Wherever you go you're always at home
Converting a van into a campervan is one of the best ways to travel that gives you more freedom. It's like staying in a hostel on wheels, with great views to wake up to and preparing meals while travelling.
Van life... Set loose - The ability to travel to cool areas.
You can travel longer when on a budget and slowly to immerse yourself in the culture. While having a feeling of peace and in charge of things, with no need to have a schedule or booking a place to stay, just travel as life flows - The flavour of living in the moment, that's part of the adventure, to do more things than you think is possible. And enjoy nature, being outside and become more interested in the surroundings, and protecting this wonderful world.
Teach yourself
Building your own campervan and maintaining it allows you to be intimately connected to your van and leads to self-confidence, resourcefulness and dealing with life's problems - Solving modern life problems, like having no debt and gaining more time to travel and experience life.
Hitting The Road
Are you getting itchy feet? It's time to move from house life to van life. A unique feeling, to be grateful, to appreciate the adventure and the remarkable people you meet that comes with van life...
A campervan can make your life limitless
What many people have come to accept in their lives, is the wisdom of balance; work/life and focus on having mini-retirements while they can. This means not chasing money and stuff of no value that keeps you sucked into a system. But, have an outlook on life that is fulfilled with joy and being your true self.
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Read:
Detoxing
The road brings many opportunities
Van life is the stepping stone to many things… buying land, building a home, starting a business from the van, self discovery, and living the moment as you are away from meeting deadlines... An alternative lifestyle that is becoming more attractive to many in this rapidly developing modern world. Travel to a place where people are healthier and happier, who make so little demand on the earth. By consuming less, using traditional building techniques and materials - Having more than one purpose.
Inventory
Having no plan. The plan was always to go anyway... No regrets. The only goal is to be happy.
To follow my intuition to stay on the right path. Open to what comes my way, and the more difficult it is to get where you are going, makes it all the more special.
At times questioning myself
“What am I doing here” with an inner feeling of knowing you are on the right path for a reason, that makes you wonder… a feeling of great surprise and admiration caused by seeing or experiencing something that is strange and new.
A once in a lifetime adventure, can be ongoing
The joy and happiness of keeping it simple, buying a new car is missing the point. Sure I could go on an adventure tour and come back. But, I want to immerse myself in the culture, live a bit like a local, stay with a family and learn to cook the local dishes... That’s what sets my soul on fire. Embark on meeting real people who’s challenge is putting food on the table… Is building deep human connections, and having a sense of community.
Read:
Cultures Of The World
The only fear Is not living
Everything else is stopping you from truly living.
To experience something, is to fully understand it - Push yourself to do those things you would have avoided doing or did not have the time for, by getting out of your comfort zone. It will also allow you to learn so much more.
Read:
Survival
Doing what your heart is calling you to explore
Being secure, to think you will be happy. A bigger paycheck means more expenses. Instead downsize and do what has meaning… Spend less and travel more.
Years of being self employed has allowed me the time to go on mini-adventures. I can also use my skills when travelling, and working on my business part-time - Independent organisation.
Working with your hands is a fulfilment of seeing a physical outcome of our work and serving others is the reward that you don't necessarily see working at a desk.
Read:
Hire Me
Having less outgoings and less stress to have a smile of joy that comes from the inside, by keeping things simple and working on what inspires me. Give more than you take - The way life's supposed to be.
Read:
Keep It Simple
The simple pleasures of life - If you like travel, nature, walking and just being curious about life, then come along for the journey.
Read:
I'll Buy You A Coffee
Keeping it simple - I am making do with what I have, it’s about the adventure, being in nature and not comfort.
Use your energy to believe, create, love, grow, glow, manifest and heal... Go build your campervan.
Why build a camper van?
- Go on a beautiful road trip and escape the city.
- Custom build. The main reason is to have a good size and a comfortable bed, somewhere to cook and store my bicycles.
- Cheaper than buying a Motorhome
- Freedom to get off the tourist trail. To camp wild camp, park up at small campsites and go up interesting dirt roads.
- Wild camping in the wild, town and cities (Fitting only one side window, keeps it looking like a van)
Road trip to where? - Spain, a country of many lands and a cheap place to travel in Europe, making it a great place to road trip in your self-built camper.
- To stay away from supermarkets and use local fresh supplies and learn to cook the local dishes
- Volunteer work on organic farms via WWOOF.es.
- And work with my hands while on the road
Work all your life, retire and then do all those things you wanted to do. To me that sounds funny, couldn't you be doing the things you want to do every day, or at least working towards it? - Mini retirements
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Escape the Rat Race Campervans...
I first carried out a conversion on a van back in 2013, it was a Renault Master LWB, now on my 4th conversion. (Below is my 3rd campervan) My 2nd was a Ford Transit. I must say, the Renault was more comfortable for living and for driving.
Why 4 conversions? In between driving across Spain, I spent some time travelling to
Mexico,
Cuba, Central America and a lot of time living in
Colombia. I sold the camper to fund my travels. The vans were kitted out simply, yet practical. I also used the van for my work before heading off to keep the costs down. Once in Spain and parked up, 10 euros a day was plenty to feed 2 meals and a visit to the tapers bar after a cycle or hike.
Making do with what I have, Kitting it out to what I need and come up with inexpensive ways to enjoy the outdoors. Van life is the minimalism that it brings to your life. You learn that it doesn't take that much to be happy. - Fewer things of value and keeping it simple to enhance the experience, because life is a journey we all travel.
Multi uses in a mid-size van
My 4th van; Ford Transit 2009 layout is used for work, day van, mini-brakes, and longer adventures...
