We currently do a lot of tent camping and have done (with the same tent) for years.
2026 so far, we have 5 weekends/long weekend camping trips booked in. We go, rain or shine.
We don't want a bigger tent as we would then require a bigger car (and bigger air tents can be 50kg!!!). We also don't want to compromise on time as we regularly go after work on a Friday and get to location for around 6:30-7ish. We then don't want to have to put up a tent for the next hour and mess about.
I'm tempted by a campervan that would replace one of the 2 cars we own. We are a small family of 2 adults and a 4 year old and we do not plan more children. Soon she'll be starting school and we'll have school holidays separate. It would mean I could go camping with her with ease without having to faff about with a tent. Or even days out to the beach. My husband is a big lover of astro photography too so he could go out and not have to rush back home for bed on a Saturday night or whatever.
We would look at VW transporters or Ford Transit custom campervans size wise with a pop roof.
Currently we restrict our camping to second may bank holiday (due to it being cold in the tent prior) and early September (gets dark at 7 after this so we avoid putting a tent up in the dark)
We would most likely buy outright. Not brand new but newer
For those in the know, can you be brutally honest with me about the negatives we should consider.