Forum menu
As many folk have already mentioned, owning and running a camper van as a daily drive is always going to involve compromises - it’s just working out what things are most and least important to you. My preference is for smaller vans, like VWs, Vivaro etc., and compromise by carry the bikes on the back - but then there are only two of us. Because we wanted a secure bike garage inside the van, and (my wife) didn’t want to have the faff of awnings and pop tops, we ended up getting a LWB high roof Transit and converting it into a stealth camper ourselves. As a year round mobile base for hiking, biking etc., the Transit is brilliant - and being able to just get in and stand up is great. Fuel economy on ours isn’t bad (32mpg average) and it’s quiet, quick and reasonably comfy - been to France, Spain and Italy in it. Road tax is better than some cars we’ve had. However, as a daily drive vehicle it can be a right pain in the a**e finding parking spaces.
I ended up buying myself an old Honda Jazz as a runaround (60+ mpg!) but got shot of it recently cos it needed big money chucking at it.
I wonder if something like a new Vivaro with pop top and awning would suit you? Small enough for supermarket & town parking, no VW scene tax, good economy, and you can get loads of Vivaro conversion hardware off the shelf. FWIR when we were looking, the latest Vivaro are flatter sided and slightly wider than the VW inside. Whatever you get though, my advise would be to buy the newest and best condition van you can afford.
@RustyNissanPrairie in your LWB transit – would there be room for a king sized mattress AND two bikes inside?
Wondering if I should forget about actual camper vans and just get a LWB transit and chuck a mattress inside.
Not sure what size a King size mattress is but it's big enough if you put the bikes at 90degrees up against the back of the front seats with the bars/front wheel turned.
My van has the spinny roof top vents - on a still chilly night condensation drips off the roof, it's okay when there's a breeze. It is cold - colder than a tent but I have a 4 seasons down sleeping bag, the dog is from Finland so loves it being cold in the van.
I wonder if something like a new Vivaro with pop top and awning would suit you? Small enough for supermarket & town parking, no VW scene tax, good economy, and you can get loads of Vivaro conversion hardware off the shelf. FWIR when we were looking, the latest Vivaro are flatter sided and slightly wider than the VW inside.
Isn't a new Vivaro now a Peugeot/Citroen/Toyota Expert/Dispatch/Proace or whatever? Doesn't look to be as big as the old style one. It mean NOS Vivaros are cheaper to get shot of the old shape?
Yeah you still need insulation for sure but not the hermetically sealed box that smbcc members will advise you to spend thousands on
My 2p. I'm currently DIY converting a LWB Proace (Mk1). It'll be my only vehicle and I haven't driven the car since I got it (the ex is keeping that) which is a petrol CRV.
MPG in the van is better (probably similar cost due to higher diesel cost) - just over 40pmg average so far (half round town/half longer journeys)
Insurance is really cheap (~£220 FC)
Parking the van was a challenge, but fine now I've got used to it and fitted windows, removed the bulkhead and fitted a reversing camera.
I actually like driving it, the driving position is a lot higher than most SUVs and it's comfortable. It's not suited to 'making progress' but the 2l diesel is perfectly adequate and it's relaxing to drive like I'm not in a rush.
The car is a lot quieter and better spec, but the van has Aircon, Bluetooth, ESP, passenger airbag, elec windows/mirrors etc. The only thing I feel it's lacking is cruise control.
When the conversion is complete it'll be a big compromise compared to the old caravan I'll selling, but I'm thinking of it more like a 2 man tent with cooking facilities and a fridge.
It'll have a side extending bed so maintain some of its van practicality.
I'd have preferred a T5 but my budget would only stretch to a much older van with intergalactic mileage and basic spec.
I have no problem using it as an everyday vehicle. I already love it and I haven't fitted it out yet. I can't wait for the adventures to start 😊
Might be worth a read for the op;
https://campfiremag.co.uk/vw-california/
well they certainly justified that 10k saving.
Personally I'll have a fridge ,job/sink and a toilet in my next build.... I'd have put none of them in my build prior to buying the one I have as a "taster" ..... A pet hate is seeing popular spots turned into open/half buried cesspits marked by toilet paper headstones by those who are too important to take their shit home with them.
If you just want a people carrier with folding seats and a pop roof.
Look at Jap imports and save a fortune over the VW tax. Some of the granvia/previa models look top and have some Meaty engines.
*Not sure what size a King size mattress is but it’s big enough if you put the bikes at 90degrees up against the back of the front seats with the bars/front wheel turned*
Cheers!
The VW Beach above doesn't have a fridge. The fridge is one of the most important things for us. When we were between van's and staying in hotels I really missed not having a fridge.
I need icy cold beer or coke after a hot ride. And being able to take milk and cheese with us saves a fortune on a two week holiday.
I'm happy to use a pop up sink though, they are currently 99p in Aldi by the way.
The people in that link above have a fridge, just not paying VW for one. Plenty of space to stash one away in a Beach.
Agree on the japanese MPVs if you just want a flexible family vehicle. We have a Honda Stepwagon which is ace - loads of height, sliding doors, tailgate to stand under, swallows bikes (or family camping stuff) easily. But it's only as wide as a Fiesta and as long as Focus estate so great for everyday use. Going to build something Amdro-style so I can sleep in it with a bike for the odd overnight. Plus it's not based on a rough old diesel van.
Maybe I don't really get campervans, when I'm away camping the T5 lot all seem to bring enormous awnings - as big as a family tent and takes at least as long to pitch, then they can unload everything inside the van into it, in order to make enough room to make a bed up inside. Then cook outside too because you wouldn't want to get your posh cooker dirty or make your bedroom smell like chilli. Why not just put up a tent and leave all your stuff in the van?
