Dellmassive`s Camper Van Adventure

[Sackmycook]

@Dellmassive pretty much how I progressed although I started with a low mileage pv.
I had 3 different bed set-ups and ended up with a RIB bed for the extra seating and flexibility.

 

[RyanGerry]

Get a caravan, you know you want to

 

[Dellmassive]

We all need to…….

Brain Storm……Or …Blue Sky thinking…..Or ……ideas on sticky Notes….

all over a few beers at the next camp…..The next Dellmobile…needs to be flexible affordable and with some degree of future proofing factored in….as example are you going to tow in the future….I can see a busy session….so better get some nibbles too

Yes towbar will be needed.... Most likely for a trailer for all the Disco-Tent stuff.... Maybe

 

[Shaun Witts]

You can get up to 250kg of Disco-Tent stuff on this Cate carrier, without any towing restrictions:




As mentioned by others, I also find the interior roof LEDs far too bright when lying in bed reading. Dimmable or separate reading lights are the way to go.

Another big question I don’t think anyone has asked yet is are you going to cook in the van? Plenty of people report never using the cookers in their vans but some swear by them.

 

[Salty Spuds]

You can get up to 250kg of Disco-Tent stuff on this Cate carrier, without any towing restrictions:
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View attachment 173271

As mentioned by others, I also find the interior roof LEDs far too bright when lying in bed reading. Dimmable or separate reading lights are the way to go.

Another big question I don’t think anyone has asked yet is are you going to cook in the van? Plenty of people report never using the cookers in their vans but some swear by them.

We boil in the van, never fry.

 

[t6blo]

Get a caravan, you know you want to

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This. End of the thread. That is all

My van is a daily driver Kombi and I have no intention of sleeping in it, but if I hit my head and suddenly started to want to sleep away from home I would go with this option and tow behind my van.

Proper toilet and shower, can stand up, huge awning on the side - looks awesome. Save some money on the Transporter camper conversion, buy a Kombi and a caravan. Sorted.

 

[Dellmassive]

You can get up to 250kg of Disco-Tent stuff on this Cate carrier, without any towing restrictions:
View attachment 173270

View attachment 173271

As mentioned by others, I also find the interior roof LEDs far too bright when lying in bed reading. Dimmable or separate reading lights are the way to go.

Another big question I don’t think anyone has asked yet is are you going to cook in the van? Plenty of people report never using the cookers in their vans but some swear by them.

That looks good.

We have a bike carrier.... And have seen storage bags on them.

Cooking will be less important in the van. And will be done outside I'd imagine. We have jetboil, cadacs, single burners etc etc for that.

So I think the emphasis will be less of the full kitchen install.

But a fitted fridge would be essential. With a second mobile compressor fridge for beers at events.

Led lighting noted, a few people are saying this.

 

[Bryn23]

I personally think with the way you are currently camping, you are better of towing a caravan or moving to a larger Crafter

If you can't fit everything in a current T6 and sleep in it, then a newer T6 isn't going to be better.

Cheaper and nicer to have a decent Caravan and tow it with your current work van, if you are staying places longer than a night.

Campervans are great for those who are willing to sacrifice space and comforts for the ability to be be traveling most days, but if you don't do this, then in my view its not worth it.


Edit: Campers are cool, but as you already have a T6, you already have that, you just need more space

 

[Dellmassive]

This. End of the thread. That is all

My van is a daily driver Kombi and I have no intention of sleeping in it, but if I hit my head and suddenly started to want to sleep away from home I would go with this option and tow behind my van.

Proper toilet and shower, can stand up, huge awning on the side - looks awesome. Save some money on the Transporter camper conversion, buy a Kombi and a caravan. Sorted.

I appreciate your opinion but its not for us.... Though the chief advisor would love one.!

Reasons:

We don't have room to store a caravan at home so would have to store it off site.

Storage costs are £500+ a year.

I don't fancy being stuck in lanes 1,2 at 60mph for long drives.

Id feel that I'd want to do the towing training course..... (Even though I'm an old git and have trailer on my license)

I freak out at throught of driving the NC500 or WC870 towing a van.... What happens on those tight costal roads?

We plan on trips to Europe etc and not sure about dragging a caravan along... Isn't that more agro?

I'm not keen on retreaving a van from storage and readying for a trip ... Then parking up again after. We're London based so storage is expensive and is on the outskirts.

Initial upfront cost of a caravan.

Some sites don't take touring vans and panel vans....

All the above are putting me off the idea.... We have discussed it numerous times....in fact the rest of the family are caravan dwellers.

As above we've aleady had issues getting our PV on sites as it doesn't have windows.... When towing a caravan.(,but found another site that would take us)

The outcome was we wanted to go down the kombi camper route (with massive side air awning ,)

But never say never....

