One advantage of not going for a pre-built campervan and going bespoke is the ability to change the layout.
This is a good point we have always gone bespoke mainly because I want a decent sized bed, I can't be doing with those side kitchens and narrow sleeping areas. Not a problem with caravans
We used to go camping a lot, usually part of our main holiday involved some camping. Then we'd drive to the Alps or Pyrenees in winter for ski holidays. We always had big estate cars but decided to get a van (8 seater with nice leather seats and fancy car style interior). Its NOT a camper but we can sleep in it in a proper bed that folds out over the folded down seta. Kids go in tents still or the awning. Getting the roof done so we can stand up in it would be great, but would cost about 5k or something, so not sure that going to happen any time soon.
The fact that ours replaced a car means there isn't any additional cost associated with insurance and servicing/maintenenace and pitch fees would be the same reagrdless. Our van means we can be more comforatble in it while carrying shit loads of stuff we probably don't really need....
If you're not bothered about fancy cars, then a van type 'car' makes a lot of sense if you do out doorsy holidays or would likely be camping any way. Full on campers are just too expensive for me.
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the key reason that a decent camper/ motorhome may be best....
The utterly abject nature of a lot of (UK,?) B&Bs/ rentals. I'm gobsmacked by the number of places with scabby little double beds or sometimes Queensize beds. Then the shocking quality of the mattresses/springs as well.
Then the duvet situation... Either a horrible heavy double that I'd die of hyperthermia under, or stupid UK singles that are only long enough for midgets.
At home our bed is pretty much 4m^2, with top quality mattresses, sheets, pillows etc. Why the heck would we want to shell out for the dross you get in a lot of B&Bs.
Even in our T5 the bed is far better than most B&Bs. Extra long and pretty much full width of the van. Again with top quality duvets etc.
you can get some nice camping gear, tent etc, fold up furniture for say a grand.. you can use electric hook ups at sites that have them, so you can have a fridge/cooler and portable stove. The biggest advantage is you can go away from site in your transport vehicle.. sure you can do this in a smaller camper too, but that's not cheap and requires annual costs just to own.
IMHO if you have camper it must have shower and toilet, or what's the point? so then you are into the larger vehicles, which you may not want to drive off site to do whatever you want to do that day.
A Caravan carries the benefits of both, you set it up, leave it when you go out on trips..it costs nothing (apart from some basic maintenance) to own, but you do need somewhere to keep it.. that being said, you need to keep your camper somewhere if it's not your daily driver. Both campers and caravans seem to be quite nickable too.
So i have a mid size MPV (Mazda 5) which when it's not transporting my bikes, can easily be loaded up with my 5 man tents, bed rolls, cool box, cooking gear etc etc, can transport probably 4 when fully laden for a week away. yes it takes a couple of hours set up camp but then it is set and forget..
Even roof tents still need to be folded away if going out in your vehicle... and the actual usable space in them is much smaller.
The only real advantage i would say to a camper, is if you are going site to site, nightly stop over sort of scenario.. you can park up and set up in the time it takes to get out of the drivers seat.
As a van, brilliant. As a camper van with a bed, hob, fridge etc in it, absolutely useless. Bikes struggle to go in it, trips to B&Q for big stuff you have the same problems as a car,
I have to say, after 15 years of ownership, this is bollocks. Layout matters I guess though (ours isn't the standard "rock'n'roll bed and side kitchen" layout), and we don't have passengers in the back
As for comfort, we went for Thermarest Mondo King air mattresses - much much better than cheaper ones (comfort and thermal properties, and a must for a side sleeper. Ideal for camping as the thermal properties are good, and reasonably compact to use on the van's fold out bed.
I have to say, after 15 years of ownership, this is bollocks. Layout matters I guess though (ours isn't the standard "rock'n'roll bed and side kitchen" layout), and we don't have passengers in the back
I had a Type 2, T4, T4 and a T5 over 20 years. They were great at the time but the thing that I finally got fed up with was making a bed up every night (and not being able to stand up, but that's fixable with a pop top). Fine for a weekend but got wearing after a week or more. The self converted Relay we have now is a whole different world of comfort & convenience, having a bed always there & a toilet has massively increased the amount we use the van. I also can't believe how often we use the shower - we nearly didn't fit one, it gets used nearly every day we're away.
