Day van with drive away or full conversion dilemma

[Kieran&StephD]

We are planning to be mostly fair weather camper vanners and there is only 2 of us with freedom to travel, having taken early retirement. Looking for the first purchase and wavering over degree of conversion that we need. Option 1 a 'day' camper ie with pop-up, full width bed and electrics, including solar, with drive away etc for additional space and cooking when stopped, using boxes for storage and packing, and cooking on portable induction hob or non-fitted gas camping stove whihc could be indoors in inclement weather and pub too far, with water in jerry cans. Option 2 of a full conversion with cupboards, gas/water and reduced width bed, albeit with some boxes as well, but not so many. Looking to buy completed or will get suitable vehicle and convert, there are clearly more on the market at option 2 and maybe that answers the question but grateful for any thoughts. We have canvassed some friends who each have one of the options and both say theirs is the best solution, and we have tried both and still cannot decide and can't afford 2! Any helpful thoughts gratefully received or may just toss a coin. TIA

 

[Sirrell85]

We are planning to be mostly fair weather camper vanners and there is only 2 of us with freedom to travel, having taken early retirement. Looking for the first purchase and wavering over degree of conversion that we need. Option 1 a 'day' camper ie with pop-up, full width bed and electrics, including solar, with drive away etc for additional space and cooking when stopped, using boxes for storage and packing, and cooking on portable induction hob or non-fitted gas camping stove whihc could be indoors in inclement weather and pub too far, with water in jerry cans. Option 2 of a full conversion with cupboards, gas/water and reduced width bed, albeit with some boxes as well, but not so many. Looking to buy completed or will get suitable vehicle and convert, there are clearly more on the market at option 2 and maybe that answers the question but grateful for any thoughts. We have canvassed some friends who each have one of the options and both say theirs is the best solution, and we have tried both and still cannot decide and can't afford 2! Any helpful thoughts gratefully received or may just toss a coin. TIA

Hi - Hire one of each for a long weekend to see what suits your needs. I went down the route of a full width bed, for me and the wife and a pop top for the daughter as I wanted to make sleeping as comfortable as possible. I have a fridge within a unit with a draw above it and a folding table on the side. The only thing i'd do differently if i could start again is i'd go for a LWB but thats because there's 3 of us soon to be 4.

 

[Kieran&StephD]

Hi - Hire one of each for a long weekend to see what suits your needs. I went down the route of a full width bed, for me and the wife and a pop top for the daughter as I wanted to make sleeping as comfortable as possible. I have a fridge within a unit with a draw above it and a folding table on the side. The only thing i'd do differently if i could start again is i'd go for a LWB but thats because there's 3 of us soon to be 4.

Thanks we have tried both for long weekends and still in 2 minds, unhelpfully. I like your idea and think a LWB would ease the issue. Regards

 

[CAB]

Option 1.


Can fairly easily change to Option 2 after a couple of years.


Not so easy the other way round.

 

[DXX]

If you can afford it make it as comfortable and flexible as you can, whatever your current plans are they will change depending on the initial experience.
However do it well on a vehicle that has at least 4 months decent mileage to prove itself before making inward expenditure.
Buy a crap bicycle and it’ll be ridden twice!
That said there are plenty of fancy vans that sit on a driveway for 50 weeks / year. Ultimately it’s not the van, it’s what it allows you to do.