Living Simply - How to be a single caravanner 

Hello, another kiwi here from NZ. I've just found your channel and subscribed, thank you for sharing these wonderful tips! I'm in the process of decluttering my house (life) to sell and have my eye out to buy a UK Bailey caravan this year to live in. I know next to nothing right now : ) so I think I'll be an avid follower!

I agree with your attitude about single people should get out there and experience the caravaning experience.

Ya, gazillion Xs better and someone I don't want to be with. Where do I sign. I rather be single by myself than being with someone that make me miserable. My life is so filled with stuff I don't want or need and very stressed. My goal.is to sell it all and go Rogue.I am have learned so much watching your videos. Thx again.

Wow thriving on your own ! Exactly !!

Man I love your pants!

Just me and the dog and going to hit the road in 12 or so months with a small 3 meter caravan in Tasmania, listening and learning to everyone I can tks for the tips

Great nice video with five helpful tips. Thank you

love Hatton locks, went there years ago. so calm and peaceful. one VERY happy Dougal too. Lovely vlog ~ thanks for the laugh (shouldn't but I did).

This was wonderful video!! Thanks for your honesty , too!! I truly appreciate how clear, concise and honest you are as you talk about your experiences in your beautiful caravan ... thanks and enjoy !!! New York, here :-)

Andrew, you're the best. Thanks for this one especially. I'm planning my escape (next spring) and your series is helping me feel more confident with each new release. PS: Love your pup!

Great videos, I have just discovered your channel, really enjoying it.

Another great video Andrew. I know from personal experience that you can't always rely on a GPSr (SatNav) system to keep you out of difficult situations when travelling with our Airstream (caravan). I would like to suggest that rather than transcribing the route to the campsite it may be safer (no need to refer to notes while driving) to create electronic waypoints. In the planning stage, refer to your travel guide or Google Earth and note the coordinates for your custom waypoints which can then be used on your SatNav. Most SatNav units allow direct input of custom waypoints, but for myself, I use a a software app that allows creation on my MacBook and a Garmin GPSr that allows the upload of custom waypoints very easy. I then use these waypoints to create a custom route. Let me know if you would like more detail on the apps and methods I use for these digital waypoints.

Andrew I'm single still can't make up my mind van or trailer caravan , but the more I think of it.. your way looks better..

I was lucky enough to to win a motor mover in a competition, now I couldn't be without it! Makes hooking up, levelling and getting the van in just the right spot so easy, especially solo!

love these living simply videos

Thanks so much fo the hints and encouragement. As a single Canadian looking to do an extended tour of the British Isles and eventually Europe in anAirstream, I so enjoy following your travels.

i have a guru sat nav bought through caravan and camping club i can put length width etc of vehicle and so far it never did guide me wrong. have a motormover on my caravan and it was a godsend, not just for on site but putting it away on my driveway which was quite tight. I find caravan and camping club quite good and worth the money as you get nice monthly magazine and site discounts. Mr Ditton with my fingers firmly crossed i hope to be picking up our new baby from Glasgow this week.. motorhome fun here we come.. Great informative video well done.

Love, love, love what we call "backup camera"'s here in Canada!

Hi Andrew loving your videos mate Iv just subscribed to your channel and now spend the next couple of days watching all of your videos many thanks Andrew and happy new year 👍

Great vids and an adorable dog! 🐶

Hi Andrew, as a single man who spends a considerable amount of time in a trailer (or as you would call caravan) in Ontario, Canada I found your comments on how much more time it takes to set/break camper as a single so very true. I'm new to your series and love watching your videos even though they're not as relevant here in North America. Most of the trailers and motorhomes that you review are not available here (I sure wish they were!).

That was a great video and extremely informative. If ever my family life went wrong, I'd definitely consider living on my own, full time in a caravan.

Loving the content.

Hi, great video with the tips, very helpful. Being a single RV'er does have it perks and drawbacks too. We, my pets and I, have been fulltime RV living for four years now and no looking back. Yes it has it's challenges and we're just downsizing now into a caravan versus living in a bus conversion and I'm sure that will help simplify things and expenses. Keep up the great work and good luck with everything ! Cheers from Canada ! Janis

Great tips Andrew. Getting my first motorhome in April and will be heading for the Hebrides shortly there after.....Cant wait!!

