Using a motorhome as everyday vehicle

[Welsh Nick]

Hi,
New to the forum and I'm sure this has been asked, so apologies if it has been covered. I would like to get a motorhome/campervan (not sure of the difference) that can be used for everyday travel. i.e. Shopping, visiting friends, days out as well as holidays. It would be to have a separate toilet/washroom and only needs to sleep 2 people. Anyone got any suggestions, looking at new or fairly new.
Many thanks

NIck

 

[AndyPK]

So you want a ‘daily-use’ ‘van then?
It would need to be fairly small and not too high so as not to get caught by height barriers - a pop-top, perhaps?

(and ‘Welcome from Ciren!’)

 

[Itsmcb]

I would think any of the van conversions (pvc?) would fit that bill. I drove a LWB transit for work, easy to drive in town and could park that almost anywhere including supermarket carparks etc. There are lots of various layouts available.

 

[Figaro]

Sounds a VW camper or panel van conversion would suit your needs

 

[Jon B]

We had a VW T6 conversion which ticked all the boxes as far as a day / shopping / weekend away use vehicle, but for us at least, anything longer than 3 or 4 days away in it was not that comfortable..... We traded it in for a 5.4M van...... this meets all our needs as it has fixed bed, shower, toilet etc...... Not sure I'd want it as a daily 'around town' vehicle though?

Only advice I can give is really take your time with the research and go look at plenty of Vans first - try hiring one for a short break away, that's when you'll really know

Good luck with your search

4.9M VW T6



5.4M Fiat

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[Imala615]

I had a Trigano Tribute which i used as an everyday vehicle for 6 years, <Broken link removed>
but if you are looking for a reasonably priced new one have a look here.

Auto-Trail

www.auto-trail.co.uk

 

[mikebeaches]

Hi,
New to the forum and I'm sure this has been asked, so apologies if it has been covered. I would like to get a motorhome/campervan (not sure of the difference) that can be used for everyday travel. i.e. Shopping, visiting friends, days out as well as holidays. It would be to have a separate toilet/washroom and only needs to sleep 2 people. Anyone got any suggestions, looking at new or fairly new.
Many thanks
NIck

As others have said, a van conversion would do the trick and provide a fully functioning motorhome with en suite bathroom.

However, it's also been mentioned that you might want to consider a VW-type pop-top (rising roof) to enable you to get under 2-metre height barrier restrictions, which are widely used on car parks. That is fine, but it's not easy to find them with a separate toilet / bathroom - there are a few which have rudimentary fixed loos on board, but not many.

Therefore you might be best to look at a Fiat Ducato or Ford Transit (for example) based van conversion. The compromise is they are typically about 2.5 - 2.7 metres high, so won't get under most height barriers, thus slightly restricting where you can park.

There are a few Ducato-based conversions at circa 5.4 metres in length, which might be quite handy for an every day driver.

Or there are lots of 6 metre van conversions to choose from.

Good luck, whatever you decide Nick.

Oh and PS -

 

[Welsh Nick]

Thank you very much for all your replies and for welcoming me to the forum. Really helpful, I just need to spend some time looking around now to find the right one. Looks like a van conversion could be the best option. I'm sure there will be lots more questions as a delve further into the world of motorhomes.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[cyberyacht]

There's also the Marquis/Accordo based coachbuilts at 6m but only 2.14m wide so only marginally wider than a PVC but a lot roomier.

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[Off da Grid]

We’ve got a 6m trigano pvc.
Goes to the supermarket, garden centres and diy stores occasionally.
Good for the mtb trails and kayaking trips.
you just need to find 2 parking spaces for it.
we just take it out for a jolly sometimes

 

[violet]

We use our campervan as a daily vehicle, it's great to be high up rather than sitting low as in most cars.
We have a porta-loo space but there is no washroom as such. However the layout we have where the kitchen is at the back means it's easy to wash.
We normally travel as two people but last year we took our teenage grandchild to Europe for three weeks, had a great time and no complaints at all from the grandchild. We did use more campsites, though also used aires.
The longest we have been away in the van without using any other accommodation has been about six weeks. On that occasion we also took our bikes which travelled in the camper along with two Lafuma reclining chairs. Our van is under 2 metres high and less than 5 metres long. We have happily used it in many parts of Europe and the UK. I think the layout is why we find it so easy to use, I'm not sure I would cope well with a layout where the kitchen was in the middle, the bed was made out of a bench seat which put it next to the cooker and the porta loo was stored in the back or was even non-existent. Just as an extra comment we did meet a couple who had a full size shower in a van the same size as ours, but they had to sacrifice kitchen space so had just a microwave and a wok and a huge bank of inverters under the seat.

