How do I Know if my Site is Suitable for a VanHome?

At VanHomes, our primary goal is to provide you with high-quality accommodation solutions at an affordable price.

Compared to other granny flat solutions, one of the key benefits of buying a VanHome is that you don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to prepare the site. Our unique adjustable leg system means that often we can install your VanHome straight onto the ground. 

With that said, while our system is versatile, there are a few key elements that must be considered when establishing if your site is suitable for a VanHome. This article will demonstrate the factors we check for when deciding if a location is safe for installation.

Site Level/Gradient

The site where your VanHome is positioned for a standard installation must have a fall of less than 300mm from front to back and 200mm from side to side. While installations in areas with a more extreme level difference are possible, additional planning and customisations are required. 

Your VanHome’s veranda and stairs have been designed to suit a flat site. Because of this, if your site is an uneven surface, our 3-step stairs may not work as intended. In this case, customised steps will need to be fabricated for you.

Site Firmness

To create a stable and safe living environment, the VanHome must be positioned on firm, solid ground to create a stable and safe living environment. 

In 95% of the cases, if the selected area is natural ground or has been untouched for many years, the foundation will be firm and solid enough. In comparison, if the site has recently been filled, dug up without proper compaction, or the ground is naturally too soft, your VanHome may be difficult or impossible to install.

If your site isn’t firm enough, there are a couple of ways to get the location ready for installation. For example, you could compact a loose material like road base or gravel with a Vibratory Plate Compactor or Drum Roller. Alternatively, pouring a concrete slab could create a firm surface and help adjust any level gradient difficulties.

Access

When towing the VanHome into position, our delivery drivers require at least 2700mm space on the installation site. This is because the VanHome itself is 2500mm and some additional space is required to get it in position.

Additionally, the drivers will need the space to get the VanHome to the installation location. To help you calculate if your site is accessible, we’ve attached the sizes needed for the VanHome to be comfortably towed into position here:

Length: Total length required is 6300mm (Tow Vehicle) + 1300mm (Towing Draw Arm) + total length of the VanHome.

Height: Total height of our VanHomes is approximately 3500mm.

These measurements are based on the VanHome and tow vehicle being on a level surface. If the surface is not exactly level, the vehicle or VanHome will tilt with the ground slope, which will increase the space required. 

Whilst installing the VanHome, our Installers will require a minimum of 500mm around the perimeter of the VanHome. This ensures easy and safe fitting of the flashing/guttering and HWS or LPG Gas bottles. Additionally, this space will allow you to walk around the perimeter of your VanHome should you need to access the side of the caravan.

For our Expanding models, our Installers will also require 2500mm clearance at the front and back of the VanHome in order to swing the front and rear walls around. If your site does not have these clearances, you can let us know prior to the installation so that we can assess what is required.

Can you Tow Under a Carport or Garage?

Our VanHomes are 3500mm tall, which means that they will not fit under a standard carport or garage door.

If your carport or garage exceeds the 3500mm measurement, then this may be possible. Otherwise, some alternatives are to disassemble the carport or use a crane to lift the VanHome over the carport.

Can you Crane a VanHome Into Place? 

If your location is otherwise inaccessible, you can have a crane lift a VanHome into place. We have had dozens of VanHomes lifted into backyards over the years. Here’s a video of a crane lifting a VanHome into a customers backyard:

Summary

VanHomes have been designed so you can install them in areas that would be difficult for other granny flats without additional preparation. That said, there are a few limitations that can still get in the way. If the site's level is too steep or not firm enough, installation could be too dangerous. Similarly, the installation process may be difficult or impossible if the site is inaccessible or doesn’t have the room to fit the model.

If you have any questions about whether your site is suitable for installation, you can get in touch with us here.