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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 27/4/2024

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Can only second the view of 'go look, and don't rush'!

I took about a year of quite serious 'looking' at various options when I decided to move up from a tent to 'something more kindly to my aged bones'! I visited the big shows, and countless dealers forecourts, I clambered in and out of endless, trailer tents, campers, MHs, caravans etc. ..... and I changed my mind significantly from what I first thought I wanted!

I went through the motions of simulated 'using' rather than just looking at the various options, that alone put me off a fair number of things, miniscule 'all in one/shower over toilet type bathrooms were a casualty, initially thought I could live with one, but soon discovered I didn't really fit in them and banged head and elbows on just about everything in there! ... a decent full sized bathroom and shower became an essential!

Cooking! - I like cooking, and had every intention of being as self sufficient as possible, so the two tiny hobs on the draining board type 'cooker', no oven, no microwave all got the elbow, a decent kitchen became another 'must have'. ... and the fridge had to be adequate too!

Seating. Sit and sprawl, you may find the seating is neither that comfortable, nor has space to really sit in a relaxed way! If you want a TV, is it comfortable to watch in what is often a fixed position for it!

Sleeping. I'm a big bloke, I need a reasonable sized bed. I wasn't too fussed in theory about whether it was a fixed bed or a convertible seat/bed, but decided fixed beds compromised space elsewhere too much for daytime use, and some conversions to beds were just too big an ask after a long day hiking or a shandy or two!

Looked at basic campers and caravans, but decided they were to all intense and purposes, literally a 'tin tent', lacking much amenity over and above a decent tent, but with ALL the disadvantages of being a vehicle in their own right! If I was going to suffer the expense and inconvenience, then it HAD to be a major step up from a tent!

Finally settled on a quite large 4 berth caravan with a fair degree of luxury about it, and 6 years on, I made ABSOLUTELY the right choice, would happily go out and buy a near identical one as a replacement should I need to. That was the very last thing I thought I wanted when I started my 'upgrade' from a tent!

I was no stranger to caravans and various campers/MH's as a number of friends have them and I'd spent time (visiting, not staying) in them, BUT when you start looking at them for what suits YOU, you look with very different eyes! I was no stranger to towing an assortment of trailers over decades, so a caravan was of no concern to me. I've also driven various larger vehicles, so a MH was not off putting. If you have never experienced a Camper/MH as a living space, then I absolutely recommend you hire one for a holiday, both to familiarise yourself with it as a living space AND as a vehicle on the roads. It's a sizable investment, and can be an expensive mistake if you purchase in ignorance or unwisely.

As to a camper as an everyday vehicle in London, rather you than me. I live in NW London just off the A406, and even though very at ease with driving all sorts of vehicles in all sorts of places, even a largeish car (7 seat MPV) can be hard work in the chaos of London's roads, and where the hell can you park it with it's potential length and height! - parking bays are small, and most car parks have low height barriers! I don't see it getting better under Mayor Khan's stewardship if he gets back in as Mayor, his declared hatred of Diesels can only cost more and more! I changed my car from a Diesel to a Petrol because I saw the day it would be prohibited outright or prohibitively expensive to carry on with a Diesel vehicle! Even car parking around my way has a premium rate for ALL Diesels! Virtually NO petrol camper vans out there!

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Quote: Originally posted by Nannalynda on 31/8/2024

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Downside is as bed is width wise, won't fit over 5'8" person unless they like not stretching in bed.

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 01/9/2024

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Quote: Originally posted by Nannalynda on 31/8/2024

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Downside is as bed is width wise, won't fit over 5'8" person unless they like not stretching in bed.

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We ruled that option out at the first show we went to, as I’m 5’10” and OH is 6’1”. And I tend to starfish. Even lengthwise PVC beds on SWB vehicles can be too short.
Just shows the importance of trying the van with imagination - we also close the doors to see what it would be like on a wet weekend, some layouts feel quite claustrophobic & hemmed in.

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