In 2017 when we first decided to take the plunge and invest in our VW Campervan Nelson, little did we know how it would change our lives. Join us as we look at:
Essential accesories to get started
We had always held a long term goal of buying a VW Campervan when we retired, but when both our children had gone off to university, we decided that now was the time, why wait? We took the plunge in late 2017 and bought a nearly new VW T6 Highline Kombi and had it converted to our own specifications by Nick at Autobarn Conversions in Stoke on Trent. Nelson was ready for our first trip in February 2018.
Top reasons to buy a VW Campervan
Curb appeal. Let’s be completely honest - VW campers are iconic. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the VW club? Once you have started to consider a Campervan, not many of us can resist a peek when a shiny new VW transporter cruises past! Their image promises fun, spontaneous adventures and that’s exactly what we got when we purchased our beloved Nelson.
VW heritage. When we think of Campervan, we inevitably conjure up images of the classic split-screen buses of the past sitting beside golden beaches- or is that just me? VW have a 70 year history of producing their transporter line- from the original air cooled, rear engined splitty T1, to the T4 which had it’s engine moved up front, to the modern day T6.1 with an eco Euro 6 engine. The VW brand is synonymous with Campervans and for good reason. Anything less could be seen as a compromise.
VW quality and performance. VW is known for its quality vehicles. VW transporter vans are reliable, safe and have a workhorse reputation making them ideal for conversion. The transporter base van offers industrial standards of performance. These vans are expected to cope with heavy loads and high mileage over many years- 200K+ is not an unusual mileage for a well maintained transporter. Conversions carried out by a reputable company will mean that the high quality will continue through to the Campervan finish as well. The latest news is that the Transporter T6.1 has just received the top Gold medal from Euro NCAP tests of automated driving technologies and the Safety Assist Performance of 19 commercial vehicle vans.
Freedom & flexibility- Having a VW campervan will give you the freedom to go where you like, when you like. No need to worry about researching and booking accommodation, you can just take off and either plan on the road or just see where your journey takes you. As campervans are much more compact than their motorhome counterparts, you can get away with parking up wherever takes your fancy and just enjoy what’s around you. They can be easily parked in standard parking spaces in public car parks, so no need to worry about whether it’ll fit! Similarly, a Campervan offers the combined facilities needed for a day trip, a weekend away, a longer holiday or an extended expedition. Having your home on your back allows the freedom to pull over and set up camp at stunning locations (local laws permitting), unrestricted by the availability of campsites.
Getting away quickly and easily. The great thing about campervans over camping or caravanning is that they are the easy option for impromptu getaways. They have facilities onboard, such as the cooking and storage spaces, so you’ll have less things to pack and will be able to get away quicker and with less planning. Our van is pretty much ready to go at a moments notice. If we were really pushed, we could probably get away with 20 minutes of packing for a week or more away. This flexibility will enable you to have more breaks away, with less hassle. Friday nights become a joy, get home from work, pack the van, get on the road to a new exciting place.
The size of the VW T6. They’re compact - much smaller than motorhomes - more akin to a large family car- but with so much more adventure potential! Campervans are easy to drive and park when out and about, in fact, their elevated driving position gives a much more relaxed driving experience than many cars. They’re also easy to store as it will fit in a garage or on a small driveway, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding space for it.
Daily drive. I use our van as my daily drive. Whilst it may not offer the best fuel consumption on short daily commutes, it does offer a driving experience that brings joy to my daily commute. Our Campervan is my little sanctuary, offering a link to so many happy memories when I am behind the wheel.
Versatility- a Campervan is more than a holiday experience. It can be an easy driveway stay-over option when visiting friends, it is a spare room for family visiting at Christmas and it is a private cafe on wheels when out and about. The versatility that a Campervan offers is only limited by your own imagination.
