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Road trips are fun but the hassle of having to deal with multiple hotel reservations can make the journey less exciting than it should be. If you like the thought of managing your own mobile home as your travel excites you, you’ll like the concept of the campervan. So, what is a campervan? This unique vehicle combines transportation with living space, making it the perfect travel companion. Keep reading as we explore everything you need to know about campervans, including the different types and the benefits of hiring one.
A campervan is a type of small motor vehicle that provides sleeping accommodation in addition to transporting people. Campers, as they are casually called, are vans that have been converted into mobile homes. These vans are typically in the 3.5-tonne category and feature living amenities like a sleeping area and kitchenette, allowing you to feel at home on the road.
Campervans have been around since the early 1900s, but the idea of a motorised home came long before then. In the 1800s, the Romani community and showpeople used horse-drawn caravans when travelling. With the rise of automobiles in the 1900s, the Eccles Motorised Transport Company began producing motorised caravans that didn’t need to be attached to another vehicle.
Many people, however, seemed to favour the concept of the car-pulled caravan and the motorised versions had to take the back seat. The 1950s saw a revolution with the introduction of the iconic VW Microbus. This steel van, with its efficient design and manoeuvrability, was perfect for conversion into a campervan. Since then, the campervan market has flourished, with many companies converting various vans from brands like Fiat and British Leyland into campervans.
Campervans are sometimes referred to as small motorhomes.
Features Of A Campervan
Campervans come with numerous additional features when compared to a standard van or car.
- Sleeping quarters: You’re likely to get a sleeping area in your camper. Campervans usually feature a comfy bed that you can sleep on.
- Storage space: While campers aren’t exactly large, they still offer storage space for items you might need on a road trip. Most models also have roof racks on the base vehicle’s cab for more space.
- Kitchen: Your campervan will likely have a kitchenette with basic appliances like a cooker, fridge and sink. The size of the kitchen will depend on how large the van is.
- Portable toilet: Your campervan won’t have a typical home toilet but there should be a portable toilet.
- Bathroom facilities: To be fair, not all campers have a bathroom but you could be lucky to get one with a wet bath.
- Water heater: These vehicles tend to feature propane or electricity-powered water heaters so you never run out of hot/warm water.
- Electricity: The camper will also usually come with a source of electricity to power appliances in the vehicle. This can be in the form of a battery or external hook-up.
- Extras: In addition to the features above, campers may have extras like television sets, generators, air conditioning and a bike rack.
SDVH offers a road trip guide for anyone planning an adventure across the UK and beyond.
Types Of Campervans
When it comes to campervans, your options aren’t limited. These vehicles differ based on their sizes and roof types.
Types Of Campervans Based On Size
Here’s a breakdown of campervans based on size:
Micro Campervan
A micro camper is an M.P.V. (multi-purpose vehicle) or a car-derived van converted into a recreational vehicle (RV). These vehicles typically have a load volume of between 3 and 4 m3 (106 to 141 ft3), with space for only basic items. Depending on the design, a micro campervan should have enough sleeping room for one adult if you remove the front passenger seat.
Small Campervan
A small campervan is a step up from the micro camper with a load volume between 4 and 7 m3 (141 and 247 ft3). These RVs typically offer sleeping space for two adults. Examples are the Ford Transit Custom and Citroën Dispatch van conversions.
Medium Campervan
Medium campervans are van conversions of vehicles with between 7 and 12 m3 (247 and 424 ft3) in load volume. The Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Fiat Ducato are common examples of vehicle bases for medium campers.
Large Campervan
A large campervan is one with a load volume of between 12 and 17 m3 (424 and 600 m3). The L3 & L4 variants of the Ford Transit are perfect examples of campers in this category. Large campervans feature space to house multiple vehicle occupants and their gear, as well as room for most amenities. There are also box campervans, which fall under the ‘large’ category. These are box vans that have undergone a professional rebuild or camper conversion.
If you’re hiring a campervan, have a look at the insurance requirements for these vehicles.
Types Of Campervans Based On Roof Type
The roof type is another valid way to categorise campervans.
Fixed Roof Campervan
Fixed-roof in campervan vocabulary refers to campers with little or no external modifications. Also known as day vans or surf vans, these recreational vehicles are without a pop-up top or a raised roof. They are usually very compact, with toilet and shower cubicles excluded.
Rising Roof Campervan
These campervans are also based on smaller vans and feature pop-up roofs. The elevated roof gives the owner space to stand in the vehicle. The rising roof camper is very versatile, as you can bring down the roof and convert it into a regular van for everyday journeys.
High-Top Campervan
High-top campervans are usually larger models with a good level of headroom and plenty of storage space. These versions are coach-built motorhomes. They have the advantage of usually offering a full-standing room, a walk-in washroom and even a fixed bed in some cases.
High-Top Campervan With Elevated Roof
This camper version combines the design of the high-top with that of the rising roof. It is usually a large vehicle with great interior space but this comes at the expense of compactness and manoeuvrability. The pop-top is there solely to provide extra space for an additional drop-down bed.
In addition to these classifications, there are also dismountable caravans, which you have to tow with a van. They are usually built on a pick-up load-bed.
