Campervans question.

[Micky]

Thanks.
Truth is I don't want a toilet or a shower as they wouldn't get used so I'd be paying for something surplus with the associated waste of space.
Nor do I want anything bigger than a VW size vehicle, though it doesn't have to be a VW.

My six penneth after almost fifty years of CamperVanning .... and my views haven't changed.

1) It has to be my daily transport
2) It'll be 'on street' parking (cul de sac ... mid terrace house)
3) It has to be a 'passion wagon'
4) It needs to be able to go down country lanes, tracks and take me to remote places
5) I don't want it to cost me an arm and a leg on a ferry
6) I don't need a toilet or a shower.
7) I gladly pay for a campsite with toilets and showers and electric hook up (because I can)
8) I'll eat out most days (because I can)
9) It has to be a 'passion waggon'
10) The first one you buy will not be the one you settle down with ... like a motorcycle, like a woman
11) I don't 'freeload' or camp wild
12) I like my creature comforts
13) I don't like kids
14) I like open spaces and a walk with my dawg
15) My dawg is more important to me than people
16) If my dawgs not welcome then I am not
17) It needs to be a passion 'waggon"
18) Yes the cost equates to a lot of hotel rooms .... but is rather missing the point and totally irrevelant in my book

I guess there wont be many that fit in with my requirements, but as said previously, it really is 'horses for courses'

Early 70's Bay Window Westfalia 'PopTop'
T25 Leisuredrive conversion 'PopTop' rear engine 1600
T4 Auto Sleeper 'Trooper' for thirty years

T5 Reimo Conversion

 

[ChasF]

Micky’s list is probably more in line with the OP’s requirements than mine would be. My brother has a 1976 T2 but has ambitions to travel a lot further afield in Europe. His wife is adamant that anything they buy won’t have a toilet but my brother has never stayed on a campsite in his life and she accepts she needs the loo at least twice in the night! This seems to be the conundrum in the camper van world - we often see these mega motorhomes taking up half a campsite all plugged in and set up for a couple of weeks and then just outside the gate there’s a couple of diy vans whose occupants sneak in at night to use the toilet and showers.

 

[Moto Bikemad]

If you have a shower you don’t need a loo ? Asking for a friend.

 

[Mucky Helmet]

My six penneth after almost fifty years of CamperVanning .... and my views haven't changed.

1) It has to be my daily transport
2) It'll be 'on street' parking (cul de sac ... mid terrace house)
3) It has to be a 'passion wagon'
4) It needs to be able to go down country lanes, tracks and take me to remote places
5) I don't want it to cost me an arm and a leg on a ferry
6) I don't need a toilet or a shower.
7) I gladly pay for a campsite with toilets and showers and electric hook up (because I can)
8) I'll eat out most days (because I can)
9) It has to be a 'passion waggon'
10) The first one you buy will not be the one you settle down with ... like a motorcycle, like a woman
11) I don't 'freeload' or camp wild
12) I like my creature comforts
13) I don't like kids
14) I like open spaces and a walk with my dawg
15) My dawg is more important to me than people
16) If my dawgs not welcome then I am not
17) It needs to be a passion 'waggon"
18) Yes the cost equates to a lot of hotel rooms .... but is rather missing the point and totally irrevelant in my book

I guess there wont be many that fit in with my requirements, but as said previously, it really is 'horses for courses'

Early 70's Bay Window Westfalia 'PopTop'
T25 Leisuredrive conversion 'PopTop' rear engine 1600
T4 Auto Sleeper 'Trooper' for thirty years

T5 Reimo Conversion

Couldn't have said this any better than Micky.

I get the VW hate 'cos it is a ridiculous market but... we have a VW California T6.1 4Motion DSG and chose it because it has everything we need and has a great back up network - it just works as it should and we wanted a van size camper with minimal size restrictions. Yes, they're expensive but they do hold their value quite well and we were happy to pay the VW Cali premium rather than convert ourselves or buy someone else's conversion. Plus Mrs Helmet said I'd never finish it.
We camp all year, AWD really helps, don't do wild camping 'cos we like hot and cold water, showers and toilets and seek out small, quiet campsites in the UK and Europe. I'm currently on a site in France that's part of Nature Camping NL and the van is perfect. Last week I was in the Vosges where it was stupid hot but the van was comfortable at night and there was enough shade to survive the 40° temperatures.
UK CCC Certificated Sites are great, Club Sites are usually very civilised and there are many similar type sites across FR, BE and NL.

