Motorhomes & Campervans off grid Vs Traditional?

[Pirahna]

The UK is a nightmare for finding somewhere to park. Find what looks like a nice quiet spot then the locals turn up to make sure you don't intend parking there. I don't even bother trying these days, it's campsites only and expect from £30 to £50 a night. If you're never going to drive it out of Blighty I'd go for on grid only.

However, if you fancy a bit of European touring then definitely go for an off grid capable van. Have a look at my thread in the worshop section (link below) and you'll see the choices I made and why I made them (got someone else to do the work though). I can stay off grid indefinitely.

viewtopic.php?t=3787

[KungFooBob]

90% of the holiday time spent in my van is in France.

The Fronch LOVE motorhomes, there's free over night parking in almost every town and village (Aires). You live in Essex, it's easier for you to get to Fronch than the otherside of London Village!

Go FRONCH!

[Yorick]

90% of the holiday time spent in my van is in France.

The Fronch LOVE motorhomes, there's free over night parking in almost every town and village (Aires). You live in Essex, it's easier for you to get to Fronch than the otherside of London Village!

Go FRONCH!

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[Taipan]

90% of the holiday time spent in my van is in France.

The Fronch LOVE motorhomes, there's free over night parking in almost every town and village (Aires). You live in Essex, it's easier for you to get to Fronch than the otherside of London Village!

Go FRONCH!

Yeah but that means dealing with The French!

[KungFooBob]

I've spent lots of time in France and everyone I've met has been lovely.... mostly.

I think it's Parisians that give the Fronch a bad name.

...and everyone speaks English. Except in the Camargue, where there wasn't any English menu's and everyone pretended not to understand a word I said.

[Yorick]

I've spent lots of time in France and everyone I've met has been lovely.... mostly.

I think it's Parisians that give the Fronch a bad name.

...and everyone speaks English. Except in the Camargue, where there wasn't any English menu's and everyone pretended not to understand a word I said.

Been there many times and had no problems. Maybe coz I speak good Frog and Penny woz a Froggy teacher

[636mick]

I tried the off grid campervan, but my gf is a 5 star woman so no toilet or shower didn’t suit us at all. We now have a caravan, I’m very experienced from my married days in a caravan, which has one massive benefit. If you plot up, get sorted in a campervan, them need to go somewhere outside of pushbike or walking distance you need to put everything away. Then hope your pitch is still there on your return. A caravan overcomes this.
If I was alone, off grid camper all the way, but what does Mrs Pietin think?? Does she get all the good and bad bits?
Good luck whichever way you go mate.
Mick

[Pirahna]

I tried the off grid campervan, but my gf is a 5 star woman so no toilet or shower didn’t suit us at all. We now have a caravan, I’m very experienced from my married days in a caravan, which has one massive benefit. If you plot up, get sorted in a campervan, them need to go somewhere outside of pushbike or walking distance you need to put everything away. Then hope your pitch is still there on your return. A caravan overcomes this.
If I was alone, off grid camper all the way, but what does Mrs Pietin think?? Does she get all the good and bad bits?
Good luck whichever way you go mate.
Mick

What makes you thing "off grid" means no bathroom? To me it means you have all the facilites you need on board and don't require an electric hookup for it to function.

I agree that one benefit of a caravan is that you have a car to go and explore, and that's pretty much it. You're towing a long box that needs a dedicated campsite to park it. Ever tried parking a carvan on a motorhome aire in France?

[Felix]

Get a caravan. We can all call you a tugger

[636mick]

I tried the off grid campervan, but my gf is a 5 star woman so no toilet or shower didn’t suit us at all. We now have a caravan, I’m very experienced from my married days in a caravan, which has one massive benefit. If you plot up, get sorted in a campervan, them need to go somewhere outside of pushbike or walking distance you need to put everything away. Then hope your pitch is still there on your return. A caravan overcomes this.
If I was alone, off grid camper all the way, but what does Mrs Pietin think?? Does she get all the good and bad bits?
Good luck whichever way you go mate.
Mick

What makes you thing "off grid" means no bathroom? To me it means you have all the facilites you need on board and don't require an electric hookup for it to function.

I agree that one benefit of a caravan is that you have a car to go and explore, and that's pretty much it. You're towing a long box that needs a dedicated campsite to park it. Ever tried parking a carvan on a motorhome aire in France?

Yep, you’re right, I just think of off grid as basic! Whenever I look at an off grid van it seems to lack the loo and a shower.
I’ve caravanned in France and although there are motorhome sites there are just as many caravan or camp sites. I’ve stayed on a few with a tent with no issues, there were also caravans on them.
Try this site, http://www.camping-municipal.org/index.htm
Some good ones on there.
Mick

[Felix]

Last site i was at i paid for electricity just to boil a kettle and her hair dryer. She could dry the hair at the toilet block for free and i always pack a stove top kettle.