We sometimes take a drive-away awning if we're likely to be in one place for a few days. Yep, it means we can take more kit (packraft, paddles, PFDs, wetsuits etc take up a lot of space} and gives another seating option plus somewhere to hang wet stuff. The awning doesn't take long to erect (lay it out, pump it up, connect it) and we just uncouple the van when we're out for the day. The table in the van is removable so a couple of camp chairs are fine. For shorter trips, or those where we are moving on every day, we leave it at home.
Always cook in the van though. And we have a grill, for toast. One of our little luxuries.
Again, likely all possible with a larger van, but we have good reasons for not wanting a larger van.
The article posted above on the Beach probably reflects a lot of my feelings after our last 6 weeks away in the Ocean. The Ocean was better than the bigger van, but I think the Beach would be better than the Ocean for our use, I'd happily trade it for a Beach and pocket £10k (minus whatever I need to shell out to stick a good compressor fridge in) before our next big trip. It all really comes down to personal preference and everyones personal situation.
Just this cheap one from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01CIE270Q withan extra bungee round it. Does the job ok.
Stupid question : do you leave the cover on while you're driving ? It doesn't get shredded or flap about too much ?
^^^ I have one a lot like that and remove it while driving because it flaps like hell. It's more for protection from rain when parked, and sort of security: someone needs to visibly interfere with it just to scope out whether the bikes are worth nicking so possibly its a minor deterrent, though possibly not much of one (I lack the criminal mind to judge)
But that's on a T4. I see similar covers on the back of giant fiamma vans and they don't flap, they get sucked up against the rear. So it depends on your aerodynamics.
I've a non poptop t4.
I love it as it's used as an everyday car by my missus so it's not something that I feel is dead money 48wks a year.
It's easy enough to bugger off over the weekend in.
My main bugs are as non pop top it's cramped but the other side is it'll fit under 2.0mtr barriers
Bikes are external but it's shorter than the 406 estate it replaced so is easier to park and I can get away with cheaper ferry tickets.
I'd like a bigger van but then it's not usable day to day.
It's a compromise. And if you can accept what it's compromising go for it.
Lots to think about thanks. There's definitely something in the Beach vs Ocean thing. I'd thought that a Kombi van with a pop top and seat/bed would be a good idea. Wasn't really aware of the Ocean and it's pretty much that.
There's a kit from Amdro that converts a Kombi seat into a platform bed.
The Beach is classed as a car but can a Kombi ever be?
(I'm referencing VW models for ease, open to any brand)
Idly thinking about this one too.
Is there such a thing as a van with toilet/cooking facilities to be used with a tent or is that nonsense?
We had a Citroen Dispatch LWB as race van for the teen for 3 years. Now he's driving we had if converted. Bikes can still go on the back or inside in day van mode. No pop top as if we're in the van we're sitting. One swivel seat. Bog in a buddy seat which doubles as a table. Didn't go over the top on insulation but toasty with diesel heater (with own tank so can use red). Also got gas system you top up with lpg at garage. Much cheaper. Wind out awning. Solar. Just need windows on back doors for all round view & making midge net for sliding door. Unterkampa much cheaper that VW. Van cost us 9k 3.5 years ago. Converted it this year for 6.5k. Too time poor & incompetent for self build. Did seats & some scrapyard upgrades from minibus myself.
F*cking love it!!
From panel van to this:
Then this:
I think the important thing is to really think through how you will use the van before you make a choice.
We like to move on most days, occasionally staying 2 nights and having a day of chilling, using bikes or public transport. There are 2 of us with an 8 yr old and a dog. As this thread shows there has to be a compromise somewhere.
We use a pop topped T4 Multivan with a custom built kitchen pod and a long shelf/cupboard fitted to the bottom of the bed frame for storage. We travel as light as possible to make flipping the van from bed to day van really easy and truthfully its nice to have less crap in your life sometimes.
Fridge is a coolbox, ice, beer and food bought daily, you are never far from a shop in the UK.
Toilet is a Go Outdoors Freedom Trail or a big Comfort bottle.
We use Britstops and campsites with the occasional car park in the middle of nowhere and these days often set off with nothing booked but a headful of ideas and have always found somewhere to stop over.
So for us the big compromise is the bikes on the back. Moving forward as our son hopefully in love our hobby we will probably just have to make trips that either mountain bike trips or camping trips because I won't feel safe leaving the van sat just anywhere while we do non bikey stuff. For now we just use pub bikes and a lock.
Like most we started with a tent but since getting the Multivan we get away a lot more often, even if its just one night in a pub car park. This van is helping our family create a whole load of great memories and to us is worth every penny.
We bought a LWB Trafic 6 months ago. It was a crew van but we had bulkhead and fixed seats taken out and then insulated, lined and 3 removable seats put in. We now have a space that we can sleep in (even with seats in), carry bikes and kayaks (our 2 sit-on-tops fit inside). LWB makes such a difference to our previous SWB vans yet still ok to park. Trafic is under 2m which meant we could fit in all car parks in France this summer (and on particularly low road tunnel!!).
We are getting a removal wooden bed frame in the next month or two - perfect for events for me or max couple of nights away with the wife.
I look at bigger vans and would love one, but the LWB Trafic still works fine as a daily driver yet gives us loads of flexibility.
Clink was that tunnel around Paris somewhere ? There was one that had us shrinking down in our seats!
Clink was that tunnel around Paris somewhere ? There was one that had us shrinking down in our seats!
Sounds like the one - I was driving crouching in my seat even though I knew we should fit!!! Had to stop half way and remove aerial though as persistent banging was disconcerting. It went on for ever too!!