Where to start - Campervan
Discussion
Based on my own experiences (so therefore both totally right and also totally wrong … )
You won’t know what you want/need until you try it.
My advice would be to just buy a van that feels roughly right but with good resale value. Use it for a year, don’t mod it, just use it. That will put you in a much better place to trade it for something more to your needs now you know what they are. Bear in mind that your needs will change over the years too.
Your options are to buy a design and adapt to it by compromising or to try and make something specific to you. If the latter, bear in mind that resale may not be easy as it is unlikley someone else wants what you want.
We bought a van, used it, didn’t like lots of things that most people would consider normal. We sold it and bought a bare van (T5.1), lined it and then tried a few things. I did the fitout myself as I hate dealing with tradesmen. We are now on layout 3b! Our first version was a ‘jump’ fit from Amdro and this taught us a lot. Version 2 involved a lot of storage boxes that could be moved around and used as seats. (We don’t need ‘proper’ seats in the back, its just us & the dog). It does not meet the govt. criteria for a motorhome but so what.
I/we wanted (and this is purely our wants as an example):
1. something small enough to go down narrow lanes to interesting places. Hence a T5 that fits under most car park barriers too. Its a 4motion so no getting stuck in muddy car parks etc. (did this twice with van#1 ☹️☹️)
2. To get into the back from the cab without having to open doors and step outside in poor weather. Thats no fun.
3. I thought we wanted a bed, but we don’t so its just what Americans would call a ‘day van’ (having said that, the boss said we should have one so I have built it with a fold-out option that has been used exactly once in 7 years (by me) because it turns out that she won’t use it … ) our first van had a rock&roll bed and it was a horrible thing that managed to be uncomfortable as a seat or a bed and compromised storage space. Not a fan of them.
4. I wanted to be able to make drinks & simple hot food without opening doors or the tailgate in uk weather. Tried a spirit stove, took ages to boil a small kettle and no good in windy weather. Instead I wired up batteries & inverter in the garage and tested a few microwaves, found a setup that worked and built it into the van. The m/wave will run for about 9 minutes off the batteries, for anything more just start the engine as a generator. We rarely need to do this but if we do its only for a few minutes. Use one of those MoT things to hold the throttle at 1500rpm to ensure charging.
5. We do not have a pop top and have never wished that we had.
6. We do have a Portapotti and this we view as essential. It was brilliant during Covid and, as an older gentleman, makes travel easier. I am baffled that the govt. definition of a motorhome mandates graphics & awnings but not a loo. Its built under a seat that can be lifted for access & slides out for servicing. Window blinds and a separator curtain across the van ensure privacy. No odours if properly maintained.
7. I fitted a swivel seat to the pax side and we never use it.
8. We have a Maxxair roof vent for fly/midge proof ventilation. Making the first cut into the roof was a testing moment!
9. I may fit an awning for sunny days, still under debate.
10. The back of the cabin has no windows (just std sliders in the sliding door & opposite). Never wished we had them and it allows more storage flex too. (Lashing rings built into that side for whatever).
11. I have added underfloor heating mats running off the inverter. Cosy.
My layout is a full length sideways seat with storage under and a custom slide out table. The seat top can be unfolded into a bed. The m/wave & loo are under here too. Batteries under the drivers seat with inverter. The full length if the van is usable for transporting long stuff when needed.
I have ideas about v4 but it will probably not happen (unless I get really bored …). It would be more of an ‘executive’ fit with full length floor rails, 2 swivel heated captains seats in the back either side of a table and modular units as storage & for loo & microwave all to one side, full ‘walkway’ to the other.
Hope this gives you some ideas …
You won’t know what you want/need until you try it.
My advice would be to just buy a van that feels roughly right but with good resale value. Use it for a year, don’t mod it, just use it. That will put you in a much better place to trade it for something more to your needs now you know what they are. Bear in mind that your needs will change over the years too.
Your options are to buy a design and adapt to it by compromising or to try and make something specific to you. If the latter, bear in mind that resale may not be easy as it is unlikley someone else wants what you want.
We bought a van, used it, didn’t like lots of things that most people would consider normal. We sold it and bought a bare van (T5.1), lined it and then tried a few things. I did the fitout myself as I hate dealing with tradesmen. We are now on layout 3b! Our first version was a ‘jump’ fit from Amdro and this taught us a lot. Version 2 involved a lot of storage boxes that could be moved around and used as seats. (We don’t need ‘proper’ seats in the back, its just us & the dog). It does not meet the govt. criteria for a motorhome but so what.
I/we wanted (and this is purely our wants as an example):
1. something small enough to go down narrow lanes to interesting places. Hence a T5 that fits under most car park barriers too. Its a 4motion so no getting stuck in muddy car parks etc. (did this twice with van#1 ☹️☹️)
2. To get into the back from the cab without having to open doors and step outside in poor weather. Thats no fun.
3. I thought we wanted a bed, but we don’t so its just what Americans would call a ‘day van’ (having said that, the boss said we should have one so I have built it with a fold-out option that has been used exactly once in 7 years (by me) because it turns out that she won’t use it … ) our first van had a rock&roll bed and it was a horrible thing that managed to be uncomfortable as a seat or a bed and compromised storage space. Not a fan of them.
4. I wanted to be able to make drinks & simple hot food without opening doors or the tailgate in uk weather. Tried a spirit stove, took ages to boil a small kettle and no good in windy weather. Instead I wired up batteries & inverter in the garage and tested a few microwaves, found a setup that worked and built it into the van. The m/wave will run for about 9 minutes off the batteries, for anything more just start the engine as a generator. We rarely need to do this but if we do its only for a few minutes. Use one of those MoT things to hold the throttle at 1500rpm to ensure charging.
5. We do not have a pop top and have never wished that we had.
6. We do have a Portapotti and this we view as essential. It was brilliant during Covid and, as an older gentleman, makes travel easier. I am baffled that the govt. definition of a motorhome mandates graphics & awnings but not a loo. Its built under a seat that can be lifted for access & slides out for servicing. Window blinds and a separator curtain across the van ensure privacy. No odours if properly maintained.
7. I fitted a swivel seat to the pax side and we never use it.
8. We have a Maxxair roof vent for fly/midge proof ventilation. Making the first cut into the roof was a testing moment!
9. I may fit an awning for sunny days, still under debate.
10. The back of the cabin has no windows (just std sliders in the sliding door & opposite). Never wished we had them and it allows more storage flex too. (Lashing rings built into that side for whatever).
11. I have added underfloor heating mats running off the inverter. Cosy.
My layout is a full length sideways seat with storage under and a custom slide out table. The seat top can be unfolded into a bed. The m/wave & loo are under here too. Batteries under the drivers seat with inverter. The full length if the van is usable for transporting long stuff when needed.
I have ideas about v4 but it will probably not happen (unless I get really bored …). It would be more of an ‘executive’ fit with full length floor rails, 2 swivel heated captains seats in the back either side of a table and modular units as storage & for loo & microwave all to one side, full ‘walkway’ to the other.
Hope this gives you some ideas …
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