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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Camper van peops reveal yourselves - role call ;)

219 replies

Jammygal · 13/03/2012 21:28

Hello fellow camper peops Wink
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

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moosemama · 13/04/2012 09:27

We regularly used sleep in our van at friends parties etc when we were younger. Don't have a clue on the legality of it, but if you do decide to do it, make sure you get someone to take the keys back into the house if you have been drinking, You can get into trouble for even having them on you or in the van if you are over the limit, even if it's obvious you are sleeping and not intending to drive.

It's best to see if your friends can find you somewhere local to park it off road if you can.

This information from motorhomeparking.co.uk might help and this page links to official motorhome stopover sites in the UK.

snowmummy · 13/04/2012 17:05

I wish we were going away this weekend, the weather is great - today it is anyway.

We went on our first overnight trip last Monday/Tuesday. Weather was terrible - rain, wind, and cold but we all enjoyed it. Cannot wait now til the next trip :)

Milliways · 13/04/2012 19:36

DH has been trimming trees and hedges to prepare the space on the drive for our new toy that we are collecting tomorrow! :)

Noqontrol · 13/04/2012 21:01

Ooh how exciting, a new camper. Will you go away somewhere tomorrow night?

theamum · 13/04/2012 22:11

Hi everyone - we've got a 1986 VW T25, tin top, our second T25 so far (but first with our two year old). We've just had a full respray and engine sort out, and we're finishing the interior ourselves (curtains, flooring etc) - getting it back this weekend. Anyone got any tips for good campervan sites with toddlers? We're doing disneyland cultural France holiday in the summer, very exciting! Hopefully going to Big Bang too, anyone else?

igggi · 13/04/2012 23:33

Oh Theamum, snap, my T25 is 1986 as well. Smile

Original poster
Jammygal · 14/04/2012 13:21

Hey all I am trying to degranny our van ATM.
We have some very dodgy grannified floral designs on the bed cushions that we really need to replace! Have thought about covering them myself but when I think of cost , time etc wonder whether it would be better to totally replace foam and covers together when we have some spare cash. Curtains are also grim....any tips fellow vw crafters?????

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Noqontrol · 14/04/2012 13:43

I had that with my old van. I couldn't afford to replace them so just put throws over them. I changed the curtains myself with some old curtains I had in the house. You could try a caravan salvage yard to see if there's anything you could use, you might find some better cushions. Theres a few salvage yards where I live, probably loads all over the country if you google it. I looked into them when I was going to buy a camper van that needed lots of work, but the engine wasn't sound so I didn't buy it in the end.

theamum · 14/04/2012 20:05

Foam is really expensive so unless you know somewhere to get it cheap I'd febreze and recover...we tend to buy large duvets from ikea (Around £25) and then use that as fabric as its much cheaper...not too difficult to cover with an envelope fold on a sewing machine. Have used duvet covers to make curtains too - just use the old ones as templates and then you have double layer curtains which keep you nice and toasty on the cold nights!

Original poster
Jammygal · 14/04/2012 21:22

Thanks ladies.....some excellent tips.....will defo try the salvage yards and idea duvet covers....an ace idea! Any more tips???

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Noqontrol · 14/04/2012 21:43

Not about that, but am really excited as we just signed our camper up to an agency to rent it out when we're not using it. Just got our first booking for a week in July which equals £400. Maybe you could do that and then buy some really lovely covers with the proceeds, lol.

Milliways · 14/04/2012 22:41

Well, we are now official Motorhome owners - pic of van on my profile. DH has only just come in from playing with it. Apparently the heating is toasty! I am just so looking forward to having a fridge to keep the wine chilled Grin

Noqontrol · 14/04/2012 23:09

You are going to have the best time ever. Camper vans / motor homes give you so much freedom to explore the country, and further afield.

Original poster
Jammygal · 15/04/2012 11:36

Noqontrol.....good idea about renting out will look into it ;) Milliways looks palatial.....any interior pics for us to drool over ????

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theamum · 15/04/2012 21:10

ace igggi...details please! Ours is a tin top, diesel engine, twin sliding door, just had it resprayed pale blue with a white top...how about yours? Daft details about metal and engines and stuff excite me!

igggi · 16/04/2012 14:11

theamum can't sure your engine excitement, though I do love my van! Mine's yellow and white, one door (how do you get two?!), petrol and a pop top roof. I have just had the worst black smoke come out of my exhaust, complete with a very big bang, whilst driving home from shops. Not good!

Original poster
Jammygal · 16/04/2012 16:42

O crap Igggi hope it is nothing major! Confused

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Original poster
Jammygal · 16/04/2012 16:48

Btw my oh put his surf board through the windscreen at the weekend (yep I know!!!!)

I didn't have to get cross as he was so gutted!

It has been a contentious issue for some time as I hate it in the van (takes up too much valuable space!)and have been nagging him for ages to get it fixed to the exterior. I don't think I will have to rant on and on put forward my case anymore!

Also I am still having issues with being uncomfortable on the bed in the van....any comfort tips would be gratefully received! Thanks x

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PurplePidjin · 16/04/2012 17:54

Cornwall was bloody freezing, but raised at least 26k for Brad's so very much worth it!

We have an intermittent fuel problem and someone must have been smiling on us last night - engine cut out 100yards from the showground, ages came and help us get started, dp spent the next 4 hours trying not to go below 3rd gear in case it died again Shock we honestly thought we'd be doing the journey courtesy of Mr AAman...

Pod next week for GTi fest. Think dp will take the bug and a tent, it's just not worth the risk of being stranded, and we don't have the cash for a proper restore Sad

Chesticles · 17/04/2012 12:50

After a month in the garage and much welding we have got the van through its MOT. Yippee Grin. So much for taxing it in April! Will hold off until May now. Unfortunately not all of the welding was underneath, so we have a small area to respray. Anyone got any tips on colour matching it? We were told the colour was porshe 0157 but google doesn't even think that it a colour Hmm

It is lovely to have it back though. Roll on summer and some trips away in it.

Original poster
Jammygal · 17/04/2012 16:04

Try the t4/ t5 forums they are ace for any kind of technical detail as they many peops on there with huge experience of restoring every aspect of vw s!

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Original poster
Jammygal · 17/04/2012 16:05

Purple was it you who told me about thermomats.....they are brilliant!

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PurplePidjin · 17/04/2012 16:21

Yep, bloody genius invention!

theamum · 17/04/2012 20:31

Spoke too soon Igggi....van was finally finished after 6 weeks of engine reconditioning and rspraying and everything with our genius T25 mechanic....and then smoke came out of the back...need a whole new engine! So have spent the last few days looking for a golf engine to put in it :( Gutted and skint...good things come to those who wait I hope!

theamum · 17/04/2012 20:33

Oh and Igggi ours just started life as a twin slider...probably a minibus. Makes it a little random and has a bulk header but its quirky and leaves room for my 2yo to stretch out on her peppa pig bed on the floor!