditton great thank you, that was my next question - do you have a vid , ride safe
Simon Humphries Cheers Simon, happy viewing and happy riding.
😁👍👏👏👏
watching this dreaming that we were brave enough to do this kinda thing with our toddler in tow . ugh what I would give lol I'm ill with chronic fatigue syndrome and hate the stress of bad neighbours above us in our tiny non sound proofed housing association flat. ... maybe 1 day . I want to homeschool anyway
There *ARE* people who do this and homeschool their kids, do a search on the Meek Family who have been doing it in the UK. I don't know a lot about your illness and if it might ever pass, but it sounds rotten and debilitating, so obviously you need to be 'realistic' too. Living like this depends on being fairly healthy, or having an understanding partner! Whatever you do, don't stop dreaming. All the best.
Andrew Ditton thank u 😊 my hubby is great with helping me. my condition is exacerbated by stress and I absolutely don't enjoy being here . We'd obviously need to be based close enough to hubby's work though I guess that limits us mon to Fri
Indeed, and 'moving' days can be a bit tiresome, but I hope you manage to work something out.
Hi. Isuggest to relieve your chronic fatigue to try universal peace energy healing video on Satorial light channel. Its very powerful . If you require further fre remote energy work u van leave a comment . I had chronic fatigue and now do not. pEace
Studies link CFS with inflammation in the body. Address this in many ways with someone like a Functional Medicine doctor or a Naturopathic doctor with understanding in treating the whole body (not just symptoms). Diet would be the easiest and cheapest place to start before saturating body with man-made chemicals. see: th-cam.com/video/Cr3c6Ahr8Ks/w-d-xo.html and simmaronresearch.com/2017/08/major-stanford-study-indicates-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-is-inflammatory-disorder/
Take charge of your life...your body with good healthy living guidance...not simply relegate responsibility to someone else who dishes out meds to treat symptoms only and at the end of the day goes home and doesn't give you another thought (which you probably are not doing, I just say this for everyone to read). My cousin had this and was able to manage it by changing her diet and reducing inflammation triggers in her life (environmental, stress, etc.). And I pray you fell better so you can go out and explore the world like you dream of doing. :-)
No mention of fresh and foul water?
Hi Cliff, I was on a CL so there is a water tap - foul water in the hedge, so I use Bio-D products.
well, you kinda can go off grid but you would need solar panels and 2 filters (just for half a year or so) and a pump.
you also need petrol (if you are travelling) and also gas (but you can also bring a grill and some wood)
Absolutely. I'm implying more away from the electricity grid, but ideas that can lead to bigger things.
lol if you want to completely get off the grid watch some bear grylls
I'm sure these kind of guys do some real hard core stuff. But after finding out a few 'behind the scenes' facts about some of these so-called adventure types (not Mr Grylls who I consider to be a Gentleman of the highest degree as I do Sir Ranulph) I remain a little sceptical about how rugged and tough they really are. Just ask the good people of the Uist chain in the Outer Hebrides...
i want to get an airstream, but they are only common in america :(
Buy a 4x4 or you'll be stuck when the grass is sodden, most pitches are on grass fields, some but not many might have a hard standing area. FWD or RWD family saloons pulling a caravan get stuck surprising easily.
Good point! Maybe I should do a follow-up with more tips like this. Now I've had a 4x4 I wouldn't be without it for exactly the reason you mention.
+Azureecosse On your cars were you using Mud and Snow / winter tyres or normal summer tyres? I used to tow with a RWD Volvo and FWD Ford and I was always spinning wheels on wet fields and getting stuck on the slightest incline. Never mind the ruts I was leaving. In the end I bought an Audi quattro estate to solve the problem - which clearly doesn't use much extra fuel.
I bet better consumption with my Nav than my Mum with her Audi A1! #itsnotwhatyoudoitshowyoudoit :)
Bless you. That makes me feel so young! :)
I drive it when I do the Good Son thing
how do you carry your cycle around having an air- stream
Raymond Juancito Hi Raymond, I have a rear cycle carrier that you can get from Airstream Europe in Germany which is custom made for EU Airstreams and goes on the front or back.
Andrew Ditton sounds interesting...how about apicture
Raymond Juancito You've only go to check out the thumbnail to my Hebrides 2016 (full length version) to see a pic. Have a watch while you're there ;@)
The UK is a very windy country, kill all the arguments about solar power failings in winter / night / dark. by having a fold out extendable wind turbine set up to back up your solar.
solar is fine in Auz / California, Tropical areas. in Britain i would also look to WIND ! wind is constant 24/ 7 / 365 .
Windpower is best in UK.
i have lots of ideas and ways a good engineer could make it work very cheap and practical.
car / vehicle exhaust gas spins the turbo at high rev's . ok a secondary turbo just behind it would spin almost as fast with the draught / spent force of the primary turbo to add a charge to a battery.
Great ideas, but many folks have tried - and failed - to use wind on a small scale. Anything smaller than a community turbine seems to end up generating more maintenance and repair bills than it does electricity! Hopefully smaller turbines will become more robust, but few have yet made it work on a realistic scale although you do see a few boats with small turbines. Cheers.
Punter fodder. small wind is designed to fail because IT WORKS ! and they are scared stiff that someone will build small scale wind that works and sell it cheap = the end of fracking, and nuclear, and the price of solar will crash. = free or very cheap power for all.
Domestic wind is the next billion £ boom industry.
the wind turbines i look at spin 24 hours a day they hardly ever stop.
This is honestly mostly poppycock. The only way you can get any reliable power out of wind is if you build it very high, which means you have to start carting around a giant pole or tower. The wind only blows reliably way up in the air, the higher you get the better. Great for your off-grid homestead, but mostly nonsense for a mobile offgrid person.