UKC

Doing what most dirtbag with some money/ comfort issues does and getting a van to sleep in.

Basically looking for input from those that have either a small (caddy) or medium (transit), what they're like day to day.

Clearly mediums are more spacious and arguably more comfortable. But less economical.

Have those with mediums found the comfort/ space outweigh the fuel consumption for when you're just going to the shops and day to day living. Equally do small van drivers wish they'd just got a slightly bigger van?

For reference, I'm 5'6 and not looking to spend over 5 grand all in for the van.

Seen caddy 1.9 do about 55mpg vs transit do about 40mpg. Is that about right in the real world?

I get 65 regularly from my 1.9tdi skoda.

In reply to CharlieMack:

Small van for odd nights, big van for mega trips. Small van much easier day by day. Fits under almost all height restrictions and all will go in any car park I spend about 4 or 5 nights in my Connect a month

In reply to Cheese Monkey:

Im fairly sold on the small van. But some of the medium van conversions look amazing and are tempting me in... :/

In reply to CharlieMack:

Not got a van so can't input much but don't forget the fuel consumption will be higher even than "real world" mpg if you are going to do a conversion.

I don't sleep away much so just use the car...but I only get 33mpg out of that anyway

In reply to Cheese Monkey:

I spent 6-7 months in a van climbing around europe in 1994! A fair while ago but, i would always cjoose larger van and take a hit on fuel economy etc...when you are tired, wet and all your kit needs sorting that little extra space makes a huge difference!

In reply to CharlieMack:

My van does anywhere between 34-42 mpg depending on how its driven. A transit size van is much better for doing what you want to do.

I've done a few 3+ month trips in mine. If you think carefully when fitting it out its easy to live in and store all your gear out of the way.

In reply to CharlieMack:

I have a Vauxhall Combi - about the same size as a ford connect. ITs just long enough to sleep in. Its extremely economical.

Staying more than one or two nights in it is............dismal!!! in winter, in the cold or in the wet. You can hardly move. Can't sit up properly, can't shift your position without carefully moving around. Gear must be very, very carefully stored and so on.

I'd not by choice use one for more than a few days away. Bigger IS best.

In reply to CharlieMack:

Take a look at this Blog, should give you some good ideas.

http://www.stealthcamper.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to Dave Perry:

Very useful feedback. Exactly what im after. Guess I'll look into making a bigger van more economical.

In reply to richparry:

What sort of van have you got?

In reply to CharlieMack:

VW t5 swb. The 2.5litre 130bhp one.

In reply to CharlieMack:

We just bought a Vito which is now our only vehicle. We've only had it a couple of weeks and are still in the process of converting it, so I can't really talk about long-term practicalities.

So far, we are averaging about 45 mpg from it. We were only getting 30 mpg from our last car, so I am very happy with that. Our last car was a big car, so in terms of getting parked round town and the like, we aren't noticing much difference. The Vito is about the same length as the Mondeo was and only marginally wider. The only occasional annoyance is the height - I can't get in to the pick-up point at the airport or into the local tip!

In reply to CharlieMack:

The bigger vans can be used for socialising in the evenings. Not so important in the summer months but once the nights get longer and colder its a good option to have. The alternative is to hang out at bars and cafes but then you might end spending more than you would on the higher fuel bill!

In reply to CharlieMack:

I've got a Vivaro, so a 'medium', by your measure.

Space-wise I wouldn't want to go any smaller for long-ish trips (week or more).

Fuel economy is okay if you drive mindfully. As you say, you can get a good 40mpg out of it with some effort.

My only gripe is that it's a bit of a bitch for day-to-day stuff. It's a right pain in the arse for me to drive it to work etc because there's only a small delivery loading bay to park in. It's not the sort of vehicle you'd 'pop out to the shops' in.

Having said that, it's all worth it to be able to sleep fully stretched out, so I don't regret my decision.

In reply to CharlieMack:
I think it really depends how often and for how long you intend to sleep in it.

Medium vans- had one before I started climbing, but used to sleep in it occasionally. Pros- as comfortable as you want to make it, you can properly admin yourself in the back (dry kit, wash yourself, cook, chill out and watch dvd's if it's raining etc etc- do not underestimate the value of this stuff!), and I have used and would use one again in winter. Cons- Mpg wasn't amazing, harder to park (think about some of the places you end up parking when you go climbing), generally slower on motorways, you constantly wonder why you didn't just buy an small van/estate and suffer a bit!

Small vans- never had one, my reasoning being that it's a bit of a compromise between a van and a car. I've had a few estates and used to go climbing and sleep in them for up to a week about twice a month. Pros- better mpg, when not using as a camper it's just a regular car, get more for your money (builders will keep old vans going until they're knackers), easier to park, not bad comfort if you get one where the seats told flat and out a mattress in the back. Cons- much less room, any more than a week and frankly things are getting unhygienic in there, can't really dry kit or do personal admin, cooking is a scary affair, less privacy (I made an all-round curtain, but still), forget about winter- everything ends up soaked it's a nightmare, you constantly wonder why you didn't just buy a decent sized van!

To summarise; whatever you buy, you'll spend your whole time wishing you'd chosen the other option. Then when you finally make the switch, you'll be wishing you never had. Grass is always greener mate!

In reply to Dave 88:

Think i'm fairly sold on the medium van, just need to pick one now. Had a look at T5s. Seems fairly cheap to buy prefab stuff for them. Rock and roller beds, cabinets, windows etc.

Anyone have any tips for making it a stealth camper, or have obvious campers not brought you that much trouble?

Can't wait to get one and have it sorted to get out on some adventures.

In reply to CharlieMack:

I had a T4 which I converted into a stealth camper.
Somethings to watch out for.

If its registered as a van from its birth the insurance is higher then if its a carravelle or camper. If it has or had seats and windows in the back it changes the insurance bracket. Vans are higher risk to insure... break ins, tradesman etc.

Also it was my one vehicle, so great to have a van to sleep in and I did some brilliant long trips to Europe but to nip for a day trip to the Dales it was cripplingly expensive and made me consider long day trips.

I guess its the balance of having a vehicle to run around that does 35mpg but great for camping 25 nights a year, or a small van and a large tent that all year you get 45-55mpgs out of. Or have a van and a small car??!!!

In reply to CharlieMack:

Think that's the way to go. VW's are such a good size, but I found they seemed very expensive compared to less fashionable stuff (transit, movano, traffic etc).

I think less windows will make it look less like a camper. I had the two rear door windows which made general driving a lot easier than a full panel, and still let a decent amount of light in.

In reply to Dave 88:

Considering a similar 'stealth' project when I return to the UK - also looking at a T5 - hired a 6 speed one a while ago and was fantastic to drive given its dimensions. Not cheap though!