Really great advice, thank you

Enlightening! Thank you!

I wish I'd seen this before I took my 2.5 metre wide Hobby to Cornwall last year. I followed the GPS route because I couldn't remember all the directions to the campsite apart from remembering that it said the approach was narrow. Unfortunately the GPS route was even narrower and I caught the left hand front corner on a large rock that was hiding in the heavily overgrown banks. Now I have 5000 reasons not to follow the GPS unthinkingly!

Great tips and thanks for looking after the singles.

I found your tipps very helpful! Mostly I travel with my (now 12 year old daughter). Even when my husband joins us, I am driving and setting up the equipment in general. Not because he won't do it but I am more used to it. I upgraded my caravan with camera and mover (like you said 😊: very helpful!!!) and I plan out my tours that I don't need a navigator 🤣 So I can say: you totally nailed it !!!

Thank you for the great video. My husband and I RVed, ( caravan) but he passed away very young. I am planning on getting a new Camper van, but I'm nervous about setting out on my own. Even though I am in the US your video was very helpful.

thank you for the tips in this vid

Super!

Good information Thanks

Great tips thank you

Hi Andrew. I'm on my first solo trip and it's been a steep learning experience but joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club and have found them to be so helpful. From helping me with electrics to working out how the water system works the staff at both Longleat and Moreton in the Marsh have been wonderful. It all seems so obvious now. I agree with most of your 5 points. Time? Why rush? The only thing you need to do is add time to your estimated travel time to ensure you get to the site before 8pm. Sat NAV - where would we be without it? Probably not down a back street in the centre of Dorchester blocked by roadworks. So I don't think the motor mover is a luxury! I had to unhitch, turn everything around using some convenient private parking slots, hitch up again then off to find a better route! So YES everybody, use your sat NAV up to a point but I for one will be preparing my next route on paper as well! I was fortunate that my used van already has a motor mover and I really think I would have paid the extra £1000 for one if it hadn't. Can I also say, because I know you are friends, that I wouldn't have got this far without the Trudgians! Now that I have found you as well I'm sure I will find the experience much easier to handle. Thanks Andrew for your tips. Now subscribed!

We've just bought our first caravan and just wanted to say about sat navs, you can get ones for hgvs where you in put your length and width. They can be expensive but you can get them for £50 if you spend some time on eBay. (Hubby is a hgv driver so we'll be using his lol)

This is helpful. I would be doing it on my own. I haven’t done it because I’m single. Hitching up is what keeping me from a camper. It just seems like so much work.

Some good advice there. As a single campervaner I find the time setting up is not as much of a problem as the time it takes to pack up to leave a site in the morning. Route planning is critical if one is a sole driver. I have thought about buying a caravan and if I did I would definitely need a motor mover but even so the idea of trying to negotiate a caravan into car parks for rest stops on route makes me break out in a cold sweat. I'd love a reversing camera for my campervan but can't afford it.

Great stuff Im also on the road this year full time as a solo caravaner.Spent last year living a converted Dacia Duster "Caracamper" I built with a friend 12000 miles around the UK working at shows and festivals nation wide now dismantled .I bought a Avondale Orrestes fully refitted with motor mover from a family friend for £450 another £300 making it mechaniclly fit another £500 on everything else.Like the camera just bought one on your say so for £14 from china(were else!) .As I have a full event dairy this year I have decided to save time by ditching the normal aqua roll and waste.I have bought on ebay 3 50l barrels two for fresh and one waste and and a heavy duty sack truck which to fetch and empty the barrels on .The truck will store under the van with a bike lock around(ebay £4.80 for two) it and the leg.It was £12 a barrel (new)and £22 for a new heavy duty sack truck(folding wouldnt carry them I used thew in the warehouse they dont last) so cheaper than the normal ones as long as you know how to source on ebay ( a lot of time).As I work very long and intense hours it saves a lot of hassle.I have also bought a hot dog toaster when on mains for instant hot food .Enjoyed your video cheers

Oh man... A motor mover would be heaven. Wish they would design caravans in the US for them .

