Newbie with a Tiny Outfit!

tony9343
tony9343 Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited July 2019 in Introductions #1
Afternoon.

I joined the club a couple of years ago to try-out a couple of nights away from home.

We hired a self-build camper from a broker and the van itself had seen better days.  A good few horses had gone missing from under the bonnet and the only light that the electrics gave out was the spark when I tried to replace a fuse. The toilet discouraged its use by simply existing. All in all, not the best introduction to life outside of brick walls.

Two years later, I'm still a member and have been daydreaming about where to start. I need to be small to begin with, as money and driveway space are both limited.  Also, I'm still working full-time, so don't want to spend money to have an outfit sitting on my driveway, like one of my neighbours...

So, my current idea is to start small. Very small.

I'm looking at getting hold of a Citroen Berlingo XL/VW Caddy Life Maxi, having blinds made and then getting a kit from Campal (https://campal.co.uk/). This would allow me to have a vehicle that I can use on a tip run, carry the mother-in-law around in and at weekends, get away with the dog.

I emailed the office to ask if such an outfit would be allowed into any sites, but I got a vague reply quoting the guidelines.  Being a novice, I don't want to go down this route if I'm going to be turned away at the gate.

The main things that the Campal has - apart from the ability to lift-out the kit  - and that I'd like some clarity on are:
  •  The stove is powered by small canisters of gas.
  •  The stove pulls out on a drawer from the main unit, so cooking would be outside, under the tailgate.
  •  The unit can be lifted in and out by two people.

Here's the text of the email to give the whole picture...

"...conversion must have seats and a table, sleeping accommodation, cooking facilities, storage facilities and adequate ventilation. There must also be curtains for privacy when sleeping and fittings must be rigidly fixed to the living compartment."

Hope this makes sense and I won't be chased out of the club for suggesting such an outfit!

Thanks in advance,

Tony 

Comments

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,037 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #2

    Tony, a niece of ours has just bought a Citroen Berlingo and is in the process of having a slide out camping unit fitted. This will give her the option of using the car conventionally, with the back seat in, or using the car with the camper unit in, which sleeps one and will have cooking and washing up facility. She is a keen wild swimming enthusiast, and likes to meet up with friends and have a camping break. If, and it’s a big if, she decides to join the Club, we shall help her fight tooth and nail to have her professionally converted camper accepted. Our early days with the Club were in a tiny little camper, and we didn’t always get the warm welcome we hoped for, but it fitted the criteria, designed to be lived in safely, so we persevered. Fingers crossed that all goes well for you.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #3

    The Berlingo or Caddy sound like an ideal compromise to give you an everyday car and a means of Camping, Tony.

    I read the mail to mean, in shorthand, that the van must be purpose converted with fixed and dedicated sleeping, cooking, seating, eating, privacy arrangements. 

    Fear not as, if this club turns its back on you, the C&CC will welcome you with open arms.

  • tony9343
    tony9343 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited July 2019 #4

    Thank you both, that's really encouraging.

    I think this is the best way to start my camping adventure, so I'll start my search now. Makes perfect sense to me to have a dual-purpose vehicle and get something bigger eventually.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #5

    It’s all about what works for you, Tony. 

    I think small is good as long as you’re comfortable in it. 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2019 #6

    From your description, your outfit would fail on the "fixed" criteria, although how that would be discovered without a detailed inspection is beyond me. Given the rule-bound stuffiness of this organisation, I would be inclined, in your position, to join the "other lot".

  • Unknown
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    edited July 2019 #7
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    edited July 2019 #8
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,037 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #9

    Tony, 36 years ago, we had to let Wardens peer inside our tiny camper van, pop up the roof, run the tap, lift the cooker lid to see the gas burners, and watch deep suspicion turn to charmed delight sometimes as the penny finally dropped. Given that we were in our early twenties and travelled around with a Rottweiler possibly didn’t help! They were only doing their job, some a tad more draconian than others, but we were never actually turned away.

    There are all sorts of natty touring outfits out there now, and converted Citroen Berlingos are possibly more common than some folks realise, but then that’s the beauty of one, it’s dual purpose. 

    As for comfort and warmth, we loved our little two berth, we were lithe and fit enough to cope with its compromises, we enjoyed the shelter on rainy days, and the ambience of outdoor living on the lovely ones. Far easier and more comfortable than a tent. You might be interested in a company called Eberspacher, who do some great kits for tiny outfits, link below 

    https://www.eberspacher.com/

     

  • tony9343
    tony9343 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited July 2019 #10

    Thanks again, all.

    I got a further reply from the office...

    "Of course we will accept the kit that is on the Campal website.", so that looks like it might be ok, but like you say, it all depends on the warden and their interpretation of the rules.

    Been looking around for a vehicle. Even a Nissan NV200 (same size as a Bongo) would be ok to start with and give a little more headroom.

    takethedogalong: I've heard of Eberspacher as far a heating goes, so will look at their offerings.

    My membership is up in a few months, so if I don't get a good reception, then the other lot might get next my subs for next year.

    I'm sure I will be back to pick your collective brains with more questions on the forum.

    Thanks very much for the advice, the tips and of course the welcome.  Might bump into one of you one day. Just look for the beagle!

     

    Tony.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #11

    Eberspacher do kit that does hot water and heating. They are quite compact and run on red diesel. Big current drain to fire them up though and the burble from the exhaust might annoy the neighbours.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #12

    What sore of an arrangement could be made with your neighbour who has the outfit sitting on his drive . . . ?

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