5 ms·

Having owned 4 campers both tiny and large, I'd emphasize thinking hard about what sort of trip you want to have. Tiny campers are handy for quick, fuel efficie

Having owned 4 campers both tiny and large, I'd emphasize thinking hard about what sort of trip you want to have. Tiny campers are handy for quick, fuel efficient journeys in good weather, but horrible to hang out in if it gets wet/midgy etc and you have no alternative (hello Scotland!). Large campers are obviously more expensive and drink more fuel. For me I think the sweet spot for 2 adults is a vw transporter (or equivalent sized vehicle); with either high or pop top (get something you can stand up in!). Now I have a young family we've upgraded to a self converted peugeot boxer L3H2. (This is for holidays, not full time living... full timers will want larger). Don't try to make your camper like a house, it will never be one. Use a reliable foot (not electric) pump to conserve your cold water supply and I wouldn't bother with running hot water. Do carry at least a very small toilet. It needn't have its own room (though you certainly get extra points for dignity if it does). Little chemical toilets which are little more than a bucket with a lid can be bought very cheaply, though one friend recently impressed me with his much nicer smelling van based compost toilet! #vanlife has exploded in popularity in recent years and if everyone snuck off to poo in a hedge like in the old days, the beauty spots would all become disgusting. Pick up litter that isn't yours, try to leave places in a better state than you found them, give the community a good name! Finally, take all affiliate linked "how to" articles with a very large pinch of salt :)

uptime 5y ago
Just coming back from two weeks in the Highlands and was very covetous of well fitted and kitted vans. Saw a lot of variety: young people with boards and bikes, families with full kitchens, etc. I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep and wake on some of those pullover spots. The most gorgeous landscapes anywhere. I give you all the credit for driving up there in a van - single track and people drive fast! I was told that the number of campers went up with COVID, and your priorities of handling waste and trash are very good reminders.
- dagw 5y ago
  I was told that the number of campers went up with COVID I can anecdotally report that I have never seen so many campers driving around in the 'middle-of-nowhere' Sweden as I have this summer. I also have a friend who's a forest ranger in a nature reserve and he's been fucking furious all summer about all the campers just driving wherever they felt like it, blocking roads when they stopped for the evening and all the trash they left behind.
- sideshowb 5y ago
  I was told that the number of campers went up with COVID Interestingly I noticed no difference in busyness between this summer and my last trip there which was in 2019. Maybe I missed the busiest waves (Scottish kids are already back at school in August) but honestly the NW500 route and Skye were already victims of the success of their own promotion since before COVID.
- gpas 5y ago
  Here in Sardinia I've never seen so many vans, camper and motorhomes like this summer. People are scared of covid and that's the best way to practice social distancing without renouncing to a long awaited holiday. I think it's a great way to explore less mainstream places. The RV market (even for vintage caravans from the 80s) is going crazy.
teleforce 5y ago
I think the Goldilocks in terms of cost, mobility, reliability and convenient for camper would be based on conventional ute or pickup truck. This go (mostly) anywhere 4x4 vehicles can become converted camper without permanent modification to the vehicle that can be forbidden in certain countries, using the off-the-shelf camping kits supplied by company like ALU-Cab [1][2]. It can sleep maximum four persons and you can have your privacy inside the back of the pickup truck and inside the 'changing room' portable attachment for toilet, etc. There is also a tucked away place for containers at the top front of the truck that can be utilized as a huge litter bin. One of the linked videos is presented by the founder and the CEO of the company himself, which is kind of cool! And if you not using the truck for occasional camping activities, it can be easily return to normal pickup truck. [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxZ8SupkqfE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxZ8SupkqfE [2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7QDRyG2BA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7QDRyG2BA
- sideshowb 5y ago
  They do look cool - I guess I've never considered it because our side of the pond pickup trucks aren't very normal in the first place!
OldHand2018 5y ago
> Now I have a young family we've upgraded to a self converted peugeot boxer L3H2 This van is sold in the US as the RAM ProMaster. So basically about the same size as the Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit.

uptime 5y ago

Just coming back from two weeks in the Highlands and was very covetous of well fitted and kitted vans. Saw a lot of variety: young people with boards and bikes, families with full kitchens, etc. I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep and wake on some of those pullover spots. The most gorgeous landscapes anywhere. I give you all the credit for driving up there in a van - single track and people drive fast! I was told that the number of campers went up with COVID, and your priorities of handling waste and trash are very good reminders.

dagw 5y ago
I was told that the number of campers went up with COVID I can anecdotally report that I have never seen so many campers driving around in the 'middle-of-nowhere' Sweden as I have this summer. I also have a friend who's a forest ranger in a nature reserve and he's been fucking furious all summer about all the campers just driving wherever they felt like it, blocking roads when they stopped for the evening and all the trash they left behind.
sideshowb 5y ago
I was told that the number of campers went up with COVID Interestingly I noticed no difference in busyness between this summer and my last trip there which was in 2019. Maybe I missed the busiest waves (Scottish kids are already back at school in August) but honestly the NW500 route and Skye were already victims of the success of their own promotion since before COVID.
gpas 5y ago
Here in Sardinia I've never seen so many vans, camper and motorhomes like this summer. People are scared of covid and that's the best way to practice social distancing without renouncing to a long awaited holiday. I think it's a great way to explore less mainstream places. The RV market (even for vintage caravans from the 80s) is going crazy.

teleforce 5y ago

I think the Goldilocks in terms of cost, mobility, reliability and convenient for camper would be based on conventional ute or pickup truck. This go (mostly) anywhere 4x4 vehicles can become converted camper without permanent modification to the vehicle that can be forbidden in certain countries, using the off-the-shelf camping kits supplied by company like ALU-Cab [1][2]. It can sleep maximum four persons and you can have your privacy inside the back of the pickup truck and inside the 'changing room' portable attachment for toilet, etc. There is also a tucked away place for containers at the top front of the truck that can be utilized as a huge litter bin. One of the linked videos is presented by the founder and the CEO of the company himself, which is kind of cool! And if you not using the truck for occasional camping activities, it can be easily return to normal pickup truck. [1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxZ8SupkqfE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxZ8SupkqfE [2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7QDRyG2BA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE7QDRyG2BA

sideshowb 5y ago
They do look cool - I guess I've never considered it because our side of the pond pickup trucks aren't very normal in the first place!

OldHand2018 5y ago

> Now I have a young family we've upgraded to a self converted peugeot boxer L3H2 This van is sold in the US as the RAM ProMaster. So basically about the same size as the Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit.