Frequently Asked Questions

We have a range of new & used static caravans, mobile homes & our famous Sunrise Lodges available to view and purchase from our showground, but they do sell quickly once here, so always call at least a day in advance, as we don’t want a wasted trip! We are based in rural Weeley Heath, Essex.

Please follow this link for directions

If ordering a new model from the factory, Sunrise Lodges will include FREE standard delivery to anywhere in England, Wales, and South Scotland. If ordering from our showground, this includes England only. This is a standard ‘drop off’ delivery where you may need a 4×4 to move your lodge into place. Don’t worry, we can do it all for you! It’ll just cost a little extra… more info further below!

Yes, we can assess your site first on Google, and make a site visit if need be. Our reliable and experienced transport company will quote depending on the distance and how much work is required to get the caravan in, levelled and sited professionally. This is known as the hassle-free option, and costs start from around £800. If there is no way in by road, we can even quote to crane them over your house! The average cost of this is around £3-5k depending on location & job type.

In some cases a ‘certificate of lawfulness’ or similar might be needed. But really it depends on what the Sunrise Lodge is being used for. To just put it in your garden won’t require planning, but if it’s going to be your “only or main residence” on an empty plot of land, you’d almost certainly need it.
Most of our clients’ Sunrise Lodges are used as an annex. Mobile Home law states that provided a relationship remain between the mobile home and the house i.e. it’s being used as extra room space; you shouldn’t need full planning permission. For more info, check out our planning guide or give us a call.

Yes. Sunrise Lodges are built to an upgraded Scandinavian specification for EN1647, the European standard for holiday homes, making them suitable for comfortable use throughout the year.
Our Lodges feature full gas central heating via a combi boiler, eco-double glazing and high-quality Rockwool insulation, with walls and roof typically around twice as thick as those of a standard static caravan. Floors are insulated with 100mm boxed fibreglass, while the roof combines 50mm fibreglass with a Permavent Eco breather membrane.
We also stock selected models built to BS3632, the British residential standard for mobile homes. These offer an even higher level of insulation and specification, although they are typically more expensive than our standard Sunrise Lodge range.
Please note that specifications can vary between models and manufacturers, so our team can advise on the most suitable Lodge for your requirements.

All Sunrise Lodges come with a minimum 12-month manufacturer’s warranty. This covers everything on or in the home and is a standard duration across the industry. There are also separate and longer warranties on almost all parts of the home; for example, if choosing CanExel cladding, you’ll have an amazing 15-year warranty on the boards. Also, the roof sheets (steel pantiles) have a 10-year warranty; this is subject to yearly maintenance and checking the gutters, vents, etc. All the appliances typically come with 2 years or more, as well as the windows, masonry, chassis & more… so you are in good hands!

We can supply onto a number of parks; please click here
Alternatively we can supply onto any caravan park you wish, provided you have checked with the park that you are allowed to bring on a caravan you have bought elsewhere.
Unfortunately, about 90% of parks out there no longer allow you to bring on your own home, so please ensure you have written permission before purchasing from us or driving over to view.

Your caravan or Lodge is fully insured while it’s in our hands. From prep at the showground or factory, to delivery.
Once its on your land we advise you insure it through NACO Caravan Services who are very helpful people. We can also recommend the NFU. However there are many more out there and we always recommend shopping around for the best price & policy.

Yes of course! We are always happy to buy back our caravans. We can offer a guaranteed buy-back within 12 – 15 months; the industry standard is 40% of the value back within the first year. However, we can sometimes offer up to 60%!
This works out much cheaper than renting, and is a great fallback if you need it gone quickly and cash back at the end of the build.
Alternatively, we will advise you on how to sell it yourself privately on eBay or Gumtree, for example. This way you will get most of your money back, as they hardly exist second-hand! Also, you could keep it in your garden as extra space, or get it on Airbnb!
We can also help you arrange the transport back out again. But no matter how long you’ve had your caravan or lodge, we’ll always be interested in buying it back.

Most static caravans, mobile homes, and lodges run on Calor bottled LPG (Liquid Propane Gas). You can either buy the freestanding bottles (47kg advised), or for the long term, you can install a tank.
If you’re going green, running solar or something else, you can also choose a fully electric version if you prefer, with an electric boiler, central heating and an oven.

