Hi, we are previous tent campers, which we did for many years whilst our children were young, they are now grown up. We've not camped since pre-covid & are now hoping to get a campervan later this year, or early next, ready for next season, we really miss the camping life, but feel tent camping is a bit too much for us now we are older! This is now just for the two of us, plus the dog! So, a few questions, firstly any advice greatly received for campervan newbies, what to look for, what to avoid, anything you think we need to know! We have been looking at many online & in person when we can & plan to go to the show at the NEC in October, we won't be buying new, 2nd hand or a new conversion. Is there any way to get discount on tickets to this show? Thankyou for any advice!
------------- Life is to short to do the ironing....
Good idea to go to the NEC. Check the different layouts, there are at least half a dozen variations, what suits us might not suit you. It’s not expensive to go, the various clubs have minor discounts on tickets.
Be aware of where you’re storing it: that might limit your length (our limit is <6.0m because CalMac fares jump up at that length). Will it be a second vehicle - then you’d want a PVC (panel van conversion), narrower & goes under car park gantries. Are you tall - sleeping across might not be an option: take off shoes & try the beds. Don’t assume you’ll get a drive away tent / awning: you’re limited by available storage space & weight that might be better used for other things. We’d recommend a MH with a loo, it’s handy at night if it’s raining (why get wet going to the site toilets), but other folks do without one. We only use our shower for shoes & dirty laundry bag.
Think about how the dog will travel safely, it can’t travel loose; ours goes into a crate that we attach to the bench bed legs.
Otherwise, it’s as much a piece of string question as “what tent should I get”.
Be aware at NEC if comparing prices: the more expensive MHs may include far more as standard. The cheap ones might not even include the fresh water tank (I couldn’t believe that was an additional cost). And open / close some cupboards: compare how clunky they are (or not).
We are on our second Auto-sleeper: we part X’d the first one when it was 25 years old & it’s still on the road, 7 years later. But everyone will have their own favourite & I wish you a grand day out (ps pace yourself: it’s a long day).
Try reading up as much freely available articles and information from Practical Motorhome.
Their FB page often provides links to their articles that I have found very useful.
Definitely worth attending shows and check out as many vans as possible for their sizes and layouts to see what you like and dislike.
Good luck with your search.
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!
Dont rush it. We thought we knew the layout we wanted then changed our minds. Good luck with the NEC. Ive had a couple of invites but turned them down. My idea of hell!
Confused by your post - won't be buying new, 2nd hand or a new conversion. What are you thinking of buying?
I'd recommend buying as local as possible if buying a 'branded' van. Many dealers won't do warranty work if van wasn't sold by them so folk who bought from a dealer hundreds of miles away can have a big drive for warranty work. We set a limit of 50 miles. This ruled out a lot of vans that didn't have a dealer within range. Be mindful of small converters. The vans resale values can be lower & some use heavier materials in the construction. They can look great but make a big impact on payload.
What sort of campervanners are you going to be? Using sites, aires, 'wild'? That can change requirements for power supply eg solar & battery capacity if off grid. A diverse bunch - some folk are happy with the basics, others want all the comforts of home.
I"ll also disagree with Fiona W - many PVC's won't go under carpark gantries.
After my wife died, I knew I wouldn’t be caravanning again, (mostly we’d been tenters but had gone soft in old age) so dropped in at the local VW garage to look at a California they had in the showroom. I was smitten; but couldn’t quite afford it, so emptied the piggy bank and the back of the sofa, and bought a new VW conversion, with pop-top and pull-out bed. My daughter said why didn’t you hire one first, which would have been the best course of action, but I’d read enough online, on various forums, to know it was a good fit. Incidentally, Needingworth Campers are quite close to you, and nice guys.
Since then I’ve been on three extended adventures, and quite a few short excursions. ‘Willma’ is my everyday drive, small enough for most car parks. I don’t have an awning; but a Reimo sun canopy gives me outdoor space. For days out, I can put stuff away, drop the top and be on the road in about 20 minutes; but I’ve got into the habit of using public transport for site-seeing, particularly overseas. Mostly I stay on campsites, because having a hookup allows the use of microwave etc.
There’s a romance to the VW that I have bought into; lots of waves on the road, chats with other owners. Met a couple who had taken over and restored his grandparents T2, still going strong 40 years on.
Good luck with your search, whatever you end up with, and maybe see you on site!
A microwave is fitted in our van. The only 240v appliance we carry. As we're mostly offgrid we power it using a powerpack (Ecoflow Delta 2). If needed we can also plug the ehu cable into it using 3 pin plug adapter for a few days extra power if static.
I used to have a lovely 1971 T2 in the early 80s. Always got waves from other users. That was before the cult of dub became massive. Caution with latest VW vans. Some models are Transformers - wet belt Fords on disguise.
Quote: Originally posted by spiritburner on 24/8/2025
I"ll also disagree with Fiona W - many PVC's won't go under carpark gantries.
Good luck with your journey
Ok, PVCs on a VW cab with pop-top roofs will, but the conversions with tall roofs probably won’t (the ones you can stand up in). Our gantries hereabouts are 2.2m, the campervans go underneath & put the roof up (if they have one) on the other side.
Just one of many things for the OP to consider.
My VW Crafter definitely will not fit under many barriers even in its original height of 2.3m without the roof-mounted Dometic air-conditioning unit; however, since I seldom take the van out once I have arrived on a campsite, it is not that great an issue for me personally.
However, height is a consideration if one intends to use one's campervan as an everyday run-around.
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!
Thank you so much for the replies so far. Much as we would love a VW they might be out of our budget, but for now we are considering all campervans, rather than motorhomes. Obviously we are wary of the wet belt issues we've seen on many forums with the ford conversions, so need to research that further.
Our plans are to travel more on our holidays, no more than a few nights at any site, then move on. I'll definitely take the advice about height, as we want to be able to use car parks, if possible in the day time. We really are excited about this! I really appreciate all your advice.
------------- Life is to short to do the ironing....
Don't be put off the Ford, millions of owners have no problems with them.
You will only ever hear the so called horror stories.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I called into a local van service centre recently. His yard was full of Ford lease vans with knackered engines due to wet belt issues. Driving him nuts. Millions of those owners with pre 2016 vans won't have wet belts.
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: Campervan newbies to be!
via mobile 24/8/2025 at 6:16pm