Campervan Vs Caravan Vs Motorhome
The camper van, caravan and motorhome are all options for mobile living, but there are a few key differences between them. As we have already established, a campervan is a regular van that has been converted into a recreational vehicle with basic living amenities.
A motorhome is an upgrade from a camper in terms of space. Unlike the campervan, which is built on a van chassis, motorhomes are built on a bus or truck chassis. They serve both the purpose of sleeping accommodation as living quarters and also for recreational travel as a group.
Motorhomes generally offer the most comprehensive set of amenities, with full kitchens, air conditioning, bathrooms and even living rooms sometimes. Some motorhome classes even have extra space to fit a small car.
A caravan, different from a campervan or motorhome, is a trailer with a living space. The main difference is that this trailer needs another vehicle to tow it, like a car or an off-road vehicle like an SUV. Caravans typically offer more room than campervans, with some even having multiple bedrooms and full bathrooms. On the downside, they may be trickier to navigate, especially when you need to reverse.
Check out our blog post to learn more about the difference between campers and motorhomes.
Advantages & Disadvantages Campervans
Like all vehicles, campervans have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s check out the best and worst of it.
Advantages
Perks associated with a camper van include:
- Freedom & flexibility: Nothing can match the freedom and flexibility a campervan offers for road trips. Say goodbye to worrying about hotel bookings, as you can pull over and camp almost anywhere.
- Manoeuvrability: Compared to a caravan and any other larger vehicle, campers are compact, and this makes them easy to drive and navigate.
- Potential for daily use: In addition to serving as camping vehicles, most campervans can be used as everyday vehicles.
- Affordability: Campers are easily the most affordable of recreational vehicles, as they’re generally cheaper to hire or purchase.
Disadvantages
Here are the downsides to a campervan:
- Limited storage: The most obvious disadvantage is that campervans are small in size and have limited storage. Living quarters are quite tight and you need careful planning to maximise the vehicle’s space.
- Fewer amenities: A campervan will typically have fewer amenities than a large vehicle like a motorhome due to the difference in size. Beds, toilets and kitchens may be smaller, while some don’t even have showers.
- Limited off-grid capability: Because it is a smaller vehicle, the freshwater capacity, battery life and waste holding tanks are limited.
Are Campervans Class B Vehicles?
Yes, campervans are class B vehicles. Class B refers to a specific category of recreational vehicles that are built on van chassis. These vans are typically converted with camper amenities like beds, kitchens, and sometimes bathrooms to create a mobile living area. They are among the three classes of RVs, in addition to Class A and Class C motorhomes.
Class A RVs are the largest and often most luxurious motorhomes, built on a specially designed vehicle chassis. You will need a Category C licence to drive one of these, as they often weigh above 7.5 kg (7,500 t). Class C RVs are mid-sized motorhomes built on a truck or van chassis with a distinctive over-cab sleeping area.
See what Class B means in licence terms.
Who Should Hire Or Buy A Campervan?
Anyone looking to make a camping trip should hire or buy a campervan. If you plan on making multiple camping trips in a year, buying one makes sense, but if you only need it occasionally, you’re better off hiring. Campervans are generally great for adventure seekers and minimalists who enjoy a simple lifestyle.
SDHV offers campervans for hire within the UK to ensure a spectacular road trip experience. You can also check out our other van rental options for different occasions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Living Space Does A Campervan Have?
The living space a campervan has varies between 3 and 17 cm3 (106 and 600 ft3). The exact space in the van depends on the model and the size of the vehicle. Campervans can be built on various chassis, from compact models like the Ram ProMaster City Waggon to full-size vans like the Ford Transit L4. Naturally, larger models will offer more room.
How Much Does A Campervan Cost?
A campervan costs between £24,000 and £100,000 for new models. These vehicles can even exceed this price range when you’re looking at new purchases. Used campervans can be a more budget-friendly option, potentially starting as low as £7,000 for an older, smaller model. Renting is also a great alternative, as you can hire one only when you need it.
Are Campers Based On A Truck Or Bus Chassis?
No, campers are not based on either a truck or bus chassis. The vast majority of campervans are built on van chassis. These vans offer a good balance of size, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency for campervan conversions. While rare, there are some campervans built on the chassis of small trucks.
Do All Campervans Have A Sleeping Space?
Yes, all campervans have sleeping space, but the exact amount of space you get for beds depends on the size of the van. Larger campervans have fixed beds, while smaller models feature a convertible dinette that folds into a bed. In extremely rare cases, these recreational vehicles may prioritise extra work or storage space instead of a bed.
Is Driving A Campervan Difficult?
No, driving a campervan is not difficult. It’s just the same as driving a regular van. Even people who haven’t driven large vehicles before will find campervans manageable with a little caution and practice. Just keep in mind that blind spots can be larger due to the vehicle’s height and handling is not exactly the same as that of a car.
Conclusion
So, what is a campervan? This recreational vehicle is your perfect partner as an adventurer. It offers the freedom to explore at your own pace, park almost anywhere, and experience the beauty of the outdoors in comfort. While they may have limitations on space and amenities compared to larger motorhomes, they are more compact and manoeuvrable.
