More and more people dream of freedom and of being with a Van, camper, van, camper van, minivan, caravan or camper bus to go on tour. Before realizing this dream is the procurement of the right camper. But which motorhome is the right one? There are so many different campers, vans, bullis, panel vans, motorhomes, caravans or white goods that the choice is difficult.

Motorhome - Who has the choice, has the agony

No matter if DIY camper conversion, off the shelf or from individual fitters, you should think in advance what features should have the right vehicle, and especially what makes you happy. What are the criteria for choosing a van?

Of course, the wallet sets a framework and certainly also limits. But it is much more important that the vehicle really suits you and fulfills all your wishes. It's better to consider what can be retrofitted instead of having to make too many compromises at the base.

So how do you actually find the right vehicle? What criteria do you use to select it? We have a few questions with the help of which the right vehicle can be quickly identified. It is important to answer these questions honestly. Talking things up rarely helps.

What license do you need for your van, camper & van?

Which vehicle can you drive with your driver's license? After that, you should first choose your camper. Or do you want to get a new license for your dream motorhome? When did you get your driver's license? Do you have your Car driving license Class 3 made before 1999, you may drive cars and trucks up to 7.5t. With the introduction of the European driving license law in Germany on 1.1.1999, the passenger car driving license class B may only be used to drive vehicles up to 3,5t be driven.

By the way, this has always been the case in Austria and Switzerland. For vehicles over 3.5t you need the C1 driving license, from 7.5t the C driving license. The registration certificate of the vehicle is always relevant.

Van, Camper & Bulli Weight

But it has other advantages among the 3,5 tons to stay. This is because additional guidelines apply in different countries. In Austria, for example, you need a Go-Box instead of a vignette. This leads to higher toll costs. Often speed limits are also and overtaking bans are regulated differently. Bridges can only be allowed for vehicles up to 3.5t. And ferries become more expensive the larger the vehicle.

Pay attention to these weight restrictions, ie. the Permissible total weight. This is an example of a VW California depending on the type, about 3 tons. The discussions, not only in VW forums, show how difficult it is to comply with this. Already during the configuration, people think about whether the vehicle may be equipped with an awning or a spare wheel. And the guys at VW, from experience, consistently rely on lightweight aluminum construction for the expansion.

This makes it difficult for DIY builders to keep up. Thus, it quickly becomes more difficult than expected for interior fittings or loads. IKEA furniture may be beautiful, cheap and quickly installed, but unfortunately it is also very heavy. Check directly the Unladen weight of your desired vehicle and What payload allowed is. Check this on a scale, preferably before you buy. You can quickly find scales of this type by googling 'public scales near you'. Mostly at scrap yards or agricultural production cooperatives. You should keep to the permissible total weight. Apart from the fact that your vehicle is simply not designed for more weight, e.g. not even the brakes, you can expect fine catalogs with severe penalties depending on the country. In individual cases Load increase possible, which must be registered with the TÜV.

Van, camper, van - cost time and money

How much time and money do you want to or can you invest in your dream camper? If you have a lot of time but not much money Self-expansion certainly the right solution. It would be good if you are not completely unskilled with your hands, or have a network of friends who can help each other. If you do not have quite so much time, look for prefabricated Interior moduleswhich you can install individually in your base vehicle or have installed for small money.

Those who want to invest more money are only limited by time, because delivery times for campers of all kinds are currently often well over a year. The more individual the extension and the smaller the extension manufactory, the longer is usually the delivery period. So if you are short of time, ordering a new vehicle is not the right thing to do.

Alternatives are daily registrations, demonstration vehicles or used vehicles, which can be found at the dealer or on all common portals. There we also see from time to time campers that are only 6 weeks old.

Van, Camper & Bulli - Only for vacation or Fulltimevanlifer?

How much time do you want to spend in your van, camper, bulli & Co? Will you go on tour for 3 weeks during the vacations and once in a while for a weekend? Then you can make one or the other compromise. Or are you a fulltimevanlifer? So you don't have an apartment anymore, but live fulltime in your Van, Camper, Bulli & Co? Then you should Your new home happy from the very beginning. Do you want to work in it too? What exactly do you need for it? Plan this in immediately.

If you don't live in a camper, the question of the Everyday suitability. How quickly can I remove the bed or a bench seat, for example. Anyone who, like Marc, has tried to remove the bench seat on their own in a California is sure to ask themselves these questions. Marc was made whole again after a few visits to the back doctor, however.

Single minivan, surfer van or large family motorhome?

How many people are traveling with you? The more people, the larger the vehicle should be. What else should fit inside? What hobby do you have? Boxes for 2 dogs, surfboards or bicycles simply need their place. Where exactly should this be? Maybe some of your equipment can be attached to the outside? Have you taken all this into account with the weight?

Van, camper & van with a bed for tall people

How tall are you? Small people can sleep beautifully across the back of the van. If you are tall, you should plan for a larger bed and possibly opt for the long wheelbase in the van. SCA roofs are also available overlong for the LR, so that the bed is also longer at the top. But not only the length, but also the width of the lying surface is an issue. We have, for example, in the SpaceCamper a "mere" 10cm wider lying surface than in the current California. But one may hardly believe what a difference this makes.

