How long have you been away for and in what vehicle ?
Discussion
Just trying to gauge what vehicles have been used for longer trips.
The last couple of years I've been thinking of an overland trip encompassing large parts of Europe, for say 4/5 months.
My thoughts go from one extreme to another, quite quickly - frustratingly.
I'm single, tall 6'2", hardy, done lots of back packing/driving holidays/sailing trips (so use to travelling light and living in small'sh places !)
I'm thinking of getting a converted van probably LWB to travel in, but will I get tired of driving it, is it too big ?
A SWB version just might be a bit small inside but will drive better.
My thoughts so far -
F*CK it - just take current diesel Mondeo estate and pack with some camping stuff, have the odd night in AirBNBs to relax /clean up properly.
Pros.
Drives well.
Very economical on fuel.
No cost outlay.
I actually like driving it.
Can sleep in the back (tried it already)
Cons.
Not enough space for eating/cooking/sitting at a table.
No s
tter.
No space to lounge out inside if weathers bad.
No space to hang up clothes if wet.
4x4Delica camper or similar.
Pros.
Space to sit at a table.
Cook inside.
Obviously easier to get changed with more headroom.
Might be able to get to slightly more remote areas riverbeds/gravel tracks/tops of mountains (!)
Cons.
Still can't stand up.
No stter.
Won't drive like a car.
Won't drive very nicely ?
SWB converted van, Transit/Vivaro/Primestar/Renault version.
Modern vans actually drive very well and modern turbo diesels are quite fun.
Pros.
Drive well.
Economical still.
Nice to have a sliding door and view.
First chance to have a proper/comfortable bed.
Can cook and sit at a table.
Cons.
Still can't stand up (will this drive me mad after a while ?).
Still no stter.
MWB/LWB converted van.
Pros.
A lot more space.
Water storage.
Possibly a stter and a shower.
Could stand up, lounge around, store more stuff.
Cook and sit at a table.
Cons.
Not as nice to drive as smaller vans/car.
Worse economy.
Won't be able to get to slightly more remote spots due to size/no 4WD.
Pain in the arse on alpine passes or driving through small mountain villages ?
My budget might be 6-7K so have excluded motorhomes. Could afford more but don't really see the value in them.
So what have you survived in ? What did you wish you never bought as it never worked out for you ?
Sorry for the ramblings but it's what's going through my head right now !
The last couple of years I've been thinking of an overland trip encompassing large parts of Europe, for say 4/5 months.
My thoughts go from one extreme to another, quite quickly - frustratingly.
I'm single, tall 6'2", hardy, done lots of back packing/driving holidays/sailing trips (so use to travelling light and living in small'sh places !)
I'm thinking of getting a converted van probably LWB to travel in, but will I get tired of driving it, is it too big ?
A SWB version just might be a bit small inside but will drive better.
My thoughts so far -
F*CK it - just take current diesel Mondeo estate and pack with some camping stuff, have the odd night in AirBNBs to relax /clean up properly.
Pros.
Drives well.
Very economical on fuel.
No cost outlay.
I actually like driving it.
Can sleep in the back (tried it already)
Cons.
Not enough space for eating/cooking/sitting at a table.
No s
tter.No space to lounge out inside if weathers bad.
No space to hang up clothes if wet.
4x4Delica camper or similar.
Pros.
Space to sit at a table.
Cook inside.
Obviously easier to get changed with more headroom.
Might be able to get to slightly more remote areas riverbeds/gravel tracks/tops of mountains (!)
Cons.
Still can't stand up.
No s
tter.Won't drive like a car.
Won't drive very nicely ?
SWB converted van, Transit/Vivaro/Primestar/Renault version.
Modern vans actually drive very well and modern turbo diesels are quite fun.
Pros.
Drive well.
Economical still.
Nice to have a sliding door and view.
First chance to have a proper/comfortable bed.
Can cook and sit at a table.
Cons.
Still can't stand up (will this drive me mad after a while ?).
Still no s
tter.MWB/LWB converted van.
Pros.
A lot more space.
Water storage.
Possibly a s
tter and a shower.Could stand up, lounge around, store more stuff.
Cook and sit at a table.
Cons.
Not as nice to drive as smaller vans/car.
Worse economy.
Won't be able to get to slightly more remote spots due to size/no 4WD.
Pain in the arse on alpine passes or driving through small mountain villages ?
My budget might be 6-7K so have excluded motorhomes. Could afford more but don't really see the value in them.
So what have you survived in ? What did you wish you never bought as it never worked out for you ?
Sorry for the ramblings but it's what's going through my head right now !
SimonTheSailor said:
Possibly a stter and a shower.
Having done nearly 18 months now in a motorhome, I imagine the adventure value and novelty of not having a loo would wear off within the first few weeks of fulltime travel. With no facilities, it also means you're tied to staying in either wilderness where you can stter and a shower.t in a bush undisturbed, or campsites.I've done 3-4 months camping out of a 2CV with a friend (including one night in the car!) and 7 in a Defender with a roof tent, both of which were fine. These days I prefer more comfort and have a motorhome.
It depends how much other crap you have and why you're going. If it's about the driving at all then don't take a van!
It depends how much other crap you have and why you're going. If it's about the driving at all then don't take a van!
I lived in my motorhome for 18months during my divorce and survived pretty well, but then again it is a luxury thing and at 9m long and 2.5m wide, it wasn’t much of a hardship.
