LFGSS Camper Van owners?

Very similar chain of events here in Sweden. The campervan boom has made everyone fed up with them so it's hard to find good spots for wild camping that won't piss anyone off. And campsites are now so rammed with huge vans they feel more like an even worse version of suburbia rather than the escape from it

Made me think of TRA's post from the car thread...

Yeah in the UK we had a tried and tested system of shipping the idiots off to camps in other countries for 8 weeks in the summer to give the rest of us a break. These camps were cramped hell holes, but usually by the sea to keep them occupied, but that seems to have stopped during the pandemic sadly.

I'm part of an Aviemore FB page and see pretty much the same sentiment, I will say tho, in Aberdeenshire I have not seen or heard so much about it and I live near Banchory which you would think would be a bit of a hot spot for touristy shenanigans so maybe Aberdeenshire would still hold out some tolerance for respectable camper-vanning!

I'm thinking that a jeep with a roof tent is slightly less offensive compared with a camper van? Also think a small VW van is easier to stomach compared to a big fuckoff white box on wheels

I think its still a minority that are reacting aggressively, amplified in social media, although I think its definitely changing. Where my family are, there was actually a backlash by local shops saying well if people dont come how are we going to stay open? I would just caution anyone thinking of heading up to those areas that free camping isn't as easy as it was and is getting more attention.

Speaking of local shops - how much money are the campers actually spending locally? Over here I suspect it's close to zero apart from the odd bit here and there. Most of them get their shopping done at a big supermarket to save time and money, then do most of their cooking in the camper. Compared to a 'regular' tourist that stays in a hotel I think the financial value they bring to the local community is very low

It's an interesting dilemma. In the early days post lockdown, locals were worried about tourists spreading the virus and on that basis them not needing to use local facilities would be a good thing.

Likewise I'd have thought people in proper motorhomes are less likely to do the bad things (shit in bushes, dump litter, dump tents, etc) than people in conversions / day vans. Not much logic in who they're asking to go home.

The regular vans aren't so bad, it's the monster rental "sleeps 6" that are what really gets some folks going.

Have my own personal hatred of that type when I was knocked off touring bike on skye by an old German guy driving a hymer. What was worse, the car behind saw the hit and did nothing to stop the guy just driving off (he didn't even know).

Thought this may be of interest to someone here, or you may know of someone interested. My sister is selling her VW camper, please send on to anyone you think might want a look

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Finally it’s here...

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whassat then?

Bed!

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Really effective use of trellis.

Haven't seen that before.

Proper party vibe with the bunting as well - top work

(hope that trellis isn't to keep the driver and passenger safe at a crash!)

Daughters birthday! Probably end up staying 😬

Fence and trellis is legit a fence and trellis!

We still have a disco ball in our kitchen since a bday a few months ago so I say keep it

Kitchen pod in, just fits as I thought it would just squeeze in, going to trim the back left corner so I can move it back a few cm and allow the bed a few cm too.

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Cuppa tea in the van on the beach

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Hi LFGSS camperists and camperism,

I am looking to buy a very small camper for my partner and I.
Budget max 4k£, I am scared to buy from private owner because I am relatively new to the UK (~4 years) and I haven't bought anything with engine in this land.
Any suggestion?
I was looking for something really small like daihatsu hijet camper or something really similar because I've got a really small space on my garage landlord that can fit only one of this sized campers.
I am not looking for something to work a lot on it, better something ready to go. Basic stuff hob/sink/sort of bed/leisure battery or connection to it is not a must to have but might solve some headaches.

Thanks for your help.

Get yourself a Bedford Rascal!

One here: https://www.gumtree.com/p/campervans-motorhomes/bedford-rascal-romahome-not-bambi.-/1386337543

Am I right in thinking that whoever owned this before the dealer intended on making a California Beach out of a Caravelle?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Caravelle-2-0TDI-140PS-SWB-DSG-SE/274548964726?hash=item3fec64bd76:g:K68AAOSwu0BfUo~2

A bit - just another conversion really. Beach lower seats convert into a bed, no mention of whether that does...

I'm assuming they do because of the padded platform above the slide-out draws.

Seems odd to remove all the roof mounted aircon gubbins that is a feature of the Caravelle.

I'm coming round to the idea of a camper, but my thinking at the moment is that a pop-top bed would be preferable to a bench that converts in order to keep space in the van itself for living and storage. Not that I've been for a poke around any of these things yet.

Pop tops do make sense, but not having a bench bed limits your stealthy camping options (and possibly more importantly, windy camping...)

Dunno about Caravelle aircon. Californias have rear aircon in the pillars.