Such a fantastic video Andrew. Very informative. I have been looking at tiny houses and now campervans. Since having cancer a few years ago now, I have been wanting to do some completely out of my comfort zone. As a single woman tho I feel scared to take the plunge. Xx

very useful info

Missing your travels- going through your back catalog!

Thank you

Hi Andrew the tip on how to use the chanel tunnel will be of interest to me and make the trip next year much easier many thanks Alan.

I do not have my travel companion now, so I am on site and well, pretty much stuck lol. luckily its free for me, if i do another season. I will get a car that can tow next year. the camera is a great idea. I wondered if you could or have , done a video of wild caravanning for singles. what do you do when you want to go exploring? where do you leave the caravan and car? I felt scared in some places when my friend went away. also, do you find a predujice against caravans? I have come across it this last month, and I found it quite shocking. locals checking me out for example and making comments about gypos. the sites themselves are fine ( if they are open). also have you had any issues with the internet and phone signal? scotland is terrible for both. sorry for bombarding you with all this haha.

I am a solo caravaner great tips. X

Nice leathers Andrew.I'm after a new pair and was wondering where you got the ones you wear here.Gran Canaria again Jan 9th,don't suppose you will be there. Paul

Great video. Thanks:) I am just choosing at the moment and wonder which Airstream you chose. I am new to your channel.

Hi Andrew, another Andrew here from Canada. It's great that you don't have any ads on your videos. However personally if I like the content I will allow ads to run just knowing that the creator receives a little bit of income. Just a thought because your videos are very interesting.

Hi Andrew. Thank you for this video. You talked about having the right vehicle for pulling the caravan/trailer (I am in US). What is the towing capacity/weight of your caravan and did you already have the truck or did you buy it to pull the caravan specifically? I have a Honda Pilot SUV that I own outright and it is a great car with lots of storage space. I would hate to have to sell it and buy something else on top of buying the trailer as well. Also, I am will be a solo traveler too but did not hear any strategy tips in this video. Are they in another one?

Good vid, thanks. Before Airstreaming we toured in a van. Our major reason for switching was with a van you must drive your house to sight-see. You might want to consider a battery-operated drill to operate the stabilizers. Do you belong to WBCCI? We enjoy the local unit comradery.

Afternoon Mr. D - Some great tips here. Thank you for sharing. I will certainly be more mindful when asking you over for a BBQ in future, as i now see you have legitimate reasons for being late ;-) Nice one. Mr. T

Thankyou

Excellent video. Do you have a video on how you winter caravan, I'm particularly interested in how you stop your external water bottles (grey and fresh) from freezing. How do you do it?

Single female caravaner, with dog, living in New Zealand. I was interested in your tips for being off grid - and just kept watching.

Man I know this video is years old but since the covid and jacked up rent prices here in Australia , I’m seriously thinking of getting out of the rental property and being bullied into paying unrealistic rents so living in my caravan at least I’ll have freedom and I own it , so sick of struggling in the rental market with crap owners and disrespectful realestate management ,totally over it , I’m only to happy to sell everything I own to live in my caravan and have some sanity , to me it’s worth the sacrifice.

Kia Ora Andrew! I have no idea which van I've just heard they're fabulous so any suggestions would be very welcome :) I'll certainly be getting UK assembled. I'm so pleased you had wonderful times here 😊

Another great video Andrew. How do you check the caravan lights work ok? If I pick up our van from storage on my own, I end up using the leg winder wedged between the pedal and the brake pedal. I've got a reversing camera on my Kuga, so can now reverse up like a pro!!

HI Andrew, Another great video. Are you back to Scotland next year. Bob Burnett Dunfermline FIfe

I discovered this video this morning while having my coffee. I am single with a dog and enjoy camping with my tent during the summer months here in Central Europe. I want to travel more during the off & shoulder seasons and am torn between a caravan and small motor home. Your video has helped to make that decision a bit easier. I like the advantage of unhitching and driving about while camping. Not there yet but getting closer! My biggest concern was parking and setting up but, with the caravan assist option, I think that's one challenge taken care of. As for build quality is there much difference between Swift and Adria?