Had a T5 day van and now have a Dispatch converted to a day van. Both were "fine" for sleeping in for weekends, even a week, but I have a sun shade and a driveaway awning for the longer stays so I feel like I have more space outside.
I keep wondering if I should buy a proper van (which would be many SEK) or a cheap caravan (which would be not so much many SEK), but the Dispatch is driveable, economical and has enough headroom that I don't get too cramped on long journies. B&B/Hotels are fine, but I still take my van there. If i bought a caravan I would probably still keep the van and just use it as storage or for shorter trips.
How much are you going to use it? I used to have a T2, if I were going for something now it'd be crafter-sized with bike storage under a fixed bed, have toilet facilities and I'd be able to stand up.
But as with all these things, how much will you use it? If your motorhome depreciates £3k a year, then that's a lot of hotels, flip side is if you're planning on touring six months a year then it makes sense. Caravans are cheaper and leave you with a regular vehicle when you get where you're going, it just takes you longer to get there.
My parents have a caravan on a seasonal pitch that they've never towed, it's 40 mins down the road and they visit it loads so it's probably worth it. My MiL has a static 60 mins away and doesn't use it as much as she thought she would, it's a bit of a waste of money really.
If you're thinking of a caravan or motorhome then try and rent some and do some trips, then you'll know what you want and more importantly what you don't.
The utterly abject nature of a lot of (UK,?) B&Bs/ rentals. I'm gobsmacked by the number of places with scabby little double beds or sometimes Queensize beds. Then the shocking quality of the mattresses/springs as well.
You can get all that & live music at the Crabtree Inn and if that's not to your taste there are complimentary ear plugs
They all have pros and cons.
Small campervans for touring i.e. staying one night at a time, for two people.
Caravans are great for a holiday - a week or more in a place. They have proper facilities, you can cook your own food, make your own coffee on a proper cooker from a proper fridge, you have your own shower etc. You can have a fixed bed so you don't have to make beds up and you get a proper sprung mattress. But you're still out in the countryside - open the windows and you're still very much in the woods or fields etc. Don't stay at sites with full facilities, stay in small places like CAMC certified locations. You absolutely cannot views like this with hardly anyone around for £15 a night in a hotel (and there is a beach at the bottom of the cliff):
The best part about hotels is that you can drive fast and it's much easier. Also a lot more economical. But personally I find having to find somewhere to eat every night is a right pain, and because being in hotels is a bit shit you are always obliged to be out doing something. In sites like that ^^ you can just sit, chill, and watch the dolphins and the sunset. Same goes for camper van, but the accommodation is far better and cheaper in a caravan.
I don't see the benefit of a large motorhome. All the downsides of a campervan and few of the benefits. And the cost is absolutely outrageous. The van in that picture was £2300 and it did well for eight years maybe. We foolishly splashed out on its replacement at £13k from a dealer, but it looks, smells and feels new. Seems like a hell of a lot of cash until you look at campervans.
Best option: buy a Porsche and stay in hotels.
Have you actually tried finding hotels in nice places in e.g. Wales without spending a fortune or without it being shit? In some cases it's both. I found it quite hard.
Do what suits you, but I'd maybe make a list of pros and cons. My wife was initially not to impressed with the more limited headroom in the 'car van' when sleeping, but I'd always said I want something that can do it all to some extent. We had all the camping gear so a motorhome/camper would mean getting rid of a load of relatively new kit, and we've a smashing Tent - one of those Nordisk cotton tents that went for a steal on Wiggle !
One big plus with camping, once I'm there and set up, I really unwind - so much more than even a hotel. We've done basic and posh sites. Absolute best, so far, is Portmeirion camper stop, so much so, we are going again on our Wales trip and stopping one night again. You get access to the village on both days, and use of the hotel facilities (outdoor heated pool). You've got a choice of two fabulous restaurants. It's £55 a night, but village access is included (normally £20 per person per day). The shower/toilets are fantastic.
