Campervans

[Dazb1967]

Is there anyone on the forum got any tips on what to go for with a Campervan, It will mostly only be for me and the wife but the grandson will probably tag along on the odd occasion so it will need to sleep 3 and seatbelts for 3.
I notice some of them have fixed beds and some have seating areas which turn into beds, has anyone got any experience of either or.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[TH4]

Get a good divorce lawyer. A couple of days cooped up in a campervan with the wife and grandkids and you will need one.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Campervan or motorhome ?

If you are looking at a VW, you can buy a luxury motorhome for the same money.

There are loads of options.
VW expensive and not well specc'd unless you spend over 50k
Other vans. Transit custom being the best. Plenty out there or companies that will convert your transit for you.
Jap imports. Numerous models and specs for much less money. Toyota, Nissan etc all make small campers

Old VW. Dear god, why anyone would is beyond me. Awful things.

Motorhomes. Luxury living with loo's and showers, and beds and fridges for beer, and bunkbeds for little tykes.

 

[Tim.243]

Is there anyone on the forum got any tips on what to go for with a Campervan, It will mostly only be for me and the wife but the grandson will probably tag along on the odd occasion so it will need to sleep 3 and seatbelts for 3.
I notice some of them have fixed beds and some have seating areas which turn into beds, has anyone got any experience of either or.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

My departed friend Phil was into them.....2 of the worst nights sleep I ever had! Split the fuel and kip in the van....then went diving on a rib out of the south coast.....He had cardboard cornflakes from netto, long life milk, bread made from foam, marg, and the water was about a year old in the tank.... bless him lol
**** that.....lol

Good luck with your search

Tim.243

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Converted 10x old Commer vans into basic campers in 1971, the expectations were a lot less in those days.

 

[kes]

Rent one its easier and it doesnt depreciate on the drive.
I toured Devon when 18 with a mate in an old french Estafette (my parents). had a kitchen and sink at the rear under the opened boot lid with side panels, a couple of driving seats and double bench seats and table that made into a double bed. Often as not there were four of us - a lot of Swedish and other young ladies were attracted by the 'nomadic' lifestyle.

Since you are going with your wife, I'd go to B&B's and get a good nights sleep.

 

[Skietindiekop]

Campervans are ok for sires with decent facilities as they are lacking the essentials for independent stops.
Motorhomes have everything needed to stop anywhere.
As above, VW campers are VERY expensive and often a lot more than a motorhome.
Ford based motorhomes are extremely attractive to thieves as the security is weak so check insurance prices if looking at them. Fiat Ducato is the most common by far and are designed for the market from scratch so a good choice.

 

[DanTheMan]

Fiat Ducato based are brilliant, also I'd suggest don't rent one just buy one and sell it if you don't like it, renting one (once they add all the hidden extras) costs ££££. Motorhomes barely depreciate.

 

[Chanty Wrassler]

Campervans are ok for sires with decent facilities

Well there are a reasonable number of ladies who can confirm that I qualify as one of the "sires with decent facilities", but I'll skip campervans in favour of a hotel where available, or tent/bivvy bag where not.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Whatever you get PLEASE paint it green! Why these darn things need to be white is beyond me.

K

 

[McKenzie]

Whatever you get PLEASE paint it green! Why these darn things need to be white is beyond me.

K

I think it's so that you don't run into the back of then as they potter along at 20 miles per hour.

 

[Pedro]

Giving up a reasonably spacious, permanent abode with all mod cons to reside in a tin box that you can't stand up in, can't cook properly in, don't have any personal space in, has medieval toilet facilities, don't get a bed that's as long as you and calling it a holiday.

Whoopee, where do I sign up?

 

[VSS]

Giving up a reasonably spacious, permanent abode with all mod cons to reside in a tin box that you can't stand up in, can't cook properly in, don't have any personal space in, has medieval toilet facilities, don't get a bed that's as long as you and calling it a holiday.

Whoopee, where do I sign up?

You could always go sailing instead.

 

[Free range rob]

I think it's so that you don't run into the back of then as they potter along at 20 miles per hour.

Sounds about right

 

[Beretta V]

I have a 1971 VW bay camper.
It’s great to look at.
Horrific for everything else!

 

[stratts]

I have a 1971 VW bay camper.
It’s great to look at.
Horrific for everything else!

Me too (1979 bay), mine's for sale as I don't use it any more. Got a matching Sprite 400 caravan to go with it!!

 

[Heym SR20]

We looked seriously at Campervans a few years ago. In Scotland they are quite useful as you can get out into the hills for a good days stalking, walking, fishing etc and then have a good sleep without the bother of having to put up a tent etc. But having slept in a few they are small and beds a bit like being in a coffin. Given the cost of a campervan, I think a much better option would be a Pickup of some description with a decent sized roof tent, that has enough space in it to not only sleep, but also to use a jetboil or similar to make the early morning tea. I have only used Roof tents in Africa. My concern with a roof tent in Scotland though is the wind and whether or not they are strong enough to cope with the good Scottish wind - ie the type that actually blows a falling rock sideways and is solid sheet of water.

And is for internal loos in a campervan - most unpleasant, but probably more pleasant than most public loos.

 

[Dazb1967]

Campervan or motorhome ?

If you are looking at a VW, you can buy a luxury motorhome for the same money.

There are loads of options.
VW expensive and not well specc'd unless you spend over 50k
Other vans. Transit custom being the best. Plenty out there or companies that will convert your transit for you.
Jap imports. Numerous models and specs for much less money. Toyota, Nissan etc all make small campers

Old VW. Dear god, why anyone would is beyond me. Awful things.

Motorhomes. Luxury living with loo's and showers, and beds and fridges for beer, and bunkbeds for little tykes.

I should have said Motorhome probably around 4 or 5 year old, Done the VW thing, had a T4 and T5 and slept in both but want something with a bit more room and comfort.
Renting isn't really an option as I struggle to know what I'm doing from one week to the next with working away, Plan is to own one then come the weekends pack the motorhome and away.
Comfort wise were used to camping so sleeping rough isn't an issue.
Expense wise as said above they hold their value well, Even a 20yr old motorhome still goes for silly money so even if we decide to sell in a few years time it wouldn't be the end of the world and shouldn't loose that much.

 

[Cumbrian 1]

Giving up a reasonably spacious, permanent abode with all mod cons to reside in a tin box that you can't stand up in, can't cook properly in, don't have any personal space in, has medieval toilet facilities, don't get a bed that's as long as you and calling it a holiday.

Whoopee, where do I sign up?

Ha ha my sentiments exactly, by the time you have accounted for the running costs (fuel, tyres, repairs etc.), MOTs, Tax, Insurance and depreciation then work out how many times you will actually use it and I'm sure you could stay in a very nice hotel for less. A good friend summed up camper vans and caravans;
"It isn't a holiday if you have to shat in a cupboard" and that's if your happens to have a toilet.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

You could always go sailing instead.

You just reminded me of having to lie on the floor between bunks to pull my trousers on. Cabin height was about 3.1/2, 4 feet.