 

[gus-lopez]

I used my last coachbuilt daily for 4 years & 100k kms

 

[rod_vw]

Don't worry about using a PVC or small/medium coach built unless the height is a problem. We've used LWB VW T4s, T5s & T6 all high roof versions as everyday transport for over twenty years. These models are all just over 5m long and driven by both myself and my wife for all types of journey.
We're considering a 6.8m VW Crafter (or MAN TGE) which will be used in a similar manner but that will need two spaces in the supermarket car park.

 

[bigwood]

My sister has recently bought a pop top VW to use as every day transport for the grandchildren and every day use.
It is small enough to manage town centres but having the pop top gives it a roomy feel.

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[Jamesh]

I have a 6m transit pvc which is my everyday driver. No problem really, in a supermarket just park further away. Also beware of trolley parks with overhanging gutters don't ask how I know!

I would find a transporter is great as a daily driver my Mrs has one, however I'd find it very clastrophobic for more than a weekend tbh..

Cheers James

 

[Zackarias]

I sold my car as soon as my camper conversion was completed.

 

[Gaston aires]

I tried it with a 6.4 mtr PVC but it was a bit to big. Research first before taking the plunge.

 

[ronidog1]

I have had 5.4m panel vans as my daily vehicle over the last five years. the size works well. i have found some restrictions:
height barriers
weight - some car parks allow up to 30cwt only
width restrictions on some very minor country roads

However, the benefits outweigh these. I accept there can be some restrictions and move on.

The main thing is to get out and enjoy yourself!

 

[Zebby1]

I have just bought a Nissan NV200 , no shower cubicle, or wc but I park on small sites with facilities. I don’t want the added weight when I am shopping and tootling around town. It has a pop up and just right for solo camping

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[CWH]

I have a 5 metre WildAx Pulsar which has 4 travel seats so a true everyday drive that I can fit into any car parking space. It also has a separate wetroom with loo, shower and basin. The kitchen area comes with fridge, oven & hob (though I just have the hob and extra drawers), sink, and more worktop than I had in a 7.2 metre C-class. Astonishing amount of storage.
If you prefer longitudinal rather than lateral bed, there's a 6 metre version WildAx Constellation.

 

[Trumpton]

Hi,
New to the forum and I'm sure this has been asked, so apologies if it has been covered. I would like to get a motorhome/campervan (not sure of the difference) that can be used for everyday travel. i.e. Shopping, visiting friends, days out as well as holidays. It would be to have a separate toilet/washroom and only needs to sleep 2 people. Anyone got any suggestions, looking at new or fairly new.
Many thanks

NIck

Look for a Rapido D55 Select it will fit all your requirements.

 

[Mr Librium]

LWB Merc works for me... use it most days and has a proper shower, loo and washroom!

 

[Ray's Scout]

Hi,
New to the forum and I'm sure this has been asked, so apologies if it has been covered. I would like to get a motorhome/campervan (not sure of the difference) that can be used for everyday travel. i.e. Shopping, visiting friends, days out as well as holidays. It would be to have a separate toilet/washroom and only needs to sleep 2 people. Anyone got any suggestions, looking at new or fairly new.
Many thanks

NIck

I use my very large MotorHome as my every day van. There are lots of places I can not go to. My local shops is one of them as my vehicle would never find space. But 50 yards away I can park on a very long and large curb leaving my MH not on the road. To go to friends I have no chance of fitting my MH in their street so I use my e-scooter. It’s the best extention to my MH. You can hire e-scooter by the month for £32 that will get you where the MH can’t. I am in my 60’s and love the fun of riding it. It’s my MOBILITY SCOOTER haha. I also use my MH for work as my place of work is over 70 miles away but I sleep overnight in and love it. The money I save in fuel in a job I love is brilliant. Hope this helps.