Driving it - I can happily drive it for 9-10hrs across Europe with just a break for lunch so don’t Class it as hard work unless you’re in particularly bad traffic where it’s size becomes an issue. But there are very few places I would not want to take the Concorde and don’t subscribe to the idea that big vans automatically count out a lot of places. A MWB-LWB you’re talking about would only be up to 7m - I’m a full 2 more and rarely have issues with length or traction (I’ve got winter tyres all year round but admittedly RWD also)
We have a VW camper with an on board toilet - exactly for the reasons given by the poster above. The VW gets to places I don’t want to take the Concorde, but gives us the flexibility of having facilities and not being reliant on bushes or overnighting in B&Bs. I wouldn’t want a camper without one. But plenty of folk are different.
At the end of the day it’s personal preference but I question why when you’re trying to enjoy yourself, why people make their lives harder than they need to be. I prefer to be comfortable so I can focus on enjoying each day of my trip.
Driving it - I can happily drive it for 9-10hrs across Europe with just a break for lunch so don’t Class it as hard work unless you’re in particularly bad traffic where it’s size becomes an issue. But there are very few places I would not want to take the Concorde and don’t subscribe to the idea that big vans automatically count out a lot of places. A MWB-LWB you’re talking about would only be up to 7m - I’m a full 2 more and rarely have issues with length or traction (I’ve got winter tyres all year round but admittedly RWD also)
We have a VW camper with an on board toilet - exactly for the reasons given by the poster above. The VW gets to places I don’t want to take the Concorde, but gives us the flexibility of having facilities and not being reliant on bushes or overnighting in B&Bs. I wouldn’t want a camper without one. But plenty of folk are different.
At the end of the day it’s personal preference but I question why when you’re trying to enjoy yourself, why people make their lives harder than they need to be. I prefer to be comfortable so I can focus on enjoying each day of my trip.
Edited by Spuffington on Wednesday 27th March 05:46
Never really done a very long stint camping abroad. But have spent at least two weeks camping around europe in the following vehicles
1. mk1 MR2
2. Vauxhall VX220
3. Smart Roadster Coupe
4. VW T25 aircooled (1982)
I enjoyed camping with the two seaters (with my then girlfriend - now wife) as some of the driving experiences were great. I also enjoy taking my old T25 over to France now with the family.... a much slower pace of life which suits me winding down for the holiday. The reality is you can do pretty long stints camping in almost any vehicle. Choose the one which appeals the most, rather than thinking about practicalities.....
1. mk1 MR2
2. Vauxhall VX220
3. Smart Roadster Coupe
4. VW T25 aircooled (1982)
I enjoyed camping with the two seaters (with my then girlfriend - now wife) as some of the driving experiences were great. I also enjoy taking my old T25 over to France now with the family.... a much slower pace of life which suits me winding down for the holiday. The reality is you can do pretty long stints camping in almost any vehicle. Choose the one which appeals the most, rather than thinking about practicalities.....
We recently did 2 months away in Spain (Jan-Mar) albeit in a MH with all the facilities on board. Mrs O uses the on board facilities and I tend to use campsite ones...
It was noticeable down in Spain that there are loads of wild camping opportunities and many near campsites. If you do wildcamp near a campsite you can then easily nip in and use their showers/toilets/chemical emptying point etc. I saw zero security to stop you doing this on all the sites we stayed at. In fact on one site we were chatting to a bloke who was wilding and suggested to him that he use the facilities as he was staying close by....
If I was a single chap I'd definitely go for a panel van conversion with shower and toilet and extra large fresh water tank so I could go 'off grid'.
NB It's worth carrying a spare toilet cassette if you are planning an extended time off grid.
It was noticeable down in Spain that there are loads of wild camping opportunities and many near campsites. If you do wildcamp near a campsite you can then easily nip in and use their showers/toilets/chemical emptying point etc. I saw zero security to stop you doing this on all the sites we stayed at. In fact on one site we were chatting to a bloke who was wilding and suggested to him that he use the facilities as he was staying close by....
If I was a single chap I'd definitely go for a panel van conversion with shower and toilet and extra large fresh water tank so I could go 'off grid'.
NB It's worth carrying a spare toilet cassette if you are planning an extended time off grid.
Bill said:
Or a small shovel. The only place I've struggled was India as a crowd will form and follow you no matter how desperate you look!
We've got a waste tank so no need for cassette emptying, although putting the hose on and releasing the lever is frightening. Done it once to try it and it don't half come out quick. Potential recipe for a significant disaster!!FFG
For your £ budget it Just has to be a hi top van. Most all of the " modern " vans from circa 95 on, ( when Fiat / Citroen / Pegeot launched the very good second gen Ducato / Relay etc drive really well ) but avoid the 1.9 Ducato 1995-99 ish, as they are down on power and aren't a durable engine. The non Turbo 2.5 is ok, but The best of the Late 90s - mid 2000s van engines, is the Ducato 2.8 JTD, torque laden, smooth, very reliable and very reasonable on fuel.
However, I do appreciate that finding a half decant / clean / older panel van in Britain isn't easy, as for some strange reason, no owner or driver looks after them....
So I would maybe source one in Europe, where on the whole they are far better looked after and don't rot any where nearly as badly.
Even with the £ basics fitted to the rear of the van, i.e. floor, wall and ceiling insulation, a couple of Fiama roof light / vents, a leisure battery, some lighting, a porta potty, extra security, a mattress etc etc, it could soon be made a cosy place to be in.
However, I do appreciate that finding a half decant / clean / older panel van in Britain isn't easy, as for some strange reason, no owner or driver looks after them....
So I would maybe source one in Europe, where on the whole they are far better looked after and don't rot any where nearly as badly.
Even with the £ basics fitted to the rear of the van, i.e. floor, wall and ceiling insulation, a couple of Fiama roof light / vents, a leisure battery, some lighting, a porta potty, extra security, a mattress etc etc, it could soon be made a cosy place to be in.
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