What is a Static Caravan?

Understanding what makes a static caravan unique can be tricky if you’re new to the world of holiday homes. The truth is that there’s lots of jargon used interchangeably across the industry, some of which isn’t always easy to decipher.

To help clear up some of the confusion, we’ve created a short guide to static caravans. Here you can read about what makes them different, how they function, and who might want to invest in one.

Different types of caravan

We can loosely split caravans into two basic categories: touring and static. To make things slightly more complicated, static caravans sub-divide into 'holiday homes' and ‘holiday lodges’ - more about this later.

For now, let’s look at the differences between touring and static caravans:

Touring caravans

As the name suggests, touring caravans are designed to be mobile and towed around. For this reason, manufacturers tend to make the outer shell from light and durable material, such as aluminium. Touring caravans are slightly less spacious than static caravans, but they are easy to move around.

Static caravans

Unlike touring caravans, the static variety spends most of its life in a holiday park. You might also hear these caravans referred to as ‘holiday homes,’ ‘mobile homes,' ‘park homes’ and 'holiday lodges'. Static caravans are much more affordable than traditional brick and mortar homes, but tend to boast many of the comforts you expect at home.

In fact the latest Willerby static caravans may surprise you with the luxurious level of modern conveniences they include:

• Gas central heating with 'A' rated combi boilers
• Energy-efficient construction including double glazing to keep you warm and your bills low
• Trace heating to minimise the threat of frozen pipes in winter
• USB charging points, because we all need to stay connected these days
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to keep everyone safe

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a caravan that you can tow, the touring variety is the obvious choice. If, however, you’re interested in finding a holiday home that has a fixed location and all the luxuries of modern life, you may want to choose a static caravan.

What's the difference between a holiday home and a holiday lodge?

If you have looked through the Willerby website, you might have noticed that we refer to static caravans as 'holiday homes' and 'holiday lodges'.

The main differences between these two types of mobile home are size and price. Holiday homes) are half the width of a lodge (up to 14ft wide) and are available in a variety of lengths.

If, however, your budget allows for some additional space, you might want to consider a holiday lodge. These extra-spacious static caravans are ideal for large families and those wishing to spend extended periods away from home, such as retirees. They are usually double the width of a holiday home (up to 22ft). You can expect open-plan designs, luxury cladding on the exterior, and contemporary finishes inside.

We often build larger lodges to residential standards (BS3632), which means that they have superior insulation in the floor, roof and walls, and are suitable for all-year-round living.

The benefits of static caravans

Touring caravans might have once been the first port of call for anyone interested in British staycations. But the truth is that, nowadays, there are plenty of advantages to owning a static caravan, whether it's a holiday home or a lodge.

Here are just a few of the benefits:

• When you’re not occupying the static caravan, you can earn money from sub-letting. In turn, this extra income can go towards holiday home maintenance costs or funding more caravans.
• Static caravans cost less to maintain than a traditional holiday home.
• You can visit your holiday home whenever you want. Whether it’s a short weekend break or long-term getaway, having a static caravan takes away the burden of flipping through holiday brochures.
• You can personalise any of our holiday homes to your tastes. Want to add some more home comforts? No problem. Are you looking for a contemporary slant on caravan designs? Leave it to us.
• A static caravan will typically have access to a water, gas and electric mains supply. That means warm showers and a properly functioning toilet.
• Holiday homes tend to be more spacious than touring caravans, so that you can accommodate the whole family. In fact, some of our bigger holiday homes are fourteen feet wide by forty-two feet long!
• We can install many modern home comforts into your static caravan, including central heating, double glazing, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a spa bath, and more.
• You can anchor your static caravan to some phenomenal settings. Whether it’s North Wales, Scotland or one of England’s seaside towns, you can take in the best of the UK’s scenery from your front door.
• A car towing a touring caravan will consume more fuel, whereas static caravans only use electricity and sometimes gas, making the latter more environmentally friendly.

What materials are used to make static caravans?

Willerby holiday homes and lodges are built to last, using specially chosen materials. The resilience begins at ground level with a durable chassis, galvanised or coated to resist corrosion and stand up to all weathers and conditions.

The modern holiday home has evolved a long way from its origins, and now looks much more like a bungalow than a caravan. The cladding is the key to this outstanding aesthetic appeal.

The highest specification for cladding from Willerby is CanExel®. This is a high-density wood composite material, made from oak, maple and birch. It gives the exterior of your holiday home or lodge a lovely rustic cabin feel, combining the texture and beauty of natural woodgrain with low maintenance and durability.

Can a static caravan be used as a permanent residence?

More and more people, especially after retirement, are selling up and moving permanently to enjoy life in a holiday home or lodge. However, if you are considering doing this, there are a few things to bear in mind.

Not all holiday parks are licenced for full-time occupation. Many only cater for holiday homes and they tend to close for a month or more during the winter.

Also, some static caravans are only suitable for holiday occupation. In fact there are two different ratings for static caravans in terms of thermal and energy efficiency. The standard for holiday homes is EN 1647, and the more demanding standard for residential static caravans is BS 3632 (2015). When buying a static caravan and choosing a park, it's essential to make sure it is the right type for what you have in mind.

Can you personalise your static caravan?

Willerby park homes and lodges can be tailored to your requirements with a tempting menu of optional extras, from fitted kitchen appliances to Bluetooth sound systems and French doors.

One especially popular additional feature is external decking, with a choice of natural wood, wood composite and PVCu. All the decking options offered by Willerby are strong enough for regular use, fire-safe and non-slip.

Who should buy a static caravan?

Top-class static caravans are homes away from home. As such, they’re suitable for anyone who wants to invest in a property without having to spend the money associated with traditional brick and mortar.

For families, it offers the perfect weekend getaway. For those in their advanced years, static caravans and holiday lodges provide space for reflection, sanctuary and peace.

Therefore, static caravans aren’t merely reserved for one type of holidaymaker. Each holiday lodge has its own personality – just like the people who own them.

Where can you buy a static caravan?

For some holiday home inspiration, take a look at our most popular static caravans, including Ashhurst, Linwood and Vogue Nouveau.

As for our holiday lodges, we have the premium Portland, the timeless Mapleton and many more for you to peruse.

If you’re still unsure which type of static caravan would be best suited to your requirements, get in touch with our team today, click to call.