We went to the caravan and camping show last autumn before making a final decision. Wow, some of the motorhomes are ace (garage for bikes) and the campers can be fab - I think if you go camper, the rock and roll bed needs to be on runners so it can slide forward for passengers, giving you a relatively big boot area. We were almost persuaded to get a motorhome, but then thought of the practicalities, size, parking, and the fact I'd need to use it as a 'daily'.
Premier Inn/Travelodge are cheap and secure and plentiful.
That last bit really depends on where you want to go. Looking at a map showing PIs and TLs, very, very few are anywhere I want to visit 😉
Same feedback from me, very rare that I want to go anywhere that is populated enough to warrant building a premier inn. If the town is big enough to justify the permier inn, I normally worry about security of my bikes and kit in the carpark.
You can take bikes in to a Premier Inn, done it a few times, always been clean mind, turn up with one covered in filth and they may not. I even used the lift at the last one. Left the front wheel in the car to make it easier and wheeled through on the rear. Bit of a faff by myself opening doors but at least it was inside...
We thought about this a little, but buying a touring caravan and putting it on a seasonal pitch. When we camped with the kids a good few years ago, there was a great little site in North Yorkshire that had a few of these offered, around £1800 a year. Do a couple of years, get bored then move to a other someplace else.
You have the flexibility of your own car, can keep the van stocked and kitted out and you aren’t tied to one place.
I don’t know why we didn’t follow it through thinking about it now….🤔
The thing is in terms of motor homes, they don't lose that much value if they are demonstrably looked after and in good condition, it's not like a car that loses vaue purely due to age, up to a point.
My old man went through 3 motor homes in about 5 years, he started off with a fairly big one, it was too big, he traded it in for a small one, think LWB/high top tranny type thing, and then settled on a more middle size, which if memory serves, was a Hymer, based on a Pugeot HDI 2.2 tdi(HDi?), or it might have been a 2.4, I think.
RIP, Dad...
I had a T2 for 5 years living in it for a year. Also had a minimalist Ducato L1H2 for 14 years. Broken into 5 times over the years. We found that as the years went by our favourite spots were banned, fitted with height barriers or disappeared. It was a depreciating asset that required maintainance, insurance, testing, and poured out CO2 and filth wherever it went.
Had a caravan for a year, Madame detested it, her comments aren't for a public forum. 🙂 The most amusing incident was when we parked perfectly legally at Lourdes swimming pool and went for a swim. This caused panic amongst the staff who were convinced another 50 were about to rock up and occupy the car park. They were very relieved to find the owners whom they recognised were swimming up and down. Not so amusing was finding bits missing after getting a bit enthusiastic with the gas pedal on the autoroute - flimsey things caravans. And the fuel consumption/CO2 production was embarrassing - far worse than the Ducato or even the notriously thirsty T2. The upside was being able to dump the thing on a campsite and still have the car to get about without fear of being broken into. I'd do it again but suspect Madame would boycott. Requires booking further in advance than any of the others in busy places at busy times.
Now we throw a tent in the Zoe and mix camp sites and Booking/hotels/gîtes. Or we walk or pedal or train or bus, and it all feels more like an adventure.
It's not really a question of money as we could buy and run another van/caravan, it's more a case of bin there, dun that and don't enjoy it as much as other forms of getting around. Maybe when Madame retires we'll buy a leccy van... .
Bought our van 10 years ago before the prices went through the roof.
Abigale was racing in the EWS and after doing all the calculations for her to race in Europe it was a no brainer.
It gets used throughout the year in the UK and for trips to Europe.
Works great for us. Always find somewhere near to the trails.
Yesterday we were riding in Aletsch Arena and after a 6 hour drive today up and over 2 mountain passes are parked up ready to ride in Val Di Sole tomorrow.
Wishing my life away planning my retirement, part of the plan will be a Campervan so doing a lot of research, and what I've noticed over the past few months, is what I think might be the start of a price crash, dealers in general, and when they are at shows are offering significant discounts to this time last year. What I can't steel myself to do is buy a van with a Ecoboom style engine, no matter the service history.