Excellent video. How do you prevent your external water tank from freezing in the winter? Do you have a video on this. I've seen plenty of American videos, but nothing with a UK caravan, with the external water tanks. Thanks

Andrew, how can I buy an airstream and give up work? I have two properties, one is rented, was thinking I could remortgage the one I live in to buy the airstream then rent that also ( or sell it), I’d receive £800 a month from both once mortgages/fees are deducted so not enough to live on I presume? Any help appreciated

Informative & talking sense 😁 thanks, I'm in Scotland & looking to join one of the sites ,can you advise please which has the most certified sites please ? Thanks

Hi Andrew love your vids ..... can you please post the link to your fire pit please . Regards ray

I love your voice. great vid. informative. I can't find motor mover info...what are they called in America?

Hi Andrew those a great videos you make ! Do you may know if you can become a member of caravaning club if you not life in the UK ? Best Regards from Norway

I haven't started traveling, haven't got my Airstream yet. I noticed you mentioned having a motor mover. What is that? Would you do a video on that. Thanks. Also, more on the solo traveler, I would be by myself.

Thanks for te informesion

I’m so thrilled. I was ruling out a trailer because I thought it took two people to hitch it up. I was despondent since I really like Airstreams myself. Now the world is my oyster in a kind of caravanny way. Much obliged.

I've never heard of a motor mover before! I recently bought a 16ft Airstream Sport (Bambi) and am still learning how to back up into camping spots. These smaller trailers tend to jackknife easily, which can be frustrating and time consuming. I know it's best to learn how to maneuver it properly myself and be done with it, but it might be nice to have one of these movers installed just to eliminate the fear of getting into a sticky spot that is too difficult to get out of. I wonder if steering the mover would prove to have the same difficulty as using the tow vehicle?

Hi andrew and dougal . Giving up a 3 bed flat to live in a static caravan by the river teviot. Yes im doing it alone and so many folks think im mad.any safety tips please ?? Have a good evening xx

Any thoughts on motorised or hand cranked jockey wheels?

Perfect video. We have a lot in common Andrew, solo male travellers and railwaymen. You should join the closed Facebook page 'railway friends and family'. Your experiences on railway life and caravans would be welcome. A lot of the guys have caravans for weekends away.

Solo all the way👍

Reversing camera top idea ( tiny middle aged woman in a van )

Andrew - do you have any tips on how to deal with loneliness, whether travelling alone or living alone?

Does your caravan insurance cover you for full time occupation? 40 minutes set up is quick.

No, Andrew, a motor mover is NOT a luxury. It is essential particularly as you get older. I couldn't manage without mine. Makes hitching up so much easier and likewise locating the caravan on the pitch next to the peg on club sites. Otherwise I enjoyed this and your other videos.

good camper versus caravan pros and cons, I use both with my American motorhome (33 ft) for long stays but have a car as well, no good for touring..............or I have a towing tourer for shorter stays and touring, a much more versatile set up. Another thing I would add if you are planning to liveaboard (or continuous tour) do not buy a 2 berth buy a large caravan.

Love your accent, but is sat-nav the same as gps? Yep, I'm American. LOL

Just check in daily with someone. Enjoy.

Caravanner dating question... do caravanners say "my place or your place?" or do they say "my camper or your camper?"

I would love to go caravanning as a solo but my wife won`t let me.

I thought those trailers used marine grade plywood. Some of those cabinets look to be particle board with plywood edge banding. Normally, cabinet makers try to hide plywood edges with oak or maple glued to the edge, but here Airstream is purposely trying to make it look like plywood. Odd.

I have to say, directions in your phone,no need to draw on a paper a full Atlas

Andrew may I mind your dog?.

MoHo..sounds a bit rude..

Sub from me)) i Just bought my first caravan - for ma and my disabled daughter)) your movies are helpful and cheering)))

I'll be back to India around 15 march and for 2 months if you are planing to go to India , be my guest . Find my e mail on my video on you tube . Namaste . Phil

Nice Video.. but that leather-pants just.. no... just don´t ever.. nope.