[Closed] Where do you start with a camper van for mountainbiking?

Start with your wish list.

Do you want it

little

bed for 2

somewhere to put the bikes inside

That is just the sort of useful advice I need. How do you decide!? I suppose you can always lock your bikes to the back and fit an alarm to wake you if someone starts meddling...

Where would you store/park it?

This is a big consideration. Would be parked on the street and we live in a permit zone 😆 😡

Depending on budget available, but I'd go for something like this.
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With the double cab option there should be plenty of space in the rear seat space for secure bike storage and the camper looks comfy enough and I get to keep my 4x4 fetish in order.

It's all a compromise. Just need to work out what you will compromise on. Ours is small, but with a good size double bed and the bikes fit inside. The compromises are limited other space inside (basically just the bed) and it's a faff to get the bikes in/out (wheels and pedals off). Awning is a Heath Robinson affair but it gives a nice seating area.

See below

Just designing this very thing (except I need to get a trail motorcycle in) so I am going lwb transit custon with kitchen unit up against bulk head (including fridge) and two pipe hammocks that roll up (still have a van) you could keep mtbs under pipe beds over night

Think of a budget.

Double it.

Ask on here for ideas/photos.

Double the budget you just doubled.

Realise you can get a lot of nights in nice B&Bs for that amount of money, but carry on regardless.

How much would 60 nights a year cost me in a b&b?

It's a faff but with both wheels out you can get two bikes across the front seats , we had a lwb T5 camper with a Fiamma rack but even with cables and good locks it never felt really save with the bikes exposed .
We've now got a van and a tent which is far more useful/ versatile for us.

Just had wads of cash over to Outside Van;
(warning video contains van porn)

Well I decided to get a basic box and slum it for starters, kitting it out as I went along and decided what I wanted. Two years later, I've still got a basic box. It has been v useful as a van, but never seen a night as a camper.

*waves at legspin*

Thought you were dead. Or too embarrassed to post here now you are a roadie 😀

I bought an ex Network Rail Transit welfare van for £6k with 70k miles in mint condition. Ebay search Welfare/mess/messing van.

Comes with microwave, Eberspacher heater, warm water sink, brewing up water urn, loads of lights, extractor fans, leisure batteries/split charger, lined/carpeted, reverse sensors, 240v power/1000w inverter.

Bikes live in the rear 'boot area' and sleeping in the middle bit (have removed the extra seats), still useable for my wifes clothing business.

Been all over Europe/Uk in it, great van, also make a good base for a conversion. Can be cheaper than an 'empty van' and had easier lives. Also available in Mercedes versions but the Transit is more popular.

You start with your budget. I expect after you have seen what some folk want for their turd rolled in glitter t4 you might look at another manufacturer.

For info I have an xlwb viano. It is not a camper but we took an executive decision to only carry bikes in bike bags. This sounds a bit silly as we have lots of space. However it stops us smashing the interior of the bus about and also the bikes. It also forces us to clean them every time we use them with the 12v washer thing. How does this affect you?
Well, I discovered I can fit a bike bag behind the front seats and another one on the 2nd row of seats quite easily. With the 3rd row removed there is room for a bed. We have been looking at making a bed which clips into the seat rails which would allow storage underneath.

have a look at

http://www.smallmotorhome.co.uk/

http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes/auto-sleepers/duetto as an eg of a smallish motorhome

sort out your budgets (purchase and then your ongoing costs - ins/tax servicing,mpg etc etc parking costs drone z blah)

identify what facilities you really want (but roughly speaking more facilities = bigger/less economical/less car like drive/harder parking)

look at options (on autotrader you can search motorhomes by length etc

(*beware 3t limit on some road bridges and also width/height limit impact even med sized motorhomes)

oh - pay attention to the b&b comments - they can eat money

OP i'm in a similar situation as you as my SMax is due for renewal at the end of the year/early next year and i've really enjoyed the semi-utilitarian ability of the Smax so think a T5 or Vito could be on the cards. Here's my thinking so far for my requirements:-

Daily Driver
in Daily driver mode I seen to be able to put two or three bike sin the back without breaking down. So the rear seat needs to be able to slide forward and backwards and obviously be able to unfold into a double bed.

Short term Camper
In camper mode it needs a pop-top for the kids to sleep in and a decent rack on the back for bikes to be carried externally because kids will be sat in the back so no room for bikes.