Pre-conversion models and style options. There are plenty of models and options to choose from with VW campervans. The VW Transporter van trim choices are Startline, Trendline and Highline and the names say it all. The Startline has a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electric front windows, electric heated door mirrors and single front passenger seat. Trendline models have various added extras such as parking sensors, bluetooth phone connection, cruise control and body coloured bumpers. Highline also offers an upgraded alarm system, leather steering wheel and gear knob, upgraded air con system and front fog lights. In addition to the popular standard panel van, there is also a Kombi van option. This is what we used as a the base van for our conversion. It offers factory windows and a tailgate as standard, as well as captains chairs upfront and a modest set of commercial alloy wheels. The additional cost of the base van was compensated by the reduced conversion costs of these key features.
Conversion and bespoke personalisation. A retired couple using their campervan for travelling may well want something different to a family of 4 who use theirs on weekends. Deciding what is important in your campervan is the first step to figuring out the design that will work best for you. Everyone has different tastes. Imagine buying a campervan because the layout is perfect but you aren’t impressed with the colour choice? This is where the perks of a bespoke build really come in. There is a huge amount of choice when it comes to pop-top canvas colours, kitchen units, floorings and so much more! The options are endless and we will explore these later in this article. Being able to build up your own design and pick exactly what you want makes your campervan completely unique to you.
Long term investment. The Volkswagen Transporter has always been positioned as a premium brand. That means it usually costs more to buy in the first place. To be really honest, for the same price as a new(ish) VW Transporter camper you can get a really good specification motorhome with more space, but it won’t be based on a Volkswagen Transporter and will obviously be a much bulkier proposition. When you factor in the savings of not having to own a separate car as the van can be used as your daily drive, the relative cost comes down to a more reasonable level. The great news is that the popularity of the VW Transporter means your camper will have lower levels of depreciation, and will always be in demand if you ever decide to sell.
Luxury camping. Let's make no bones about it, living in a campervan does not offer a hotel standard luxury. Likewise, a campervan does not come close to the home from home feel of a modern motor home with a private bathroom. We however like to view life in our campervan as a luxury form of camping, with all the benefits of home- standard kitchen, fridge, power, warmth, dryness and overall comfort. It really is possible to camp all year around in a campervan, with each season offering unique challenges and benefits.
VW community. One of the main reason for making the VW Transporter camper the most desirable is the incredible community of fans you will become a member of. Don’t be surprised to have other VW Transporter campers give you a wave when you’re on the road. It’s all part of the appeal. The VW community is a massive draw for many people with campervans and you’ll probably find a surprising number of meet ups in your local area. With weekend meet ups, shows and festivals becoming a regular thing, you’ll find your social calendar could be busy and it’s a great way to meet like-minded friends.
Explore closer to home. A campervan is a great way to get out and about and explore more of our home country. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you taking your campervan on a ferry and going abroad, but for those shorter trips it’s a great way to see more of what you have on your doorstep. Many of us travel far and wide but all too often forget to explore all the beautiful places close to home. Having a campervan is the perfect excuse to get out into the great outdoors and do stuff.
Holiday costs. This is a rather obvious point, but camping in the van does make for an affordable holiday. During peak times, self catering accommodation in popular tourist destinations can be £1500-£2000 per week. Weekend breaks at modest hotels can easily be £100+ per night. If you’re staying on a campsite you’ll pay around £20-40 a night. Then there’s a small expense for food, fuel and activities but if you’re on a budget you could easily keep these costs very low. Staying in the van on a good campsite get you a guaranteed comfy bed, and literally your home from home.
Miles per gallon cost vs Motorhomes. Our Transporter T6 150bhp manual has an official rating of 44.8–47.1 mpg, although the real life research on Honest Johns Vans suggests a more realistic 33.7mpg. What we do know is that with its commercial heritage, the Transporter loves long haul journeys on the motorway, comfortably getting 500 miles upwards from a tank of diesel. In comparison, most motorhome users are suggesting somewhere in the region of 25-27mpg at best, with some of the bigger vans dropping to a staggering 10-12mpg.
Convinced? Top tips for buying a VW Campervan
New vs pre owned. The cost of VW Campervans is high, however so is the quality. We never considered buying a new van- it was just too expensive. In the end, we sourced a low mileage, 9 month old ex-demonstrator van from a VW dealership with about 15K on the clock. We know of people who have successfully sourced and converted ex-builders vans with high mileage to keep within their budget and realise their dreams of owning a Campervan.
