Campervan Comparison: The Options for our next van...

[@teaforthree1]

I can help with one thing. If it is your only vehicle, daily driver, forget the motorhome and go panel van. I’ve had both the panel van is much more manoeuvrable, ages better too. If carrying bikes inside is important get a 6m Ducato with a fixed high bed for good garage beneath. Then buy two Brompton folders, unbelievably nice to ride.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes we are veering towards a panel van for its more practical aspects. Funnily enough we do have 2 Bromptons that we have inherited from my mum. Her late husband bought them about 15 years ago and we have used them a few times in our VW - great for getting into villages when campsites are out of town!!

[@LB-W]

My favourites Knaus Boxdrive 600, swift Trekker, Hymer free s 600, Sven hedin. Insulation is best in Knaus and Hymer.

[@teaforthree1]

Globecar Summit worth a look too. Don’t like the Trekker one little bit. German build quality for me please.

[@unclebob8419]

Great video. Have you ever got stuck or had problems with the front wheel drive VW?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - no particular problems other than self made! We got stuck in a sand dune driving in a forest car park once and had to be towed out!! One thing Richard has definitely noticed is the all season tyres are great on grass campsites in wet weather!

[@cedarcanoe]

A converted LWB VW Transporter with high-roof?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It is another option we haven’t ruled out - there is so much choice out there 🚐

[@sashak2000]

Hello! Love the channel - inspired. One thing I really want to hear about is your thoughts on the height of the van. We did 2 weeks in Ireland in a borrowed VW California which is 1.95 meters - this meant we could get under all height barriers of which there were many, and often get you to the better and quieter camping spots!! We didnt realise it at the time, but looking back we would have missed out on so many great spots has we been any higher. Obviously the trade off is less space but I would be interested to hear from you both, having travelled for so long and to so many different places. Are height barriers an issue? Thanks. Keep on travelling..😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Thanks for watching 😊 At the moment we can pretty much travel anywhere in the van as it is no bigger than a Range Rover which is great as it is our daily drive. We do not tend to visit cities which is where we come across must height restrictions. We have found places like Cornwall have many carparks height barriered which is pain if you are just visiting for the day from a campsite but the P4N app is great at highlighting carparks that you can use both for overnight or if you just want somewhere to fit the van to park in the day. In general height barriers have not been an issue to us and our van is 2.10 with the pop top roof and solar and the type of places we visit I can't see it being an issue when we swap to a slightly bigger van that will be much taller as we want the standing up height. Hope this helps a little 🚐

[@sashak2000]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust Great, thanks for replying. Looking forward to following your onward adventures and seeing where it takes you next. Have you thought about doing the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland?

[@nikolayanusauskas2988]

Hi Richard and Jackie , been watching an old vlog , can I ask please where you got your bug vents from have been looking but can’t find them .Thank you

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi - we got them from a company called CSI parts on Facebook - they have a link to their website.

[@nikolayanusauskas2988]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust Thank you

[@davidabrahamhouse]

Hi Guys, just looking at your video today. We've been going through the same thing with choosing how to upgrade our T5.1. We've opted for a Murvi, based in Plymouth, definitely check them out! They come with underslung LPG as standard and diesel heating/hot water etc. etc. Good luck 😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I have not heard of that but will look it up! Thanks for the recommendation 😊

[@tbir5689]

If you go down the Fiat route check out reliability issues..seem to be better with newer versions - but they're not very old so hard to say whether longer-term that will still be the case. I've fallen into the trap of changing vehicle brand and taking for granted the positives of the previous make. For me now the mechanical underpinnings and engine toughness come first with everything else secondary.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

There are so many things to think about! Hopefully in 2 years we will have more of an idea how the Fiats are standing up 🚐

[@ianferguson3543]

After 10 years of VW we got a 6m ducato (hymer) with loo, shower, space for two folding e-bikes.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Nice! Hope you are enjoying your travels with all the extra space 🚐

[@mikebutterworth73]

Agree an instant follow, you are both great presenters with honesty and a nice matter of factness if thats a word. I look forward to seeing more of your travels and good luck with all the various compromises that come with choosing vans/motorhomes etc..

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It's not going to be an easy process...but we are certainly going to enjoy it. Thanks for the comment👍

[@chrisife2303]

we were tempted by the VW transporter style when we are looking for a van a couple of years ago, but went for a Knaus Boxstar 540 (similar to the Dreamer D43) but instead of getting a pop top, we bought a Cabbunk for our daughter to sleep on, which will also work if you have grandkids as you don't have the expense or weight penalty of a pop top

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes we have not considered the extra weight a pop top would add and the bigger vans are already closer to the payload than our small VW. We have seen a couple of fab knaus vans. Thanks for your recommendations and happy travels x

[@Kiwiwanderer]

Instant follow. Love the energy / intelligence between you.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you 😊

[@jonathon5372]

We went from a California to a Wildax Solaris xl. Best decision ever. Small enough at 6.3m to go anywhere but comfortable for 4 luxury for 2. Full kitchen and a proper shower...

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Several people have mentioned how much they love their Wildax vans, we did see a few at the show and liked them but I think we will go to a showroom to see them when it is less busy - thanks for the recommendation

[@MichaelWhite-e6m]

Having experienced the journey you are about to set off on and understanding your requirements I’d say: Panel vans are great, we had a 540, but the vast majority are poorly insulated and can get cold in low temperatures. Cold air will make its way in through all the doors and the dashboard. You can find a way around this but it’s a faff. No double floor and underslung waste water tanks add to the problem. Go as big as you can. Whilst you will enjoy the increased head height and ability to move around the panel van the dinettes/living area can become extremely tight. A 6m van gives you a little more space over a 540 but not significantly. The space you enjoy whilst sitting in your T6 of an evening will feel cavernous in comparison funnily enough. Having a larger van is full of compromises, I’d suggest you focus on layout, level of insulation and type of habitation construction (avoid wood if you can as you are entering a world of potential water ingress and damp) Before you think about a new van I’d advise you to have a good look at used vans, there are some very good low mileage German vans on the market that might appeal to you. You are also going to encounter motorhome dealers who for some reason are very difficult to deal with and for the best part seem incapable of providing good customer service. It’s a minefield. We are currently waiting for our 4th van to be delivered which we hope we’ve got right this time. Wishing you both good luck and hope that it’ll be a good experience.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Lots of fab advice Thankyou. We have been looking at some of the German builds and also the Adria vans that are fully winterised. Price of new vans may dictate that we look around for second hand, low mileage vans anyway which we would be more than happy to do. Particularly if we have a really good idea of what we are specifically looking for. We definitely won’t get anything bigger than 6m behind our house which is the biggest consideration as I would want to park it at home as it will be a main vehicle. We have already come across a couple of very unhelpful dealerships who seemingly had no interest in selling us a van and not letting us take a peak in some of the vans from the door as they were sold!! Thanks for watching - hope your new van is the right one this time 🚐😊

[@tripswithgriff]

I think you want a sorta Crafter/Sprinter MWB (5.99m) type and they're only 2cm wider than the T6. You can have a pop top on them to add 2 extra beds. Ours has a slightly higher than normal fixed bed that allows bikes underneath with just a front wheel off and no need to touch the saddle and bars etc. We went totally gas free and 100% electric - really easy to do these days with the current tech and it also means dual electric/diesel heating is possible so you can have silent heating when on EHU. You can add an induction hob that doubles as worktop when not in use. The space inside is HUGE and we simply cant begin to fill it after the T6 and our standard kit. We initially went there not wanting a bathroom but fell in love with the idea of a wet room with simple porta potti - allows you to use the wet room as a more spacious shower if you want or a loo, but you can hang wet kit in there and it actually dries. Its been a huge gamechanger for us just on our first few trips in the wet this year. We've also found that the design of these bigger vans with less windows also means they are MUCH warmer than the Transporters and its really noticeable overnight. Most have external water/waste tanks though so if you want alps winterisation then that will need insulation and heating fitted. The 3 vans you mention look great though and hope you have loads of fun choosing and designing the next van. We love ours and even though we absolutely loved the T6 we have the same issues as you and 100% feel we did the right thing to swap. Good luck.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for the insight. I like the idea of the wet room/ drying area. We are still hoping to not really need/ use the facilities in a new van - but mega handy when we are out in more remote areas or in built up town aires. It is exciting seeing what is out there but daunting seeing how much van prices have increased in the 7 years since we bought Nelson! Happy travels this summer 🚐