Ideally sliding doors on both sides for daily drive and carting kids around mode, but removable modular internal camper kitchen to either have the internal camper kitchen in the van for quick overnight camps, or take them out and have them in the drive away awning when camping for longer.

So I think i'm looking at a T5 LWB (or similar) with sliding rear seat for 2, modular removable internal camper units, twin sliding doors, pop top, external bike rack, 2.5TDi engine with DSG auto box (no idea if this combo is available). Leisure battery, electric hook up, heater, drive away awning.

I have no idea how to get what I want or how much it will cost or even where to start looking for it - not bothered about it looking super slick or nice. Its a utilitarian vehicle, not something to pose in. Don't really care how much it costs as long as I can finance it affordably. Happy to never own it and T5's hold their value so unlikely to never got into 'negative equity'.

I used to have a campervan until someone wrote it off but it was always compromised for biking. I bought a transit to replace it intending to convert it but realised it works best with minimal changes to remain flexible. I boarded it out and put Windows in and vinyl on the floor. That works as a van to take biking on usual days out. To "convert" to a camper, I put a carpet and mattress in the back to use as a bedroom and have an awning on the side for kitchen. Job done, minimum faff maximum versatility

I have a Renault Trafic which I converted myself. The bikes live on the roof which is a bit of a faf but they're safe up there as they still get locked up and the ladder has a lockable door. Just done another recently for my mum. Total cost for the conversion was £3K plus the van. That includes, split charged leisure battery, led lighting a 2 ring sink/cooker a bank of cupboards and a rear bench seat which folds out to a 3/4 width double bed. One of the most important things to do is insulate it properly, do not underestimate this.
If you need any help or advice let me know.

I bought an ex Network Rail Transit welfare van for £6k with 70k miles in mint condition. Ebay search Welfare/mess/messing van.

RustyNissanPrarie, those look interesting, never knew such a thing existed. We're thinking of getting a T5 to replace my T2 but I often wonder about getting something bigger that will take bikes, can stand up in normally and still have a living space and these look ideal but it would be used as a runaround, not a daily driver as we have a small car too, so not sure about having something this size. How do you find yours RNP, have you partially converted yourself, and what's it like on insurance and tax? Any photos? 🙂

Realise you can get a lot of nights in nice B&Bs for that amount of money

This! Every time I think about one, the maths just doesn't add up...

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjyMXuRT
Go basic, if I was going again LWB transit or similar, med high or high roof.
Double bed in the back raised up, bikes under, along with Gas BBQ, tools, bike wash and gas stove.

Mount the fridge on the bench in the front along with other storage.

Add an awning, doubles the usable space when it's not miserable.

What do you want the sink for? Decent washing up bowl and you save a heap of space and cash.

This! Every time I think about one, the maths just doesn't add up...

This! Every time I think about one, the maths just doesn't add up...

Going to New Zealand opened my eyes to vans.
Not camper vans and not motorhomes which is how people seem to do it here, but just vans with some woodwork in the back for a bed.
It helps that over there Toyota HiAces are common, cheap, have windows and every mechanic in the country will have worked on loads.

Put the bed high so you can put all the stuff under it.

For 2 people this is a good cheap option.

Unfortunately I have a family of 4 to fit in 🙁

That was the idea Alex
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6890903511_142ebba7f5_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6890903511_142ebba7f5_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/buVFxe ]IMG_7588[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr

I had similar requirements to you, I wanted:

- Campervan to sleep 2 adults and 2 children in family mode and with reasonable level of comfort
- Bike van for me to use odd weekends weekends and bikes have to be able to fit inside
- Van to be our second family vehicle but I have to be able to use it around town and for commuting when needed

I bought a high top LWB vivaro which I'm currently converting myself. Couldn't afford a decent transporter (or didn't want to pay what they were asking anyway). Ive fitted 2 rear seats on QR rails, which in addition to the front 3 can carry our family of 4 easily, 2 side windows, fiamma skylight, insulated and carpet lined, lino floor. I made a 3-piece bed platform similar to the outside van ones that spans across the van. Its a good size double when folded out, but can also be completely removed if needed. The bed height was set to clear the bars / saddles of bikes in the back, so in biking mode with the rear seats out I'll be able to have easily 3 bikes stood up in the back side by side (accounting for kitchen which will be on far side), no need to remove wheels etc. I can then sleep in there over top of bikes if im on a riding trip. We can then have one child in a bed across cab seats and another in the back under the double bed (just simple boards with foam matresess on top) I've got a swivel on the front double seat, so with that spun round its a dining space for 4 (dining table to be made to sit in between seats). Now working on a kitchen setup which Im making from cheap and cheerful birch ply, its going to run down far side of van much like the traditional transporter side kitchen conversions, also got all the electrics to do. It's going to have a full leisure battery setup, split charge, 12v fridge, 240v hookup etc etc, ive got all the bits, just need to fit it.

