Camper vans

[Mrs Trellis]

Have been thinking about a camper van (not a big motor home) since a friend mentioned she was selling hers. I have no experience of them and wonder if anyone has any advice on what to look for/avoid, what features are important and what makes are recommended?

The van in question is too expensive for us. It prompted us to look on EBayUK, where there are lots that sound good, but then we'd have the hassle of getting it registered in France. And a great deal of hassle if there were problem with it.

The friend floated the possibility of sharing her van, which would be cheaper for both of us but tricky to agree on the details.

[EuroTrash]

To be honest it all comes down to personal preference and budget and common sense. The biggest difference between vans is the internal layout, and everyone has their own ideas of which layout is best. Smaller vans are easier to drive and park in towns but more cramped inside, you have to be ever so tidy and organised. It used to be that certain makes like Mercedes Hymer and some of the VW models were considered the gold standard but these days that's less the case, the other manufacters have caught up and there are no notoriously bad makes. If you're on a lowish budget, the most important thing to check for is any signs of damp, as water ingress over a period of time can do a lot of damage and even if you cure it, the rot is still there.

Might be a good idea to share your friend's van for a while, just to find out what you like about it and what you don't. It's only when you've spent time in a van that you discover the little things that bug you, both about driving it and about living in it. Would it bug you if there wasn't enough storage space, or do you travel light? Would it bug you to have to take the bed down every day, or wouldn't that bother you? Can you sleep happily in an overcab bed or do you feel claustrophobic? Most German vans don't have ovens, only hobs, would that bother you? Do you want a bike rack, if so has it got one or is there somewhere to fit it? Would you be happy driving a van with no rear window (not ideal if you drive it solo - your mirrors wouldn't show you if a kiddie has come to play right behind your van when you're about to reverse)? Do you need a big outside locker to put fishing gear or wetsuits in that you don't want to keep inside the van? Then when you start looking, you'll know a few things to look for and a few things to avoid.

[nectarine]

EuroTrash's advice is spot on! We don't have a motor home but have enjoyed renting them on vacation. In our experience, the smaller the better since you can drive in towns, down smaller streets and don't need a space the size of a supermarket car park to turn around in. We've rented one with a proper bed space, and also one where you had to turf all the cushions off the seating area in order to create the bed - OK if you're travelling from day to day and don't use the seating area much but if you were installed at a camp site and needed the seating I agree the night time/day time change might prove to be a slog.

[richard51]

Have you thought about hiring one out for a week or so to see if you enjoy it.

My thoughts would be that it would need to be used for quite a few weeks per year for it to be viable.

[richard51]

Oops, too slow. Nectarine obviously enjoys it that way.

[PaulT]

Yes, think long and hard about the fixed / make it up each night bed.

Our first caravan was a make it up each night one. Go out for a nice meal (or especially in the van so you cannot make up the bed prior) and a bottle or two of wine and then you have the joy of making up the bed before you can go to bed.

That van did not last long and all subsequent ones have been fixed bed.

Go along to a dealer and spend ages sitting and thinking how you would live in each of the different layouts.

[Mrs Trellis]

Thanks all, lots to think about. We wouldn't want a huge van as we like to go down minor roads. But 'tidy and organised' - not! Hadn't thought of bike racks but wouldn't take bikes and dogs. I looked on EBay UK and campers seemed cheaper than our friend quoted, but she asked the company who converted it and vehicles are generally dearer in France.

If we shared, we'd have to sort insurance and maintenance costs but it's a possibility.

[Pickles]

[quote user="Mrs Trellis"]Thanks all, lots to think about. We wouldn't want a huge van as we like to go down minor roads. But 'tidy and organised' - not! Hadn't thought of bike racks but wouldn't take bikes and dogs. I looked on EBay UK and campers seemed cheaper than our friend quoted, but she asked the company who converted it and vehicles are generally dearer in France.

If we shared, we'd have to sort insurance and maintenance costs but it's a possibility.[/quote]

My knowledge of these things is very limited, but I would certainly "borrow" or hire before buying. Secondly, I seem to recall from previous discussions here that some UK-sourced camper vans require significant works - particularly on gas installations IIRC - before they can be re-registered in France.

[Lehaut]

We bought one here in France over 10 years ago on a Fiat Ducato chassis. Its a Burstner body, well made and light wood with a fixed bed over the cab. Fiats have a well know corrosion problem caused by a leak in the bonnet which rots out the chassis front member (easy to replace). It coped will with a family of 4 and is fine for us two now. Gas blown air heating, gas fridge (avoid at all costs all electric if you ever want to camp off sites, we rarely use sites in France). Where you park of off season, make sure you have electicity to keep the battery topped up.