[@SallyMargerison]

Definitely take a look at Consort Motorhomes based in Leeds. They do a range of van conversions with a few styles 6m and under. We have a Consort Oslo 6.3m on a Peugeot Boxer. They convert Fiat Ducatos too. We have solar/ diesel heating ( as well as EHU) and under slung LPG. The build quality is second to none and the service from Scott & Jane who run the business is excellent. Highly recommended. Sally & Rob

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We are not too far from Leeds so may build in a trip over the summer to take a look 🚐 thanks for the recommendation 😊

[@teaforthree1]

Yes, Scott builds a nice van but unfortunately they’re all rear lounge so sadly lacking in storage

[@stevedrake3287]

Just got our new van from Consort. Cannot praise them enough. Check out their videos for a quick overview. They have a factory open week coming up so do check them out. There is LOTS more space than you think and certainly more you have currently have. Not cheap but worth it. They are very flexible about your needs and work with you. Customer service is outstanding and being close to you in Leeds is a big plus.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Cheers we will go across and have a look at some point - happy travels in the new van 🚐

[@Christopher-sj2sc]

Westfalia Sven Hedin, I've changed to that from a smaller VW camper! Same VAG build quality, less than 6m and outstanding build quality.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We will have a look - there are so many fab vans out there! It will take 2 years to make a decision 🤣

[@bluemanchester4344]

Nice van but £100k. Very long lead time.

[@AliGir-c5s]

We have been through a similar thought process and finally chose the D43up. We moved from camping so we particularly liked the tent style pop top and also the fixed rear bed so effectively we have two fairly private rooms. And yes having a washroom and loo is a definite plus as you get older. We also chose the extra winter insulation kit.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I really liked the D43 up as it had everything and is still not too long. We were not looking for a van with a pop top as we only use ours now as a storage space and so we can have more head room - but it looked fab. Glad you are liking it. We did price it up with the winter package as the basic model was very basic!!

[@jonroberts2820]

Might be an idea to rent a motorhome first. We did and as others have said the narrow habitation door means you are either in or out. Not for us.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

The door debate is likely to run and run. We absolutely understand where you are coming from with it not being for you... we were even discussing this (again!) this morning. We hired an RV when touring Colorado earlier in the year and this is what raised our awareness of the door issue. Lots of thinking still to do... Thanks for the comment. R

[@freeontour]

After 7,5 years with our T6 California Ocean, now sold, we are waiting for the delivery in April of a Hymer Free S 600 Campus (with a sliding door and a pop-top roof😊). For us, a good alternative and (important) the Mercedes Sprinter is comfortable van to drive. Succes in your research for a suitable van for your needs. Best regards from Belgium!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Richard really likes the Hymer vans, especially the sprinters - sadly I think they will be too expensive for us 🥲 How exciting that your delivery date is so close - Happy travels in your new van 🚐

[@freeontour]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust Thank you, wishing you safe and great journeys!

[@brianwigglesworth4924]

Hi Richard and Jackie just found your channel, great to see you explaining the van , trips and retirement etc. I am into my second year of retirement and my wife retires this year, we are starting our journey into van life so your explanation of choosing the van was great. So now this vlog pricked up my ears when you said you may be upgrading, if you are serious could you drop me a message and we could have a chat, regards Brian.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Brian We are starting to look what types of vans are out here for our next van but it will be 2 years before we swap as that is when we can access our pension. We love our T6 and have had so many great adventures in it! A very exciting year for you both as you will now have so much time to do what you want - it is a great feeling knowing you can just pack up and go!

[@brianwigglesworth4924]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust cheers Richard, thanks for the reply, now my search begins, lol

[@joemorris1763]

WE finally got to convert a van, in our 70's. For all the reasons you have highlighted we decided against a T6 and went for a 6m Peugeot Boxer. We put in an underneath LPG tank but decided on a diesel heater plumbed into the main tank for our heat.. Fixed bed at the back with a two seater sideways seat behind the two front seats. The first thing on our list, due to our age, was a toilet cubicle but we did not have a shower. We fitted double glazed windows that open that come with fitted blinds and fly screens. What we found is that we can get into most car parks without a height barrier due to only being 6m. We have used for a couple of winters and it is warm and cosy, likewise in the summer the opening windows help with the heat. Because our bed is over a metre high we have a nice big garage under the bed. Because it is a Boxer were able to have the bed crossways which helped tremendously with space. Because our heating is diesel our LPG lasts us for ages as its just for cooking.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

That sounds amazing. We converted our T6 over 6 years ago and it was great to be able to choose what we wanted in the van. We certainly don't want to and can't go any bigger than 6m as it will be our daily drive too. The Ducato's are like the Boxers and a little wider which will help with a traverse bed. It's quite exciting getting ideas for the new van and it has been lovely having so many comments with recommendations and giving us food for thought on some of the things we thought we wanted! Thanks for your insights and happy travels.

[@paulhorsley4880]

We had vw transporter camper for 6 years and had converted a crafter last, what a game changer, more freedom more space, we both ski and ride all year, plenty of space and all electric , in 6 months we haven’t plugged in once. Good luck in whatever you choose, great channel

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

There are so many fab choices of vans out there! It’s a good job we have 2 years to decide 🤣 thanks for watching 😊

[@flukeylukey7559]

Different idea, have considered the Easy Caravanning TakeOff, its a super lightweight aerodynamic caravan that you tow behind an EV, you'll hardly know its there. Very frugal holidays and as a daily driver. Can put bikes on the front, could put a curtain across for the wc or have fold out one outside. Good to get away from diesel if you can.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this. It isn't something that we have considered as we love the touring convenience of a small van. We know that towable options are really popular with lots of people, but we just don't think that it would meet our needs. Thanks for the comment. 👍

[@grahamwhiteside2122]

Take a look at the WildAx Pulsar Mk 2 It’s a 5.4m Fiat Ducato conversion by a Yorkshire based company. It has 2 sliding doors and can be specified with a Volt pack meaning the van living facilities are fully electric. It’s also fully winterised. We have just got one as our first van and it’s great - very manageable as it’s only just a wee bit bigger that a VW T6 - and I can easily stand up in it and I’m 6’ 2”

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for the recommendation - we were going to have a look at WildAx as we had seen a nice looking 5.48m van on our recent trip - maybe the same van you have. We are planning on going to the show again in October now we have more of an idea as to what we want and need in a van. Have a great time travelling 🚐

[@leithmurray736]

I currently own a t5 Long wheel base 4x Motion VW I have driven it all over Australia. I built this out myself 11 years ago. My advice to you would be to to avoid at any cost a front wheel drive campervan, this unfortunately will eliminate 95% of all vans. I genuinely believe there are only 2 choices. 4x4 if not available go for a rear wheel drive with a locking differential The following manufacturers make suitable vans. Vw crafter. Mercedes sprinter. Iveco is daily

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi thanks for the recommendation. To be fair after nearly 7 years with Nelson we have had no issues bar one occasion where Richard drove into a hidden sand dune in a forest 😂 🚐

[@Wheres_wanda_wandering]

We changed from a 6m motorhome (Elddis MAJESTIC 135) to a 5.4m Wildax Pulsar Mk2 last April. The Wildax has 4 travel seats and we thought that we could use a Cab bunk if we ever have grandchildren. It is much easier to park than the 6m van and Wanda is my daily drive. We also have a large awning that has 2 sleeping pods so we can go away with our adult children. Do you watch Ken and Carol from Life is too short. They have just gone from a nv200 to a Consort Nova. This is also on the fiat ducato 5.4m. Hope this helps. Take care Gill

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Gill- glad that people who have made the move can back up our initial thoughts. 6m sounds big to us already...and the 5.4 feels a bit more appealing at this early stage. I would not cope with parking a 6m van as I already struggle with the T6😂 Glad to hear that Wanda is your daily drive...vans are definitely for using! We do watch Ken and Karen, but didn't realise their new van was a 5.4m- it looks enormous from the inside which is very encouraging! R

[@designedtogoslow]

We build us a fully electric campervan. The Maxus EV80 which is 5,7m long. Meanwhile we went through entire Europe with it. Months in a row. The last 26.000 km were brilliant and without any problems. PS We'd paid €21.000 for the van with only 4000km on it and another €20.000 for the build. Incl. Infrared heating, induction cooker, airfryer, 1.4kW solar, compr. 89ltr fridge/freezer, hotwater system, compost toilet, etc...