The way or the style you travel is the kind of people you will meet. Choosing wisely, keeping it simple will give you a real experience.
Before you buy:
- Make sure it's the right van for your needs.
- Pay a mechanic to inspect and report before buying.
- Buy private or from a sole trader who is not VAT registered or you are giving 20% away.
- Make sure parts are available to service and repair, in the UK and where you intend to travel in Europe.
- Size - Is it for weekend trips away or to live long-term. If you are living full-time and also working away, you need a long wheelbase and semi high top. If intending to stealth camping, then something smaller and less windows. A box van is the largest interior dimensions possible, and still able to take one space at the carpark. Taking the family, think about converting a bus.
I recommend reading this page, do your research on service costs, driving in cities/large towns with clean air zones/low emissions areas, and how much fuel consumption MPG?
Finally, make sure your converted van is not over it's designed weight and you have a licence that covers the weight class.
Back on the road
There are now more places in Spain to park up; Camping sites, Municipal (Usually allowed for 36 hrs, can be in town or on the outskirts, wild camping and stealth pickups, having only one window and no sign writing makes it easy for town and city parking. I also started using park4night.com, also I have a Google map, I have added places I stayed, sites I visited and great places to eat. See at the bottom of this Post.
Not just Spain... All my conversions were built with the intention to escape to sunny climates. Since Brexit and the cost of everything going up, it has made sense to explore the UK. The
UK is also an amazing place anytime of the year. For mountain bike trails, view
Map. And you don't need to go far. You may like to
Read:
The Chiltern Hills | Discovering My Backyard.
Don't forget, you are on an adventure to discover new places. So, trust your intuition on where you are heading and don't be guided or restricted just on where you are going to park - There is a big beautiful world waiting to be explored.
Spain road trip Blog Posts For those secret places in Spain.
The Conversion
The campervan layout reflects your lifestyle and dreams.
Base Vehicle
Renault Master Medium or long wheelbase high top makes a good campervan conversion, that a VW Transporter on longer road trips. While the VW camper has more fuel economy, the Master gives you more room and I intend to carry my bicycles and some tools.
The Master is low to the ground, making it easy to get in and out, on long motorways and 60 mph, can get 41 mpg.
The Layout - Converting your own van, you get to lay it out exactly the way you want it
The first step is to get your idea of your campervan layout onto paper (See image below). Do a drawing of your preferred layout, measuring the van and scaling it 1 metre to 100 mm. This makes working out how much material is required, that the bed will not take up all the room and everything will fit to how you want it.
You can start by marking out the floor and see how it looks before putting in the first fixings.
Campervan Legal Information, Requirements and Rules DVLA
To change the use to a Motor Caravan and to be insured while doing the conversion
- Provide DVLA and specialist insurance company photos of the completed conversion, showing both the inside and outside of the vehicle. The inside photos must, as a minimum requirement, show a fixed table, sleeping accommodation, cooking facilities and a storage area. The outside photos must show the vehicle from both sides and the registration number should be visible in at least one photo.
- In addition to providing photos. If you converted the vehicle a full breakdown of work carried out including original receipts, where available should be included.
- Having the van's Body Type changed on the V5 to a Motor Caravan will cut the cost of insurance and channel crossings; also you can drive at the national speed limit.
- DVLA legal information
Self-Build Campervan Conversion Insurance:
I use
Shield Total Insurance
- Specialists in DIY, motorhome and campervan conversions. They have a special policy that insures your vehicle during, and after your conversion. See their rules.
Implications of Brexit
If you are not registering your van as a Motor Caravan and living in the UK, you will only have 30-days cover in Europe. Shop around to get the deal that fits in with your setup. You will need a UK address, unless you have more than one passport.
Adrian Flux I have also used for business use. Who
are offering 90 days cover for Europe.
Also, try;
Direct Line Van Insurance, you have the same level of cover anywhere in the EU as in the UK. This is for up to 90 days in any policy term.
Consider breakdown cover if travelling to Europe, and travel insurance. I use
World Nomads for travel insurance, you can get cover for adventure activates and working.
Before heading of on your adventure:
Service the van and get a years MOT
Carry a folder with all your vans documents; Insurance, MOT, V5, passport and licence available. Backup with photos, copies and digital PDF.
There are laptop safe boxes that easily fit in the van to store these items.
Make a note of your van's weight, height, width, length and tyre pressures.
Carry and use before you set off; Wheel brace and jack. (Know how to change the spare) I also carry a lump of solid wood as a chock or to sit the jack on as a solid base.
I also carry 2 litres of engine oil to top up, a tow rope, jump leads and some basic tools.
Make a note of the milage for your records and to maintain the van's service history.
Some products, I used in the conversion:
- Geobond HM sealant, good for windows, roof-light and sealing holes when fitting an awning.
- Side Window with Fly Net Screen, Blackout Blinds. Used in motor homes.
- Camper-van Insulation Aluminium Thermal HD Double Foil 6 mm thick.
- Ply lining or pine tongue and groove for a cabin feel.
- Carpet lining and glue I used Mega Van Mats.
- DOMETIC SMEV Sink and twin gas cooker pod.
- Electrics. 240 V hookup cut into side of van, Durite 12 volt sensitive relay. Allows split charging of leisure battery, 12 V fuse box, Leisure Battery and 12 V led roof lights.
- Foam cut to size - www.gbfoamdirect.co.uk
- Ecoflow solar generator. View:
My Kit
- Solar panels and kits Van from Junkies
Map To Camping and food stops on the Spain road trips:
