In order to end up with the campervan best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of campervans are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a campervan.
Research the market: Campervan essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the campervan market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Types: 4 wheel drive conversions for rough road exploration, van conversions with a fixed hi-top (a fibreglass height extension) or pop-top (like a soft top car but it telescopes upwards to provide headroom).
Engines and gearboxes: At the small end of the market there is usually a choice of conventional petrol engine or turbo-diesel. At the heavy end its turbo diesel. Very old vehicles may have underpowered engines and automatic gearboxes are rarely found in campervans.
Fittings: Can be anything from a bed only to a twin gas hob, sink fed from a pressurised hot and cold water system, fridge, fitted wardrobe, cassette flushing toilet and shower cubicle. Externally bike and surfboards racks may be fitted.
Cost: A new van can cost 50% more than a top of the range family sedan and you need to add 20% to 30% more for a quality conversion depending on the equipment you choose. Some campervans are converted from previously owned commercial vehicles and the prices range from the cost of a family sedan downwards depending on age and condition.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a campervan. For example, will you use the campervan only for occasional holidays or will you be touring around the countryside on a regular basis?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used a campervan before? |
| | If you have used a campervan, work out what you did or didn't like about the campervan. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What exactly will I use a campervan for? |
| | You need to look at if it is a vehicle exclusively for use on vacation or a runabout in between times. Will you use it every weekend come rain, snow or shine? How long will you be staying in it on any one excursion? |
| How many people am I hoping to accommodate in a campervan? |
| | Although campervans are small and usually sleep only two adults and one child, they can seat five people, two of whom could sleep in a tent or an awning. |
| How economical do I need a campervan to be? |
| | Will you be doing a lot of motorway cruising or back-roads bumping? Most campervan running costs equate with those of a family sedan although some of the larger models are more thirsty and insurance costs are also higher. |
| Will I be crossing water by ferry? |
| | Ferry operators tend to charge more for high vehicles. A pop-top can keep your campervan in the lower cost car decks. |
| Do I just need sleeping accommodation? |
| | If you will never use cooking, toilet and shower facilities inside the van because you always plan to overnight on campsites with full facilities, it may be pointless specifying your campervan include all of this equipment. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of campervans and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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