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Thanks for the information about tax and insurance, very useful.

Jimsmimm - That box on the back of your Bongo, looks useful storage for lots of stuff, bedding, luggage, small children....I have seen these on the internet (Thule), would you recommend it? Are there other makes? Could you fit the awning in it?

Luckily I already have a trailer for the camping gear, part of the idea behind getting a van is to get away from towing it about

Will have a look into those boxes...........back to ebay...........

How about one of these for the classic campervan look: http://www.asseenonthetv.co.uk/vw-camper-van-tent-as-seen-on

Quote: Originally posted by danboyfat on 19/5/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by jimsmimm on 19/5/2011

an hour spent putting up an awning and stuff every time you stopped and the same again each morning before you left soon became very wearing....

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Agreed, instead we got a Quechua pop up full height tent - pitched or packed away in seconds and it fulfills all the functions of an awning. The best bit of kit going.

Becoming quite popular with the 'VDub set'!

I think we'll see how we get on with the van before we decide what extra storage we will start attaching to it, always good idea to know what options are about though.

Looking at the price of the back box set up, you don't get a huge amount of storage for your £, considering you can have a tow bar fitted and buy a trailer for not much more, but as I said before I want to get away from dragging the trailer about.

This is the drawback to our large tent set up, it takes so long to set up camp you feel obliged to remain in the same location for a week or so, we want to be able to pitch up in half an hour or so, stay for a couple of days and then move on.

The Campervan tent looks great fun, can see it being a hit at festivals and such, I have camped in some pretty rough conditions in the past and not sure that I would trust it on an exposed Norfolk coastal location, or a couple of weeks in the Yorkshire Dales.

Quote: Originally posted by mikeandangiem on 20/5/2011

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This is the drawback to our large tent set up, it takes so long to set up camp you feel obliged to remain in the same location for a week or so, we want to be able to pitch up in half an hour or so, stay for a couple of days and then move on.

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Quote: Originally posted by bigtoe on 21/5/2011

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We take most of our hols in France and pitching a tent after a long drive wasnt something we enjoyed. In fact it was probably the biggest motivation for getting a campervan - arriving on site and lugging canvas around for an hour before settling down, We'd watc campervans arriving and people being set up, wine on table, five minutes flat!

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Our thoughts exactly!!!

Quote: Originally posted by mikeandangiem on 20/5/2011

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The Campervan tent looks great fun, can see it being a hit at festivals and such, I have camped in some pretty rough conditions in the past and not sure that I would trust it on an exposed Norfolk coastal location, or a couple of weeks in the Yorkshire Dales.

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Hi-another option is an awning that is quick to put up & down. We are under no illusions that 4 of us in the Granvia is going to be terribly spacious- however from previous experiences we have learned to pack light and "decant" stuff like food/drink into small containers and you would be surprised how little you actually wear on a camping trip-don't mean that in a rude way  but I seem to remember the first time we went away in the T25 I actually packed a dress!

(BTW should explain at this point, despite my forum name I am actually a girly!!!)

We have had Khyam awnings which have the quick-erect system (oo-er) that are up in 10 mins or so, and more importantly, down in less (from experience they aren't the best in a really bad storm).

The thing for me though, is I hate packing and unpacking and love travelling light-camping for me is to sightsee, walk, climb, go down the pub-I hate wasting precious time faffing round with belongings so haven't been the happiest tent camper-so long as there is enough room for 4 to sleep and adequate storage I am happy. Any van conversion-be it VW, Toyota, Mercedes,Mazda, whatever-is going to be limited on space. After that it is a coachbuilt or a LWB which (for us)  limited the van's use as a second car.

I would echo the remark above, look around before you buy- there are good conversions out there which might suit you better from Ford, Mercedes etc! not just Toyota or VW.

Quote: Originally posted by Camperman69 on 22/5/2011

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 but I seem to remember the first time we went away in the T25 I actually packed a dress!

(BTW should explain at this point, despite my forum name I am actually a girly!!!)

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Good idea, will leave the dress at home in future.............will ask my wife to do the same

Actually to be honest I've never take a dress camping,.......... well not since my days in the Venture Scouts, seem to remember back then it was part of the standard kit