Something for Hiking and Camping
Discussion
You don't need a car at all, for hiking.
You don't need anything bigger than a small hatchback for camping, if you use a tent, even if you take a reasonable amount of extra kit eg folding table, chairs, cooker, cool box etc.
If you want a camper, then I would recommend doing a "cost per day of camping" analysis, because unless you are retired and go away for weeks and weeks at a time, it will be horrendously expensive per day to buy a camper outright. They are also hugely compromised in two distinct ways. 1) The bigger it is, the more of a pain it is to drive/use on the roads vs at a campsite. 2) You need to pack up most of the "camping" stuff to use the vehicle for going out in the day, unless you're going somewhere, setting it up then using bicycles or public transport - or go huge and tow a car. If you go down the awning route, you may as well have bought a decent tent. It may have some benefit if it keeps its value and you're able to sell it in a good condition once you are finished with it, or move on to eg a bigger camper.
You don't need anything bigger than a small hatchback for camping, if you use a tent, even if you take a reasonable amount of extra kit eg folding table, chairs, cooker, cool box etc.
If you want a camper, then I would recommend doing a "cost per day of camping" analysis, because unless you are retired and go away for weeks and weeks at a time, it will be horrendously expensive per day to buy a camper outright. They are also hugely compromised in two distinct ways. 1) The bigger it is, the more of a pain it is to drive/use on the roads vs at a campsite. 2) You need to pack up most of the "camping" stuff to use the vehicle for going out in the day, unless you're going somewhere, setting it up then using bicycles or public transport - or go huge and tow a car. If you go down the awning route, you may as well have bought a decent tent. It may have some benefit if it keeps its value and you're able to sell it in a good condition once you are finished with it, or move on to eg a bigger camper.
Can fit a double bed plus gear in the back of a discovery 3 or 4, plenty of roof racks, sliding drawers and awnings available for them.
At the other end a duster 4x4 with a roof tent would be able to get to most camps and might not be quite a precious about paintwork/wheels getting scratched up.
A friend has a Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 converted to an off road camper and it's pretty unstoppable.
At the other end a duster 4x4 with a roof tent would be able to get to most camps and might not be quite a precious about paintwork/wheels getting scratched up.
A friend has a Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 converted to an off road camper and it's pretty unstoppable.
Auto Artisan said:
I m looking to buy something that I can use for hiking and camping. I d love a camper but they are ridiculous expensive and I m in the middle of a house renovation. That said the budget is around £12k
Buy an MPV they're practical & will be useful for tip runs/picking stuff up during the renovation & 12k gives you a lot of options:i800:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...
C4 Space Tourer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...
Mazda5:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607224...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606143...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512198...
Zafira Tourer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603070...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606053...
Alhambra:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607083...
We would go hiking and camping in whatever car I had with a roof box to take all tne stuff that wouldn’t go in the boot! Yes it might have been a pain to put the tent up and it wasn’t brilliant if it rained but it worked for us.
£12000 won’t get you much of a camper van and with the advent of the roof tents, then just buy the best estate car you can that will take the weight on top.
£12000 won’t get you much of a camper van and with the advent of the roof tents, then just buy the best estate car you can that will take the weight on top.
Are roof tents really that useful for more than a night or so (or for a road trip across Africa)?
A tent on the ground, assuming the UK rather than the wildlife hazards of the Kalahari, allows you to leave your sleeping kit, clothes, cooking kit etc. somewhere rather than leave it all in the car. And having to pack up every time you drive somewhere.
A roof tent seems to have all of the disadvantages of a camper van, with few/none of the advantages.
Re: camper vans. Again, useful for a "day van" changing room/brew room for surfers, MTB racers etc. or for long road trips across a continent. Expensive and not that useful for camping at a site and doing day excursions. Full of furniture too, so not that much space for carrying stuff.
A Kombi van has always seemed more useful.
A tent on the ground, assuming the UK rather than the wildlife hazards of the Kalahari, allows you to leave your sleeping kit, clothes, cooking kit etc. somewhere rather than leave it all in the car. And having to pack up every time you drive somewhere.
A roof tent seems to have all of the disadvantages of a camper van, with few/none of the advantages.
Re: camper vans. Again, useful for a "day van" changing room/brew room for surfers, MTB racers etc. or for long road trips across a continent. Expensive and not that useful for camping at a site and doing day excursions. Full of furniture too, so not that much space for carrying stuff.
A Kombi van has always seemed more useful.
Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 16th August 11:15
ZX10R NIN said:
Buy an MPV they're practical & will be useful for tip runs/picking stuff up during the renovation & 12k gives you a lot of options:
i800:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...
C4 Space Tourer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...
Mazda5:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607224...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606143...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512198...
Zafira Tourer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603070...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606053...
Alhambra:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607083...
MPV isn’t s bad option. As you’ve said it has multiple uses. Out of them which would you recommend? i800:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608034...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608014...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607144...
C4 Space Tourer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607294...
Mazda5:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607224...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606143...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512198...
Zafira Tourer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603070...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606053...
Alhambra:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607083...
stevemcs said:
Subaru forester or outback, a tent and a jackery
Good shout.Not familiar with the engine or specs, but on budget alone, this looks a tidy example with full dealer history.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608054...
chip* said:
Good shout.
Not familiar with the engine or specs, but on budget alone, this looks a tidy example with full dealer history.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608054...
Unless you need some off road ability, I'd just get a Kombi van, MPV, hatchback or estate car. Not familiar with the engine or specs, but on budget alone, this looks a tidy example with full dealer history.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608054...
If you do need some off road ability, a Dacia Duster would be much cheaper to run.
You need to narrow down your needs and wants.
If we assume you want to sleep in it then you need a large estate minimum. From experience a Volvo V70 is great as even at 6ft (and a bit) you can stretch out.
That said standing up is nice, sitting up a minimum if you're doing it more than once in a blue moon.
Something like a Delica would get you some way off the beaten track and offer a bit more headroom.
Beyond that a van with a pop top would be nice for a bit more room and the ability to stand up inside.
If we assume you want to sleep in it then you need a large estate minimum. From experience a Volvo V70 is great as even at 6ft (and a bit) you can stretch out.
That said standing up is nice, sitting up a minimum if you're doing it more than once in a blue moon.
Something like a Delica would get you some way off the beaten track and offer a bit more headroom.
Beyond that a van with a pop top would be nice for a bit more room and the ability to stand up inside.
Auto Artisan said:
Mainly long journeys. Space wise enough to fit my 2 man tent. Hiking Bag, and then obviously room for the odd rip run and building supplies.
The i800 is a very good shout followed by the Seat.Of the smaller options the Zafira 2.0d & Mazda5, look for an auto as it makes the longer journeys easier.
Oddly vague brief given it's a vehicle under £12k that will transport a person, two man tent and sleeping back to go hiking. My old man does that with a BMW GS1200. Granted it's less good for tip runs and building supplies but are we talking a tube of caulk or 25tons of bricks and several roofing joists?
Davie said:
Oddly vague brief given it's a vehicle under £12k that will transport a person, two man tent and sleeping back to go hiking. My old man does that with a BMW GS1200. Granted it's less good for tip runs and building supplies but are we talking a tube of caulk or 25tons of bricks and several roofing joists?
I am also a bit confused by the briefGassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff