Touring in a van

I want to do some touring through Europe this summer and my aim is both to cycle and to rock climb. As such I think I need to take more gear than I could get away with cycle touring alone (and I get dodgy knees doing serious distance anyway so don't feel like I can rely on just cycling to get me around). My plan is to buy a cheap transit style van, chuck some sort of bed in the back and then be able to take a bike + climbing gear + other people, sleep near the rock, get up, climb/cycle on alternate days...

My question is really... has anyone done the whole driving/sleeping in van thing through europe? Any info on which countries might think it is illegal/dodgy, where I should go (thinking northern europe for the climbing), beaurocratic issues of driving cross border... and any tips on buying/offers to sell a van too.

Any info, basically! I'm at the excitable yet nothing booked yet stage of deciding plans.

mucho gracias

I would have a look at the awesomely-named Mazda Bongo.

Once you're in Schengen, crossing borders is pretty straightforward. The minor roads don't even have customs posts on them.

That was what I was hoping for re: border crossings. Thought I might have issues with places classing me as some sort of vagrant and making me move on though?

yeah the Bongo does look pretty good for this purpose, might be pushing budget though as the cheapest converted ones I can find are topping 2k. This will have to be a pretty budget trip so was thinking I might be restricted to a transit and 'ghetto conversion' to campervan, ie mattress in the back and gas stove styleee...

My sister did this a couple of years ago. Said France & Germany were ok for free camping, but in Italy & Spain they got moved on quite a bit by the police.

I would buy a people carrier rather than a van and take all the back seats out. Something like a chrysler grand voyager is plenty big but cheaper to run and get through tolls/ferries etc.

... but in Italy & Spain they got moved on quite a bit by the police.

Maybe they have 'style' laws in place for that sort of thing.