I use the van for commuting 1-2 days a week and can fit it in a normal parking space.

It seems to be working as intended, super flexible, but also enough of a 'proper' campervan to convince the Mrs that she's not going to be 'slumming' it in the back of a builders van. I should have it finished in next 3-4 weeks to do a few trips this summer.

Also got a drive away awning to give loads of extra space.

I need to decide on a solution for carrying bikes for family trips, the winner so far is to just get a towbar and use a towbar rack, we wont be taking high value bikes for family camping tips anyway so lock them to the towbar, cover them and take the risk.

Couple of pics below, its progressed a bit since then too.

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double post

Do those boxes not fall on the kids heads when you brake?

Lol, yes they would do! But only up there for photo purposes as I'd just laid the floor! Now have the foam matreses up there, wedged against the roof, with a cargo net type thing that clips across the front to hold them in place (although they don't budge)

RustyNissanPrarie, those look interesting, never knew such a thing existed. We're thinking of getting a T5 to replace my T2 but I often wonder about getting something bigger that will take bikes, can stand up in normally and still have a living space and these look ideal but it would be used as a runaround, not a daily driver as we have a small car too, so not sure about having something this size. How do you find yours RNP, have you partially converted yourself, and what's it like on insurance and tax? Any photos?

I use mine as a daily driver when Im not commuting by bike, size wise its not a problem apart from car park barriers and McD's drive thru's!

Mine is still as I bought it 3 years ago apart from removing the middle seats (3 additional seats with belts fitted) and a few storage hooks/brackets things in the 'boot'. Fitted some rubber flooring in the boot area for muddy/wet bikes. They are available with 3 or 6 seats, and some have rear toilets (easily removed).

Insurance is approx £400 - but thats a business policy thru Brenatacre as the van is used for my wifes business. Road fund is commercial rate at £200 ish.

A few pics from our Euro road trip the other year - we took a 6 man tent (just me and the Mrs) a huge foam bed and all the comforts of home - because we could! Pitched the tent and used it as a base to explore from.

if its a weekend trip we just kip in the middle bit.

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[url= http://postimage.org/ ]image search[/url]

Bikes in the van unless they are rubbish or you are proper dead 'are like. Fighting bike thieves at 2 a.m. in your pj's not a good option. Pretty easy to fit 2 bikes and comfy bed in the back of VW, transit, van of choice. Put them in whole if your going to put them in bags get a car.

Some great thoughts in here!

Good point about the sink.

Don't forget that most vans are classed as Commercial vehicles, reducing speed limits and increasing insurance. Bed, water 'tank', table and stove and it becomes a campervan (but you need to re-register with DVLA)

Last year we [s]up[/s]graded from a sensible boring family estate (05 plate pug 307 SW) to a 2003 T4 home build camper, for parking purposes they are the same length to within a couple of cm.

the van has done 220,000 now but runs well (it's been well looked after, lots haven't been) still pulls well will cruise faster than the speed limit happily. Not used as a daily though as we all ride to work/school from here. Been serviced by the same (excellent) VW indy garage for the last 125k miles.

It has a perfect (for us) layout. full width bed meaning three seats with belts in the back and a massive bed when down. loads of space under that for stuff. various mesh nets on the sides for storage. passenger seat swivels, kitchen module behind drivers seat. 50 litres fresh water, 25 litre waste water, leisure battery, gas bottle, two gas rings small sink, tap, small cupboard for food. Pop top with fold up/down bed for kids. tow bar with 4 bike thule rack. Silver screen made out of that foil bubble wrap stuff with ebay thumb tac suction cups. Use an electric cool box and another fold out box for more food. both ratchet strapped to the kitchen module. Bought for £3.5k...

Thats a lot of campari!

have a look here at this cool Mercedes bike camper

http://www.traipsingabout.com/2013/11/27/adventure-mobile/

Lots of interesting ideas here. Just about to move to van number 4 this summer. Previous vw T2 bay, Bongo and currently a MWB Sprinter. Next will be a SWB Traffic configured to sleep 2, with 2 bikes inside, access to a night toilet and hob for morning tea. Looking forwarx to the build 🙂

We just got rid of our T5 camper setup as we bought a caravan, I reckon if you are actually going to be off 'wild' camping, living the stereotypical camper van dream, they are great but then if like us you find that in 4 years ownership you actually just use campsites then a caravan starts to look like a better idea.

What you want is a van towing a caravan, just like a couple of pikeys. Heres ours.
[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/2/1479/25532931701_c237bb3c63_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/2/1479/25532931701_c237bb3c63_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/EUfX3n ]SAM_0207[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/100876064@N05/ ]philip dixon[/url], on Flickr

RustyNissanPrairie - thanks for the info, not too bad on tax and insurance then. I usually commute by bike, or bus in the worst months of the year, as no parking where I work so maybe a larger van could be justified. A toilet would be good too, a few years ago in France we couldn't get into a campsite as they all seem to close about 8pm. I'd be looking to convert to a registered motorhome too.

[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/family-friendly-bike-carrying-camper-build ]This thread[/url] on STW is a good start for what could be involved in building a nice bike camper. The size and spec is really down to you and your needs and that is the best part about building your own. Buying one that someone else has down can be more of a compromise.

I am building this one at the moment
[url= https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM3Bro-9Z6CsK9R43WDJj2E7FcJrT9C5crdZtG_8GTtGOunjJKwVr8zBZorusJlCQ/photo/AF1QipOBFfWy-azNpJ2uaqDWfHiCFwuQa-av7AUBwwEg?key=OXFvczBPMi1jZHMzS0V3d1BhcUdCMm1TcWg0bzlR ]Photo linky[/url]
[url= https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM3Bro-9Z6CsK9R43WDJj2E7FcJrT9C5crdZtG_8GTtGOunjJKwVr8zBZorusJlCQ?key=OXFvczBPMi1jZHMzS0V3d1BhcUdCMm1TcWg0bzlR ]Link 2[/url]

No pressure to finish by August at all...

Your camper will grow with you and you will learn to work around the compromises it has. You will soon have a full check list for the next one.

I started with an ex post office escort van, moved to a VW T25, then a T5 and we now have a Fiat Ducato Tribute SWB high top.

There is not enough room to keep the bikes inside overnight, but we do now have a bathroom and toilet and a kitchen. We can head off at the drop of a hat and kip anywhere we want. To me this is what makes a camper. Yes I can buy years worth of nights in a B&B for the same money but I will have to book ahead and be there on time. The freedom is the essence and the more equipment you have the more freedom you have.

We spent two weeks touring France last year, enjoying Annecey, Les Gets, Morzine etc. We spent two nights in a campsite to do some washing. Awesome trip. Southern Ireland this year.....

Get on it, the van type doesn't really matter, just see if you enjoy the experience.

[url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/lauren-greggs-custom-ford-transit-van-2016.html ]This van on Pink Bike is tidy[/url]

matt007 - fine conversion there.

What seats are you using in the back there?
Which donor vehicle are they from and will they fold flat or come out easily?
Sorry one more question.
I am assuming your conversion will stay as a van (with increased number of seats) rather than a V5 change to a motorcaravan?

Thanks

It helps that over there Toyota HiAces are common, cheap, have windows and every mechanic in the country will have worked on loads.

Totally, they're pretty much an exotic here. They're the opposite of VW really, super cheap and it's great being able to get spares anywhere for a few $

DVLA are very reluctant to change vans to motorhomes. Apparently because they still look like a panel van that is what they should stay as. So even with windows and a full fit out it will remain a van.

I am loving the Fiat Ducato. Good space, flexible options for conversion and possible to have a garage to keep the bikes indoors! Also without the VW price tag...

http://thevanual.com/

good write up

At the smaller end of the scale but I'm dead chuffed with my self build

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/yet-another-stealth-campervery-pic-heavy

Me and the missus spent the weekend in it last weekend at the World Cup. Admittedly no bikes in it but I slept up on the raised bed and she was on a big single air bed on the floor where the bikes would go. You can go as daft as you want spec wise. My next build will probably be a bigger van but for what I need for the foreseeable the current build suits me perfectly

Chuck a tent in your car and go and have an adventure..

Have stripped my van (as posted previously in this thread) ready for a internal rebuild - have an Eberspacher Handiwash unit - sink and hot and cold water in a self contained unit and also a brewing/hot water urn, both 12volt and good condition. £30 each?