We are into mountain biking so a van makes a lot of sense.
We converted our own. It's a long wheelbase Renault Master. Conversion isn't fancy, probably cost £3000ish. Our priorities were safe out of sight bike and/or Kayak storage. And a proper bed.
So our van has a king-size proper mattress, excellent underbed storage, a loo, a sink for a wash, loads of batteries and solar, and spinny seats. And a big fridge and drinks step.
It's perfect. Bikes are safe and well. The bed is far more comfortable than any random b&b (I have a slipped disk). We can stay on French aires for a few nights. Or chill out in a campsite.
We had a brief period between vans when we went to the Massiff Central. It was really obvious to us then, how much we loved the van. Carting, storing finding a safe spot for expensive bikes is an absolute pain in the arse. It's also a pain not having all our stuff, and our own space.
And we can move about as we wish.
Imagine your own inspirational photos here.
Lots of chat about the various options but I've not seen any mentions of the key reason I love having a camper van (lwb sprinter/crafter sized, bikes inside, shower etc so fully self contained) which is that being in my van feels like being at home, there's none of the that feeling for me in any kind of hotel etc.
Quite, our tent feels like 'home', as will the van - still new to us...
Vs camping in a tent…? I do get the camper thing but if you ‘invest’ in one you will inevitably base your trips around it. I know everyone is different but while I’m not too old and stiff, I would rather free myself from vehicles and ride, walk or float and camp in a tent.
I will occasionally sleep in the back of my estate car the night before and/or after a paddling or hills trip and that works fine. But for the trip itself I’d rather be free from vehicles.
Well it's not all glamour, sometimes you have to pour away your poo
Seriously, get a dry separating toilet. So much easier than trying to find a suitable place to dump your piss and poo container.
We previously had a LWB T5 with a pop top which I converted, allowing storage for two bikes inside, or snowboards or tools plus the second row of seats if we wanted. Could sleep four if we wanted, but never did.
It was fu and looked the part, but the novelty of playing Tetris each night and having to wait for the other to get up (assuming sleeping downstairs) before the kettle could go on soon wore off. The pop top was great as long as it wasn't raining, blowing a gale or cold outside. Running the heater was pointless if the roof was open. Lack of privacy offered by the fabric also sucked.
Sold it and didn't regret it.
Been living in our self converted XLWB H3 Ducato for nigh on three years now.
Four bikes inside on a pull out tray. Space on the bed to sit upright. Space to stand up.Space to properly lay down (190x150cm bed) on a proper mattress. Balcony because why not? A proper (diesel) stove and kitchen space. Ample storage (have a false floor that serves as the larder).
Basically our whole life is contained in the van.
With regards to campsites, we've not stayed on a single one in those three years. Closet we got was three nights in Portugal on a private aire tour Place and that's only because the GF needed a decent internet connection for an important call. Think it cost 12€ a night.
We stayed in a hotel for a few nights in Florence when I squirted some AdBlue into the diesel tank and had to get it flushed out. That was an expensive mistake.
There are loads of places in the continent where you can officially stay for free. Have found some spots where we've stayed for upto three months.
Currently parked up in the Piemontese Alps, with a view of Monviso, in the edge of a bike park.
If you're vaguely interested have a peek.... Not updated for a while, mind....
https://www.instagram.com/flat.earth.research.project?igsh=MWdrNGV1bm9xMjQ3bQ==
I do get the camper thing but if you ‘invest’ in one you will inevitably base your trips around it.
Not necessarily. I have a fine collection of tents, bivvy bags and tarps regularly in use.
What I see quite often on forums/FB etc are small campers (VW's) with huge set ups - big awnings, big fold up chairs, loads of cooking gear etc. I see them and think it's almost as much faff as the caravan, with the downside that when travelling all the available space must be taken up with 'stuff'
For me, I wan't minimal stuff cluttering the van up - drive up, set up within 5 minutes and an easy departure.
Maybe that's just me because I have a caravan and purposely wanted something a fair bit easier.
