Going Solo Newbie - Am I Mad?

Go for it!  Buy from a reputable dealer, one who sells new ones. Don't worry about 21 days etc and working. As long as you don't overstay no one will bother about working. If working is  a laundry think about hanging out the washing!!!! LOL.  Over the winter think about the ground. Even dry fields can be messy, hard-standing is available, in many sites. Think about the other club because their pitch fees are cheaper and if you're a certain age you get a discount most of the year. (I've worked from our van, wearing a suit on site didn't seem to be thought strange.)

As an independent woman it pains me to say this - but I would try and find a male of the species to come with me and look proficient with the damp meter!  I went to the NEC a few years back with dosh in my pocket ready to buy and NOT ONE of the salesmen in the numerous stands I visited would give me the time of day - NOT ONE!  I am hardly invisible at 5'10 but you wouldn't have though it!  So then I tried the local sellers and I think it was the third or maybe the fourth dealership that took me seriously and took my money!  Then things went downhill a bit.  I had trouble with the loo - first it was the phantom flusher and then it was leakages in the cabinet after moving.  Of course it was my fault for travelling with the blade slightly open!  Oh no I didn't!  Eventually I discovered that the two halves of the cassette had come unstuck and that was where the leak was - definitely not my fault and believe me that cassette box is NOT made for cleaning!  Eventually they had to admit I was right and I got a new cassette!  It's vaguely possible that the problem came from frozen matter in the tank expanding but I am not certain of this as I think the chemical would stop the contents freezing.  

I have also bought from private camp sites that parked customers old vans and sold there that's where I got the £850 one - and then there is Preloved where I have sold three of my caravans.   But you would need to be careful with the damp meter there of course.  

Pippah, good to hear what you said about two berths. I would say that it might be better value to look for a two berth (they are often a much higher spec) than something that will be larger because of having a separate bed. If there is only one of you, it’s just so simple to use one of the bench seats rather than lowering the spec or towing a larger van. For extra comfort, that bench seat could have sleep quality cushions.

We have a small 36 year old two berth van. It has a great heater, is very well insulated, a true four season van, with a decent bathroom, and plenty of storage. It cost us £2000 in 1996. Owes us nothing. If you have the experience, or do a good bit of research, it isn’t hard to find a decent quality, second hand van that with a bit of TLC can be made into a great tourer. Explore every nook and cranny, get under the carpets, into the cupboards, and then haggle. 😂

Yes - that was what I turned up - better value in a 2 birth.  My current van is quite comfy to sleep on - I have a duvet between me and the cushion - but in the old van I had a 2" Memory foam topper that I rolled up to the end for daytime living.  The three dogs get the other seat!  Although the eldest one seems to prefer a bed on the floor now.  

My goodness your old van has been wonderful - I have often wondered why I parted with some from the past!  I have thought that several times with the Abbey I parted with last year - but I wasn't sure it would see me out!  The ever increasing technology is one of my bug bears - I simply don't need 365 different ways to run the lights in the van!  I can't even turn on the 12v ones at the moment - funny what you forget when you have a break!  

The Windrush is a little gem. It’s only a 13 ft model, so when we ended up with three Airedaleswe decided to look for a little bit longer van. We turned up a 15 ft Cotswold Windrush, being used for work accommodation by a very nice man whose job took him all over the World, but his main office was in Leicester. He actually lived in Colchester, but kept his van on a nice farm in Quorn. We went to look at it, poked around intensively, found the bit of damp it had in one wall. It was actually plumbed into a waste drain, but he agreed to unplumb it. We got it for £400, including toaster and kettle😂 When we went to collect it, we took new wheels and tyres, our tow hitch and a set of bulbs for every light. To our astonishment, every single bulb lit up when we hooked it to back of Land Rover! We didn’t even change the hitch as the old one was fine. Hauled it home, parked up on drive and we set to work. Inside and out all sorted, including taking off damp panel and renewing inside, new foam for beds, all recovered inside, woodwork restained, new carpets. Three months later it went to live in Cornwall on another farm. We used it extensively, sometimes hauling it home and back for a bit of TLC. Sold it on when we got MH for more than we paid. We had kept our original Windrush as well, that was our tourer from home. 

Big new vans are nice, about as easy as you can get to live in. But they cost a lot, and almost everything means you are tied to a dealer, and there’s lots to go wrong. For us, simplicity has suited. There are some bargains out there if you care to look, and some are very solid. A bit of DIY knowledge, a willingness to look up and learn, some creative motivation, and it can be fun using the end product. Not for everyone though😁