6 Month European Tour in a Campervan.
Discussion
Echo above, sounds like a fantastic trip and something my wife and I have promised ourselves once the kids are old enough to look after themsleves :-)
But IMO wrong vehicle I've afraid.
Too slow, uncomfortable and no a/c.
I know they look great but it will become tiresome if you have to do a long stretch in hot weather and worse if it involves anywhere hilly.
Personally I would choose a more modern van.
But IMO wrong vehicle I've afraid.
Too slow, uncomfortable and no a/c.
I know they look great but it will become tiresome if you have to do a long stretch in hot weather and worse if it involves anywhere hilly.
Personally I would choose a more modern van.
Yep 
This is our retirement plan. Sod the cruise we plan either 6 months around Europe or 3 months around the USA (I think you can only get VISAs for 3 months in the US). If we manage to retire abroad (somewhere warm in Europe) we will be buying a motorhome so we can visit Blighty/tour N Europe in the hotest months of July and August.
I did a couple of trips in a VW Combi back in my early 20s which was fun but the most we did was a 2 week tour of the UK at 50mph!!! Comfort does become a factor when it is wet outside and you are miles from anywhere; have driven for yonks and want to kick back and relax.
Now, having hired and toured in the UK, Europe, NZ and the USA over the years I wouldnt personally be without something with a bit of oomph plus on board toilet and shower...for all the reasons given above
Good luck though...sounds great
This is our retirement plan. Sod the cruise we plan either 6 months around Europe or 3 months around the USA (I think you can only get VISAs for 3 months in the US). If we manage to retire abroad (somewhere warm in Europe) we will be buying a motorhome so we can visit Blighty/tour N Europe in the hotest months of July and August.
I did a couple of trips in a VW Combi back in my early 20s which was fun but the most we did was a 2 week tour of the UK at 50mph!!! Comfort does become a factor when it is wet outside and you are miles from anywhere; have driven for yonks and want to kick back and relax.
Now, having hired and toured in the UK, Europe, NZ and the USA over the years I wouldnt personally be without something with a bit of oomph plus on board toilet and shower...for all the reasons given above
Good luck though...sounds great
One of my old colleagues did this in a Landcruiser, with a roof tent. He got as far as the Iraq border in Turkey, before turning back to blighty. (Subsequently, he has shipped it to Namibia and done Southern Africa).
Just bear in mind that for best value, you will be camping every night. A camper van with a ready-made bed will spare a lot of the hassle that tent-dwellers would have. Just plan/buy other equipment to make your life easy.
How well do you and your missus get on? You will be spending a lot of time together.
Oh, if you intend to go through the Baltic states then insurance can be a real problem.
Just bear in mind that for best value, you will be camping every night. A camper van with a ready-made bed will spare a lot of the hassle that tent-dwellers would have. Just plan/buy other equipment to make your life easy.
How well do you and your missus get on? You will be spending a lot of time together.
Oh, if you intend to go through the Baltic states then insurance can be a real problem.
tjdixon911 said:
Thanks for all the replies, a lot of the concerns about the van have been going through my head already, but on the other hand it would make the trip a proper adventure....
The vehicle won't make it an adventure, the journey will. What you need from your vehicle is to make the journey as easy and comfortable as possible. What you don't want is to find yourself in a situation where you're making decisions on where to go based on whether the van can get you there or not. As for reliability, well I can speak from experience on that having broken down several times when we were travelling (I think it was in the garage 7 or 8 times in 11 months). In all honesty, I can't say it made our trip any worse. It made us poorer but a bit of adversity adds to a trip if anything.
If everything goes smoothly, you don't have any stories to tell
I guess you know your van, so you can only be the one to decide whether you think it will be comfortable or not for that length of time. I hired one in Cornwall for a week a couple of years ago (her idea, not mine) and found it cramped and awkward. We started sleeping in the roof, but it was Sept and it was cold at night, so ended sleeping in the cabin. Way warmer but the bed was less comfy and the hassle of moving all your gear so that the bed can be set out was a right royal pain, and that was just a week. Don't get me started on driving the thing, but you clearly are an enthusiast, so I won't offend.
In contrast, been round France for 2 weeks with some lads to watch the World Cup in '98 in a 6 berth 'modern' camper. What a difference - room and comfort and way better to drive. With the added things like on board loo and shower, which we avoided using but in came in handy a few times.
