It’s a big purchase, there are plenty of different layouts, specifications and options to consider – and there’s certainly no shortage of opinions online.
The problem is there aren’t always too many places to read unbiased opinions.
What usually happens is people end up going down the same channels. Facebook groups, forums, YouTube videos, Instagram, Google searches… and before long, you’re reading hundreds of comments from people telling you which layout is best, which battery system you need, whether you should have a pop-top, and what you absolutely must have in your campervan.
I’ve seen it so many times over the years to the point that the questions people ask are often very predictable. And while there is some fantastic advice out there, I don’t always think popularity or the strength of an opinion makes something the right answer for you.
What I always try to do is take a step back and understand what the vision actually is when it comes to camping. Ask yourself:
I think it’s really important to properly understand how you want to use the van before arriving at any conclusions.
There are so many layouts and variables when it comes to campervans that you don’t want to spend a considerable amount of money on something that isn't quite right for you. And when it comes to camping with a young family, I’ve found you can actually go through different phases.
I have two young children, aged two and five, so I’m very much at the stage where finding somewhere, parking up for a long weekend or a week, and using the van locally in that area – if at all – works best for me.
The last thing I want to be doing is carting my children around while they have seemingly limitless amounts of energy.
I’d much rather find somewhere we like, park up and make a beeline for the local beach, park or, more recently, one of our favourite National Trust properties.
And I absolutely love it.
There is something about changing the scenery from our daily grind and watching your kids make up their own games with Hot Wheels and Paw Patrol that is incredibly fulfilling.
There’s no big itinerary. No pressure to tick things off a list. Just a change of scene, more time together and a chance to slow down. And, honestly, in those moments I can almost feel weeks of stress drain away.
That’s what camping means to me right now. But I know that will change.
As the children get older, the way we use the camper will probably evolve with them. Eventually, I’m looking forward to being able to travel further, explore more and perhaps spend less time worrying about where the nearest playground is!
If I was to boil down the most common types of usage, one of the biggest would undoubtedly be the “touring community”.
These are the people who want to travel, break new ground, discover new places and explore the unknown.
Adventurers, if you will. This is a phase I’m really looking forward to. Impatiently, almost.
I already have my sights set on the iconic North Coast 500 in Scotland when the time is right. The idea of jumping in the camper, heading north and spending a week or two simply exploring really appeals to me.
There are also plenty of travel-focused Instagram accounts and online communities offering genuinely good advice and, importantly, realistic expectations.
If you want to explore but don’t want to risk turning your dream trip into a logistical nightmare, I’d recommend following a few of these accounts, seeing what people are saying about different routes and learning from their experiences.
Again though, use the information to shape your own decision – don’t let someone else’s perfect trip become your definition of camping.
There is also an emerging group of people who are using their campervan as an everyday vehicle. And I think this is a really interesting part of the market.
The functional benefits can be a massive win for both business and pleasure.
You may not realise just how practical some modern campervans can be. On-board Wi-Fi, inverters allowing you to run equipment much like you would at home, clever storage options and flexible seating can all make them surprisingly useful beyond the traditional camping environment.
For some people, this can actually help justify the purchase.
If you’re already considering having a van or large family vehicle sitting on the driveway, why not have something that can also take you away for the weekend?
Dare I say it, depending on how you currently travel and what you already own, it could even become a money-saving option. And this is where I think the conversation around campervans gets particularly interesting because there isn't really a single “campervan lifestyle”.
There are families like mine who want somewhere to escape to for a few days. There are adventurers planning their next big road trip. There are people using their camper every day for work. There are surfers, cyclists, festival-goers, dog owners, sports fans and people who simply want the freedom to leave the house on a Friday afternoon without having to book anything.
Ultimately this means the right campervan for one person could be completely wrong for another. And that, for me, is the most important thing to understand before you start buying.
Before you get sucked into the forums, start comparing layouts or convince yourself that you need every option available, I’d start with five much simpler questions:
1. How do I actually want to use my campervan?
Be honest. Try not to consider how you think you might use it, but how you are realistically going to use it.
2. Who am I going to use it with?
A couple has very different requirements to a family with young children. And those requirements can change surprisingly quickly.
3. Where am I likely to go?
Local campsites, European road trips, off-grid camping, beaches, National Parks or somewhere completely different?
4. What do I genuinely need onboard?
Think about your lifestyle rather than the specification sheet. Storage, sleeping arrangements, cooking, power, heating, bikes, boards, children’s equipment – these matter far more than having the longest list of options.
5. What do I want my campervan to feel like?
This one is often overlooked. Do you want a practical basecamp? A comfortable home from home? A vehicle you can jump into every day? Or something that makes you feel like you're on an adventure the moment you turn the key?
Once you know the answers to these questions, then I think you can start looking at the campervan. And I think that’s the right order.
Don’t start with the camper and try to work out how you’ll use it. Start with the life you want to live, and find the campervan that fits around it.
Why? Because ultimately, the best campervan isn’t necessarily the one with the most features, the biggest battery or the most popular layout.
It’s the one you actually want to use.