Campervans question.

[JohnnyBoxer]

For clarification purposes the intention would be just for day/weekend use, nothing longer than that.

It’s a difficult subject and painful to decide
Having spent the last week in the West of Ireland-the larger panel vans (Ducati/Boxer/Sprinter) seem to be gaining traction in popularity, over the big white blancmanges

However the purchase and running of all them is eye watering and unless you use them a lot - you can buy of lot of nights in air b&b or holiday cottages instead and be warm/dry/more space etc

 

[Arsey]

There’s one in your budget not been put up very long ago on these very pages:

Thread '2019 VW T6 T28 Transporter, Kombi, Day Van, call it what you will. Highline, low mileage.'
https://www.ukgser.com/community/th...it-what-you-will-highline-low-mileage.531258/

Surely that’s just a van with seats ? There’s nothing ‘camper’ about it .

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Surely that’s just a van with seats ? There’s nothing ‘camper’ about it .

Not even a porta potti

 

[twizzle]

If you want to use as a daily driver and access normal carparks …. It’s gotta be a VW or Transit based van.. these make great day vans but need an awning if you are serious about overnighting as not much room inside when the bed is flat… also no toilet as a rule….

Also on van conversions try and get a tail gate rather then barn doors, and for the sake of your passenger avoid the bench passenger seat - they are designed by sadists

Don’t forget Aircon, not always present on older conversions…..

Your budget would get you a T5.1 California ….I’d be looking for one of them…… he said having sold his last year….

 

[Oldrat]

Yep agree with that.

Air con and tailgate would be musts for me too on a VW cali type van.
Double cab seat would have to go.

Also the LWB Transporter is only approx 15” longer, so no problem in car parks etc, but that extra length comes into it’s own when camping.

 

[OnHellas]

Don’t forget diesel heating for nighttime. And daytime too in colder months.

 

[Moto Bikemad]

Use the money and stay in nice Airbnb’s, with a big bed , shower, cooker, sofa etc.
Opening the doors in the morning expecting a beautiful view only to see more camper vans and listening to them shout at each other.
No damp van, mot, tax, insurance, maintenance etc
Lying in bed between worrying about some louts banging on the side of it in the middle of the night. Or the police moving you on.
Your back and wife will appreciate you for it.
And don’t get me started on the driving and parking of owners.

 

[Barnoe]

I have a few mates with them and was considering one myself.

However after listening to them moan saying its getting harder and harder to find places to park and they nearly always end up on camp sites i decided against it.

Travelling to a lovely place and then having anxiety trying to find somewhere for the night doesn't appeal to me.

Also the VW type don't have a toilet and people buy glorified buckets to sit on, no thanks.

 

[Dave T]

There's something in the 'vehicles for sale' section that might fit your requirements other than being able to part ex your car. Nothing to do with me. VW t6, 55k miles, and under budget.

I have a converted 2015 VW T5.1, returns about 40mpg average in our use. We have aircon, night heater, pop top, hob and grill etc. Ours doesn't have a fridge, but we use an Igloo 'powered coolbox' which hasn't struggled to chill to, and maintain, the contents at 4C. We've not used the hob in the van yet; we tend to use a separate camping stove and cook outside if the weather's good, or in the porch area of the awning if it's less good.
We really enjoy the van and use it loads. Just the van sometimes, or van with airbeam awning depending on our plans for the stay. From parking up, to having the awning pitched, bed made and ready to head off into whatever town we're near is about an hour. About 1hr30 to pack down, including the awning. The 'footprint' of the van is probably about the same as a Range Rover Sport, so it's really not as big as it may seem, I think the height makes it look deceptively large.
A good friend of ours has a slightly later T6, and his is currently up for sale after 2 years of ownership as he feels it's not big enough, so I think the advice of 'go and have a look at some', and maybe hire one is probably good.
That said, we didn't hire one, and we wouldn't swap it.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Use the money and stay in nice Airbnb’s, with a big bed , shower, cooker, sofa etc.
Opening the doors in the morning expecting a beautiful view only to see more camper vans and listening to them shout at each other.
No damp van, mot, tax, insurance, maintenance etc
Lying in bed between worrying about some louts banging on the side of it in the middle of the night. Or the police moving you on.
Your back and wife will appreciate you for it.
And don’t get me started on the driving and parking of owners.