In contrast, been round France for 2 weeks with some lads to watch the World Cup in '98 in a 6 berth 'modern' camper. What a difference - room and comfort and way better to drive. With the added things like on board loo and shower, which we avoided using but in came in handy a few times.
I think age comes into this. If the OP is a younger chap (in his 20s or early 30s) then a VW Camper will be just fine and he will manage without all the modcons of a modern camper. Just make sure the girlfriend is fully aware of the lack of comforts and is onboard with the whole idea.
Today, I wouldn't do this trip in a VW and would rather use a more modern camper with a better diesel engine and more cabin space but then I'm in my early 40s. I managed Australia in a mini Toyota Hiace (like the van above posted by Char) some 10 years ago and it was the best adventure ever. When I did Australia more recently in a modern camper, it was extremely comfortable and we had a fantastic trip, but the better "fun" was in the crap Hiace as I found it hilarious when not managing to drive up the mountains, and having to turn around etc. Mind you, there's hardly any other traffic outside the cities in Australia so it was never an issue in terms of being a hindrance to other road users.
Personally, I would use the VW camper - you don't want to start messing around and losing money on buying another camper when you need to start saving your shrapnel for this trip. Accept the limitations of this vehicle, ensure both you and the girlfriend are open-minded, and go and have fun!
Today, I wouldn't do this trip in a VW and would rather use a more modern camper with a better diesel engine and more cabin space but then I'm in my early 40s. I managed Australia in a mini Toyota Hiace (like the van above posted by Char) some 10 years ago and it was the best adventure ever. When I did Australia more recently in a modern camper, it was extremely comfortable and we had a fantastic trip, but the better "fun" was in the crap Hiace as I found it hilarious when not managing to drive up the mountains, and having to turn around etc. Mind you, there's hardly any other traffic outside the cities in Australia so it was never an issue in terms of being a hindrance to other road users.
Personally, I would use the VW camper - you don't want to start messing around and losing money on buying another camper when you need to start saving your shrapnel for this trip. Accept the limitations of this vehicle, ensure both you and the girlfriend are open-minded, and go and have fun!
MYOB said:
I think age comes into this. If the OP is a younger chap (in his 20s or early 30s) then a VW Camper will be just fine and he will manage without all the modcons of a modern camper. Just make sure the girlfriend is fully aware of the lack of comforts and is onboard with the whole idea.
Today, I wouldn't do this trip in a VW and would rather use a more modern camper with a better diesel engine and more cabin space but then I'm in my early 40s. I managed Australia in a mini Toyota Hiace (like the van above posted by Char) some 10 years ago and it was the best adventure ever. When I did Australia more recently in a modern camper, it was extremely comfortable and we had a fantastic trip, but the better "fun" was in the crap Hiace as I found it hilarious when not managing to drive up the mountains, and having to turn around etc. Mind you, there's hardly any other traffic outside the cities in Australia so it was never an issue in terms of being a hindrance to other road users.
Personally, I would use the VW camper - you don't want to start messing around and losing money on buying another camper when you need to start saving your shrapnel for this trip. Accept the limitations of this vehicle, ensure both you and the girlfriend are open-minded, and go and have fun!
Thanks, we are still in our early 30's, approaching Mid, and do understand the limitations of the van, I am planning to take our Awning with us which will sit on the roof rack so will be out the way from day to day but if we stop somewhere for a few nights it can be easily erected to give a lot more living space.Today, I wouldn't do this trip in a VW and would rather use a more modern camper with a better diesel engine and more cabin space but then I'm in my early 40s. I managed Australia in a mini Toyota Hiace (like the van above posted by Char) some 10 years ago and it was the best adventure ever. When I did Australia more recently in a modern camper, it was extremely comfortable and we had a fantastic trip, but the better "fun" was in the crap Hiace as I found it hilarious when not managing to drive up the mountains, and having to turn around etc. Mind you, there's hardly any other traffic outside the cities in Australia so it was never an issue in terms of being a hindrance to other road users.
Personally, I would use the VW camper - you don't want to start messing around and losing money on buying another camper when you need to start saving your shrapnel for this trip. Accept the limitations of this vehicle, ensure both you and the girlfriend are open-minded, and go and have fun!