[Wossname]

If you're going to go to a "place" and stay there, a caravan is better. If you want to travel around or tour, campervan or moho avoids the need to tow, park in interesting places, reverse awkward stuff. We have an old coachbuilt van, room for a bog, big double bed, etc. We're almost always off grid, a bit of driving keeps the batteries topped up so no need for solar etc. Bog is really too small for the shower, so we hook the shower hose into the ladder on the back and shower al fresco. Judicious parking. It's only 5m long, so fits a car space. What's your budget?

[Taipan]

If you're going to go to a "place" and stay there, a caravan is better. If you want to travel around or tour, campervan or moho avoids the need to tow, park in interesting places, reverse awkward stuff. We have an old coachbuilt van, room for a bog, big double bed, etc. We're almost always off grid, a bit of driving keeps the batteries topped up so no need for solar etc. Bog is really too small for the shower, so we hook the shower hose into the ladder on the back and shower al fresco. Judicious parking. It's only 5m long, so fits a car space. What's your budget?

We used to have caravans, but I got so pissed off with towing I left the last one in Spain and drove down to it each year. Towing is not something i'd do again, but I agree with your point about them.

I think I'm set on a van-based one now. Been looking at them and their various options. I note the move to off grid styles, wood paneling and copper pipe work, off road-ish style tyres, etc. Whatever I end up with I'll make sure it has, or I'll add, solar panels and a good battery set up etc as I like idea of parking up in the more remote places, but I do suspect it'll be more weekend breaks on campsites?

Budget was hopefully going to be around £20k, but it look like to get anything decent I'll have to up that substantially!?

[Noggin]

I've spent lots of time in France and everyone I've met has been lovely.... mostly.

I think it's Parisians that give the Fronch a bad name.

...and everyone speaks English. Except in the Camargue, where there wasn't any English menu's and everyone pretended not to understand a word I said.

Even the rest of the French think Parisians give the Fronch a bad name

[Pirahna]

Budget was hopefully going to be around £20k, but it look like to get anything decent I'll have to up that substantially!?

To be honest, for £20k you'll just about a buy a decent 5 year old VW T6 from a chippie, it might have some racking for tools but that's about it. If you do start having a serious look and find something you like, get someone who knows what their doing to have a look. Campervans and motorhomes are a whole new world of problems you never knew existed with vehicles.

[Yorick]

I paid €4,000 for 6 year old Jumbo Transit.
Then paid somebody £6,000 for the conversion.

Got exactly what I wanted.

[KungFooBob]

I paid €4,000 for 6 year old Jumbo Transit.
Then paid somebody £6,000 for the conversion.

Got exactly what I wanted.

Almost twenty years ago.

[Yorick]

I paid €4,000 for 6 year old Jumbo Transit.
Then paid somebody £6,000 for the conversion.

Got exactly what I wanted.

Almost twenty years ago.

13 years ago. The van was only 4 years old thinking about it.

[Pirahna]

I paid €4,000 for 6 year old Jumbo Transit.
Then paid somebody £6,000 for the conversion.

Got exactly what I wanted.

I've seen your van. You probably won't remember but you collected a Fireblade from my house for another forum member a few years ago. It was exactly what you wanted it to be, a van to put a motorcycle inside, with tools and spares and a bed to kip in. Take a look at mine and you'll see the difference between a £10k conversion and an £85k job. Mine is designed for mountain bikes. For motorcycles I would have got the extra high top and lifted the bed a bit.

[Yorick]

I paid €4,000 for 6 year old Jumbo Transit.
Then paid somebody £6,000 for the conversion.

Got exactly what I wanted.

I've seen your van. You probably won't remember but you collected a Fireblade from my house for another forum member a few years ago. It was exactly what you wanted it to be, a van to put a motorcycle inside, with tools and spares and a bed to kip in. Take a look at mine and you'll see the difference between a £10k conversion and an £85k job. Mine is designed for mountain bikes. For motorcycles I would have got the extra high top and lifted the bed a bit.

Aha. Yes I remember

Yes, mine was built for a purpose, but was fully equipped in the front as well. Seated 6 in the back and 3 in the front. Cooker, fridge, shower toilet. Double bed in back. Single in front.

Big difference to a posh one, but had all the necessary stuff.

I love stuff like yours, but couldn't justify the cost.

I was really saying that you can build a budget camper as well