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

sounds a great set up for you 😊 especially travelling through Europe

[@martinhollis5134]

square section van, tend to get blown over more easier, on the motorway.( about 25% to 50% easier) Also they rock in the night. cab units with a box on the back, do not crash well, are far more specialised / difficult (? ) to repair, and are therefor more expensive to repair. Think about an insulated folding poptop. Plastic windows have a shorter life than glass, and if of a complicated shape, can be difficult to replace after 10 or 15 years plus. Just my views.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for your reflections - there is a lot to consider - its a good job we have a couple of years to decide 😂

[@shetlandsheep3081]

I dont know if the Chausson 514 would be so suitable as your daily driver? That’s not said to be anti-514 as Ive literally just put a deposit on one (!!!), but we live in the centre of a city with excellent transport of all kinds so we wouldnt need to be using it as a “car” too. If we did need to drive it daily we would have gone for a panel van type. They are a great design tho, we have folding electric bikes and the garage space for these is ideal.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes we are thinking that way - it is a little bigger than the panel vans but it is such a lovely van 🚐 I do have a fiat 500 that my son has at the moment. I could always get it back from him 🤣 enjoy your new van when you get it!

[@steenjakobsen3576]

Great video. I will follow closely as you get to choose. Have you considered the resale value 10 years after given the fact that Diesel will be long gone by then and a diesel driven van will be banned from entry into most major European cities like Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and the list keeps growing. ? This is our major concern and it seems the whole industry is sleeping and trying not to talk about it. What are your thoughts about that? Our children will definitely NEVER invest in a diesel car of any kind. We drive Tesla Model Y Long Range and it is just a complete GAME CHANGER for all driving. Diesel and other combustion engine cars seems a thing form the past!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

At the moment there is really not much of an option other than diesel for us in a van in the UK - we travel frequently to very remote areas that would worry us about being stranded if there was an electric option. However as we are not in a position to get a van for another 2 years - it may change considerably, because as you say, the rules on emissions and engines are changing. You are right, the industry is not really promoting much in the form of alternatives at the moment!

[@timsands7288]

Exciting planning for a new van. I love my larger motorhome but if I was going to downsize. the slim Chaussons are very impressive. Having a spacious lounge is really important for us. The pokey half dinette seats we had in our first van were fine for the occasions we had passengers but were uncomfortable for lounging. Facing sofas and drop down beds are great!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Richard really liked the Chausson - mainly for the man cave underneath, not the living arrangements! Good job we have 2 years to make a decision!

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Agree!

[@duncangibson9235]

I think it’s easy to get hung up on size. I’ve gone from 7m motorhome to 9m motorhome to T6 California to Knaus BoxDrive 600XL. None of the bigger vans have been an impediment to travelling (NC500, Cornwall etc). The Knaus has been super so far for a family of four and would be even better for two. I’d say 6m panel van would be perfect. 👍🏻

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Wow that's a lot of changes! Yes 6m van will be perfect for us as it will also be our daily drive.

[@julesbaby47]

Personally we MUST have a sliding door, it’s what connects you to the outside. Also, I’m fed up of worrying about strong winds bending our California pop up. Along with the . So no more pop ups. PS I’m loving your channel thank you

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes we are definitely leaning towards a van with a big sliding door although someone did point out we will probably lose the space to sit on the doorstep. But looking in a few vans we love how much more open it feels with the bigger door.

[@wanderingsofalanandcaz]

Good video guys. For everyday use I’d steer away from a MH and head towards a panel van. We have a Boxer L3 and a high bed with big garage underneath we can fit 2 road bikes and 2 Brompton and all our hiking and climbing gear. They are so roomy.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Luckily we do not need to make any big decisions yet but probably veering towards a van not a motorhome - we have had a look at a few that are on the campsite where we are at the moment which is helping.

[@broadpete]

I think you'll find those you've shortlisted a bit big for everyday / only vehicle use. That bit of extra width is a killer in supermarkets / towns etc. I suspect you might end up with a small 2nd car (unless I missed that you already have one).

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We are really torn between sticking to a 5.4m van or the 6m - luckily no decisions need to be made for quite a few months. I do have a fiat 500 which has been on permanent loan to our son since since we moved house and retired but he is looking to buy a car in the next few months so we should be ok. Our biggest issue is parking it behind our mid terrace house which is only just over 5m wide!

[@billaspin]

I have a T6 SWB Campervan. It’s just me in it most of the time. I intentionally retained the factory roof as never wanted a pop-top. When inside I spend 99% of time sat down in any case and in the four years I’ve had the T6 I haven’t missed the lack of standing room at all. At my time of life though, 56, I have given some thought as to what I would do cometh the day I may feel I might benefit from standing room, and I think I’d retain the T6 and consider having a high top roof fitted, thus retaining the daily drive capability of the T6, with the only compromises I can see being the inability to use car parks with height restrictions and any notion of stealth camping. PS - I went for a RIB Bed rather than R&R. It was the best decision, so much storage space underneath (including room for Porta Potti) and boot space for my needs. Good luck in your decision further down the line.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We have absolutely loved the T6 over the past 6 years and would still have made the same decision back then as it has been such an easy van to get about in. The pop top makes a huge difference space wise to us - both the height and the big shelf we can store most of our stuff on out of the way. We don’t want to go any bigger than 6m so it will still be easy to drive about - the increased height is something we will have to get used to as it will limit some of the places we can access. Thanks for sharing your own experiences 🚐

[@The_Hero_Is_Back]

We have a 6.4m Hymer panel van conversion with facilities. Winterised, central heating, auto transmission, Ducato-based. We’ve camped in a snowy field at minus five and it was warm inside. If I were replacing it, I’d go for 6m. 6.4m feels a bit long to park sometimes. There are 5.4m vans as well. Not sure if that would be long enough for an extended tour. And it’s too high for car parks. Pluses for me are that as a panel van conversion, the body panels will always be there and Hymer seems to have an excellent parts network.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you that is very helpful 😊 6.4 would be far too long for us as we couldn’t park it by our house. We think 6m is probably the size. We are also thinking more a panel van than coach built. We have had several suggestions of vans to go and look at over the next few months which is exciting 🚐 we have had 6 weeks in the alps in the VW this winter and have been toasty warm (there was frost on the inside metal and windows one morning when it went down below -14 degrees!!) happy travels 🚐

[@ruggerdoe]

Hi we had a T6 which we loved now updated to the Grand California 600 ! Looked to have a conversion but the price worked out more expensive VW have some great deals also ! Good luck in your choices

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We have looked at the Grand Californias before when a friend of ours hired one - they look fab. We are veering towards a 5.50m Ducato van which is slightly wider and will have a toilet in - Dreamer did one that we really like. Our biggest hurdle is being able to park it on our drive and we will struggle with anything much bigger. Happy travels this summer 🚐

[@anns6393]

I may have missed it but did you mention the height of the various vans you are interested in? We first had an Auto Cruise Alto now a Knaus Sun Ti. The biggest issues with the Knaus (7m) is car parks with height barriers - unfortunately there are more and more out there 😡 We could both stand in the AC but then we’re under 5’ 9”. Ann

