You’ve no doubt seen people driving on the motorway in these flashy campervans and thought, “Hmm, that looks like an amazing family holiday idea!” Well, you’re right, it is an excellent way for your family to go on more holidays – there’s just a minor problem.
A quick Google search for campervans shows that they cost a serious amount of money. But is it possible to get your hands on a van that sleeps your entire family for a fraction of the expected costs?
Yes. It’s called a van conversion and it involves buying a used van and converting it into a camper. This approach is cheaper than getting a pre-made campervan because you can pick up used vans for way less money and then choose to convert them however you like. If you don’t want loads of bells and whistles, then you don’t pay for them.
Here’s how you can build a great family camper without breaking the bank:
Pick up an affordable donor van
It’s called a “donor van” because you’re basically taking an old van and turning it into a camper. The best-value option out there right now is a VW Transporter. Check sites like AutoTrader or The AA for loads of used deals. You’ll see some that are under £10,000 – which is an absolute steal compared to the cost of buying a proper campervan.
Convert the rear part of your van
After bagging your VW Transporter, you want to convert the back of it to improve practicality. It’s also important to pick one of the vans with seats in the back, rather than ones with empty loading space. You still need to drive the van, which means you need enough seats for your small children to sit on!
You can then look into VW Transporter bed systems that take the empty rear loading space and provide a shelving system. This gives you a stable shelf with a mattress to sleep on (it sleeps two adults easily), plus space underneath for other features. Some of the systems will include a pull-out kitchen unit that lets you cook food or boil a kettle.
Add a roof tent
The rear conversion gives you enough space to sleep two people, but you still need some extra room. That’s where a roof tent conversion comes in very handy. Again, VW Transporters are great for this because you can get someone to build a pop-up area into the roof with space for two adults to sleep.
Alternatively, you can find roof tents that attach to your van via roof bars and pop open when you park up. Some of these tents are large enough to sleep up to four adults – or even more small children.
Yes, you’re paying a few thousand pounds for the van conversions, but when you add it all up it’s a mere fraction of the cost of buying a pre-made campervan. Most people don’t realise how much cheaper it is to get a second-hand van and convert it yourself. You’ll end up with a great van to camp in with your family, which paves the way to so many future adventures.
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