We’ve Moved Into the Van Full Time! (Yes, Really)

We’ve Finally Gone Full-Time in the Motorhome – Here’s Why

After months of living five-nights-a-week in the van, we’ve finally made the full-time leap into motorhome life in the UK. The catalyst? Our youngest passed her driving test (finally), our home filled up with grown-up kids and a very active toddler, and Kathy’s mum needed somewhere a little more manageable than our third-floor spare room. The stars aligned, the keys were handed over, and we moved into the van officially on July 4th. Yes, our own Independence Day.

Now we’re juggling full-time motorhome living with part-time family life. Gemma (20), her son Reuben (just turned one), and Rebecca (17, now part-time Uber driver for her mates) all still live at the house, which we pop back to for three days a week while Kathy’s mum stays over. That’s when we blitz the laundry, stock up the fridge, and act like responsible adults before heading off for our four-night van adventure.

Kathy’s loving the balance. I’m wrestling with the harsh reality of zero signal and working with large video files from a motorhome. We’ve ordered a Starlink Mini – due next week – which should sort things out. Kathy, naturally, just wants it to work and never be spoken about again.

Why Now?

It wasn’t a sudden thing. We’ve been edging toward full-time vanlife for months. For a long time, we were staying in the van five nights a week anyway, mostly because Kathy’s mum was staying with us and needed an easier room setup. It made more sense for her to have our room downstairs than hiking up and down the house all day.

The big tipping point? Rebecca passed her driving test. Third time lucky. Since then, we’ve hardly seen her. She’s off at all hours, miles away with friends, and has discovered that petrol prices are not just something old people moan about. She’s now very much living her best teenage life, and we’re free to go live ours.

What’s the Routine?

It’s a nice rhythm. Kathy’s mum stays with us three days a week, so those days we’re back at the house during the day. It’s a chance to catch up with the girls, help out with Reuben, and get through the laundry mountain. Once bedtime rolls around, we’re back in the van for the night.

The other four days? That’s when we roam. Short hops mostly, nothing too far from home because Kathy still works four days a week and has to stay within the UK. We’re never gone for long, but even those few days give us just enough breathing room to enjoy the space, the slower pace, and the simple joy of not tripping over a tiny human’s toy train every five minutes.

Where We’ve Parked Up (So Far)

In our first proper week as full-timers, here’s where we’ve been, and yet to go:

• Ness Woods – A favourite. Forest vibes and a decent walk. (blog to come on that)

• St. Columb’s Park – Handy for the gym, showers and a cheeky Bakery visit.

• Ballykelly Forest – Peaceful, apart from the occasional barking dog. Ours.

• The front of our house – Glamorous, no. Convenient, yes.

• Lurgan, County Armagh – Pitstop before meeting up with my son for a film night.

• Back up to Belfast – Dropping him at the ferry.

• Over to Larne for the day – Because why not?

• Then home again – Grandparent duties resumed.

Some spots were lovely. Others, like the attempted stay near Lough Neagh (BT66 6PQ), were signal black holes across all three networks. We bailed and parked up at a forgettable car park nearby. No views, tight space, but at least I could get online without shouting at the sky.

Working Remotely: Starlink or Bust

Here’s the part Kathy couldn’t care less about. I still work full time, Monday to Thursday, with a setup that needs stable broadband and plenty of bandwidth. Mobile signal where we live? Absolutely diabolical.

I’m on Vodafone, the van’s on EE, Kathy’s on O2 – and some days none of them are good enough. That’s where the Starlink Mini comes in. It arrives next week, and once installed, should make working remotely from the van far more reliable. I’ll be ditching the old TV aerial, keeping the pole mount, and fixing the dish in place. Cost-wise, it stings. £227 for the hardware, £93 per month for full roaming. But the peace of mind? Priceless.

Unless work ever dries up, in which case, I’ll cancel it quicker than you can say “no signal.”

Tech Upgrades & Ongoing Chaos

Between learning to wrangle AI automations, fighting with Bluesky post scheduling, and trying to understand LLMs, I’ve had very little time to create new content. That’s changing. I’ve got the DJI Pocket 3 on the shopping list – a much-needed upgrade for video work – and now that we’re living full-time in the van, it’s time to get back to documenting the lifestyle.

Oh, and the e-bike is back on the rack. Still broken. Still flinging the pedal arm off whenever it feels like it. That’ll be this week’s job. Maybe.

Final Thoughts

We’ve talked about going full-time for years. Now that we’re finally doing it, it feels right. Not perfect, not glamorous, but right. There’s still laundry. There’s still family chaos. There are still early mornings and work deadlines. But there’s also space, silence, and the freedom to pick where we wake up tomorrow.

And for now, that’s good enough.

Our Go-To Vanlife Kit

Want a peek at the gear we rely on? Here’s our current kit list. Some of these links earn us a small commission if you buy through them, which helps keep the coffee flowing and the black waste emptied.

• Our Full Amazon Storefront – From gadgets to grubby essentials

• Campervan Tools & Fixings – If it rattles, I’ve probably fixed it

• Battery & Power Gear – Keeps the lights on

• Fixtures & Fittings – Hooks, hinges and things you never knew you needed

• Insulation Essentials – For when the weather gets… Northern