The vehicle I would heartily recommend is the Mazda Bongo. Plenty available on Ebay, and ticks all the boxes. Lift-up roof for extra height and sleeping space.
I'd recommend getting one with a toilet. Better if there's a washroom, no matter how small, rather than a portapotti out in public. If it's pouring rain at bedtime, or early morning, trekking across a campsite with a torch to the washroom can put you off camping altogether, especially if you have to go back because you forgot the key or the touchpad code.
Shower not essential.
Hi there and welcome to the forum a good rule of thumb is to get the smallest you can possibly manage with we started out with a Peugeot Boxer van conversion just over 4 metres long there was only two of us mind and the dog but it was plenty big enough start off small and if you find it's not big enough work your way up you will always get your money back happy camping and good luck!
I know you said you're not mechanical, but what about doing your own conversion maybe with a Merc van or similar?
We have considered doing this ourselves and having a bespoke camper that suited us, but have no room for another vehicle SBMCC - Self Build Motor Homes
Quote: Originally posted by westcountrycat on 10/6/2017
Oh, just looked up Mazda Bongos, these look just the job and more along my price range!
Bongofury website is just great. Like on here, there are plenty of very helpful people who can advise on everything you can think of. When I was a member I knew that whatever question I had, if I posted it on the forum I would get a reply extremely quickly, often in minutes.
I have just found the site, and see it has a new web address. http://igmaynard.co.uk/
Westcountrycat, hi..if you have 2 children and a partner I think you'd struggle with a bongo...theyre great but imo more suited for couples...i would in my opinion look more at the peugeot boxers or the Citroen relay van conversions...just that little bit of extra room and sleeping layouts...only my opinion though as we've had a bongo and van conversions in the past 🙂
As davelympo states above, the Bongo is too small for any more than 2, I had one and sold it very quickly purely for that reason.
As for the Hiace I posted, it was just to give you an idea of what they are.
Some have lap belts only but others have 3 point belts.