Camper van peops reveal yourselves - role call ;)

[Jammygal]

Hello fellow camper peops
Well I am new to all this camper van lark, have been using the van more as a day van up till now but very soon will be progressing to overnight stays!

We have a vw t4 4 berth hi top.....I welcome any tips from you more experienced campervanners out there......
So far have been looking at jompys, iceyteks, boginabag etc feeling like I need them all....pls tell me your top buys etc
X

www.justkampers.com/shop/motorhome-camping-accessories/camping-accessories/thermo-mats

Worth every penny.

Tbh, I'd avoid buying anything until you've had your first trip - spend a night as a family on your or a friend's drive and make a list of what you could have done with, what was useful, what got in the way etc. Don't spend a lot of money on pretty stuff with pictures of campers on that you won't use, buy better quality essentials like melamine plates.

www.justkampers.com/shop/motorhome-camping-accessories/camping-accessories/thermo-mats

Gah!

Totally agree on the idea of spending just a night in it not too far from home

Thanks purple....u were quick off the mark! I am thinking a night maybe this weekend - hope we don't freeze! Am tempted by the thermo mats they look amazing!

We have a bongo. Before that we had a T4 but it was a bit agricultural, not a proper conversion. We love the bongo. It's looking a bit tatty now though. Our fault. :(

Jk are really good on delivery

I can't sleep when it's too cold. Van + mats + hot chocolate before bed = as warm as home (til about 6am, anyway)

Anyone converted themselves? We will be doing it this year and looking for tips really.

Thermo matts look like a must too, hate the cold

Ours was already done, try looking up your local dub club - bound to be some useful folk :)

Another Bongo owner here. We got it last September and we LOVE it!! It drinks petrol like a bastard (should have got the diesel version) but other than that it's fab.

We have invested in a tent/awning that clips onto the sliding door side of the van and which you can drive away and leave - got it on Gumtree and worth every penny. DH is 6' 3" and he can stand upright in it

I agree re. taking water with you and also re. "stealing" packets of sugar etc from cafes!!

thanks purple, am actually very excitied about doing this. Suspect after long evenings after work i may wish we'd bought one already done!!

Just Kampers do rock and roll beds that bolt straight in (unlike Porsche motors ) and ready made kitchen units are fairly cheap and smart. Link floor, camping fridge, two ring camping stove with grill underneath mounted in a cupboard unit from b+q...

3 teen join t4 / 5 forums they discuss every detail of conversions on there ;)

Purple....now feel the thermomats are essential. Ive convinced myself it is a necessity!Now to persuade oh!

They are. It means your van is usable pretty much all year round. If he doesn't agree, make him sleep in it tonight

Hello, have a T25 which is also my car. Used to camp a lot but found it a struggle while ds is wee (and another on the way). Have a large awning which deals with space issue, but defeats the purpose of a campervan as well!

Hi and welcome Igggi!

Purple- am putting partners sleeping bag in the van as I type ;) Am hoping he gives in soon so I can order them tonight.....hope they might be with us for the weekend!
So has anyone done an overnighter yet??? I am sure I am not the only nutter gearing up this weekend

We'll be at VWACTION southwest for a week mid april. There'll be folk camping at the volksworld show this weekend brave and dubfreeze was apparently great fun last month

Thanks Jammy have joined!!

Not got a van anymore, sold my t25 recently. But can I hijack to remind people to have a carbon monoxide alarm in their van.

Thanks viva for that essential and potentially life saving tip- good to get an alarm that detects gas as well as carbon monoxide!

3teenhell, there is so much on that forum....you will be kept busy for days

Purple where is volksworld?????

Hi all - just joining

We have a t25 which we bought this time last year and did a few trips away for long weekends in which were great.

Off to the show at Esher on Saturday to pick up a few things as we are planning lots of trips this year including a month in France over the summer

It's just having a service and isofix installed in the back so the little ones willbe good and safe - so excited

Really interested to hear you can get isofix installed - I got a normal seatbelt put in (to replace a lapbelt) for ds but was told a second belt in the back would be hard to fit and very dear (over £300). Does the van have to be a certain age for isofix?

Hello kitcat .....and welcome ......all tips welcome on here from campervanners old and new !

Isofix installation was very expensive about £800 but ..... It means that the kids are safe and sound.

The garage we used to do this are apparently the only in the country to start doing this, so hopefully if others start doing it to it won't be so expensive

Oh no I have been a very naughty girl and been on a bit of a camper van spending spree! Purple you should never have posted that link to just kampers .
Oh well on the plus side have kitted us out with Thermo mats , heater, electric hook up cable and two new wipers ;)
I think we should be nice and warm this weekend provided all the kit shows up in time! Game on!

Thanks Kitkat.
Jammy did you buy them out?!
They usuallly arrive really quickly too so you can coo over your stuff.