Thanks for the information about tax and insurance, very useful.
Jimsmimm - That box on the back of your Bongo, looks useful storage for lots of stuff, bedding, luggage, small children....I have seen these on the internet (Thule), would you recommend it? Are there other makes? Could you fit the awning in it?
its a fiamma box...it fits on the fiamma bike rack..unfortunately once its fitted you cant carry bikes and when its full you cant open the rear door....I sold it with the bongo...to be honest for the price of the rack and the box you could have a tow bar fitted and buy a trailer which is far more usefull and will carry more...but then I've fitted a fiamma bike rack and a towbar to my last two vans so what do I know.. ,,,,(but I never bought another box)
I agree about the back box for all the reasons above. Ours is gathering dust in the garage. We use the rack now for bikes, and I wouldn't be without our trailer!
Quote: Originally posted by danboyfat on 19/5/2011
Quote: Originally posted by jimsmimm on 19/5/2011
an hour spent putting up an awning and stuff every time you stopped and the same again each morning before you left soon became very wearing....
Agreed, instead we got a Quechua pop up full height tent - pitched or packed away in seconds and it fulfills all the functions of an awning. The best bit of kit going.
I use a Quechua with my Bongo :) we are a family of 5, lol but we obviously do need to use the awning plus small tent set up every time unless its just me and the kids and we can just about fit inside bongo with no need for awning
but the pop up versatility is great! Only snag is putting down in the wet, you get soaked cos you have to kneel on it to pack it!
I think we'll see how we get on with the van before we decide what extra storage we will start attaching to it, always good idea to know what options are about though.
Looking at the price of the back box set up, you don't get a huge amount of storage for your £, considering you can have a tow bar fitted and buy a trailer for not much more, but as I said before I want to get away from dragging the trailer about.
This is the drawback to our large tent set up, it takes so long to set up camp you feel obliged to remain in the same location for a week or so, we want to be able to pitch up in half an hour or so, stay for a couple of days and then move on.
The Campervan tent looks great fun, can see it being a hit at festivals and such, I have camped in some pretty rough conditions in the past and not sure that I would trust it on an exposed Norfolk coastal location, or a couple of weeks in the Yorkshire Dales.
Quote: Originally posted by mikeandangiem on 20/5/2011
This is the drawback to our large tent set up, it takes so long to set up camp you feel obliged to remain in the same location for a week or so, we want to be able to pitch up in half an hour or so, stay for a couple of days and then move on.
We take most of our hols in France and pitching a tent after a long drive wasnt something we enjoyed. In fact it was probably the biggest motivation for getting a campervan - arriving on site and lugging canvas around for an hour before settling down, We'd watc campervans arriving and people being set up, wine on table, five minutes flat!
.....didnt want the same problem with a campervan awning, hence the pop up. Uber convenient.
We take most of our hols in France and pitching a tent after a long drive wasnt something we enjoyed. In fact it was probably the biggest motivation for getting a campervan - arriving on site and lugging canvas around for an hour before settling down, We'd watc campervans arriving and people being set up, wine on table, five minutes flat!
Quote: Originally posted by mikeandangiem on 20/5/2011
The Campervan tent looks great fun, can see it being a hit at festivals and such, I have camped in some pretty rough conditions in the past and not sure that I would trust it on an exposed Norfolk coastal location, or a couple of weeks in the Yorkshire Dales.
We used a Quechua pop-up in the Hebrides for a couple of weeks in terrible weather.
Other tents were collapsing all around us but the Quechua (despite blowing about a bit) was great.
We also have a jap import and have had four years of trouble free motoring; no mot failures, cheap insurance, easy to get spares etc.
We are a family of four with a Bongo and have no problems regarding space and touring, I guess we travel light
A campervan is very personal - what suits one person or family my be impractical for the next.
Look at as many vans as you can before you choose.
Hi-another option is an awning that is quick to put up & down. We are under no illusions that 4 of us in the Granvia is going to be terribly spacious- however from previous experiences we have learned to pack light and "decant" stuff like food/drink into small containers and you would be surprised how little you actually wear on a camping trip-don't mean that in a rude way but I seem to remember the first time we went away in the T25 I actually packed a dress!
(BTW should explain at this point, despite my forum name I am actually a girly!!!)
We have had Khyam awnings which have the quick-erect system (oo-er) that are up in 10 mins or so, and more importantly, down in less (from experience they aren't the best in a really bad storm).
The thing for me though, is I hate packing and unpacking and love travelling light-camping for me is to sightsee, walk, climb, go down the pub-I hate wasting precious time faffing round with belongings so haven't been the happiest tent camper-so long as there is enough room for 4 to sleep and adequate storage I am happy. Any van conversion-be it VW, Toyota, Mercedes,Mazda, whatever-is going to be limited on space. After that it is a coachbuilt or a LWB which (for us) limited the van's use as a second car.
I would echo the remark above, look around before you buy- there are good conversions out there which might suit you better from Ford, Mercedes etc! not just Toyota or VW.
Quote: Originally posted by Camperman69 on 22/5/2011
but I seem to remember the first time we went away in the T25 I actually packed a dress!
(BTW should explain at this point, despite my forum name I am actually a girly!!!)
Good idea, will leave the dress at home in future.............will ask my wife to do the same
Actually to be honest I've never take a dress camping,.......... well not since my days in the Venture Scouts, seem to remember back then it was part of the standard kit
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: Toyota or VW ?
,,,,(but I never bought another box)
but I seem to remember the first time we went away in the T25 I actually packed a dress!