Conversion vs VW California option- we looked at the potential of buying a VW California, but it was just far too expensive. For about half the price of a new California, we had a quality, nearly new van converted to our exact requirements that is unique to us. For us, the bespoke nature of Nelson is far more appealing than the standardised specifications of the California. On a positive note for the California, their resale value is unreal, with rumours of people actually making money upon reselling their vans.
Ready converted vs pre conversion. There are some absolutely beautiful vans out there in a miriad of different styles. You may be lucky in finding a pre-converted van that exactly meets your needs, if not, you have the option of having one converted yourself. Having looked around a range of different conversion companies, we felt that the options lists were actually quite restrictive in terms of the things that were offered. Furniture colour, interior fabric, etc all feel rather superficial variants. If you have very specific design ideas about your ideal van, we found that it was best to go to a more independent, bespoke converter that will build exactly to your requirements. We wanted such things as a block wood worktop, internal gas system, underslung water tanks and specialist seat upholstery that larger conversion companies struggled to provide in their set packages.
Base van specifications. Think carefully about the various specification options of your base van. It is likely that you will be spending a lot of time driving the van. The specification needs to meet your comfort requirements. I know that for us, it was essential to have a passenger captains chair as opposed to the bench seat option, as it offers so much more comfort on long journeys. How essential are things such as aircon? Sometimes it is too easy to dismiss this with the thought that you can open the windows, but this might not help if you are planning on traveling in Europe in the summer and the van temperature is 30 degrees +.
Research in advance. While virtual tours, videos and magazine reviews are a great place to start, inspecting a campervan in the metal, so to speak, is so important. Visit dealers and a show or two where there will be a range of models to view and review, as well as potential bargains to be had.
Must haves vs desirable. Write out two list- a must haves and a desirables. Must haves considerations include the layout of the van, the number of berths, travel seats, tailgate/barndoors preferences, aircon, transmission, engine size, wheelbase, etc.
Hire first. To double check that a campervan is right for you and your lifestyle. There are many people who purchase campervans and then realise that it is not quite right for them. Perhaps they wanted more room, or fixed beds, or a bathroom. A campervan is an expensive purchase to make as a mistake.
Buy at the right time. Post COVID, there doesn’t really seem to be the right time to buy. There remains an insatiable thirst for campervans and the prospect of endless staycations. Prices have rocketed, on both base vans and conversions. There are however always bargains to be had, and we do feel that the used market will recover as COVID travel restrictions relax and people return to more normal holiday habits. There may even be some real bargains out there as people liquidate their vans that they purchased on a whim.
Questions. No question is a silly question. Ask as many people as possible about your options. One thing about VW enthusiasts is that they love to talk about vans…a lot! There are a number of online VW forums and campervan groups that have people waiting to offer advice and guidance.
Used van checks. It’s particularly important to do all the necessary checks if you’re buying secondhand. You can check VINs and registration numbers match up on gov.uk which gives basic vehicle info. If you’re not technically minded then take along a mechanic or get the vehicle checked by companies like the AA and RAC. There are also companies that will check the living quarters for you.Make sure the campervan has a full service history and all the manuals for the various components in the van (campervans are complicated and all the major appliances will come with their own manual).
16 essential components of a Campervan conversion
Poptop roof and bed options. When we had our van converted, there were very few pop top options to choose from. We decided to stay away from the low profile options as they looked a little lightweight for our needs and seemed to lack durability in the long term. As a couple, we never intended to use the pop top as a bed- instead preferring to sleep down stairs. We did however want the pop top roof as a way of increasing the headlight in the van when camping and also as a valuable, secure storage area for all of our stuff when at a camp site. We chose a split bed-board option as opposed to the elevating bed configuration. This simple solution enabled us permanent access to storage space whilst maintaining the head height to stand up in the van. Thinking about the canvas tent options, we only had choices over the colour. Modern designs now have scenic canvas options that allow the tend area to be fully open. Given the choice, we would stick with what we went for, as it is a much simpler design with less things to go wrong. The prospect to zips breaking and the pop top being rendered unusable does not bare thinking about.