So far this year, a number of UK camps including gale force winds on the Welsh Coast, three weeks in May across France and Belgium and am currently half way through another three weeks in France. Eurotunnel cost is not that bad. Perfectly useable as a mobile office for remote working, site wifi usually quite slow so 5G and Starlink Mini are good options and work really well. Pop your ebikes on a carrier and job done.
We still do hotels and AirBnB 'cos Mrs Helmet does like her luxury.

We could use our van as a daily but, at the moment, don't need to. Cost of running is what it is: I filled up at Wrotham Hill on the way out, hit the peage at 130km/h on adaptive cruise control pretty much all the way and filled up in Vittel - 61 litres. Ours is under VW warranty and has a full VWSH so we stick to dealer servicing but the are many options for what is essentially a Transporter van.

Do I have van envy of larger vans like Wapping's? Absolutely and that may be an option in the future but for the moment, the VW is perfect for what we want and do.

Having a van, no matter the size or make, gives so many options to get away whether it's day trips, a special site 10 miles from home or anywhere beyond. Out of season camping is great and weather is just weather.

Good luck, choose wisely and enjoy.

Gratuitous camping photos from solo trip in May

 

[Udders]

People who park outside campsites and pop in under cover of darkness are nothing but parasites. They’re the reason most sites have a push button type lock on the utility block doors nowadays. Assholes, every one.
I use a mixture of CAMC, CCC and wild camping. But only sensible and legal wild camping. I have my own toilet and water on board and always “ leave no trace “. There are some stunning places to wild camp.

Sitting outside your van in a comfy chair watching the sun go down, beer on the table and stunning scenery all around and all on your own is magical. That’s why I don’t do hotels / B&B’s anymore. I love the solitude.
I really think people who don’t do the odd wild camp are definitely missing out occasionally.
Each to their own though.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Thanks everyone for your input, I appreciate it all.
The biggest thing I've learnt so far is that I think Micky might be my dad!

 

[Udders]

Thanks everyone for your input, I appreciate it all.
The biggest thing I've learnt so far is that I think Micky might be my dad!

There’s only one whisky monster!

 

[bod]

One thing to remember is the residual values. It’s not what you pay it’s what you loose…kind of…and it helps if you don’t have to pay interest on a finance agreement. So the ‘lots of hotel’ argument doesn’t fully stack up.

A porta potti for a night time wee is no bad thing. Especially if it’s chucking it down and you’re a long way from the facilities block.

The Jöbl that you posted a picture of looks very much like a Hillside Leisure Birchover. They have a Porta Potti under the rear seats nearly tucked away.

Keep looking, you’ll find one.

The Porta Potti 335 stashes underneath the frame pf the Mobiframe bed.
The bigger 365 is actually cheaper but won't store away like the 335.
Used mine for 5 days last week, and must have done a gallon of night piss, too!
Still not emptied it and I've been home since Sunday.

Top tip of the day is make sure you have a piss before taking a dump, or hold the missus's wine glass in front of yer cock.

 

[bod]

Micky’s list is probably more in line with the OP’s requirements than mine would be. My brother has a 1976 T2 but has ambitions to travel a lot further afield in Europe. His wife is adamant that anything they buy won’t have a toilet but my brother has never stayed on a campsite in his life and she accepts she needs the loo at least twice in the night! This seems to be the conundrum in the camper van world - we often see these mega motorhomes taking up half a campsite all plugged in and set up for a couple of weeks and then just outside the gate there’s a couple of diy vans whose occupants sneak in at night to use the toilet and showers.

During covid there were litrerally dozens legally camping outside Glenbrittle on Skye.
The shower block was kept locked, so they smashed their way in to use the facilities for free. Scum.

Fishing in a small bay last week, 2 women arrived in a small car to swim.
They erected in no more than 2 minutes a toilet tent to change in.
I thought what a fantastic way to shield their modesty from predators like me.
Must be about 6' 6" in height, and just right for using as an outside toilet.

 

[Northern jock]

Thanks everyone for your input, I appreciate it all.
The biggest thing I've learnt so far is that I think Micky might be my dad!

Your mothers not a Yorkshire hill farmer is she?

 

[John RTW]

This just popped up on my YT feed, it's American biased but it may have a few tips for the happy campers amongst us. The comment are worth a look.