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

The height of most of the vans is around 2.65 so will definitely be affected by height barriers compared to the VW. Luckily our local supermarkets don’t have them - but it is something we will need to consider. I may have to wrangle my car ( fiat 500) back from our son at that point so we can have a small run around 🤣

[@Goldenretrieverandacampervan]

We had a VW California which had a much bigger garage space than yours due to different bed. We recently upsized to an Adria Twin 600, absolutely love it 👍🏻

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I did love the Adria Twins at the show and they are a great winterised van 🚐 cost for us could be the issue - hopefully one could come up with low mileage on when we are ready to move forward in a couple of years. They were lovely inside

[@davidbewick6885]

You say you value the sliding door and I understand that. We now have a 6 m Ducato- based van and we also love being able to throw the back doors open and take in the views. We have a rear lounge rather than a fixed bed and this gives us a lot of flexibility but no garage, of course. Everything is a compromise in a van, you just have to be sure you make the calls that suit your own requirements. We had a LWB T5 that we loved but life with a memory foam bed topper and a big dog could be “challenging”, especially in bad weather. The 6m Ducato suits us really well in every practical sense apart from parking - it is a lot trickier than a SWB VW. Good luck with your van journey in every sense.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I agree, as well as the sliding door we often have the tailgate open so we can get more fresh air and take in the views. We have seen quite a few vans that we really like - some more with in our budget range than others!! It's reassuring to know that what we have on our wish list is out there.

[@OurWedding2012]

Hi folks, came across your channel today, we are in the process of downsizing from a new 7.5m Chausson (loved the design style and features of Chausson compared to the UK Manufacturers) to a 2nd hand 6m Pannel van conversion after 9 yrs with our first van. We did look at the 2nd slimline 6m Coachbuilt too. My wife also wanted a ULEZ compliant vehicle. Enjoyed your very professional vlogging style, so subscribed and will look at some of your back videos.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you ☺️ Yes we want to have a vehicle that we will be able to drive through some of the cities local to us and that has a low Crit Aire category for French travel so we are not worried about route planning. Wow it will be a bit of a change for you going from a big motorhome - we were really surprised how spacious some of the 6m vans felt. There are some very clever designers out there! Have fun travelling in your new van 🚐

[@garyhicks5117]

Thought about Murvi? Ford or Fiat, slidding door, and you can get them with large rear storage areas

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Someone else has mentioned Murvi - we will have a look thanks

[@DonnaEdwards-yf1gt]

Love the Vw Nelson badge! Where did you get it? You guys inspire us so much

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you so much for watching 😊 I bought the Nelson badge 6 years ago on Facebook from a bloke who produced them on a 3D printer. I can’t find a link but I am sure there must be other companies out there 🚐

[@graemeroberts5730]

A good fair vid.just a thought…..only because it happened to us…….do seriously consider an auto gearbox especially as you get older. Knees do wear out…😂 My left knee seized up whilst touring central France in our moho. The pain changing gears was quite incredible but we got home. Out went the Rapido and in came an auto gearbox Hymer. We loved german vans from this point on purely for the quality of the winterisation in them. So many thoughts & options though!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for the insight - no major decision made about gear boxes beyond if we can afford it - what you have said makes sense though as I remember mum swapping to automatics because of her knees 😬 there’s nothing glamorous about getting old!

[@mgjnet5756]

Been enjoying the channel for a while now and had the same 'headroom' issues with our T6 i.e. not wanting to use the pot-top in inclement weather. However, just back from a very wet, cold (down to -3C) and windy weekend testing out our new Rainbow Screens pop-top thermal wrap. Fab bit of kit and winter/rainy weather now not a problem for the cost of a few hundred £. Take's 10 mins to fit/remove. The Ducato's conversions are nice and good value - friends have one, but if we're away together, as its an over 6.1 foot van they have to park outside of many places and hop in for a lift with us! And as mentioned by others, a rib bed (as we've got) give lots of easy to get at storage and just as speedy conversion from set to bed.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We do absolutely love our T6 and are out in the French Alps at the moment with the pop top up. It’s not been cold yet - we did have a chat with the rainbow screens people at the show about the pop top screen. I think Richard has got to the point where he definitely wants more permanent headspace so we will have to get used to the parking restrictions. But for now we have a good couple of years to still enjoy Nelson 🚐

[@ottothemercedesmarcopoloho1995]

In a similar position, trying to get ducks in a row for a couple of years time. The daily drive thing is still high priority, so have been looking at the Westfalia Kelsey as a sort of cross between a bigger van layout but still keeping to the same footprint. Ticks your emergency facilities and extra bed boxes, but no chance of a garage ;). I like the Jerba Taransay & Sanna too. Really not convinced a 6m van will fit in a parking space BTW! Good luck with it, will be great to hear how you get on.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

There are so many things we want to consider with the new van, but our daily drive is a big one. I do have a fiat 500 car that my son seems to have on permanent loan! The dreamer D43 up was great at under 5.50m and had so much in it - but we don't want to always wish we went for something bigger - good job we have 2 years to be on the look out! We also liked one of the Adria vans.

[@wessexevents]

At 60 and 55 and our Dog we love our t6 long wheel base we self built with U shape bed layout so full width of the van underslung Lpg Lithium batteries we built it for winter use in Scotland so is super well insulated and added a tow bar for bikes etc. hire a few self build vans and give them a try as most commercial van builders over complicate things to add value and unnecessary" features" Another thought is a thule towbar box for bigger trips to increase your living space enjoy you channel keep up the good work

[@paulgabbitas7884]

Hi we,ve always had VWs but we decided we needed a bit more room We went for a 6.00 Adria Supreme and never looked back Obviously doesnt drive like a VW but more than adequate and as a camper way better and thats what its for We have solar 2 lesiure batteries so off grid is no problem. We had a gaslow system fitted our heating is gas (or electric if on hook up) We also love the sliding door to sit on the step. Good luck in your search I,m sure you wont regret it

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We really liked the Adria vans, the one we looked at felt really light and lots of extra little storage units. It was one of our favourites but right at the top end of our budget - would be great if we found one pre owned with low mileage when we are ready to buy. Thanks for your insight 😊

[@motorroamingaround]

Oh how exciting. All of the vans you mentioned look lovely. You’ll pick the one that’s perfect for you we’re sure. Enjoy your trip to the Alps & keep safe. Irvine & Karen.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We are only just starting to look around and have had some great suggestions we had not seen from people who watched the video. It’s quite exciting seeing what is out there! But we still have 2 years with the lovely Nelson. The Alps are as lovely as ever x

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

A Carthago 38 A Class is amazing. Used obviously

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I think that would be bigger than our house!

[@johnranson4696]

We are no spring chickens in our seventies and bought a Hymer 5.4m Blue Evolution a couple of years ago. With the pop top our daughter's family of 4 use it with no issues. We store two MiRider folding bikes under the bed and that works well. You could store your skis in the closed pop top if they don't have large sticky out bits and the front of the skis protrude into the access opening. Just a thought. John

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Originally I was adamant I didn't want a pop top this time as the van would be tall enough, however seeing the dreamer D43up was interesting, we want to go and have another look at some point as at around 5.5m it would still be great as our daily run around. We will have to look at the hymer too - thanks for the recommendation x

[@canonakias]

We enjoy your channel and haven’t missed an episode- keep going ❤ As for campervans we have our 43up the last 2 years and we absolutely love it. Taking it to the Lake District next week!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We were really pleasantly surprise how spacious the 43up felt for how much was packed in it. Glad you are enjoying the videos 😊 have a great time in the lakes, I hope the weather is kind to you!

[@janettweedy2193]

Did you consider safety features if you are parking off sites ? One thing that stops some of us is the thought of it being stolen or being broken into .