Solar power. If you intend to camp off grid for any length of time, that is camping away from any electric hook up points, you definitely need some way to regenerate your 12v battery supply. Of course, this can be done by the engine if you are driving each day, but if your journeys are short, or you are staying put for a few days, then you need another viable charging option. We initially went for a micro-thin, flexible solar panel option and it never really met our needs. We later found out that one of the common issues with these flexible panels that are bonded directly to the roof is that they are susceptibility to residual heat. On hot days, the van roof gets hot (!). This tempeature increase severely inhibits the efficiency of solar panels. After a few frustrating years of questing what power we were actually getting from our panel, we swapped it out for a rigid panel. Rigid panels do not look as pretty, and cannot really be hidden, but the transformation was unbelievable. Even on overcast days, we manage to draw power down to the batteries. In effect, we are now pretty self sufficient for 12v power and could off grid indefinitely in all but the darkest winter months.
12v explained. One of the most important things to understand, and get right about your campervan is the power systems. When we bought our van, we naively thought that just because there were 240v plugs, that they could be used at any time…how wrong could we have been. Put simply, campervans have two energy systems- 12v leisure batteries and 240v hookup. When you are hooked up using a power cable to the mains supply at a campsite, your campervan works just like home. In effect, all the sockets are extensions from the mains hookup. When the campervan is not hooked up, everything electrical runs off the 12v leisure batteries. Unless you have an inverter (which we don’t), the 240v sockets become obsolete. The lights, the USB sockets and the fridge all take power from the leisure batteries. Of course, the capacity of the batteries are limited and eventually you will either run out of power, or need to recharge the batteries in some way.
Leisure batteries and charging options. There are a number of ways to keep your leisure batteries topped up and ready to use. The simplest way is using a battery to battery charger linked to the van engine. Whenever the engine is running, the B2B charger takes surplus energy from the engine and recharges the leisure batteries. This is a little more complex than is used to be, as the T6 engine now has a smart alternator, which in turn requires as smart B2B charger, but conversion specialists will be able to talk you through this. We also have the option of charging via solar panels, a great option in the summer, not so great in the winter when the sun is low and rarely makes an appearance. Another option that we added to our van was a smart charger. This is a battery charger that works from the 240v hookup, so whenever we are hooked up, the battery is getting a very sophisticated charge. We can monitor this and the overall battery health via bluetooth on our phones. It is a nifty bit of kit, and is probably the best way to ensure that you are getting the very best out of your leisure batteries.
Electric Hook Up (EHU). For some people this may seem like an unnecessary luxury, for others it is an absolute essential. Our power needs on the road are very modest. Most of our devises can be charged via the 12v system, with the exception of laptops and camera batteries. At a push, we could, and do charge these devises in cafe/pubs/etc. However, we do have an EHU facility for the convenience of when we are on campsites. It makes things so much easier and takes a significant strain off the 12v system when hooked up. We have a system that automatically powers our fridge from the 240v system when on EHU- which is a real bonus when in hot climates and the fridge needs all the power it can get to keep things cool. Be warned- this is not a standard spec- you have to request it as an upgrade.
Windows & blinds. We count ourselves very lucky to have had a Kombi as a base van. This came with factory fitted side windows and tailgate window. These look great, are absolutely reliable and a significant improvement on after market windows. For us however, the most significant investment was with professionally fitted, thermal blackout vanshades. There are expensive, but they are so efficient in keeping heat out in the summer and in in the winter. They are fully blackout, so they absolutely guarantee privacy on a night. In addition, they are minimal in design, require no cleaning and just do what they are meant to do really well. Thoroughly recommended as a van upgrade.
Water storage. In many self converted van, the water option is a jerry can system under the sink that links to the sink tap. This is simple and cheap, but does take up a lot of the valuable storage space in cupboards. We opted for an underslung water tank, to maximise our storage capacity within the van. So far, we have never had our water system freeze in winter, which is a common complain with underslung tanks, so I guess we are lucky. We were horrified that the tank required a filling valve to be cut into the side of the van, but it has worked ok over the last 4 years, and is not too much of a compromise on style versus practicality.