If we moved house, and had side space to store a caravan.... Then we would take another look at the idea.

 

[Dellmassive]

I personally think with the way you are currently camping, you are better of towing a caravan or moving to a larger Crafter

If you can't fit everything in a current T6 and sleep in it, then a newer T6 isn't going to be better.

Cheaper and nicer to have a decent Caravan and tow it with your current work van, if you are staying places longer than a night.

Campervans are great for those who are willing to sacrifice space and comforts for the ability to be be traveling most days, but if you don't do this, then in my view its not worth it.


Edit: Campers are cool, but as you already have a T6, you already have that, you just need more space

This second van needs to be a daily driver ,80% of the time, and a camper 20% of the time.

That means shopping, underground carparks, school runs, vet runs, driving uptown and to the family... Cinema, seaside, etc etc.

So a crafter or man etc is not an option for us at this stage as the are too big and tall.

We also have a short length drive with lean-to at home, so again a crafter would be too large to keep at the house. (Remember it's a daily driver,)

A crafter and larger van is not good as a daily driver on fuel, especially a converted one..... We're looking ,20% camper use..... So school and work run most of the time.

++++++++


If this project was for a 100% camper, then I'd agree totally with you ....

A T6 is to small for a long term camper, even a LWB.... A caravan or crafter/ motorhome makes perfect sense, and is the obvious way forward.

But at this stage we are 20% camper, 80% dad's taxi.

So at this stage were thinking kombi camper should suit....

However the secondary problem is transporting all the additional kit we take to events.

Ie disc-tent, speakers, lights, flag poles, etc etc.

 

[Bryn23]

Not a problem Dell,

i can see you have some valid issues with having a Caravan, i didn't realize you were london based, storage costs are decent these days.

I keep my Camper at my workshop, it's always ready to go, loaded with clothes, food and everything we need, we just need to throw in some fresh milk and grab some fruit and veg on the way.

Granted i'm able just to use the campervan as just as a campervan, we have a city car as we live in a CBD

I wasn't aware of the no window issue, as we don't have that problem down under, thats annoying.

You have a tough decision to make, take your time and good luck

 

[Dellmassive]

Re the above,

And transporting the extra stuff for events.

We have been looking at the options.

Additional trailer for kit.

Add roof box, (it doesn't all fit and is to heavy)

Take two vans

Try to fit it in the kombi..

The missus come up with an interesting idea......about the gazebos.

They stand about 5ft tall. So wouldn't fit on the Combi floor with seats and an ovano,

So she said why not make up the bed, then lay them longways on the bed, and afix them down some how.

Assuming we didn't have additional people to transport in the back.

Anyone see an issue with her suggestion,,?

 

[Dellmassive]

Get a caravan, you know you want to

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View attachment 173173

FWIW - if i had to chose a van / caravan combo - that would be it. i think you have nailed it. - great job and looks awesome as a whole

( i best get saving for the caravan upgrade in 2030 )

 

[Skyliner33]

If it does not have to be a Kombi, then a panel van with windows fitted and a RnR bed would work as long stuff would fit under the seats and then could always carry passengers if really needed.

 

[cgtmiles]

Re the above,

And transporting the extra stuff for events.

We have been looking at the options.

Additional trailer for kit.

Add roof box, (it doesn't all fit and is to heavy)

Take two vans

Try to fit it in the kombi..

The missus come up with an interesting idea......about the gazebos.

They stand about 5ft tall. So wouldn't fit on the Combi floor with seats and an ovano,

So she said why not make up the bed, then lay them longways on the bed, and afix them down some how.

Assuming we didn't have additional people to transport in the back.

Anyone see an issue with her suggestion,,?

My mate travels with his kayak in the back by making up the bed first, he has a rib bed but it’s the only way he can fit it in.

 

[Doosey]

We have a Kombi that’s the wife’s daily, I made a steel frame the same height as the seats folded flat with 20mm ply on top, this gives loads of room underneath and I can take it all out in no time, for longer trips I take the seats out and have a infill piece of ply and temporary legs to hold it up giving extra storage. only thing I wish I’d got a slightly lower fridge so it would fit under the bed. Going to put a pair of gas struts on so the ply lifts easier when I get 10 mins for ease of access. Plus we use two mattresses from a Scania truck for the bed so just stack them down the sides meaning we can put stuff on the bed until we put the drive away up. Cheap and easy lol

 

[Chris Sherwood]

Get a Fridge Pod and a Rock and Roll bed

VW Kitchen pod – EVO Design

www.evomotiondesign.co.uk

Both removeable, cook outside and take them both out when you want an empty van.

 

[russ_e]

 

[russ_e]

 

[russ_e]