Recommendations for a small campervan
We’ve previously had a larger coachbuilt one and currently have a large fixed bed caravan, but want something I can also drive.
Answers
-
I think you need to tell us a bit more. ‘Campervan’ is a very widely used term and encompasses vans from the very tiny converted likes of the Fiat Doblo up to the mighty 7m long conversions on such as a Mercedes Sprinter. You don’t say how many berths you need, whether you need room for 2 large dogs and so on.
You might do better to visit a few dealers and check out the offerings on their forecourts. It’ll help you narrow the field. Good luck👍
0 -
We have a 5.4m Wildax Pulsar that I can park on the drive and fits, just, into a shopping supermarket bay. The 5.4 chassis, Fiat, replaced the 5 metre one so older models will be 5 metres. The new one comes with a bathroom but if you're wedded to a fixed bed won't be much use to you. Some of the Roller ones do have a fixed bed but are longer and may or may not fit on your drive as you haven't indicated how big it is.
As @Tinwheeler has said you do need to supply a few more details.
0 -
@white family you definitely need to give us a lot more information really, to get any targeted help. Berths, onboard loo, kitchen, who/what is travelling, etc……
That said, a tiny camper van I would covet as a day van would be an Autosleeper Mazan. Don’t think they make them new anymore, but some good second hand ones. Comes in two version, high roof, and pop top roof. We pitched next to one just after lockdown and had a good look around inside and out, was very impressed. It will be minimal camping, but a great day van/ short stay.
0 -
Are you intending to buy new? If so have a look at Consort Motorhomes in Leeds. They are expensive but I think they are open to changes within reason.
David
0 -
As others have said a lot depends on what you want in terms of fixed bed/toilet and shower etc. also your budget.
We have a VW California which is really good as a small van - 5m long, under 2m tall which is handy in carparks and cheaper on ferries. The interior is very well thought out, with clever solutions to storage. It also drives more like a car then a van. And VW vans have good 'residuals' i.e. they hold their value in the second hand market. But it doesn't have a toilet and it doesn't have a fixed bed so it's back to the question of what elements of a campervan are most important to you.0 -
Identify your must haves and start looking. If I was looking for a small van the latest VW California would be on my list. This year sees the introduction of a hybrid and a 4x4 version
peedee
0 -
This is a hugely subjective question, of course.
However, for a compact camper van I was impressed with the Autosleeper Symbol.0 -
The old computer adage "Rubbish in = rubbish out" applies equally here. Unless you define your requirements you will get no helpful answers however helpful those posting intended to be!
-1 -
It might depend on what you class as small. My neighbour has a VW camper which he parks on our shared drive.recently out curiosity (as I have time on my hands I have been watching a few YouTube videos on Micro Campera, quite fascinating what youcanget in a Citreon Berlingo,realistically how comfortable they would be isopen to question,maybe 30 years younger might help? Ther are other smaller vans that could offer similar space toi the VW.for example the Vauxhall Vivaro under its many different guises. There are companies who will convert such vans for you.
David
0 -
@DavidKlyne we have a niece who tours in a Citroen Berlingo. She uses it alone, and had it kitted out with removable storage, work surfaces, single bunk. Uses one of those small Camping Gaz stoves, and like us is adept at travelling light. Club wouldn’t entertain it, but she’s welcome on C&CC, so we have bought her a Membership. But she mainly uses small sites, legal stopovers.
0 -
TDA
Interesting not allowed on CMC sites? Obviously not the space to fully fit it out as a fully functioning motorhome GBCampers who sell the fitments needed to convert.i think they also convert.Itgets a bit confusing to know what is allowed? We now have roof tents top of cars,I would imagine that the Berlingo would be ideal fir the solo traveler.i think a couple would struggle.on the other hand a drive away awning would considerably increase the space available?
David
0 -
Two in my family (admittedly they are 26 and in love) travel and camp with no more than a secondhand VW Caddy van .
CAMC would allow them in if their tent were on the van roof but not if their tent were on the ground - and a warden would want to inspect to see if their cooking stove was fixed or freestanding. And do they have a bed or just a matttess? How stuffy and petty can this Club get? East Grinstead corsets really are laced too tightly .3 -
@DavidKlyne it was pre COVID when we enquired for her, so the Club mindset might be slightly different now. It was converted professionally, but didn’t meet certain Club criteria at the time. She wasn’t bothered, other Club more her scene anyway. I doubt that a Berlingo would work for two, but she has a cosy bed, an eating set up and that’s all she needs really. Not a youngster by the way, just turned 50, but she’s practically minded, and like us camps rather than requiring all the comforts of home.
Our very first outfit was a micro camper, (bought off niece’s Dad). An A60 Suntor. We were always being “inspected” at Club Sites, it really was a snobby set up in the mid 1980’s, so a couple of 23 year olds with a weird vehicle and a Rottweiler was highly suspicious🤣 How I kept my patience with some of the staff sometimes I don’t know, but we dutifully showed them how the fixed bed converted, and the sink was plumbed in and our very good little fixed stove. You could hear the curtains twitch as we chose a pitch😂 Photo is identical to what we had, I learned to drive in it.
1 -
For those people who have either camped or expanded their horizons by seeing how flexible the Europeans sites are, the method of sleeping and other arrangements are a matter for those owners.
It still tends to be a little stuffy on club sites from time to time with certain members or at least that is my observation.
0 -
I don’t totally blame the Club. Some of the Membership now would blow a gasket at anything considered outside the conventional white box the size of a bungalow🤭 Our younger days were spent mainly on Forestry Commission and very nice private campsites. You pitched in whatever space you could get your outfit into, most folks lived outside if it wasn’t raining, and there was usually a very nice ambience of getting to know folks, and having a natter.
0
