Hi new to this part of the forums so please be gentle
My wife who works for Bentley motors is now eligible for a scheme car and they are offering a brand new
Vw campervan California SE model for £230 per month you only keep them for 6 months then have a new one
Well we've been tenting for 4 years now and would love this opportunity so apart from the obvious of bedding and outside furniture and an awning what else would we need to get started
Many thanks in advance
------------- April Peak District Beech Croft Farm
May Peak District Duke of York
May Holland Delfse Hout
June Cotton Arms Nantwich
july/aug Cornwall Pentewan Sands
And quite a few local weekenders
When we swapped our tent for a VW camper, we used most of the stuff we already had. Found or bought plastic crates to fit in the van to store the stuff. Use the same bedding, though I bought an undersheet to protect the upholstery. You will need to buy an electric kettle if you've not had EHU before. And a gas canister if you're going off site. Though we try to cook outside on a suitcase stove which stores in the back of the van.
Because of this, we don't take the slidy fix table in the van, but our old camping table which we can use outside or in. It stores behind the drivers seat. And we take our camping chairs, they travel on the floor and have to be moved if we sit inside.
We paid extra to have a Fiamma awning, but don't have any sides to it.
John in Leeds we can choose when we can have it and are planning well ahead so we have the cv march to October
Franbee we will have most of the camping gear already from tenting ie camping kettle fold up tables etc vaguely remember commenting on so of your camping posts so glad to see a familiar user
------------- April Peak District Beech Croft Farm
May Peak District Duke of York
May Holland Delfse Hout
June Cotton Arms Nantwich
july/aug Cornwall Pentewan Sands
And quite a few local weekenders
Apart from some new storage boxes the first thing we bought was some silver screens for the front. Though not essential they do cut out light and help with temperature regulation and condensation, but we use our van all year round and as this is not such a problem in the summer as it is in the winter, you may not want to bother.
The other things you'll need are an EHU (electric hook up) and, as been said, gas bottles that fit in the locker, though the van may come with these. I would add a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm and fire extinguisher if these are not already there.
So far as furniture is concerned we used our old camping chairs and table and carried them in the back on top of the bedding. We keep the tables & chairs outside when camping covered by a waterproof cover (a garden table cover) to keep them dry in case of rain, as there isn't really much room for them in the van when sleeping.
We have had a wind out awning fitted to all 3 of the vans we have owned as this gives you valuable extra space and shelter, but have never bothered with the sides etc. We did try a drive away awning but found this too faffy as it was back to putting up a tent again, when the beauty of the van is that you can get up and go in a short space of time.
Everything else was our old camping stuff, but less of it as you don't need the cooker, cool box etc. We don't bother with electric kettles, toasters etc. Just use the gas. This included a small gas BBQ for use outside when cooking fish or bacon etc as they can smell the van out.
My only other advice would be travel light, find a place for everything and always put it away (it's surprising the nooks and crannies you will find). That way you really can be up and away as the mood takes you and really enjoy the benefits of a van.
Apart from the excellent advice already given, I would wait until you've had the van for a while before getting too much extra to that which you already have from camping. After a trip or two you will be much better placed to know what you will need and what will fit in. Certainly wait to see what it comes with. I don't think you will need outside furniture as as far as I can remember the California comes with two outside chairs and a table slid in some compartment (in the rear hatch I think). And I would certainly go away a few times before deciding what sort of awning (if any) you might find the most useful (we toured in our old transit campervan for several years and never bothered once with the awning but there was only the two of us).
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: Vw campervan maybe
