Hi everyone! We bought our first campervan over the weekend! It's a converted 2005 Toyota Alphard. We're really looking forward to getting away in it and starting to see more of our beautiful country. Appreciate any tips and advice for newbies!
Based on my own experience, I would advise having a short starter trip somewhere close to home so that you could iron out any issues, or even go home in case of anything drastic.
I like to make lists such as packing and shopping lists, and to carry an emergency kit for the likes of duct tape, spare fuses, light bulbs, straps, batteries for smoke/CO alarms etc., etc...
Wishing you many happy camping trips ahead.
DK
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We all know that space is at a premium, and we all take great delight when finding room for yet another item of equipment from the "Must Take" list.
However, just remember... everything has a weight, and your lovely new camper has limits. (Usually found on a plate under the bonnet).
Load up, and pop to the local scrap yard/public weigh bridge, and make sure everything is within limits.
Most public weighbridges charge around £10-£15 for the service (I believe?), and offer a printout of the results.
I go to a local scrap yard, and get the figures scribbled on a scrap bit of paper. They charge a packet of biscuits!
For clarity, any sort of actual printout/paperwork is NOT a legal requirement. This is merely to satisfy yourself that you are legal, before you set off.
Don't forget to include (the weight of) all/any persons likely to be travelling.
If it's not on board at the weighbridge...
Water weighs 1kg per litre.
Diesel is a tad lighter, at 0.832kg/litre.
Now, this all sounds rather nerdy of course, which it is.
We all know the chances of getting pulled over by the VWG (Vehicle Weighing Gestapo!), is virtually nil.
The chances of being in a prang caused by someone else is, however, possibly a little higher.
I've no personal experience of an inssurance company wanting to check your weights to try and dodge a payout, but I'd imagine they must get tempted!
Literally this very morning, we saw a VW camper with a pop top on the M1.
We saw it pop open... at c. 60mph.
Now, the driver didn't lose control. Nobody died.
We passed as they pulled over to safety.
It did, however, look like the big hinge thing (struts?) had snapped. There was some bending and twisting. The front edge was about 2ft higher than it should have been when travelling.
I can only assume it would cost a bit to put right.
Based on our experience buying a 1993 Auto-Sleeper Clubman in 2003, if you bought privately, get a Habitation Service done or get it checked by a gas engineer. We found that our gas fire flue was blocked by a birds nest, the gas pipe to the cooker was perished & the 3-way fridge gas element was corroded & goosed. We replaced the elderly CO alarm after that too.
Ignore all the above if you bought from a dealer & have the certificate for a gas service or a fairly recent habitation check.
Then enjoy! that first trip especially will be very exciting. (It took us several days to work out how the water heating worked.)
If you have specific queries, they might have been asked already, if you search the forum.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: So we took the plunge
via mobile 21/7/2025 at 10:29pm