Interior lights. We went way OTT on our LED light requirements- requesting far too many LED spotlights. In reality on a daily basis, we only use the lights that are above the kitchen area, supplemented with various battery powered fairy lights around the van. The one thing that we do not regret however is requesting a reading spotlight in both the front cab and also above the bed. This allows us both to do our own thing, in our own space, with our own light without having to bother each other.
LPG Gas. Most campervans need a gas supply to cook. Again looking for more efficient storage options, we opted for an underslung, refillable LPG tank, as opposed to the traditional gas bottle and locker option inside the van. For us, it feels a little safer to have the gas tank outside the van- irrational I know! However, more economically, once the purchase price of the task is taken into consideration, top ups are dirt cheap and readily available from the petrol station forecourt. In addition, we also use LPG for our main heating source- see below. For us, our LPG supply seems to last forever and costs a pittance, despite using the heater throughout all of our winter trips.
Heaters. If you are serious about using your campervan all year round- which you should be- you will need a good heat source. If you intend to stick entirely to campsites in the winter months, many people use the EHU to fire up some type of electric heater or oil filled radiator. We are reliably informed that these keep the van toasty. However, if you intend to be away from EHU, you need an on board heating option- these comprise of diesel and gas heaters, and the price varies tremendously. Diesel heaters either hook into your van’s fuel tank, or have a separate diesel tank. They range in price from £100 for a cheap Chinese import, to the top-end Webasto at around £1000. We went for the LPG option- see above- with the Propex Heatsource HS2000 12v LPG Gas Blown Air Heater at about £500.
Fridge. An absolute essential in our eyes and not an item to scrimp and save on. An energy efficient and well insulated fridge is an expensive purchase, but well worth the investment. The luxury of ice cream, chilled drinks and food in the summer is a worthy investment. One thing to note, is no matter what brand you purchase, it will never match the performance of a domestic fridge at home. When off grid, your fridge will be the major drain on your 12v battery power, and will soon work it’s way through your battery bank unless you have a way of topping up that energy (see above). Top tips for efficiency include chilling the fridge down before a trip using the EHU at home, always keep the fridge full to run at an optimum, switch it off at night to preserve power and never run it on full power unless on EHU.
Insulation & sound proofing. Probably the most underrated, and often ignored aspect of a van conversion, but actually the foundation of which all van conversions should be built. Base panel vans are basically pretty metal boxes- that are freezing cold in winter and boiling hot in summer. It is absolutely essential that when looking at a van conversion that the insulation is sufficient for your needs. Similarly, driving a panel van without a bulkhead (separating the cab area from the rear) is a noisy, rattly experience. You do not want this in your campervan, so an often neglected option is to add sound deadening materials to those drum like metal panels around the van. You will never see this addition, but you will certainly hear the difference when driving. It is important to note that these two things are often areas that unscrupulous, or budget conversion companies often scrimp on when building their campervans. If buying a ready converted van, always ask the question about the level of insulation and sound proofing in the van.
TV/entertainment. To be honest, we are not massive fans of TV or other digital entertainment in the campervan, as the van affords us the opportunity to get away from all of that noise of everyday life. However, there are times when the weather has broken, and we find ourselves van-bound riding out a storm, that the appeal of a box set can be quite attractive. We purposely have no fixed TV in our campervan, but rely on with laptops or and iPad for watching TV. We tether these devices to our mobile phones and the solution works well for us. The benefit of the iPad over the laptop is simply that the iPad can easily be charged via the 12v system, whereas the laptops require a mains supply (which is the real pain of laptops in a campervan!)
Awning options. Some sort of awning to increase the living space of a campervan is a real benefit, but this needs to be a choice based purely on individual needs. The options range from tent like, drive away awnings, to wind-out devices attached to van permanently, to simple flysheets that keep the rain and sun off. As we predominately tour in our van, and rarely stay in one place for more than a few days, we opted for the simple (and cheap) flysheet option. This attaches to the van via a awning rail, and can be pegged out in a variety of ways. It is quick, simple, easy to store and has never let us down.
