[Closed] Camper van

I think hiring to check you get on with it is a good idea. We had planned a trip last year where we were going to hire but in the event purchased a Motorhome and set off two days after buying it to Germany for three weeks with a six month year old baby. We have some stories...

We are planning another trip this summer to see if we want to keep it!

Have a look on Motorhomefun website. There isn't really any motorhome/campervan subject thats not covered on the forums.

One thing you might consider is whether you want a campervan or a motorhome. Advantages of a camper is being more ‘car’ sized and easier to drive, downside is usually no plumbed in toilet (chemical cassette toilet maybe) Mrs DB was adamant we needed one, so I made a discrete box for one with a lift-up lid etc. We’ve never used it, but now do have a good boot locker. Smaller vehicle also means easier access to small roads, parking etc - particularly if you plan to travel to remoter locations. However, motorhomes have more ‘luxuries’ if you’re planning longer trips. Worth considering hiring different types to try them out before committing.

Hiring is a good idea if you’re not sure, often quite expensive to do.

Id be looking to make sure you knew how you, and I mean you, would actually use it. And be wary of people transposing how they use them onto you.

I basically have Tin Tent with several nods to comfort, lining/insulation/ventilation/heating/removable platform bed/couple of windows, but that’s not really somewhere you’d want to spend too much time in. But I use it 3/5 times a week as a van, not a camper, and I accept the comfort shortfalls. One of those shortfalls is I need to use sites to stay on for facilities, which I don’t mind as I prefer to spend a bit more money in the places I visit.

The other end of the spectrum is a proper home away from home, somewhere you’d be comfy in for weeks at a time. To achieve this you end up sizing up and it starts being more of an issue if it’s used as a regular vehicle.

If you can figure out the real world usage and work back from there you should be on to a winner. A probably quite expensive winner.

Start saving. Prices have gone through the roof. We’ve always had one, done the motorhome thing then went back to a VW California. Europe is so much better equipped for vans than the UK. We do everything we can to discourage stays anywhere bar commercial sites. France has the opposite attitude with Aires and other infrastructure for those who just want to rock up.

It’s a big investment and you might not like it. For some the practicalities outweigh the romance so the rent first advise is sound. When I married my wife I’m not sure I signed up for a week in France with her suffering from the trots in our van. But we muddled through ..

Mrs DB was adamant we needed one ..... We’ve never used it

I hear this a lot on YouTube... (doing my research)

I guess the distinction really depends on use.
I'm happy to eat out a lot so cooking inside isn't that important to me but a hot shower / bike wash is but I can get 5-6 bikes inside and 2 of us still sleep in a SWB van and I'm looking at a cheap exterior pop up for hot showers and exterior venting clothes drier.

We've got more than enough heat and endless hot water for about £100 and a kettle/airpress

That's really it for us more than enough for weekends.
For longer vacations I'd probably be more summer when cooking outside is easier?

I'd type more but want to put stuff away in the van before it goes dark!

Bear in mind that this summer, certainly early on, very few places will be opening their facilities, so being self contained is more important.

As mentioned up there, prices have gone through the roof and the VW tax is properly bonkers.Loads of T5/4s with 200k+ on the clock for £15k+. Crazy, but I guess the demand is there.

I have hired campers a number of times from 3.5 tonne coachbuilts to ones based on MPVs. My thoughts.
If its for the odd weekend hiring will get you a top notch van at a decent price. If its for more than the odd weekend then buying will be better
Large coachbuilt ones are great for the camping part but horrid for driving especially in towns
Smaller ones built into a standard van make better drivers but can be cramped
Ones based on MPVs are too small
LPG systems are better than camping gaz cylinders
On board showers are a waste of time and space
On board loos are essential if you want to roadside camp. Do not shit in laybys
A garage to put your bikes in is very useful
Fixed double beds are the best and one that you don't have to climb over your partner to get in and out ie along the van not across it. Having to convert your sitting space into your bed every night gets boring and means one of you cannot sit up after the other has gone to bed

Its all about compromises. Every type of van is a compromise. Its all about what compromises you are prepared to make

Thanks, I think we have decided on a Fiat ducato conversion 540 in length, we have two kids but they are growing up so I think it will be for the two of us only, the plan is to keep it long term and use it when we retire too in 15 years or so too.

We've just got a 6m Ducato that will be going in for a race van style conversion imminently. There's loads of examples around in different layouts, pick the bits you like the looks of.

We're going to a company in Telford to do the conversion, they bespoke them so you can get exactly what you want but it's cheaper than most of the standard fit places. They're a professional van outfitting company not specifically a camper converter so not paying scene premium.

Definitely hire a version of your Ducato.

I think @tjagain nails it with the comments about beds. For some, shuffling across each other and having to make up a bed each evening can be deal breakers, so try out a van that matches the Ducato you have in mind to see what you make of it.

As above, Europe is a lot more motorhome friendly. Campsites and roads are generally easier for vans than the UK.

Climate too makes a huge difference. I could put up with a California if I knew it was going to be warm every evening and I could live under an awning. But I couldn’t face it in April in Scotland when there’s a good chance you’d be sitting in a very small van staying out of the wet and cold and then falling over each other as you try and make up the bed.

It’s a totally individual choice, and I think a trial of the van and a sample of intended destinations is worth doing before hitting ‘buy’.