The route I have currently penned out is coming in around 6000 miles, to achieve that we'll need to be moving 200-250 miles a week, I'm sure there will be a few long(ish) stints in that but in the majority they will be relatively short with breaks.
tjdixon911 said:
Annoyed with our current workloads and seemingly constant long hours, me and the other half are considering giving it up to go on a 6month tour of Europe, we have minimal ties holding us back so now seems to be as good a time as any to go.
Looking for any advice and tips, good links etc. this is in the very early stages so assume we know nothing!
What do we need to know/do before we go?
We currently have a 1970 VW Camper still wondering if this will be the best vehicle for the job...
Might be worth a cross post to http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...Looking for any advice and tips, good links etc. this is in the very early stages so assume we know nothing!
What do we need to know/do before we go?
We currently have a 1970 VW Camper still wondering if this will be the best vehicle for the job...
Cotty said:
Sounds like a fantastic trip, but something with a toilet and shower would be my choice.
Pah - easily solved in a campervan 
Even if thats' a bit much, if you're staying in campsites it's not really an issue. You just shower there and because you're often in tourist spots you're rarely far from a public toilet.
What's the longest you've spent away in it before? that's a pretty small space to live in for 2 months.
Also presumably a bit small to be carrying push bikes or a moped so you're limited to using the van itself for every single journey you make.
Much as I dislike caravans, my parents bought one after doing a months trip in a campervan in New Zealand, on the ground that they can park the van up and go visit places in their tow car that wouldn't be able to get to easily in a van.
Also presumably a bit small to be carrying push bikes or a moped so you're limited to using the van itself for every single journey you make.
Much as I dislike caravans, my parents bought one after doing a months trip in a campervan in New Zealand, on the ground that they can park the van up and go visit places in their tow car that wouldn't be able to get to easily in a van.
durbster said:
Even if thats' a bit much, if you're staying in campsites it's not really an issue. You just shower there and because you're often in tourist spots you're rarely far from a public toilet.
But that limits you to tourist spots. Some of the pics on the blogs on this thread seem to be take at more off the beaten track locations that may not have any facilities.At least having it gives you the option.
Jeeze people - a lot of people here are not exactly adventurous! It is likely the OP will pitch at campsites where there are toilets and showers provided. On the road, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and go to toilet! Life is an adventure and it will be character building. In years to come, he will have great memories of this adventure and will have stories to share with the grandchildren! At no point will he likely have any regrets about not travelling with a toilet or shower!
The last time I travelled, we had a toilet/shower but we did not use it once! Much easier to use the facilities elsewhere.
As for not taking bikes or mopeds, there are public transports or walking as options.
Live a little...
The last time I travelled, we had a toilet/shower but we did not use it once! Much easier to use the facilities elsewhere.
As for not taking bikes or mopeds, there are public transports or walking as options.
Live a little...
tjdixon911 said:
and do understand the limitations of the van
Then you will be fine!tjdixon911 said:
The route I have currently penned out is coming in around 6000 miles, to achieve that we'll need to be moving 200-250 miles a week, I'm sure there will be a few long(ish) stints in that but in the majority they will be relatively short with breaks.
Sounds good, my only tip is don't drive past things that you think may be worthwhile exploring. Get on your feet and go exploring - don't get bogged down by time and enjoy the journey. MYOB said:
Jeeze people - a lot of people here are not exactly adventurous! It is likely the OP will pitch at campsites where there are toilets and showers provided. On the road, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and go to toilet! Life is an adventure and it will be character building. In years to come, he will have great memories of this adventure and will have stories to share with the grandchildren! At no point will he likely have any regrets about not travelling with a toilet or shower!
The last time I travelled, we had a toilet/shower but we did not use it once! Much easier to use the facilities elsewhere.
As for not taking bikes or mopeds, there are public transports or walking as options.
Live a little...
I'd suggest it's those who only ever camp at dedicated sites with showers and toilets and visit places that are accessible by public transport that aren't exactly adventurous. The last time I travelled, we had a toilet/shower but we did not use it once! Much easier to use the facilities elsewhere.
As for not taking bikes or mopeds, there are public transports or walking as options.
Live a little...
Personally I travel by motorbike with a tent on the back so agree it's not a huge problem not having your own loo or shower, but not convinced I'd want to share my tent after a few days riding and camping without a shower
MYOB said:
RizzoTheRat said:
Personally I travel by motorbike with a tent on the back
Now that is an even better way to travel! Ted Simon's Jupiter was very inspirational when he traversed through Africa on his Triumph in the early 70s, and repeated it again some 30 years later!
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