Tables. Most campervan conversions come with a removable indoor table that attaches to a rail system in the van. These look lovely, and are really quite useful when living in the van. They are however limited in their use, and over time we realised that we would prefer a multi-use table that can be used both inside and outside the van. This is particularly important in the summer when we try to eat outside as much as possible. Our solution is a cheap, fold down camping table from Aldi that we can set up inside the van, but can also be used outside and only takes up the same space as the original table that came with our conversion. In winter, we revert back to this table as we inevitably spend much of our time eating on the van.
Swivel front seats. As we have captain seats in the front of the van, we opted for a swivel seat base for the passenger seat. For us, as a couple it offers a quick and easy solution for an additional seating space that really opens up the vans living area when we are stationary. We didn’t feel the need for the same option with the drivers seat, as there are only ever two of us in the van and it is also a more complex arrangement as the handbrake position needs to be amended. For the passenger seat base, we opted for the slightly more expensive option that included a security safe. This has proved invaluable as a safe space to keep our travel documentation, passports and laptops when we are on the road.
Essential accessories to get started
Cab Thermal Blinds. Not only are cab blinds needed for privacy on an evening, but they are absolutely essential for keeping the van warm in winter and cool in the summer. We are currently on our second set of Rainbow external blinds after over 400 nights away. External blinds fit outside the cab, fully encasing the 3 window and are secured by the doors and wing mirror attachment. They certainly insulate and are 100% blackout, which is also of benefit in the light summer months. The only issue with external blinds are that when they are wet, they have to be stored somewhere in the van and they are also susceptible to storm force winds and can blow partially off. After a few sleepless windy nights in northern Scotland, we purchased a cheap set of internal blinds for when the wind gets up and we don’t want to risk the exterior blinds. These attach to the inside of the windows by suction cups and are a thin reflective material. They sort of work, but struggle to get a full blackout and the van is noticeably colder in a morning when we use the.
Bike carrier. A pricy option, but definitely one to consider if you use bikes. We also think that it makes the van look more like a Campervan than a plain works van! The genuine VW carrier is by far the best in terms of construction and looks, but is also the most expensive. The bike rack carries up to 4 full size bikes, benefitting from locking mechanisms for each individual bike. Be warned however, as you will also need to purchase and fit more robust gas struts to the tailgate to cope with the extra weight. We sourced all of this ourselves as the quote from the VW dealership garage was daylight robbery. Check YouTube for how to fit the gas struts in 5 minutes.
Cooking gear. We purchased a set of Tefal stacking nonstick pans and they are still going strong after 400+ nights- they are better than some of the pans we use at home. We bought a cheap stove top, whistling kettle that is a little battered and bruised, but still makes a cracking brew. Apart from that, we made sure that we had a chefs knife, small chopping board, collapsible colander, and anything else you would use in a normal domestic kitchen.
Coffee making. For us, this remains the holy grail of vanlife and to be honest is a constant compromise against our coffee options at home. We just cannot find a way to brew our favourite, strong black coffee with a rich crema when in the van. When in the UK, we tend to rely on ground coffee in a cafetière to give us our fresh brew morning hit. When on the road in Europe, where the coffee grind is much finer, we use a stove top coffee maker, which does produce a ridiculous strong espresso brew that knocks your socks off. I guess for some people this may not be an issue and in reality we just need to accept that it is a small compromise for life on the road.
Lights. One of the easiest way to preserve leisure battery life in a Campervan is to have a good range of battery mood lighting. This can be LED strips, fairy lights or anything else out of the Christmas lighting basket! Not only does it save power, it softens the light in the Campervan and makes it super cosy on a dark winters night.
Non-slip liners for cupboards. A cheap and often neglected upgrade is nonslip silicone matting for the inside of cupboards and drawers. This is such a cheap upgrade that can be bought on a roll and cut to size. It makes a huge difference to the rattles and bangs when driving. The last thing you want to hear when you have to break heavily is all your crockery shunting to the front of a cupboard.
Smoke/CO detectors. The fear of cooking on gas in a glorified confined tin box should be more than enough to convince anyone to get a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm in their van. These cost about £10. Enough said.
