Thinking about buying.

We got our first van when our two were 8 and 10, and we should have done it years earlier!

You need a van! With young kids I would probably go ready converted first time, to get on with day and weekend trips as soon as possible.

LWB is a must for four people. Maybe even a cab bed for the youngest.

You have a decent budget I think. Something like this is worth a look:

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www.autotrader.co.uk www.autotrader.co.uk
 
A camper van almost always has compromises, especially if it is to be used as a daily driver. A SWB is no longer than a decent family sized car, drives like a car and fits in 'normal' parking spaces (although parking spaces have not kept up with growing vehicle sizes). Watch out for height restrictions when you have a pop top fitted, but many still come in at under 2m.

I think that the daily use is important, and for me that would mean the seating arrangement. If your budget stretches to it, perhaps foregoing other things, the Kombi seating or a bed/seat on rails would be well worth it, to keep the rear passengers within reasonable distance - for conversing if nothing else. Of course, if you want to ignore the kids and pretend they are not in with you get a LWB with rock and roll bed fixed at the back :)

My suggestions to consider - pop top (with upgraded bed) and rear seat/bed on rails (full width or as wide as you can get). Fitted kitchen/cupboards may not be a priority as most things can be added as pods, and with a family you'll probably be going for an awning and cooking outside on a combined grill/bbq.

Good idea to try one or even two out before you buy. And be prepared/warned, the spending doesn't stop when you buy the van....
 
drinfinity said:
We got our first van when our two were 8 and 10, and we should have done it years earlier!

You need a van! With young kids I would probably go ready converted first time, to get on with day and weekend trips as soon as possible.

LWB is a must for four people. Maybe even a cab bed for the youngest.

You have a decent budget I think. Something like this is worth a look:

Auto Trader Motorhomes - New and Used Motorhomes For Sale

Find your next motorhome with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used motorhomes. Over 7,000 motorhomes online. Simple, easy, quick!
www.autotrader.co.uk www.autotrader.co.uk
Click to expand...

That is a nice van and thank you for the feedback its much appreciated!

Ready converted is definitely the way were leaning, I cant do anything myself as I very much know the limitations of my DIY skills!

Interesting about the LWB suggestion. I've seen that people warn off if youre using it as a daily driver? Does the extra size make it difficult to do things like the school run and busy car parks etc?
 
According to some sites, the standard car parking space in car parks is 4.8m long, on a roadside the minimum is 6m. My SWB (4.8m long) does typically fill the length of most carpark spaces, plus more if I have the towball fitted. A LWB is 5.3m.

Parking is not impossible by any means, but may take a little more thought or luck in terms of available spaces. That is one of the compromises with a LWB compared with a SWB. The SWB has different compromises compared with the LWB - storage space and internal fittings/layout restrictions mainly. When on the move, there's very little difference really.

Parking sensors and a rear camera are very useful in a SWB or LWB.

That said, my other half vetoed a LWB as she would not entertain driving it or parking it around town. Decision made.
 
T6 Syd said:
According to some sites, the standard car parking space in car parks is 4.8m long, on a roadside the minimum is 6m. My SWB (4.8m long) does typically fill the length of most carpark spaces, plus more if I have the towball fitted. A LWB is 5.3m.

Parking is not impossible by any means, but may take a little more thought or luck in terms of available spaces. That is one of the compromises with a LWB compared with a SWB. The SWB has different compromises compared with the LWB - storage space and internal fittings/layout restrictions mainly. When on the move, there's very little difference really.

Parking sensors and a rear camera are very useful in a SWB or LWB.

That said, my other half vetoed a LWB as she would not entertain driving it or parking it around town. Decision made.
Click to expand...
I suspect my wife would feel the same.
 
Under 2m hight was my biggest concern. It's amazing how many car parks have 2m height barriers. That's a must for everyday use with kids imo.

Regarding wheelbase. I went with short as the ease of parking was more important than they space inside. Realistically with 2 kids the time when you are all inside together is going to be kind of limited (SWB or LWB shut then door with 4 of you in there and its going to feel small either way) and with a standard camper setup that extra space offers you more floor space which is great but in usable terms what are you going to use that for (unless you have a bed in rails which maybe comes into its own for storage options)? Really when in the van you are going to mostly be sitting in the seats or sleeping.