As a disclaimer - you may see me with an inflatable windbreak, but I've bought that primarily for the festival trip
Re: the faff aspect - also see people who buy a big 'touring' caravan, set it up on a seasonal with a huge Isabella awning filled with tv's, sofas etc that the literally must need a removal van to get everything there. Each to their own, I just don't get it
We did the small tent to medium tent to T4 camper to LWB Sprinter over a 20 year period which included gaining a boy who is now 14 years old and a taller than me. We also have a dog.
I'll skip the money side of things as you can easily work that out and the costs depend on your standards/tastes anyways...
Our van allows us to not have to plan where we are going until we set off. We do sometimes book things in but we often just look at the weather and set off. If we have gone for the last minute option, I drive and the wife gets on Search for Sites. We don't mind 'wild camping', a pub stop or camp site. We prefer a campsite if possible but we are flexible.
This is the main reason for choosing a campervan over a caravan or B&B.
That and our Sprinter swallows 3 mountain bikes, a paddleboard and inflatable kayak and enough gear for a couple of weeks, most of which lives in there permanently so we are ready to go.
And if the weather turns bad on us we can go home or move on as we haven't paid for a week in an Air B&B...
Currently half through our 4th year in this van and we are on 141 nights and looking forward to hopefully retiring in 6 years time and spending longer periods over January/February/March tripping round Europe.
No doubt its already been suggested but hiring different sized campers/motorhomes will quickly let you work out if its for you. You can't beat a wet weekend in a T5 sized van with a stinking wet dog, wondering if you are going to be stuck in the field to focus the mind 🙂
For the record, we find hotels to be souless places in comparison to our much loved van and haven't tried a caravan but don't fancy towing, it looks stressful.
I'm with ASTR above. Set up involves spinning the front seat around and we are done.
We do have an awning but it's only used on those longer trips where we'll be in one place for a few days. It's handy for eating in, extra storage space etc.
Some of the van vs hotel discussion reminds me of the tent vs bivvy bag chat. Sure, there are some very lightweight tents that challenge a bag and tarp for weight, but it comes to down to which experience you want. Similarly, maybe there's not so much difference in cost between a van and a hotel but they offer two different experiences.
Ive not read every answer - sorry
I suggest you try hiring a campervan a couple of times. Its expensive but will give you a taste for much less than the cost of buying one and you can hire different sizes.
I have hired numerous times over the years, from huge coachbuilt ones to minimalist people carrier based ones. All have advantages and disadvantages. I will never use one enough to be worth buying one as I like to vary my trips
I will never use one enough to be worth buying one as I like to vary my trips
I agree and will take it further, when people buy a camper van or caravan the vehicle dictates their trips. We sold the Ducato in 2012. In the years we owned it our holidays were often van based logically enough. Since we sold it we sometimes car camp but the mojority of our holidays have been a train/bus start and then walk/bike moving on most days. Discussing with Madame we debated whether we'd have ever walked 4000+ kms on Compostelle routes, bike-packed I have no idea how many kms, trained and bussed to all sorts of places. We realised that if we'd bought another van we'd have probably spent much of our holidays sitting in it. One day that might happen but only when were too old and knackered to do anything else.
when people buy a camper van or caravan the vehicle dictates their trips.
Only if they let it. We still use hotels, self-catering and so on. I still bikepack.
This is all absolutely personal isn't it- my desire for a small camper grew strong after I'd been away bouldering for a few days, in pretty mixed weather and was pretty tired of another nights camping. And no there wasn't a Premier Inn or Travelodge handy. It didn't need to be big or fancy, I just didn't need the extra grief of camping (and I've done many months of camping in my time)
I know literally hundreds of people with holiday homes , but I've never wanted one as I like to go different places
Travelodges/Premier inns are usually around towns, and whilst they are ok for accommodation they aren't fun places to be. You aren't going to be relaxing watching the sunset with a drink in your Travelodge are you?