Personally, we cannot advise you on your base, as there are many things to consider with different types of land. We cannot be responsible for the base you choose to site the home on, and if sited incorrectly, you will notice doors + windows not opening/ shutting properly.
We’d recommend speaking to a local general builder/ someone who has knowledge of laying concrete bases, to advise you on this matter. And depending on which model you’re interested in, we can soon find you the weight.
Please see below the industry standard as a guide.
“Laying a correct hardstanding base”
The specification for pitches in good load-bearing subsoil is as follows (Guidelines of Good Practice for Transportation, Siting, and Commissioning v6.7):

1. Sub-base All topsoil should be removed to an appropriate depth before the raft/strips are constructed. The sub-base should then be compacted until it is firm. If during excavation, soft, wet or unstable areas are detected, these materials should be excavated and replaced with well-compacted, granular fill. It is highly recommended that in this scenario a qualified structural/civil engineer is engaged.

2. Concrete Raft The base raft is at least 200mm wider than wheelbase and jacking points of the home. A well consolidated hard-core sub-base with a minimum depth of 150mm should be laid first and topped with 100mm of concrete mix with steel reinforcement. Ideally the perimeter of the base should be deeper/thickener to accommodate brick, block or stone skirting and the fitting of decking or porches around the home. The concrete mix for the raft should meet the requirements of BS EN 206-1. The finished raft should be flat, level in all directions and flush with the ground. One or two shallow gullies could be formed in the surface to allow water to run off.

3. Concrete Strips If concrete strips are used instead of a raft, they should be a minimum of 1m wide and should be spaced so that the longitudinal chassis members can be positioned above the centre of the strips (approximately 1.8m centres). A well consolidated hard-core sub-base with a minimum depth of 150mm should be laid first and topped with 150mm of concrete mix with steel reinforcement. The concrete mix for the strips should meet the requirements of BS EN 206-1. Rough-sawn timber may be used for longitudinal forms. This should be placed on edge, with sideways movement prevented by metal or wooden stakes driven into the ground at 1m spacing. Where strips are constructed on slopes steeper than 1 in 30 (33mm in 1m), they must incorporate anchors to prevent them from creeping downhill. It is highly recommended that in this scenario a qualified structural/civil engineer is engaged. The finished raft/strips should be generally flat and level with provision for surface drainage.

4. Curing Concrete should be allowed to cure fully in order to achieve the desired strength. The curing process can be enhanced by keeping the fresh concrete damp for an adequate period after pouring. Concrete work in frosty conditions should be avoided unless antifreeze additives are used.

As soon as surface texturing is complete, the concrete should be covered with plastic sheeting held in place with a thin layer of sand or soil and stones along the edges. Allow sufficient time for the base to cure before siting the home. Damp-curing should be continued for at least 10 days in warm weather and 14 days in cold weather.
On exposed parks, recessed ring bolts and steel eyes should be cast into the concrete. The chassis of the home should then be anchored to the steel eyes to prevent movement in high winds. Each ground anchor and eye should be capable of resisting a 10 kN tensile load.

Anything is possible, but for different doors, windows & skylights, be careful as the structure will need reinforcing; it has been manufactured a certain way! If you do get anyone else in to do the work, feel free to check with us if you aren’t sure.
If you’ve chosen CanExel cladding, we wouldn’t advise painting, although it wouldn’t be impossible! If you’ve chosen real timber, then you are free as a bird!

With regards to taking out walls, this can be done in certain places, always best to check with us first. As a general rule; don’t take down the middle wall (running longways down the home) as that will most likely be the supporting one.

We have floor plans for all of our standard models, which should display after the pictures. We can also send you full elevation plans if, for example, your planning officer needs them.

Most caravans & lodges run on a 32amp power supply via a blue 3 pin plug, but they can also be hardwired with armoured cable, whatever is easier on your end.
Water can be connected by any outside supply/ from the main house, even a hose, but we wouldn’t recommend it long term or in winter! If you are more local to us in Weeley, Essex, we can arrange for our engineers to visit and quote you for the works.

The easiest would be into the house mains drainage via manhole cover or similar; otherwise, a cesspit/macerator. All the brown waste and water pipes are common fittings.
We always advise getting a local LPG Gas Safe registered engineer and qualified Electrician round, as they will be able to discuss all this with you and quote, as every job is different.

All mobile homes come with wind-down legs, but these are really just for showground use. If we are siting your caravan or lodge for you, we’ll put it on slabs and jacks, so you shouldn’t expect any movement; all the doors will open and close correctly, etc.
Depending on the ground, it may ‘bed in’ over the first few months, but this is just a case of tightening the jacks underneath. We can supply you with axel stands to site it yourself, however this is not the only thing needed! See our guide on how to site & level in the above menu.

Typically, 6’10” would be the lowest point, and all of our lodges have internally vaulted ceilings (with externally pitched and steel pan tiled roof), giving the homes a spacious and light feel.