Do you want a Pop-up roof? Creates a lot of space and headroom inside. But keep in mind that you can only attach max. 50kg on this roof. Do you want an electric pop-up roof? Keep in mind that you have to start the engine every time. You want a manual pop-up roof? Then you either have a lot of power or no load on the roof.

Bulli minimalism or camper comfort?

Do you want to have comfort like a bathroom with running water? A flush toilet and a hot shower inside? Then a van is definitely the wrong camper for you, unless you are only on 5* campsites. Also larger campers as well as the so-called white goods, usually offer less comfort than expected.

Solar on the roof or electricity from the socket?

What does your optimal parking space off? Camping site, camper site or wild and free? If you have a power outlet nearby every 2 days, you don't need to worry much about a solar system and storage. And can also use without hesitation a kettle, toaster or other things that spontaneously need a lot of electricity. Who wants to stand longer free, should consider for how many days the batteries should last. Since campsites are mostly flat, you also do not need an air chassis that aligns your vehicle horizontally.

Does sustainability play a role in your decision?

Should, for example, the Sustainability, the Environment and thus a low Co2 emission be important, only certain vehicles come into question. Environmental zones can also quickly become an issue. Not least the VW scandal has shown that the VW bus does not quite live up to its eco and hippie image. Only the current version, can score again. The VW T6.1 meets the Euro 6d TEMP- EVAP "Evaporative Emission" in the "In-Service-Conformity-Tests". Means on the road and not only on the test bench. But not only VW should be looked at critically in terms of life cycle assessment. Many cult campers have neither a catalytic converter nor acceptable fuel consumption. Take the Mercedes Kurzhauber, for example. Cuddly round, isn't it? But how can a fuel consumption of just under twenty liters on the road and up to forty liters in off-road operation be assessed? Up to now, this vehicle has been allowed to drive in environmental zones in Germany because of its H license plate. But whether this will remain so? We don't know. 

Plan camper vacation or go spontaneously?

How often do you want to change your pitch? Do you go in the summer to a Camping sitewhich you book half a year in advance and then stay there for 3 weeks? Or do you go spontaneous at least every 2 - 3 days? Then it doesn't make sense that you first have to rebuild everything for 2 hours before you can continue driving. Also ask yourself whether a rotating driver's seat makes sense. Because with the Wild Stand it can always be that you drive off very spontaneously. Because the GNR just clears the beach, spontaneously at night wind comes up and you prefer to drive from your place above the steep coast into the windless inland, or quite profane the place so beautiful at noon turns out in the evening as a romping place of the village youth, and you can not sleep.

Small Bulli or big Concord?

How big can your van be on the outside? What are the outside dimensions of your camper? Do you love small Italian villages with narrow, narrow streets? Then your van, camper, Bulli & Co should not have truck dimensions, or you still have a 2. small vehicle such as a Quad in the rear garage. Do you want to go on the beach, in dunes or on unpaved mountain trails? Then would be All wheel good. 2m-Height restrictions at the beach should not stop you or you want to park in your underground garage or in the city of Cologne in a parking garage? Then your van, camper, Bulli & Co should not be too high. There are quickly limits. Because already stronger dampers bring a VW California over the 2m limit.

Four wheel drive and offroad

You love the seclusion and want to stand where no one but you comes? Then your van, camper, Bulli & Co. off-road capable be and perhaps a special Offroad driving safety training. Because every situation can be mastered better if you already know it from training and know what to do. Your camper should be all-wheel or 4motion, Underride protection etc. can be retrofitted.

In the sun or in the snow?

Where do you want to go? Which Temperatures prevail there? The colder it is, the more important a Parking heaterand the better the van, camper, van & Co should be insulated. A Outdoor shower is beautiful at 35°, but a medium disaster at 10° minus. We have chosen a compromise here, for example. Outdoor shower under the tailgate, with privacy screen yes, but with hot water.

Kitchen or Campfire?

Kitchen inside or outside? We love our coffee in bed in the morning. That's why an indoor cooking facility was very important to us. We can swing that out in good weather and Cooking outside. This is, of course, pure luxury. But one that must be considered in advance. Because a second sliding door is difficult to install afterwards.

Sliding doors left and right?

The disadvantage of a 2nd sliding door is that you have nothing more laterally outside on the Bulli fasten such as surfboards or sand sheets. These can be attached to the top of the roof if there is room next to the solar panels. Then you may need a ladder or similar, which again brings weight.

These were our suggestions to help you choose your dream van, camper, van & Co.

Have we forgotten anything? Feel free to write us. 

PS: Here you can find our SpaceCampers Equipment details, our SpaceCamper Expansion, the SpaceCamper Detail equipment "Last Call, as well as SpaceCamper Insider tips.

Here our TERRANGER Offroad modifications, info about the topics Terranger off-road driving training, Energy management, DIY Water tanks, DIY Rear carrier system, Vehicle Security & Anti-Theft, Pit stop at delta4x4, Sand sheets, Vehicle foiling and Ceramic sealing.

To round off the topic Product piracy with offroad tuners.

The topics Packing list, Tips & Tricks, BUTCH & Friends, Home port, the Travel blogs, the subject HAPPINESS MUSCLE as well as About us we have dedicated separate sections. You can contact us here.

And last but not least here is our link overview "Follow the Sun". So you know where you can still follow us. 

You will find your way around. 😎 If you like the posts, tell and share it, thank you!