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Janet- thanks for this- yes we did and we are not sure of the solution just yet. We know that the VW T6 is accepted as quite a secure van from factory spec, with the category of alarm, etc. We know that van owners of other makes often add secure dead-locks to doors, additional security to garage doors, etc. It is definitely something we are going to have to build into our budget as an additional upgrade at purchase. We have decided against a motor home style, so the garage issue will not be an issue with a van conversion- but every door will😳

[@paulhumphries4023]

I used to live in a VW T25 , I then moved on to a motorhome and the thing I miss the most is the big opening sliding door. It's a perfect place to sit and enjoy the view.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes - the sliding door that opens up the van to the outside is probably one of the big choosing points for us

[@paulgarrad1581]

Don't forget on larger vans the kitchen unit takes up half the sliding door opening, so you can't sit alongside each other as in your video. As mentioned elsewhere, as you age you may not always want a manual gearbox.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

That’s definitely something to think about but also like the idea of a clear view when cooking so I suppose that is also a plus! No major decisions made on a gear box type about from what we can afford in 2 years 🤣 it is quite fun looking to see what is out there as we have never really looked beyond our beloved T6 before!

[@rubymouse6904]

I upgraded from a 6m ducato with shower and loo to a vw caddy maxi!!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

😯 we have seen a few on the road and they look amazing - with the bonus that you can go anywhere!! Happy travels 🚐

[@stephenacquah9053]

Another brilliant and informative video. Thank you very much for the content. I really enjoy the channel 😃

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you 😊🚐

[@ammeriadonna]

Have you both seen the Bailey Endeavour B62 and B64, the 64 would be great for grandchildren, we had a Baileys caravan once so we totally rate them, they’re on a ford chassis, the B62 is £69,999 and the B64 is £74.999… they’re both amazing!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I think we will have to make another visit in October to the show as we have had so many great recommendations of vans to look at! It’s a good job we have 2 years to decide. We did look at the Baileys but they didn’t have a massive selection there. Thanks for the recommendation 😊

[@ammeriadonna]

You’re so welcome, and Thanku for such a great channel x

[@craighowells3462]

We have just downsized to a 6.8m crafter auto. Perfect van. Also Vw. Don’t be fooled by the narrow top. I’m 6’2 and don’t have a problem We have an IH motorhome (Knottingley) expensive but good quality and British. They have second hand vehicles at the factory showroom. Otherwise definitely Consort Motorhomes highly recommended. Enjoy your search

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We have seen some stunning crafter conversions and have always loved our VW transporter. A big part of our decision will come down to cost which will probably rule out crafters and sprinters. But 2 years is a long time away, no big decisions need to be made yet. Thanks for your recommendations, we will have a good look 🚐

[@craighowells3462]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust We are in a similar position to you as retired early and no income. Never thought we would change our motorhome again. 3 years in and we downsized from a coach built upgraded quality to the Crafter based IH. Wildax in Leeds was another option we looked at. Cheaper is not always the best option on the base vehicle in the long term obviously if you can. Avoid the Fiat auto Comformatic potential money pit. Good Luck.

[@PetePoole]

Buy a fiat Ducato van and get vanology to convert it, that way you get what you want

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We did get Nelson converted to the spec we wanted so it is a thought! Thanks for the recommendation 😊

[@stevezodiac491]

The lack of storage space in the back of your van, isn't because of the van, it is the type of bed you have got. A rock n roll bed allows you hardly any storage at the back and because of the way it operates, hardly any storage, easily accessible, comparatively, beneath it either. What you want is a rib bed, which gives you a large storage space for setting up / outside / dirty gear underneath and clean gear like bedding, pillows, coats etc. placed on top of the rear leaf of the bed in the horizontal position, next to the rear doors. Inside the van you can access further space underneath the bed from the two front cupboard doors, or simply just lift the front bed / seat leaf and get directly at it. A rail system, although good in other ways, complicates keeping stuff stored beneath and I would advise against that as well. A longer wheel base offers more room also. Our van is a lwb Talento pop top ( Transporter size ) but with a lwb it gives an amazingly greater amount of room and better access to side cupboards with the bed either up or down. We don't want to change our van's physical size to a bigger one because of access to attractions and beneath height restrictions, going into drive throughs, car parks and the like. We have grandchildren also and we have got around taking them with us and a more comfortable fixed location stay on occasion, by buying a cheap second hand 4 berth fixed bed 7.5 metre caravan, kept in a storage facility when not in use, which we tow with the camper van. It is a brilliant no fuss towing vehicle and we have the best of both worlds now because even a large motorhome is not as big as a caravan and massively more expensive and we can just leave the caravan and not be affected logistically by a large motorhome or large campervan out and about. Be very careful you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Standing up in the winter is desirable but you are vastly reducing the places that you can go to out and about, which is undesirable. I would go further and say anything bigger than a Transporter would be an absolute encumbrance as a daily driver vehicle and I would think that if you got one, you would also need a car day to day. A van that size would soon become a chore locally. As far as heating goes, I would always choose a diesel heater, they are very warm and the fuel is always there and they are also extremely efficient. We only use gas for cooking and it lasts many outings with a 907 camping gaz cylinder, which we always carry a spare for at the back of the van, under the rear bed leaf. The other thing about a lwb van is that there is room to put a portable toilet behind the passenger seats in a bag. We bungee ours to the seat stays in transit, use it as a foot stool when not in use in a fitted bag but it is always there day or night when needed. I am 65 now and still find the pop top van o.k. to use 65 these days is not old, if you have looked after yourself as I have. I have no physical problems whatsoever, take no prescription drugs and am slim and very fit. Perhaps riding and club racing push bikes for 40 years or more, not smoking and hardly any alcohol had something to do with that ? For longevity and reduced water ingress over time, I would always go for a metal sided van and not a motorhome. Motorhomes, particularly in white, look very old, very quickly, like caravans also do but a caravan if spoiled with water ingress over time, isn't attached to an expensive cab and engine. By the way Oakwell motor homes a Dreamer dealer will not take a converted van in part ex. I have enquired in the past, they wouldn't entertain me. If you sell your van, you will probably have to sell it privately, unless it was converted by an accredited VW approved converter.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

There is lots of great advice here for people looking to get a VW - especially about the type of bed! If only we had read it before converting our van 6 years ago. We have absolutely loved the VW and will be sad when we do finally upgrade. I do have a Fiat 500 that we can use pottering about - I just need to wrangle it back from our son who has had it while we travel and were converting the house. Yes we realised that we would not be able to trade in the VW as, although we converted it ourselves, it is not a 'commercial conversion' which is fine. I am pretty sure we will go for a panel van rather than a coach built conversion and definitely no more than 6m for many reasons! Lots to think about but 2 years to do it as I think we will probably go for a second hand van due to costs after looking around some of the showrooms. Have a great summer of travels 🚐

[@stevemaish8]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust I would seriously recommend looking at a Titan bed. Massive storage improvement 🙂

[@KarenCarter-k7j]

Hi. Tried to post this last night but must have made a mistake as it doesn't seem to have posted. Apologies if I have posted twice I've never commented on a U tube channel before. I follow your channel because you seem to be doing lots of the things we would hope to do when we are both retired. In terms of getting another van we have a fab van which was converted to our specifications by a small company just outside of Keswick Cumbria. Our van is a Peugeot Boxer and is just under 6 metres. We wouldn't want to drive anything bigger especially up in Scotland on the narrow roads. We opted for an underslung gas tank, diesel heater, fixed back bed with loads of garage space under neath. We did decide to go for WC, but not a shower. Instead we have had one of the diesel heater blowers venting out into the WC compartment and this acts as a perfect drying room for wet waterproofs after a long wet walk and keeps the rest of the van dry. The fixed back bed (with proper mattress) is a really comfy area to relax and read a book and that leaves the lounge area free if one of you wants to read or watch a film and the other wants to sit up and edit or work. Our van is small enough to handle the narrow roads in Scotland to places like Mellon Udridgle and Fidden but big enough to be able to live comfortably for weeks and weeks ( and we have two dogs with us too). We also had it fitted with midge nets at every window for those Scottish summer evenings. Solar panels on the roof mean we can be self sufficient for 3/4 days off grid if we want to, by which time we tend to need a night on a campsite to empty the WC and take on more water. We really think this size is perfect and look forward to perhaps taking it down to the Alps and Europe in the future. Doing it this way gave us everything we wanted in a van at about 2/3rds of the cost of buying a factory built van and we got exactly we wanted.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi thanks for commenting and sharing so much detail about your van - it sounds ideal! You obviously put a lot of thought into what you wanted your make the van work for you. We love the idea of the vent into the wc area to use it as a drying room. We have not completely ruled out a self conversion again because as you say - it can work out considerably cheaper for a tailor made van 🚐 we were really surprised how expensive new vans are 😬 happy travels - spring is here and the nights are getting lighter 😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Ps we loved Mellon Udridgle which we stumbled upon by chance after a flat tyre and a recommendation by the lovely mechanic at the garage 🚐