I probably would own a small campervan as well as a caravan, if I were really rich. But I'm not.
flimsey things caravans
Yes and no. They are now much better than they were. About 2010 Bailey decided to stop using polystyrene and wood, and they made the walls and roof out of a much stronger and thicker composite construction. Other manufacturers followed suit. They are absolutely not without problems, but they are a lot more rigid than they used to be. My current van has much bigger wheels, a fresh axle, shock absorbers, and it's far better to tow. Quality is still an issue but I think that when looked after, the modern vans are lasting a lot better than the older ones. Swift make them entirely wood free with a GRP floor, which I have to say is a rather attractive proposition.
flimsey things caravans
Yes and no. They are now much better than they were. About 2010 Bailey decided to stop using polystyrene and wood, and they made the walls and roof out of a much stronger and thicker composite construction. Other manufacturers followed suit. They are absolutely not without problems, but they are a lot more rigid than they used to be. My current van has much bigger wheels, a fresh axle, shock absorbers, and it's far better to tow. Quality is still an issue but I think that when looked after, the modern vans are lasting a lot better than the older ones. Swift make them entirely wood free with a GRP floor, which I have to say is a rather attractive proposition.
Buccaneer made their vans with GRP walls around 2016 - which mine is. For whatever reason they've switched back to an aluminium outer skin. No annoying dents in the GRP as opposed to the ones you inevitably get with Alu
Only if they let it. We still use hotels, self-catering and so on. I still bikepack.
We did too, Scotroutes, but since the van has gone we've done much more interesting things and met many more interesting people. People buy a van because they want to buy into the lifestyle. A lifestyle hyped by influencers, forums threads such as this one, TV shows, Youtubes etc. And once in people add to the hype because they're doing it and it's fun and it's all impressive on their social media etc. But having been there and dun that my contribution to the thread is that I'm pleased we stopped because our holidays have been more of an adventure without it.
It's perhaps down to people's (and their partner's/family's) comfort zone. Way back when I worked on a campsite most families turned up in their car to rent one of our units or arrived with a tent/camper van/caravan. Each day most of them bumbled around then some went off in the car/ camper van for a few hours then many drank too much - their comfort zone. Then one day a family from Paris turned up at reception on foot for one of our fixed units, they'd walked from the station with each kid carrying their own bag. They wanted to know all about the local area, public transport etc. Interesting interested people full of life who really made the most of that holiday - I was impressed.
One thing I found with the large coachbuilt camper is I hardly spoke to anyone else the whole trip - because i would do my days activities, I had booze in the fridge and a proper kitchen to cook in so didn't go to bars and cafes and didn't mix with folk on the campsites.
Tent camping I spoke to far more folk as I went into the campsite snack bar, went into pubs etc.
this could be a plus or minus point but its something to be aware of
@edukator you are coming across a little snobbish there 🙂 I spent quite a lot of time sitting around campsites looking at the view, but don't assume it's a lesser activity. I live in a city and my job is mentally hectic, so my escape is to take the caravan somewhere peaceful in beautiful countryside and just chill, watching the clouds roll by and the tide change.
i would do my days activities, I had booze in the fridge and a proper kitchen to cook in so didn't go to bars and cafes and didn't mix with folk on the campsites.
Tent camping I spoke to far more folk as I went into the campsite snack bar, went into pubs etc.
Again (just like the post immediately above) this is someone projecting their personal experience onto everyone else. We still frequent cafes, pubs etc when using the van. Similarly if we go for self-catering. It's neither a plus nor a con unless you make it so.
I'm actually surprised that some folk are owning up to being so easily influenced to change their behaviours and think that everyone else is as easily influenced.
scotroutes - it was just an observation. It was something we realised after the trip that we had done.
I'd never really considered caravan but some very good points made in this thread. Being tied to campsites and the difficulty of towing it to remote spots would put me off though.
I got sick of trying to find an air BnB for 1 or 2 nights when all the good ones demanded 5 night stays, and cheap hotels are very rarely in the locations I want to spend a weekend.
I've got a self converted Crafter. It can fit 4 bikes inside, double bed and I'm able to stand up inside. It's got a heater, roof fan, toilet and small kitchen (fridge, sink but no fixed cooking). Conversion cost me around £5k, van was £9k. It's my only vehicle but I do my best to cycle all local journeys, so not really a 'daily driver'. It's too big to fit in a parking space, and internally it's a bit too busy if you're stuck hiding away for a few wet days.
