New car/van/camping solution

[oakesy2001uk]

Hi guys,

Just after a bit of a sanity check....

Situation - family of 4 (that could grow), 2 cars and only 2 spaces on the drive. Wife can only drive auto cars, I love getting away MTB-ing, suspect my 6 year old and 3 year old will to, wife less keen. I currently camp, or get a B&B. Being able to ride further afield by doing an overnighter is a big goal - Currently borrow a mates camper sometimes or go with him to.

I've been lusting after a camper van for a long time now for the reasons above, but it would have had to be a small one for those times where the Mrs needs the small car and I've got to drive somewhere a massive camper wouldn't be ideal! (was going to beLWB T6 or custom) and even that is a bit of a compromise.

I was always going to do a simple conversion where me and my bike could sleep in it for quick MTB one nighters and the family could camp with awning. Was looking at a kitchen pod to move into the awning for that reason, unless you have a massive camper I don't think they are great for actual camping holidays for loads of reasons. I also need 6 seats occasionally which compromises the camper even more.

This has now led me to thinking about getting an early 8 speed Discovery 4. with some combination of Roof tent/awning and some kind of kitchen pod type solution..

Pro's
- could do some off-roading/overland etc... which I've always fancied and friends do.
- My best mate who owns a garage knows them inside out
- Probably little worse on fuel than a fully loaded camper
- far nicer to drive/place to be etc...

cons
- a bit less internal space
- probably have to take wheels off or lock to a bike rack to be able to sleep in it when alone without tents etc...
-A bit less convenient when weather bad, although hardshell rooftents are supposed to be good.
-higher running costs than a van (slightly offset by being quite handy and best mate knowledge etc..)

Am I mad or have I found a better solution for me?

[sbarclay62]

I've been thinking about something similar albeit with something alot less cheaper. Maybe a high mileage workhorse like a V50 or Octavia Estate. Back seats out, storage boxes for all the kit, maybe a leisure battery. Turn the front passenger seat into something more comfortable so you could nip in and watch a tablet with a beer if its pissing down etc.

The cons I thought off:

-When you need to drive somewhere you need to take down the tent. So you could pitch up somewhere for the night setup camp, then the following morning need to drive to the trails so need to take down camp. The hardtop rooftents with gas-struts might not be so bad but the ones you need to fold out can take longer to setup than a normal tent. A colleague of mine is big into the overlanding stuff and there has been times he'll setup camp with a 50 quid two man tent even though he has a 3 grand rooftent on top for that reason.

-Going for a piss in the night is a nightmare. Up and down ladders. After 10 beers. In the rain. Guess there ways to overcome that...

-Unless the car's in a garage i think the tents need to be kept under storage when not in use. The lad i mentioned above has his attached on seasonal. Between October and March its in the shed. 2 man job for install and removal

-They can be very expensive to buy

Pro's

-Can literally drive anywhere and setup camp so long as its flat. With a tent you need flat even ground with no rocks etc

-Depending on the model can be quick to setup camp

-Look the business

-Your off the ground so should be warmer

After consideration I'm thinking an air tent which takes 10 minutes to setup and a single 10cm thick self inflated mat would do a similar job for me when I considered the pro's and cons. Both of which i already own anyway. Inflatable tent takes 10 minutes to setup and the mat inflates itself, has 5cm of decent foam so is warm and comfortable. A roofrack awning would perhaps be pretty good though, bit shelter and use the car as a windbreak.

Regarding the car the only thing i'd have to say is the spec may be a bit of an overkill. The guy i used to work with his Defender is his life. Puts every penny into it. Lift kits, snorkel kits, new suspension, new wheels, whinches etc etc. The only time he needs that is when he's paid money for a specific off-road day. He goes out with his lad who has a Skoda Karoq and they never had any issues. Most tracks in the UK will be decent farm tracks, MoD/ex-MoD roads, forestry tracks and tracks to serve electricity pylons and windfarms. A car would be able to tackle most of it I'm guessing. When you see the North and South American overlanders they have hundreds and hundreds of miles of tracks they can come across. Proper wilderness stuff. Don't think we're going to have that in the UK.

[Alex@POD]

A friend of mine has a 6 seater T5, with a conversion pod in in the back. He can remove one of the back seats and fold the other 2 into a bed, the pod has a little kitchen that pulls out of the back, so it's at the right height under the rear door.
In my head, that covers all your bases, small for town, practical for you when you go cycling, safe for the bike as its locked in, and big enough for the family if you take a family-sized awning for holidays...

[Trevor555]

A VW T5/T6 combi van with 6 seats.

Then get a poptop fitted.

It'll easily fit your bikes in the back. And you can sleep up top with the bikes still safely in the back.

When your not using the middle row of seats you can just take them out.

Get a side awning for when you need more room.

The good thing about the Transporter vans is that you add value to them by fitting all the accessories, so your not chucking money away paying for the poptop.

SWB vans are easier to live with, fits in a parking space better, especially if you've got a bike rack on the back.

You can get a fully converted Transporter camper with a wider 3 seat rock and roll bed in the back that'll seat 6 people, but you wont be able to store your bikes inside it.

Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 13th May 13:01

Edit..

You can also get a diesel heater fitted so you can sleep in comfort, all year round.

And with the poptop up you can stand up in the thing. Try getting dressed in a Discovery.

My idea of an ideal spec van for you.

T6 Combi with bulkhead removed.

Poptop fitted.

Diesel heater.

Awning rail and awning.

Removable kitchen pod.

Leisure battery running an onboard fridge, maybe solar panels on the roof.

Lastly, a highline spec van, they are very car like with leather steering wheel etc..

Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 13th May 13:08

Another edit, sorry, blame my age/memory,,

Get a tailgated one, not the barn doors. Because the bike rack for the tailgates are much better. Unless you get a towbar mounted one.

Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 13th May 13:27

[PurpleTurtle]

Why not just buy a family size tent, inflatable if you want ease of pitching?

Campervans can be greats, but they do come with a number of compromises.

[Trevor555]

Robotron-2084 said:

Exactly what I have, T6 lwb, pop top, 6 seats, leisure battery, no onboard cooking though (stinks).

Not cheap, I’ve had mine from new and it’s cost me in excess of £65k, but it does everything and I’ve no plans to ever sell it.

Expensive, but I bet that's a lovely bit of kit.

I ease the thoughts of cost/depreciation by working it out into a weekly cost.

If you keep your van for 20 years and it then falls to bits on you (ie worth nil)

It's £62.50 per week.

Not bad.

Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 13th May 20:05

[sbarclay62]

PurpleTurtle said:

Why not just buy a family size tent, inflatable if you want ease of pitching?

Campervans can be greats, but they do come with a number of compromises.

I've got a QUECHUA inflatable from Decathlon. Great bit of kit. Bags a bit bulky but if car camping no issues. Peg corners, inflate, peg a few guys and done. Has the blackout room so even in broad daylight and hot weather it stays near pitch black and cool.