[@ClareHughes1965]

Hi Jackie, it was lovely to meet you today, whilst washing up at the campsite😆. Love your channel, and as we said, you gave us some great info about the campsite and how to get to the ski area etc. - we’d already booked and so your advice was really helpful. We also have a VW - ours is a T5 that we’ve converted ourselves, and we love it. What was a game changer for us this year was the thermal wrap-around for our pop-top. It cost just £200 and kept us toastie warm this year..along with our electric fan heaters, which we were able to use as there was the electric supply available. We usually use our diesel heater - but took the fan heater and the camping extension lead, so we were sorted. Anyway, great to meet you and we look forward to watching yours vlogs here , and enjoy the remaining time you have on the slopes. Clare & Neil Xx

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - it was lovely chatting to you too. Hope your journey home is going well. We love our VW and the freedom it has given us to travel cheaply over the past 6 years - it has been truly life changing! We have got a small fan heater with us too - it has saved us having to refill with gas 😊 the snow was very slushy yesterday - even high up so I think it is a good time to be heading home. 🚐

[@ClareHughes1965]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust ❤️❤️

[@mhskou]

Went from a t6 to a wildax pulsar. T6 was 5 meters and pulsar is 5.4 so not hugely different in length but the pulsar has a loo and hot water on board. So much better. We love it.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We really liked the Wildax vans at the show but didn't see a shorter 5.4m one - we will take a look at a showroom at some point over the summer to get a better look - thanks for the recommendation 🚐

[@mhskou]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust if you wanted something same size as the t6 then wildax used to do a 5 meter pulsar but fiat discontinued the van. There are one or two still available new. Great little vans those.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@mhskou we would be looking at something abit bigger than the T6 so the 5.4 could be perfect!

[@valgoode572]

Consort vans are great

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I am not sure we have seen any of those yet? We will probably go to the NEC show in October again as it supposedly has more selection of vans on show and there are a few that we specifically want to look at again 🚐

[@colintroman8497]

We have an Autosleeper Warwick Duo 2.0 diesel on a peugeot boxer chassis. 6m. long. Not much on the market can match autosleeper for quality except maybe Globecar. As far as fords go i would run a mile . The ford transit 2.0 litre diesel has a "wet" timing belt and has a reputation for early failure. Peugeot, Fiat and Citroen (all the same van) have gone back to using the 2.2 diesel which has a timing chain. Nice videos Thank You.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for the very detailed tip-off Colin. That's really concerning about the Ford. I'm a bit gutted TBH because that's what one of my favourite Chausson slim MH's is based on😳 On a positive note- we are really encouraged by the new Fiats and the upgrades all sound good. Thanks for the feedback on the video.👍R

[@user-eb3si]

Try a VW T6 LWB with poptop storage shelf instead of a whole bed board (great storage when stationary). Thin cupboards allows for a standard double bed. Add a portaloo and potable shower, ideal. We’re in our 60’s and still VDubbin 👍

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It's defiantly something to consider. A lot of people say that the LWB has so much more room for the minor change in length. We already have a storage option with the pop-top roof which we love. The stumbling block remains the portaloo in the van.... Thanks for your comment. 👍

[@gillianh]

Surprised you guys are looking for a change, you could easily go to 60 with your T6 then change. We had a T6 now have a T6.1, undoubtedly there are compromises with a small van but for us they outweigh the larger van negatives. To name just a few, more difficult to stealth park, height barriers, increased fuel consumption, increased ferry charges. Bigger isn’t always better 😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Gillian. I guess we are looking for something of a compromise as we get older. We defiantly would not want to go too big as I wouldn't be comfortable driving it to the wilder places we go to. As we are taking longer and longer trips in our early retirement as well as looking to keep campsite costs to a minimum, we do feel the need for onboard facilities to open up the use of more Aires to us. Chatting to a lot of sales people, the panel van conversions seem to be the popular compromise at the moment, with buyers coming down a size from the huge coach built MH's and people like ourselves looking to move up from a T6 size camper. Height barriers will remain on my worry list🤔R

[@jasonnicol8302]

Ohh exciting, we’ve only had our campervan since January but you just can’t help looking at other vans. It just hooks you. Be a few years before we change, having a Fiamma F45s awning fitted next week to ours then that’s it complete. Look forward to your choice out of the three.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Jason. Exciting and yet slightly terrifying😂 We take our van purchases very seriously and the thought of getting rid of Nelson is not an easy one. We have time, but we are always keeping a close eye on the production lead times as they can change really quickly. Thanks for the comment. 👍 R

[@garybryant1540]

You can get a nearly new VW Crafter for about 25K and spend another 25K for a really good bespoke conversion with a big lithium/solar set up, decent insulation, loo/shower, fixed bed, (Big garage underneath) all on a VW vehicle saving yourself at least 20K. You’ve converted a van before with great results just do it again with a bigger van it’s a no brainer!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Gary- thanks for this. It is something that we are open to considering- but it seems so much more money than we spent 6 years ago and we would want to find a really good converter. We bought and converted before the covid boom so we were very lucky. Some of the prices now for second hand base vans are eye watering and pretty scary. You are right, we love the quality that Nelson has given us and we shouldn't be so shy of doing it again. You have got us thinking.... Thanks for the comment. Richard & Jackie

[@peromalmstrom7668]

Personal advice, question all your assumptions, not once, but multiple times. XL Spreadsheets with data, give at times surprising results, which question assumptions first decided. If leaving a VW and going into a van, then that assumption is space. Yet, garages, fixed beds, high sided cupboards both sides of the aisle that compresses physically and emotional feeling of space, which was the original assumption, can make this assumption negligible. Large rear lounges, a very British design, works well for bad weather days and larger beds. Front lounges are upright and tend to be used only when eating or travelling with more than 2 pax. Pop tops, add cost, add complexity for breakage, leaks and importantly warmth leakage and damp ingress. If grandchildren, then kids in the van, adults in an attached awning, as realistically trips with kids will be fair-weather school holidays. Awnings can be left at home, lowering weight and fuel consumption when not required. A pop top is always with you. Everyones needs, wants, budgets are different, but truly know and understand your assumptions. We hired over 5 different vans, with 5 different layouts, each time for 1 week. It costs, yet, we learnt so much, which so changed our assumptions and helped focus the assumptions. Now have our perfect camper van, while so many, unfortunately we see struggle with their choice. It is why many swap vans after a short period, losing money. Hiring does cost, but saves for long term projects by testing all assumptions. You have a 10 year project that has to be correct. The assumption mentioned with 6m parking is incorrect. Average UK parking space is 4.8 metres long. This nullifies the assumption of 6m as a good fit. A little extra length at 6.3m, adds so much more space and storage. Home parking, can it really not manage .3 of a metre? As mentioned, question and question again, all assumptions that you will both arrive at, as you may just be surprised. Stops yourself having a 10 year mistake! Ultimately, your camper, your choice regardless of advice of others views expressed & so here is to wishing you both all the best on the journey to find your 10 year project van.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this information- it really resonates with what is going around our minds at the moment...but as we move more into the process we are formulating more answers. I guess at the start, like any problem, we didn't know what we didn't know and we also didn't know what the correct questions to ask were. We feel that we are getting there. Many thanks for you best wishes, Richard & Jackie

[@susanmckee8946]