Not having to pre think about parking is the biggest must for me.
 
It’s all down to personal preference and how confident you are. I personally went from an estate car to a SWB. I’m still getting used to it and definitely need a reverse camera. I think I’d struggle with anything bigger but again you would get used to it. In terms of spaces, I am finding that the SWB only just gets in to most!

It seemed that there were better prices out there for a LWB panel van (in my experience). Not sure if that reflects in a converted one.

For me: LWB for more space camping if you have another car for day to day. SWB as a daily driver.
 
I also went from a 4.9m long estate to the 4.9m long T6.

At first it felt huuuuuuge as you're sitting so much further forward, it feels like there's about 60ft of van behind you! But it soon feels very normal. I thought I'd want a reverse camera but I'm fine without one tbh.

I wouldn't hesitate to get a LWB T6.

A crafter, though... Even in the smallest size I don't think I could use one as a 'normal' car as I do my T6.
 
I have no issues on the LWB for parking. Ours has rear camera, and sensors front and rear. It is easier to park than some cars - it’s square, so you can see in the mirrors where the rear corners are.

The big difference comes when you have the bed down. Getting kids and us ready for bed or up in the morning in the tiny floorspace left in a SWB is really frustrating (we had tried SWB before we bought). We ruled out SWB from the start, and I’m happy with that.
 
soldas said:
Welcome!

This was me 18 months ago.

I've got 2 boys. Nearly 5 and 14 months. 18 months ago we were packing for trip (just 3 of us at this point) for a trip to center parcs for 5 days with group of friends and the amount of stuff we packed in the car and the money we spent just got me to a point of there must be better ways than this.

I've grown up with my dad having vans so it was a no brainer.

We use our van currently mostly as a day type van, down the beach for the day for a bbq style. I've done a few weekends away with our 4 year old and he absolutely loves it.

I think in time we will do longer stays away as a whole family and I truly can't wait for some boys weekends but at the moment the thought of overnighting with the 1 year old is just not possible. He's a proper #2 wrecking ball.

But the biggest enjoyment we have had is just using it to travel to days out and having everything to hand. Being able to make warm milk in a lay by. Stopping for the 4 year old to go pee in the porta etc.

Go with your gut, you know what's right for you but get a decent van and the rest will be history. Plus they hold there value so well it's almost a no brainer ;)
Click to expand...
This is absolutely it for us. One of our friends described our van as a "beach hut on wheels". While I'd argue it's better than that ;) I see their point.

Having the space and flexibility of a van you'll soon wonder how you managed without it. We've used it numerous times as changing room, feeding room, nap space. We don't have the space for 4 of us to sleep in the van (no pop top) so opt for our Trailer Tent for stays/trips with all 4, but one-offs as solo or 2/3 in the van and using at as day van it's been worth every penny of the spend!

Many times I've thought how the SWB and under 2m has been key for us though. As others have said try and work out what you might be using it for, and how it might work for you and your family!
 
LWB all day long, every day for me - never had a problem driving/manoeuvring/parking it (but do have all-round parking sensors and rear camera). The only acceptable excuse in my eyes for going SWB is if you don't have the space at home to park a LWB.
 
Bav said:
The only acceptable excuse in my eyes for going SWB is if you don't have the space at home to park a LWB.
Click to expand...
Or if VW in their wisdom decided to not offer a LWB version of the model you want. LWB Caravelle Executive? Nope! :confused:
 
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TallPaul_S said:
Or if VW in their wisdom decided to not offer a LWB version of the model you want. LWB Caravelle Executive? Nope! :confused:
Click to expand...
Yeh, another very questionable decision by VW.
 
Bav said:
The only acceptable excuse in my eyes for going SWB is if you don't have the space at home to park a LWB.
Click to expand...


In my case my van is my "daily" and I wanted something I could fit in a standard 5M parking bay. I have a 4 vehicle driveway so didnt need to resort to excuses.

For two of us and a labrador its perfect. If I were going down the "need a bit more" route id have got a Crafter, but then that brings me back full circle to daily use and parking again.
 
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