I very rarely use campsites. I couldn't believe how expensive some are and they usually need booking in advance which doesn't work for me. The van is mainly a place to sleep to facilitate hobbies rather than being the holiday, so I'm happy sleeping in forest car parks.
I love the flexibiliy. Last weekend I went to Scotland with no plans. Stayed in two different places, and got a lovely spot each night (one free, one £10). It's not always easy to find a good spot, but it's so worthwhile when it works out.
The prices are pretty high really and are a lot of hotel nights!
Especially when the costs of maintenance, insurance and running costs are factored in. Up thread there's a mention of £1k a year for fixed costs plus soneone owning one for 22 years. Goin away every other weekend to make it worthwhile starts to feel like an imposition to me. Another thing to be done to justify the spend, no thanks.
without exception I have never know anyone who hasnt ended up regretting buying a holiday home as it limits where you go on holiday.
I bought a holiday home about 5 years ago, and I love it. We head down there maybe every couple of months. It also has the advantage that its value is generally appreciating, unlike most motorised transport. (I realise vans hold their value better than cars, but not as well long-term as a building).
I'd love a campervan, too, but when I did the sums it just doesn't work out for my lifestyle. You really need to be heading off every 2-3 weeks to make it worthwhile, and I can't see that happening.
Campervan person here, though we do occasionally visit holiday rentals in early spring and late autumn.
Holiday rentals always feel very expensive and as others have said always seem to have really shite beds/ovens/kitchen stuff.
There is something quite reassuring coming back to a guaranteed comfy firm bed and a familiar space with your own kit, be that in a van, motorhome, tent or caravan.
I had a Japanese Import Hi-top Toyota Hi-Ace for years and years, even lived in it for 6 months with the Mrs as we travelled round Europe. It was ace but became undersized as the kids came along. It was also becoming problematic to get parts and work done on it as my local "proper" mechanic closed down.
Ended up selling it for more than I was expecting during COVID.
A replacement vehicle was needed. Briefly considered not getting a van and getting an estate/suv/people carrier/pick-up instead. Looked at roof tents which appeared expensive, ugly and faffy at the time though they seem to have improved in the last couple of years. Also looked at big family camping tents.
I did not consider a caravan as I have nowhere to store it and if it's stored at a facility it's another thing to pay for, do before going away. I also, possibly irrationally, dislike them as a concept.
Also briefly considered a Crafter/Sprinter sized van but a glance at my drive soon put pay to that idea.
Ended up with a LWB T6.1 Camper Conversion. The conversion was done by Jack's Shack in Leicestershire. I have no complaints with it. It is right at the limit of what I can fit on my drive.
I WFH so it's my "normal car", I drive it a couple of times a week outside of trips.
Honestly it's great for me, the wife, the dog and 2 teenage kids with some caveats.
Size
For 1 or 2 of us it's palatial. For 3 of us it's spacious. For 4 of us it's a bit cozy. Add in the dog and it starts to feel a bit cramped. If we are all staying somewhere for a few nights, the 17 year old now likes his own space in a small tent. For bike trips away with one or both teenagers it's more than big enough.
Facilities
We're campsite campers rather than layby campers so lack of shower/toilet is a non-issue.
Big leisure battery, solar, hookup, fridge, hob, sink, underslung gas tank etc make life very easy and flexible. Though a more minimalist set up would have be fine too. We also have a Cadac grill thing for outside cooking which is my preference if the weather is good enough. We didn't bother with a diesel heater after having one in my previous van and barely using it. We do have a thermal wrap for the pop top which we have used in early spring.
We have a simple sunshade (I dislike wind-out awnings) that slots in to a C section rail and a massive (it's huge when packed up) inflatable driveaway awning thing that someone gave to us. The drive away awning barely comes down from the roof space.
If you slide the rear seats all the way forward you can get a modern long Enduro bike in length ways, though I haven't done it for ages as I just stick them on a towbar rack.
It wasn't cheap, it's series of compromises dictated by constraints but it takes me and mine on adventures and it brings me joy.
