So, You Are Thinking About a Campervan?

*This is a collaborative post 

There are lots of people who have always wanted to own a camper, the idea of hitting the road anytime and sleeping wherever you feel like is certainly appealing. For some, having kids put a temporary halt to these plans, for others a camper is a great way to holiday in the UK on a budget. But recent events have also changed a lot of people’s holiday plans for this year and maybe years to come. The idea of flying is not appealing to everyone and UK holidays are on the up so campers are certainly a hot topic. But…what do you need to think about, what is it really like to have a camper and is it for you?

Try Before You Buy

As with a lot of things in life, trying it first is a really good idea. So before even thinking about you start looking for the sort of camper van for sale you want, as well as costs, etc., it is really worth just having a go in one. You can certainly approach dealerships for test drives, but these will be for quite short periods. An hour driving around would certainly give you a feel for driving something larger if you have never been in control of a van before. Sadly though, a test drive won’t really give you a feel for owning a camper. The best option is to find a campervan hire company and take a camper out for a few days or even just a night. This will give you a proper sense of what owning a camper is like. You can try out finding a campsite, maybe try one well-appointed one and one wild one and really get the feel for it all. You won’t know if you like owning a camper until you have cooked and slept in one. Of course, if you have a friend that can lend you one that’s even better!

Camper or Motorhome?

Defining exactly what you want is important and often people use the wrong terminology.  A campervan is smaller than a motorhome. It also doesn’t tend to have a toilet or shower. Campers are great for general use and camping but if you have a mind to travel for weeks on end a motorhome may be what you want. There are other differences but its mainly down to size and shape. Campers tend to be vans that are modified and motorhomes are built specifically for the job.

A class Motorhomes for sale are some of the largest and best selling vehicles.

Conversion or Purpose Built

This is where things get a little complex! There are different types of conversion as well as prebuilt campers. First of all, there are DIY conversions, these are where people have bought vans and converted them campers. The quality and type of camper vary massively with this kind of vehicle. From a ropey transit van with some wooden beds to a retired engineer’s 5-year project that is better than anything, you can buy elsewhere. A DIY conversion can be cheaper, but you need to know what you are doing. Other options are professionally done conversions, these involve buying a van and paying someone to convert it. There are also off the shelf campers from brands like Volkswagen with there California but there are also other companies that produce conversions as new. If you are going for new, then professional conversions or off the shelf are great. If you are looking for a used camper than DIY is also an option.

High Top of Pop Top

While campers are about a larger vehicle providing living space it isn’t always lateral space, it is often vertical. You generally have 3 options, a normal height camper, as in…and standard height van of whatever model you choose. You then have “high tops” which are taller versions of the van made from the manufacturer, these are solid roofs and not aftermarket changes. The final option is a pop-top. This is common in VW vans and its where a tent-like extension comes out of the roof. This is great for flexibility as it’s a nice low van until you need it higher, but they do come at a cost in terms of price and care.

Driving a Camper

You may really want a camper and you may be set on this being your new family holiday option for years to come but have you thought about actually driving a van? It may seem a little patronising but driving larger vehicles is quite a bit different if you haven’t done it before. It’s not that it is hard, it just involves considering different things. Parking and maneuvering is certainly a little more tricky and it is really important to consider this when buying one. Are you planning on using it for day trips when you are camping? Do you plan on going into towns and villages? If so, size is an important factor as is height. Think about height restrictions before buying a high van. Campers can also be slower than cars so long drives can be a bit…well, longer. Don’t be put off buying a camper because of driving it but do be aware of the differences.

So, if you are still keen then what are you waiting for? Get out there and start hunting for a camper. They are an amazing way to see the UK and Europe and in the current climate, they are great for socially distanced holidaying too!