After caravanning with the kids (now much older), we (wife and I) are looking to make a return to camping. We have been toying with the idea of a Motorhome/Camper for ages and we have the opportunity to pick up a T5 at a really good price via a friend of a friend
The van conversions appeal to us more than say a coachbuilt due to their agility. Having a drive away awning and then having a vehicle for trips and supermarket runs whilst away as well as something we can keep on the drive is a massive pull. I know the compromise is space and facilities.
Use will be mainly weekends away in the UK but longer term would like to take abroad to Europe. The idea is that we will stay on mostly full serviced pitches but would like to explore the area around the site location which may be further afield than a bike ride but we have friends who still rally and would like to go to a couple of these also, so will be times when we are off grid albeit only occasionally.
So for those with similar vehicles is there enough room for two people and two smallish dogs - they will probably stay at home for the longer stuff
Biggest issue for us is What do you do for a toilet? - any tips
Anything else that would help with the enjoyment and provide a little more space/comfort over and above drive away awnings.
No toilet in the van, then. Toilet tent with portapotti. And / or always stay on sites with toilets.
The van will be big enough if you’re neat & tidy.
When I was younger, my family went away in VW Devon conversion with a pop top: 2 parents, 2 grown girls, 1 Border Terrier. We slept up in the roof on bunks. No toilet - can’t remember what we did but we stayed on sites with toilets or with friends & relatives on their driveways but using their facilities.
I have seen a toilet tent being used for housing a toilet with T5 and similar van conversions.
A drive away awning would definitely help to provide extra living space.
I have seen conversions with a portable toilet that can be tucked away when not in use.
I too would advice to stay at sites with toilets, so that the portable toilet is for emergencies only late at night etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We are on our second pop top VW campervan, we had the first for 11 years. The first one had no toilet, though we had an option of a portable under the bed. We just stayed at sites with toilets, or stopped off en route.
We never had a driveaway awning either. OH sometimes puts up a small tent to use as storage when he goes on hobby weekends.
With a campervan you develop a different mindset. Instead of pitching at 1 site and travelling out and back every day, you move on to the next site. This especially in Europe.
The 'van is our second car, lives on the drive and OH takes it out several times a week. Easy to park, goes under barriers over 2m.
Hi,
We had a VW T6 for a couple of years after having a folding camper with a toilet. We actually found the lack of a toilet a compromise too far, especially after siting on a bucket/ porta potti with the dog wondering what was going on! Space wise we managed ok, would have been better with a long wheel base one I think. We now have a small PVC (5.41 m long) with a toilet which works well for us.
Personally, we found the driveaway awning we had very cumbersome, took up a lot of space in the van & we hardly used it. We preferred, & still use, a pop up storage tent from decathlon with a roll out awning.
Best thing to do is hire one before you buy!
Fiona
My Transporter conversion comes with a cupboard for a Portapotti - being a man of a certain age this proves invaluable at night. Having been a caravanner, my experience was that campervanning is a different mindset, as Franbee says. For example, I haven’t used levellers yet. And I’ve got the pack down to about 15 minutes if I want to go out. Rather than a driveaway I use a Reimo domed sun canopy for a bit of outside space. Storage is tight, more like tent camping, so it pays to be economical with the tut you carry.
I’ve recently done a five week trip to Europe, and I loved it. The driving was actually fun compared to towing, got to go up some narrow gorges that were breathtakingly beautiful. I stayed mostly on campsites; I don’t believe in wild camping if it affects the provision of campgrounds. I could go offgrid if I need to, but I do like a morning hot shower, and a proper toilet if possible.
Fiona’s suggestion of hire before buy has merit. I didn’t, and jumped straight in. Campers seem to hold their value, so there’s always the option of selling on. Due caution in terms of buying any vehicle, and I’ll be getting a habitation service come the autumn as well as the vehicle one. It’s not quite as convenient as a daily runaround, but possible. I haven’t once regretted my choice.
Each to their own, throwing this idea into the mix...
When I was planning to change unit from a tent to a van, I decided to opt for a MWB VW Crafter just under 6m in length, instead of a smaller and lower vehicle like a VW T5, so that I could squeeze in a decent kitchen, a separate bathroom with a shower and a toilet, and a drop-down bed.
It was the best design related decision I had made, as I can use my own toilet as and when required without having to walk to the facilities block, especially at night and/or when the weather is foul; and the drop-down bed enables me to have a decent living area and without having to make the bed up every night and morning.
The MWB VW Crafter can just about squeeze into a normal parking space, width-wise is definitely OK, length-wise will be sticking out a bit that will not cause a serious obstruction.
My van is too big for me to use as a day-to-day run around though, and I have a small car for that purpose.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Still deliberating as the toilet/washroom may be a deal breaker. If we go a little larger we can get a washroom so something like a crafter/sprinter size that sits in between a camper and a coach built.
Quote: Originally posted by Nosaj on 24/7/2024
Thanks all,
Still deliberating as the toilet/washroom may be a deal breaker. If we go a little larger we can get a washroom so something like a crafter/sprinter size that sits in between a camper and a coach built.
Take your time to evaluate all the pros and cons, as well as your needs and wants, as it is a significant investment.
My van was 5-year in the planning. I attended big shows and stepped into as many MHs and PVCs as I could, read up on different layouts, and came up with my own needs and wants, and went down the custom PVC route.
The main design must have that pushed me down the custom PVC route was the requirement not to use a gas stove or to carry a LPG tank.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Back in 2018 when I decide the old bones were suffering a bit too much with erecting tents and all that lugging of heavy gear, and seemingly hours of pitching and breaking down, I looked at everything that could be considered an upgrade to a tent.
Looked at basic campers, and came to the conclusion it was about as close to the fabled 'tin tent' as was possible to get, not a lot of space, few facilities, but quite a hefty price tag to still be living a very basic camping experience! - all it lacked was guy ropes and tent pegs! Figured I could do a better upgrade for the cash!
Ultimately ended up with a fairly luxurious caravan with proper onboard bathroom, full kitchen, and SPACE! Had the advantage that if I wanted to go out, I didn't have to pack stuff away first, and the car would have few limitation on where I could take it. Towing was never an issue for me, as towed lots of things before and held no fears, nor did I see many limitations on the regions I would likely take it to, the Scottish 500 and the like being one of the few!
So VERY happy with my choice, still got the same van and no plans to change, think a camper would have been a short lived thing as the basic facilities (or lack of!) would have got to me, either going MH or caravan after a season or two.
TBF, I can see some appeal, for a quick w/e break, just up and go, I could do that, but a couple of weeks away, NO!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: VW T5 pop top - pointers
via mobile 23/7/2024 at 10:30am
