campervan owners: what doe a campervan virgin need to know/ask/buy?

[overthemill]

seriously thinking about a campervan. Or do we need a motorhome???

we are currently a family of 5 but go on holiday in any combination of up to 7 (as thats what our galaxy holds) with our 3 kids aged 13, 16 and 19 plus mates.

what do i ned to think about? lust after VW but dont think thats big enough. Or should we just go for a motorhome? (btw all this will be next yea if a lup sum comes in)

We have just bought an old (74) vw camper, which I'm sure will be a money pit but its got enough space for the 4 of us actually in the van (might be cosy if kids older though) DH, Me, DS (5) and DD (2)...It also comes with a big awning with two separate sleeping compartments. Something like this would give you the extra space you might need for that many. Depends really whether the DCs & mates want to have a separate space from you

I have had campers and motor homes and would say that for a bigger group or a longer trip the motor home was fantastic and I'd have another in a shot. In fact my partner is in the middle of converting a horsebox for that very purpose. The only down side to them is they can be quite a handful to drive especially in high winds or on wet or narrow roads and they are extremely fragile if you do ding them. If you're confident driving a biggish truck they are brilliant. Either way pack a good sized tent or tow a small caravan if there's a lot of you as even the most spacious camper can get claustrophobic. They hold their value brilliantly so if you buy one and it doesn't suit you should get your money back on it.

I'd kind of assumed that we would take a tent along too so the older ones can have privacy/late nights/sneak in beers. VW types don't seat enough people though for getting there, do they? That's a problem.

what features do you consider essential and which are lovely-to-have extras?

Essential stuff I guess an awning to take off wet clothes, a half decent kitchen with an oven and plenty of storage. If your not going to be on campsites then a toilet and shower but try not to use the loo if you don't have to as its not nice emptying it.
Tbh the most important thing is the layout which is a case of having a good look and a think about how the space would work at mealtimes bedtimes and rainy days.

any tips then hazeldog about layout . going to look here as they are close by and will give us ideas even of they are beyond our budget!

Hire a campervan and see what it is like is my best advise.

That was you will figure out first hand if you like the layout, if you like having to pack everything up to drive away, if you like having a porta loo and empting it, if you have so many people it is unlikely you can take bikes for everyone - but perhaps a bike or two for someone to fetch stuff from the shops.

it is cheaper to hire a campervan than buy one and then realise it is not the right lay out etc. After using one it will give you a much better idea when you look at others what will work and what will not work.

Some campervans sleep 7 but only have seatbelts for 4

in the Uk it is not always easy finding a carparking space and there are often barriers at nice spots - to stop campervans stopping.

But when you go across the channel this type of problem seems to go and it is easy to find somewhere to stop and much easier to travel around for free so to speak

something like this Sleep 6 with bunk beds at the back and a luton which you may be able to get 3 in as often the lutons are bigger beds 7ft x7ft

We have a VW T4 camper that we have built ourselves. It seats 6 with 3 point seatbelts for all. When camping we have an awning with 2 bedrooms for the kids, back seat in van makes a double bed for me and DP. I don't have or want a cooker in the van, i use my camping stove and a gazebo. Though use the awning to cook in if wet. It works for us and looking forward to another wknd away next week. We go away lots mire now than before we had it

Layout is a personal preference IMO. Good advice from ivykaty44. Hire one and you'll know after a week or so what features work for you and which are better. Think a lot of people would take a car too for such a large group