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

Ok. I'm going to go buy the toppers!! I'm convinced.

Glad you had a good trip. Completely agree about the toilet, no more walking across a cold dark field, or alternatively chancing it in the bushes and finding a patch of stinging nettles, ouch!

I'm after the memory topper now too.....we are off to France in half term so defo need some comfort......we are also planning in Disneyland trip.....so will let you know how we get on campervanning there!

Our van had it's first trip of the season last night. Just over night about five miles down the road. Loads of friends and their children, a roaring fire and a great time. Loved having a fridge and a comfy beds. The others were all in tents. Actually some were just in sleeping bags with a Tarp pulled tight to make a roof and stop the rain
The children all had just the best time and so did we. I'm now looking for sites back in the UK for when we've moved. Packers come in two weeks!

Memory topper arrived today after about ten days and can't wait to try it out! Hope the good weather lasts this weekend as we might be able to go away for a night or two".......

Anyone else been off in the campervan over the past few weeks????
Anyone going this weekend???

May I join you? I am a single mum with 2 young boys, I bought my T4 high top 6 months ago and am loving every minute of it. Looking forward to lots of tips and advice on here!

HI all

Am now the proud owner of a lovely orange T4 rock and roll bed being fitted on Sat, cannot wait!

Hey welcome to the thread ladies.......

Well slight problem here in that I am recovering from concussion after near knocking myself out with an iron bar to the head ..I have a huge, constant headache so am not really doing anything with the camper.
Hubby trying to get it ready for trip over half term but ATM feel like I can't even sit in it ;( I feel sick when I even go anywhere in the car too :(

Hopefully head will soon mend and I will be back in action!

Completely in agreement with 8psirsofhands about seeing the children's brains grow when driving through Europe

Crikey jammygal, how did you manage that? Hope you're ok now.
And welcome to the thread ladies.

Hi all I have finally got my Bongo. Have the topper in the post and an awning from e bay on the way. I have booked to go about an hour away for the last 3 days of half term cant wait.

Any tips for the baby to sleep in,she generally likes an ealry night. Is it,travel cot in the awning? or in the camper bed,i presume one doesnt out babies in the roof?

Also shall i buy a 25 meter hook up cable or is that unexessary?

One of the sites i looked at boasted a "tv point" I quite like the idea of having the tv to watch when up ealry or bad weather.What cable do you need for that,is it just a long ariel??

Hi can I join you to? We are the proud owners of a 58 plate T5 since last Friday

Hi Maggie and welcome. Do you have your first trip planned. We have a T4 and love it. Had it since March and have had a couple of weekends away and a few day trips.

I'm after some suggestions please!

After cancelling our camping trip over half term due to not wanting to pitch my tent in the rain, I have decided that I want a campervan.

I have been looking at bongos but hadn't realised just how popular they are (and how much they hold their price).

Can anyone suggest what type of camper might suit me best?

My requirements are:
Needs to be as compact as possible
Smallest engine possible (insurance on a bongo was very £££)
7 seats
Not too old - need something reliable as will be used as everyday car
Would love a pop-top but am also planning to still use my 3m bell tent so ds and I can have separate 'rooms' when he gets a it older (he's nearly 10)
As fuel efficient as poss.

Is the only option VW and Bongos?

Hello all.......am just back from a 11 night France trip in the camper.....went to Vendee for a week, then to Paris and Disneyland. We stayed in a nice campsite in vendee and then the Disneyland car park for two nights (oh the glamour!!!)

It was hard work without the awning at Disneyland but it allowed us to visit on the cheap which was a bonus!

My head is now loads better, no black eyes and my headache has subsided!! Thanks goodness ....I couldnt have coped travelling in France with a clonking head!

My house now feels palatial and I have come to the conclusion I live in a mansion (after living in the confines of the van for so long!)

I can also confirm that the Dunelm memory foam topper was awesome- I slept So much better! Cab bunk was a success as was the iceytek which lasted the entire trip with a few ice top ups and plenty of ice block refreezes!

Btw hello everyone new and old.....as for bongo/ vw debate.....I haven't got much to offer except,

We are a family of 4 and I find the vw too small at times. We also looked at the bongos but worked out that they are not as reliable as Vw's and do not hold their value in quite the same way.

but.......they are compact and good if they are one of your main vehicles.....easy to fit in car parks etc......probably fine for a smaller family ;)

I think it all depends on your own families needs eg how much you are actually going to overnight in it, if you will have awning, hob etc inside.....whether you want day van etc

Jammygal, where in Vendee did you camp? I'm just starting to look for next summer.

Hi snowmummy we were in les conches a small village about 5 mins from la tranche sur mer......we stayed on this campsite www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=6993
It was a lovely area and there appeared to be another large campsite in the centre of la tranche if you want to be in a town- although I imagine it all would be busy in the summer so you might have to pre book ;)

Hi all. Bongo owners what awning do you use.We got a great on from e bay its a Seeker drive away awning but we struggled to get it securly attached to the Bongo.It has a couple of figure of 8 strips which we have no idea wher to use and we kind of strapped it over the top.Any tips?