Hi R and J Love your videos.❤ We've had our Cali for 3 years and we are 57 and semi retired/ phased retirees😂 How you guys manage the longer trips( and still seem sane) has been of great interest to us as we normally just do 2 to 7 day breaks around my school hols. ( Ireland and Scotland mainly). This summer the van is taking us via 5 overnight ferries and several countries from Belfast to Bergen ( to see Springsteen ) so if the marriage survives this then the Cali will need to be given great credit. If youve any tips for Scandinavia let us know!!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Susan- thanks for the comment. We love our time in the van and we always have...even though in winter it can be a little tight for space. Even in such a small space we have our own little spaces to retreat to. As I type, I am sat in the swivel passenger seat and Jackie is on the bed- it works for us. Summer is so much easier, with space to spread out outside the van. Your Bergen trip sounds amazing...what a trip. You must be mega fans of the Boss. We have not yet done Scandinavia, but it is on the list...we want to see the midnight sun. What we have heard is that alcohol and sugar is mega expensive, as is eating out. A lot of people have said that food shopping is not too bad...mainly due to our UK cost of living rises. As a positive there seems to be loads of free wild camping opportunities in a van, so campsite costs do not seem to be an issue for a lot of people. I am sure you will be fine on the longer trip. Good luck. Richard & Jackie

[@jasonwaring588]

Hi look at ultravans in handover .Im going from a VW T6.1 transporter to the VW crafter. They are 6 m long fixed bed with garage .you can have full off grid option . Outside shower point and barbecue Point .full kitchen gallery ,lounge area , shower and toilet . I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised . They’ll build to your spec too .They’ve got a couple of videos on KZbin .They are fully booked for this year but taking bookings for 2025 Good look 👊👊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Jason- we have to be honest, we haven't had a look at them...but we will now. Always nice to have good feedback about a particular brand. Always nice that there is a bespoke option from companies. Thanks for helping us out with the info. 👍

[@sallybird1132]

Hi, After much deliberation we have eventually bought a van. Just wondering about your comment re Aires and how some do not permit cans without bathroom facilities. To your knowledge, does this mean a campervan with sink and portaloo, rather than proper fixed bathroom, are allowed / not allowed in such Aires? After hiring vans, I can also endorse Rib beds, although our new to us candies not have them!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Sally- you will be fine with a portable-poti- we just don't carry one because of the lack of space. Good luck with your adventures. A new van is such an exciting time. All the deliberation will be definitely worth it. Nelson really has changed our lives for the better! Thanks for the comment. Richard & Jackie.

[@HarryWBach]

I’m in the same boat, going from a T6.1 to a larger van next year. I’ve been looking for the past few months, and very surprised at the price difference between the same vans purchased in Europe and the UK. Dreamer is a good example or Pössl/ Globecar, both substantially cheaper as a left hand drive. There’s VAT to pay to import but zero duty and a chance to reclaim the EU vat. I guess it depends on how much will be UK driving v Europe.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Oooh- not something that we had considered Harry- thanks for sparking the thought. We do know that some people chose to go for a LHD with the larger, more luxurious vans...but had never considered it with a much more modest campervan. Something else to add into our decision making process... Thanks for the comment👍

[@alisonsamet2570]

We have a van just like yours. Personally I would not like the larger vans and motor homes as our van is our daily drive too. We are in our late sixties/early seventies and we have had so much fun in the UK and abroad since getting it two years ago. We have a porta potty which lives in the boot (our bed seems higher than yours) and it gets moved into the van at night. We have a dog. We travel very minimalistically. We do stay on sites for shower facilities. Children could sleep in the pop top (we’ve never done that) but you’d have problems with car seats etc. Just occasionally in the winter I am not so keen on the pop top but we have a very efficient diesel heater so are always warm. Good luck with your choice

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Alison- we love hearing about other peoples vans. They are so individual...I guess that is why we love them so much! We genuinely do love our T6 Nelson- and we cannot really believe that we are contemplating moving on from him as he has brought us such joy over the last 6 years. Happy travels! Richard & Jackie

[@gregmurry6672]

We have an Auto Trail V line 610 which probably won’t suit you as it has no garage . The Adria or Carthago 6 m vans with fixed beds may suit your needs in future . We are loving the content of your vlogs and I have now adopted some of Richard’s positive daily routines 👍 Thanks guys

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Greg- always good to hear recommendations from those in the know. Glad that you are getting stuck into some routines- we hope they help in some way? Have a good week.

[@NickParks]

I changed my T6.1 to a Grand California (600) and am loving it, the extra headroom and permanent bed, along with much more rear storage are a game changer!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Nick- we think that all of the things you have mentioned will also be game changers for us. Glad that you have enjoyed the upsizing- it gives us confidence to do the same.👍

[@clarenoi]

I’d love to know what you guys do for a loo when you’re off-grid. We are newbie T6.1 van owners and eventually will be trying off grid but not sure my bladder can hang on to find a “convenient” bathroom stop in the morning! I’ve never seen a porta-potti in your videos so I’m intrigued 🤔

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Clare- this is a really common question! It is never a problem on campsites. When we wild camp, we either look for public toilets, but in really wild situations we are not averse to have a wild wee. We do not have a porta-potti- but we know they are very popular with campervan owners. We have a simpler model in the form of an emergency bucket! If in doubt- we stay close to public loos that the Park for the Night App references. R

[@jeanettesmart9990]

We are at your stage…Vw Ocean T6 for 6yrs and what next? We like the fact that VW are a One stop garage and not a garage for vehicle /cab and dealer for bodywork. It’s a lovely decision to be able to make I know . Look forward to following to see where our journeys take us with the vans. Enjoy the videos 👍👏

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Jeanette- that is definitely a consideration for the future that we hadn't really thought of. We love the way VW's drive...but seemingly anything now on a Crafter base van is so much more expensive than the Fiat equivalent. Glad that you enjoy the videos. 👍

[@joncorry]

Over the past 15 years or so, I converted 24 transporters to camper vans, all pretty much the same traditional rock n roll bed and units down the side layout. Great vans but as you say, for a time. As I approach 50 with a back that grumbles, standing up became a must so in 2020 we started looking for something bigger and the result was a Karmann Colorado 600. Based on the T5 2.5 and at 6M exactly, it sleeps 4 and has most of your wish list except the garage wont store bikes. It has a bike rack that hangs on the back or not as the case may be. Despite its width, we’ve taken it everywhere we took the campers, even down the tiny lane to Mwnt in Wales! We also have a T25 Westfalia California which is showing her age at 37 but is the best Campervan (if a little slow), it was was ahead the time with LPG tanks supplying the kitchen, heater and BBQ way back in the 80’s. As the Karmann is reaching 18 years old, we do think about what’s next but there lies the problem, there isn’t too much on the market that matches the build quality and capability of it. Dilemmas…. When we travelled to Morocco last year, we took the Land Rover with a roof tent but I doubt my wife would do that again as we had -5 over night in the Sahara and up in the Atlas! Have a look at the Knaus vans…based on a T6 with a moho layout and a pop top. Good luck.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Jon- such experience is invaluable to us. We love the old T25's...but I have no mechanical skills to keep one going- I wouldn't know where to start!!! One of our initial ideas was when we saw a Knaus van based on the t6 that had a really innovative interior design. The flexible shower arrangement was very unique. We really loved it (and the garage was massive!), but the price and spec was top end and we weren't sure of the durability of the shower set up long term. Other than that, it ticked all the boxes as we really love the T6 to drive. Lots more to think about. The more we see...the more questions we have! The Lanny trip to Morocco sounds epic...truly memories that will last a lifetime inc the -5 temp👍 Thanks for reaching out. R

[@pauljosephhealy]

Consort Motorhomes in Leeds make good vans based on Fiat Ducato or Peugeot Boxer. The MAN vans are very similar to the VW Crafter. So hard to decide what base van is best.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Paul- we have had a few recommendations for Consort that we are looking to follow up. We do love the MAN and Crafters- but the width for traverse beds and the higher base van costs could well be a deal breaker- no mater how much we like the look of them.

