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Hi George..

Personally, I think your mid-sized van and awning approach, is the way to got..

(..although I wouldn't  just restrict myself to looking at VWs).

Yes, as you say, you'd need an awning(of sorts) putting up but some of these awnings go up really quickly now(..and we just use a pop up Quechua Base shelter, as an "awning" against our current Hiace).

Even if you went for a larger, "coach-built" motorhome, it probably wont be that many years before your daughter doesn't want to be sleeping in the same vehicle as both  M&D?....so one of you(you! ) would end up sleeping in an awning or pup tent anyway..

Our first van was a 2003  Autosleeper Duetto(a Transit conversion, loo/shower,oven/hob/fridge  etc)..and after since having two much larger coach-builts (the last one a 7mtr+ fixed bed, separate shower cubicle, front dinette job),we now wish that we had stuck with the Transit!....

We have since gone pretty much full circle and are now back to a basic, versatile and fun van...

Hi again...

Personally, I wouldn't be spending anywhere near that sort of money on a "first campervan"(..after all, you may not take to it?..).

For a family, a "vw sized" vehicle will, in the main, just be used to cart all the kit and to hang an awning off....it won't really be used to "live in" as such..

...All of the VW/similar size vans we see on festival sites, tend to just get used as beds, at most..With the living/cooking etc all done outside(in awning/under a tarp)..

So, with that in mind, do you really need an expensive "campervan" ?..

What about starting with a tidy windowed crew-van...and "convert" that as the need dictates..? for example(..just lifted off ebay).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Vivaro-DOUBLE-CAB-CREW-CAB-2-9T-1-9DI-3595-NO-VAT-/321439901575?pt=UK_Commercial_Trucks&hash=item4ad74fa787

..and you can do a lot of "converting" for the £28000 you can save..!

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Edit Just poking around ebay..and I've come across the actual van, FJ53 EEA., that we had back in 2007-8 ! (..and it's still looking quite smart!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTOSLEEPER-DUETTO-FORD-TRANSIT-DIESEL-MOTORHOME-CAMPER-MINTER-ONLY-16995-PX-/291191545210?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item43cc5e5d7a

..why the hell did we change to wallowing coach-builts...!?

That's a damned good price for a Duetto..if we weren't half way through bying a house, I'd seriously look at buying it back!

Hi George..

Well, a folding camper would certainly be a good(and cheaper)option to try...

(..and it'll be costing you nowt when it's sitting unused, bagged up,on the drive' )

Although, I would want to be sure that it was of a design that wasn't too much of a faff to pitch..otherwise I'd be asking myself why I hadn't just stuck with the tent..