Campervan or RV Choose the One For You

Before rushing out in an enthusiastic fervour to buy a campervan, sit down and consider what you will use it for. When choosing mine there were limitations on budget. I'm sure you're the same. So you want good value for money. I did not have a driveway to keep mine in, so firstly I had to be able to park safely on the road. I did not want to run two vehicles, either, so a small van that could be parked in a normal parking space at the supermarket was a must for me. There are only two of us, so although a large, spacious camper might seem like the dream, consider the extra heating needed to keep you warm, the extra cost of running a large camper and the space needed to store it.
How many people will be going with you? If you have a family you'll obviously need more room. How many holidays or trips do you expect to do, and for how long? Choose a camper that has enough bed space for everyone. What facilities do you need on board? Mine has no toilet or shower, but as we are nomally either visiting friends or family, or travelling to a proper camp site, we don't need them. I have a sink and can boil water, so washing is not a problem. I have found that the basics you need are
1/ Adequate beds for your passengers.
2/ Enough storage for some food, clothes, bedding and the bits you need to take with you.
3/ Cooking facilities. Mine has a two ringed hob and a grill. We also take tiny barbeque with us (stores under a seat).
4/ Water storage. You will need some water on board, and a sink is a must.
5/ A fridge is a boon. You don't need to rush off for food each day if you can buy and store fresh goods. Mine runs off the leisure battery when we're moving and switches to bottled gas when we're parked.
6/ If you have a family, then a toilet may be for you a must-have and possibly a shower.

As a photographer, I use my camper to go travelling with my camera. The images I take are high quality, taken on a Nikon D90. Here are a selection of products from Zazzle I've created from those images. Fire art, a dangerous occupation, feature on two of them. They are made by swirling six feet of special rope, set alight. These images are unique and bound to get people talking. All designs are full customisable so you can add a name if you wish. I can personally reccomend Zazzle products, having purchased them as gifts for friends. The quality of printing is excellent. Just click on the image to go to Zazzle and order or look around the rest of my shop there. The designs are called: Dahlia Art, Pride, Pyromaniac on the Loose, Pyromaniac, Busy Bee and Think Green. Happy browsing!

Here's the thing. Not all campers are created equal. When looking for one to suit you, apart from the essentials I've previously mentioned, you need to think about it's layout if you're buying anything beyond a two berth. Some vans are easier to work with than others. The photos above show you the interior of a six berth that is easy to change come bed time. In one of the shots you see the seating arrangement in the back half of the van, then another shot shows you the bed laid out. This took the owner about 20 seconds to accomplish. He assures me that the other beds in the van are just as easy to make. This is important, especially if you are, like me, a bit poorly sometimes, or if you're a senior traveller or even if you have young children. There's nothing worse than a child screaming while you are trying to get its bed ready.

How easy is it, once the beds are made, to get to the kettle or cooker? Midnight snacks need to be accessible, unless you're one of those people who goes to bed at 9pm and sleeps very soundly. In my little camper, I can sit up in bed and put the kettle on. Very cool!
How is your van heated? Mine is so small that just making a drink on the gas stove warms it up, and if I need a little heat I put a gas ring on really low. Caution...NEVER leave the gas on in your van unattended. You don't want a fire or an explosion!
When you go to look at campers, ask about these things. Watch just how the beds are made, look at the position of the cooker when the beds are up, and...can you get outside quickly and easily if you need to?

Don't be shy. If you're in a showroom, the sellers expect lots of questions and will expect to show you how the van works inside. If it's a private sale, the owner will problably be more than happy to show off what the vehicle can do.
I am no engineer, so I can't advise you on what to look for to check mechanics of the vehicle. I always take someone with me when buying a vehicle who is knowledgable and have them check it over. Or, of course, you could get a professional service to do that for you, for a fee.
Is there hook up? Using electricity on board when you're parked up will save your leisure battery (check the one on board works).
Where is the gas for cooking stored? Mine is in a vented, sealed box under the seating. Check also that the fridge is properly vented to the outside of the vehicle. You do NOT want the fumes inside the van. They can kill.
Check that the lighting provided works. Sorting electrics on a van can be tricky.
Are you prepared to buy new foam for the beds? This is what I did, as the ones provided were old and uncomfortable. Try them out before you buy. If you can sew, making covers for top quality upholstery foam is not difficult. Otherwise, it could be quite expensive to replace the mattresses and have them upholstered for you.
Is there a heating system? If there is and it's gas, safety first! If you're buying from a private seller, have the gas checked by a qualified gas engineer. And do this at least once every couple of years thereafter. Gas in small spaces while you sleep is lethal. Make certain your gas is safe!

If you're new to camper vanning or camping, you may not realise that you will be able, on most sites, to hook up to mains electricity. This has obvious advantages when it comes to taking that laptop, iPad and mobile phone etc. Some sites will also let you hook into their wi-fi at no extra charge. I've found that in practice, the wi-fi connections are not always so easy to use. So in the end we bought our own wi-fi connection and use it to check email etc when on the road. It's pay-as-you-go, which for us is the best solution. It's best to check with providers which options are for you.

The mains hook up is great, but be aware that on some sites your use of it may be limited. For instance, one campsite I stayed on last year would allow for the small items of equipment that use low wattage, like the laptop, but you couldn't plug in an electric kettle or heater. If you're likely to use your electricity offsite or are staying somewhere without electricity, your leisure battery will soon become depleted. There are a couple of solutions. you can either install a second or bigger leisure battery or buy a solar panel to recharge the one you have. A whistling camping kettle is the best solution for that all important morning brew, so leave the electric version at home.

R.V. by MugsMalone


Custom Van Camper RV by RV_Buddies


Peace Love Road Trip Route 66 Tote Bag by HobbyTeesGifts


Summer of Love Campervan Tote by Artworks


retro summer of love tshirt by KASHRICH