Hello all, been a lurker for a while and have already gleaned loads of useful info and advice, but we are gettign close to pulling the trigger on a van purchase so have joined to become a proper part of the community.
We were fairly seasoned campers when the kids were younger, but now they're off on their own its time for me and Mrs Jay to start some new adventures. We're not planing a grand European road trip just yet though, more like long weekends and maybe 2 weeks UK trips at present. We're thinking to build a camping van (Day van plus ?) , rather than a fully fitted kitchen with Rock'n'roller etc but no doubt things will change over time. Will be putting windows all round as we felt a bit claustrohobic squeezed onto a RIB/RocknRoll Bed surrounded by black carpet and a wardrobe in the ones that we've sat in at shows etc so prefer the open feel and views. And we're favouring the more sociable L or U Lounge as we don't need belted seats for passengers (Ply guys / Van Furntiure style) and it feels better for evening card games and two people to eat facing each other rather than banging elbows on a 112 seat trying to eat off a table no-one can actually reach comfortably.
At present the shopping list for the base van is SWB (also daily driver) T30 highline (or Trendline with A/C & parking), Panel Van, 100+ bhp. We're not too fussed on colours or Rear door Vs Tailgate, & will probably add a pop-top straight away if the budget will stretch and probably looking at V simple leisure electrics for internal lights and a USB port or two plus an EcoFlow / Bluetti style thing for devices (unless that could also cope with the internal accomodation lights?) Cooking will be likely under tarp / sail thing or awning on a Cadac style cooker. Fridge is still tbc but could either be Dometic CRX style in a small pod (off the Leisure Batt) or a powered cool box or just a Yeti-style ice box. When camping we survived by just buying what we needed daily and using a v cheap cool box with gel packs that lasted 1 day and got re-frozen by the campsite shop.
Looking forward to sharing our build with you all (once we've found the right base van!)
We were fairly seasoned campers when the kids were younger, but now they're off on their own its time for me and Mrs Jay to start some new adventures. We're not planing a grand European road trip just yet though, more like long weekends and maybe 2 weeks UK trips at present. We're thinking to build a camping van (Day van plus ?) , rather than a fully fitted kitchen with Rock'n'roller etc but no doubt things will change over time. Will be putting windows all round as we felt a bit claustrohobic squeezed onto a RIB/RocknRoll Bed surrounded by black carpet and a wardrobe in the ones that we've sat in at shows etc so prefer the open feel and views. And we're favouring the more sociable L or U Lounge as we don't need belted seats for passengers (Ply guys / Van Furntiure style) and it feels better for evening card games and two people to eat facing each other rather than banging elbows on a 112 seat trying to eat off a table no-one can actually reach comfortably.
At present the shopping list for the base van is SWB (also daily driver) T30 highline (or Trendline with A/C & parking), Panel Van, 100+ bhp. We're not too fussed on colours or Rear door Vs Tailgate, & will probably add a pop-top straight away if the budget will stretch and probably looking at V simple leisure electrics for internal lights and a USB port or two plus an EcoFlow / Bluetti style thing for devices (unless that could also cope with the internal accomodation lights?) Cooking will be likely under tarp / sail thing or awning on a Cadac style cooker. Fridge is still tbc but could either be Dometic CRX style in a small pod (off the Leisure Batt) or a powered cool box or just a Yeti-style ice box. When camping we survived by just buying what we needed daily and using a v cheap cool box with gel packs that lasted 1 day and got re-frozen by the campsite shop.
Looking forward to sharing our build with you all (once we've found the right base van!)