[@saywellhq]

You guys are like me, I’m looking for my ideal van, but want it to do too many things! I think in the next year or so, with the new VW/Ford joint venture vans, you might see some different ideas on layouts and what you can do with a smaller van. Two vans worth looking at that will tick off a few of your wants and needs is the new Swift Trekker camper van, only just been shown this week, but it will be taller than 2m, but you will be able to stand in it, and is only 5.5m long. Next and the one that ticks most of my boxes, is the new 2025 Ford Westfalia Kelsey (2025 not the current one), but has a toilet and emergency shower, but has less open space. Exciting times to be looking at new vans!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for these recommendations- we will certainly look them up. I was literally just reading about the VW/Ford developments in a motorhome magazine last night. Does this joint venture go beyond the T6/Transit Custom into the larger vans of the fleet? The slimline MH based on the Ford transit look really good.

[@geebutteree4755]

Ah I love nelson, great vlog , totally understand your need for more space tho , keep your great vlogs coming 💙🫶🏻 love the chausson btw , great vans and quality German made 😊 be great in winter ❄️

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We love him too! It feels so much like a betrayal...we are not joking! He really has transformed our lives in the places we can now explore.

[@ianowen5098]

Liking the channel - thank you. We have a self converted Peugeot Boxer (same a as Fiat Ducato) - which is fully winterised and even kept reasonably cool in 45 degrees. The reason these van are great is you get a full size double bed width ways. There are plenty of companies that will convert them for you to your spec if you don’t want to do it yourself. It would give you great video content. I’ve watched several KZbin channels where people have had both coach built and camper van based Ducato and they state they prefer the camper van style for how it drives.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for the comment Ian- really interesting. We think that is why we like the Fiat based vans as we really want a traverse bed over a large garage. It is only the Fiat that seems to accommodate this layout without the need for side pods which we don't really fancy. If you have seen any of our cottage renovation videos, you will soon realise I don't have the practical skills to take a van conversion on with any confidence at all😂 Just saying😂 Thanks again. R

[@damianquinn618]

We went from a T6 to an Adria twin SGX on a Fiat Ducato. The extra space, storage and bathroom has been a game changer. Not any wider than the T6 and drives really well. Solar power, diesel heating and gas hot water gives us off load if off grid. Good luck

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Damian- oh we loved the Adria- they were so well designed inside. They were a little more expensive than some of the other vans that we looked at, but the quality of finish was exceptional. We are trying to get our heads around the various "Twin" options that they offer- they have quite a few variations. Could well come down to budget- but we will see. Thanks for the first hand recommendation. It's good to know that you are happy with the Twin.

[@jonroberts2820]

I think it's worth looking at the Burstner Eliseo 644. Campervan on a Ducato but has a big garage and a huge lounge due to the bed being drop down. Brilliant.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this recommendation Jon- we will look it up. I know that the winter MH people rate Burstners highly👍

[@davidlee4966]

The original sprinter and crafter were the same van just a bit of badge engineering, it’s probably still a shared design, there are lots of shared platforms in the van world. A friend has just bought a sunlight 590, fiat based which might suit your needs. Do reconsider an auto, you will never go back, no dual mass flywheel to be concerned with at higher mileage, and of course better resale.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks David- we spent a lot of time chatting to the Sunlight team at the NEC- they are from the Hymer group right? We are doing a bit more research as we speak as the vans did leave an impression on us. We liked the simplistic design, backed up by the German design rigour. They did have a van on the 5.4 and 6m layout so it could be an option. We know that there are a lot of rational reasons for the Auto option...we just know that we may (will) have to cut some options somewhere. We had not considered the resale value so thanks for reminding us!

[@andrewbryant9766]

Morning - Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your next van, we are at that stage now moving from a T5.1 to a larger van at the young age of 55. After a year of thinking, looking, visiting the NEC we have choosen the Bailey Endeavour B62, worth a look re winterisaton and the different Shower door etc. Enjoy the research 😀

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Andrew- always nice to hear from someone who has come out the other side unscathed! We are really looking forward to the process- it's so exciting!

[@ratkinson-uk]

Me and the Mrs took an T-Line 590 out for a week last month. There were compromises, as always, but I think it would suit you guys quite well.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this recommendation- we will look it up. All help is gratefully received! 👍

[@davidhall8745]

PS we have a Fiat Ducato base vehicle and very durable. That is one of the reasons most coach built manufactures use them as a base. Easy parts located all over Europe

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Funnily enough we have spoken with a couple of people today on the campsite who are Fiat owners and they were singing the praises of the European network of support. It sounds pretty impressive!

[@janehutchinson9999]

Another great video. Enjoyed how you think everything through for the next 10 years and what will suit you later on in life. It will be interesting to see what your next van is. 😀😀

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Jane...we love a good plan! (particularly Richard😂)

[@WilliamMillar-g2w]

We have been through the same process as yourselves in considering the options having owned a T6.1 for a few years and now retired and wanted a bit more space and one that was fully winterised from a manufacturer with a very solid background and good reputation. We chose in the end to go with a Westfalia Sven Hedin we have waited over 9 months and will finally get the keys very soon. Taking your time looking at all options and configurations is exhausting but will be well worth the effort in the end. Good luck and we will watch with interest to see what you eventually choose.😀

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this- always nice to know details from someone who has gone through the same process. We are loving the comments and recommendations and they all are getting noted down for our further research. The campervan community is so kind in sharing ideas. Thanks again. R

[@andyglawe7804]

With regards to winterisation, there are some things you need to watch out for. If there is no double floor then make sure the fresh water tank is inboard. The german vans tend to use blown air to keep their waste tanks defrosted which is great as the power consumption is low and they are better at lower temps. The british vans tend to have heating elements which consume more power and don't do a great job of keeping the waste water defrosted. Might be worth looking at some of the bailey endeavour vans as they seem to be quite innovative and are looking at how they can cope with real alpine winter conditions. We are currently in a Knaus A class which copes fine and we stuff our bikes in the garage which then allows us to get around the small narrow stuff 😃

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Andy for this. We have been chatting with loads of really experienced winter MH owners and they all say the same as you...which is reassuring. German vans get a lot of good press. Up until a few weeks ago we didn't know double floors existed! Glad that you love your Knaus- they have a great reputation. A number of people are talking of the new Bailey- we struggled to find one at the NEC that had a fixed traverse rear bed...but we will look again. Thanks again. Richard & Jackie

[@Lilrom2003]

Is a caravan not a better option for slow travel using it as a base for trips in certain area by car. Lower price pays for many camping nights. So much easier to use car around without worries of burglary of the van.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this. We are pretty committed to the idea of a small campervan as we tend to keep moving on our adventures every couple of days or so. In addition, the prospect of towing anything terrifies Richard😂

[@andrewwaugh7826]

Great video and as always it’s great to see you both living life so fully. Keep the videos coming. They’re inspirational.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Andrew- always nice to have nice feedback. Have a good week. Richard & Jackie

[@ClaireNelson-l4p]

We had a VW t4 then got a motor home. We have had the motor home for ten years and have traveled widely in our school holidays (we are teachers too). With the motor home you are inside or outside, we miss the sliding door and having the back doors that open. Good luck with choosing your next van.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this...it really is one of our big concerns. It's useful to know you have lived through it and you have the same thoughts. Lots of thinking to be getting on with🤔

[@OnTheRoadAgain-NikkiandBilly]

We pick up an expedition 68 tomorrow but it’s 6.36m. However it is cheaper than anything else with comparable space/garage

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Nikki & Billy. Thanks for the tip-off. We will follow up all recommendations as we are still really not sure what we want. There are so many options out there that don't make decisions any easier. Enjoy the new van- it's a lovely feeling that we are looking forward to in the future. Happy adventures. Richard & Jackie

[@OnTheRoadAgain-NikkiandBilly]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust cheers 109 working days left before we start our longer journeys. If you ever want to see the van to see if it’s an option we are in the dales a lot

[@alannorman1773]

An exciting dilemma!! Happy hunting ❤❤.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Alan. Sooo exciting!