Fire Extinguisher. We bought a small fire extinguisher that we have mounted just inside the side door of our van, and also have a fire blanket close to hand when we are cooking. Better to be safe than sorry.
BBQ. Jackie was born in South Africa, and so as a family we love our Braii’s. For the sake of ease, flexibility and storage space, we have a Cadac Safari Chef 2 gas BBQ system that weather permitting, we use all the time. It allows us to hook into our onboard LPG tank and be cooking within minutes of parking up. In addition to the BBQ and hotplate options, it also doubles as an outdoor hob and has a pizza stone that provides an oven type option in a Campervan!
Camp fire. One of the best things about a Campervan is the opportunity to sit around a campfire at the end of the day as the sun is setting. It is sooooo irresponsible to set campfires on the ground as it causes irreparable damage to our wild camping spots. Leave no trace! The most compact solution we have come across is a cheap, foldaway campfire that suspends the fire on a gauze grid above the floor. It burns incredibly hot, leaving very little as to clear up and cools quickly so is ideal to take to the beach at sunset.
Duvalay. We always sleep on the rock and roll downstairs bed in our van. One of the top tips that we received from day 1 of ownership was to invest in a memory foam mattress topper for the bed. We decided to go for the very best in a custom sized Duvalay topper. This upgrade makes the bed so comfy, keeps us super warm at night and allows us to roll up our entire bed set up to be stored behind the R&R bed when travelling. We find that we sleep better in our van than at home and this is probably due to this one upgrade.
Bedding. We want the comfort of home so have never considered sleeping bags as an option. We have a range of different duvets that we use throughout the year. In the depths of winter in -5 temperatures, we have never needed more than a winter weight duvet and a blanket. Similarly, we don’t scrimp on pillows- our van is a temporary home so why compromise on comfort.
Carpets. The base transporter van is very industrially styled and does not come with cab carpets. There are many companies out there that produce fitted cab carpets for a range of different cab configurations. They are a great option to soften the feel of the cab and to keep the van clean. We have never used carpets in the back of the van, as they would just get too dirty. We admire people who can keep them clean- we are just not that sort of couple that can do that!
Duct board. We pinched this idea from a very organised Swiss campsite that we visited who used duct boards to help keep mud and dirt out of vans and tents during a wet summer season. I don’t know where you can buy these from, but we were lucky enough to be gifted one that my carpenter father made years ago. In winter, it goes with us all the time.
Table and chairs. In the warmer months, we try to spend as much time outside as possible. We have used possible every design of camping chair imaginable and have managed to destroy them all within a season, with one notable (and expensive) option- the Helinox Chair 2, which we absolutely love.
EHU cable and socket converters. If you want to use your EHU, you need an extension cable to get the power from the socket to the van. The advice that we received was go for a 25m cable as it will cover most possibilities. If you are planning on camping in Europe, you will probably need the 25m capacity on a few occasions, but rarely have we needed more than 10m. In addition, it is useful to have a UK socket converter so that you can hook up at home to look after your batteries. In addition, if you are planning on going into Europe, you may want to invest in a legacy socket converter that some of the European campsites still run with.
Water tanks. As we have an underslung water tank, we need a reliable way of refilling the tank with fresh water. I never really trusted the advice to carry a hose and a range of tap adapters to do this and just went for the simple solution- a 10L collapsable jerry can and a mechanics funnel. It works every time and it has never let us down.
LPG filling valve adapters. It will come as no surprise that LPG is refilled in different ways around Europe. If you are going away, make sure you have the correct adapters with you.
Storage Boxes. Simple storage boxes with lids that fit in your cupboards and on your shelves really make storage in the van so much easier. In small places, a sense of order to where things live are essential for an easier life on the road.
Picnic blanket. A simple blanket, with a water resistant base comes in so handy for days out, general life on campsites and for the obvious trips to the beach.
Extremely good article. We are thinking of buying a vw camper and this article has been very helpful. Well done for sharing your experience.
Can I ask - does Nelson have a porta-loo or similar?
Definitely the best decision we ever made getting Nelson. We are nearly on 500 nights now!