Dream is often the inverse of reality

Idyll it seems, but wet days ‘trapped’ inside nothing more than a panel van is very different

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Also the VW type don't have a toilet and people buy glorified buckets to sit on, no thanks.

That is not a good thing if you have D&V from a dodgy meal out

 

[Barnoe]

That is not a good thing if you have D&V from a dodgy meal out

Exactly, i was looking at the swift trekker XL before i decided to not bother.
they are better than the VWs by a mile.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Thanks again everyone for your advice.
The van on here does look good but I'm going to part exchange my car which rules out the private buy option.
I also want something with a gas hob and fridge already fitted.
I like camping so using a decent toilet and shower block on a clean campsite doesn't bother me.
Just to reiterate it would be used for days out and weekends at the longest.

Regarding the Air BnB idea that's a non starter as I won't use them while they're advertising properties in The Occupied Territories but I get the gist of what you're saying and concur which is why it will only be used for very short periods, anything longer will be in a glamping pod, static caravan or hotel.

 

[ChasF]

A friend of ours uses his Camperking converted VW as his daily driver. I think they offer a range of conersions (day van to 4 berth) which they fit into a base van of your choice (new or secondhand). They’ve been pretty good on the after sales support as well. I would suggest that a poptop is essential if you want to enjoy weekend away.

 

[OnHellas]

The Hillside Cromford based on a VW T6.1/T7 etc has a built in cassette toilet.

We’ve never been moved on by the police during an overnight stop. Then again, we don’t park illegally.

 

[OnHellas]

Dream is often the inverse of reality

Idyll it seems, but wet days ‘trapped’ inside nothing more than a panel van is very different

Sounds like living in Yorkshire

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Our California is Susans daily driver

It fits in car park spaces and multi story car parks
Another reason we went VW california is that any warranty or issues with either the van itself or the camper side of it is all the same company I.E VW rather than VW for the van and a conversion company for the camper side

It is quite nice to drive and has all the tech like cruise control sat nav etc etc DSG gear box and 4 wheel drive.

Camping for 2 + dog is easy and with the fitment of a driveaway awning can make a very large and comfy space to camp in

My only real issue as such is that in my greed i opted for the 204BHP engine which sounds all fine and dandy as it fair nips along but to get that BHP required the fitment of a very big Turbo which has a lot of lag so pulling out of junctions is like all or nothing

So dont be a greedy and get the 150BHP as i think its a better drive

Other than that they open the country up to some great times

 

[Akulaking]

Surely that’s just a van with seats ? There’s nothing ‘camper’ about it .

Thats my van, to be fair I’m not advertising as a camper, it has no beds, cooker, fridge, portapotti etc but it’s comfortable to sleep in with a mattress or airbed. It’s fully insulated, carpeted, windows, independent power and lighting, good for an overnight or a few days on a campsite.
A bit more than a van with seats thank you!

 

[DevonAl]

I have a Peugeot Boxer van camper conversion, I have used it occasionally as a daily driver, not ideal at all in my opinion, especially if local car parks have height barriers, I would go for a smaller van, not necessarily a VW, Peugeot, Ford, Renault etc all do smaller vans, all of them can be converted to whatever spec you want, but I will say get a poptop fitted, even for occasional day/weekend use it’s nice to be able to stand up and can be used as a storage space when you are parked up, separator toilets are becoming more popular, easier to dispose of the waste apparently compared to porta potti types.

Al.

 

[glenn2926]

Don’t forget diesel heating for nighttime. And daytime too in colder months.

Mine doesn’t have diesel heating. It has blown air LPG or electric heating from either the underslung LPG tank or the hook up if on a site.