Epic France Road Trip in Our New Hymer Camper Van - Discover Dordogne Sunshine!

[@Goldenretrieverandacampervan]

Glad you’re enjoying the extra space 👍🏻 top tip we use the paella pan with the safari chef, stops food rolling off 🤪

[@CampervanJourney]

That's a great tip, thank you !

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this JT- loving the new van❤ We too share your love of Huttopia sites- they are so consistent and have such a lovely vibe. Safe travels👍

[@CampervanJourney]

Cheers Guys ! Been enjoying your island trip vids as well. Maybe we'll see you at a Huttopia site in the future...BSM maybe ?!

[@SCOJO98765]

You can’t beat a pain o chocolate! Or two :)

[@CampervanJourney]

Or three, or maybe four...! French super U's do a nice multi pastry mini pack iwth pain au chocolat, croissants and pain aux raisan...

[@leannearnold8326]

So pleased you are enjoying the Hymer ❤ worth looking at some "Milenco Lattice Grip Mats" excellent bits of kit that do not weigh much 👌 saved us a few times ..park up on them if things are looking "soft" under tyre

[@CampervanJourney]

Hi Leanne, that sounds like a top tip, thank you I will check those Mats out. We are definitely enjoying Hymer life ! Cheers JT

[@mccoysmedia]

Tho k you guys have convinced me to “upgrade” my transporter to a bigger van! Definitely looking at the France Passion for next year so great recommendation

[@CampervanJourney]

Great stuff! Hopefully it doesn’t take you two years like we did to decide what to go for !!! You’ll see In our next videos we stay in some more great France Passion sites. Cheers JT

[@leannearnold8326]

We have a fear of terraced steep sites 😮😂 been caught out a few times on "rustic sites" 😂 great to have a fave site tho❤

[@CampervanJourney]

We weren't expecting to be right down the bottom, if the worse happened we would just have had to stay for a few days whilst things dried out !

[@JuanCarlosSendon]

Some great Campsites: San - Sabastion - ( Wecamp ) also Ramales Campsite based top of Spain

[@CampervanJourney]

We need to take our new van to Spain !

[@cedarcanoe]

Lovely car!

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you so much ! JT

[@markmcdonald470]

What are you doing about gas in France? Is it different bottles and connections? 😊

[@CampervanJourney]

We have a large Orange Calor Gas bottle, and as we just use for running the hib, it should last for ages, so at the moment, I'm afraid I can't answer your question. Apologies ! JT

[@andrewb3281]

Hi JT - looks like you are loving the switch to a bigger van; something we are considering too. Question - have you added a solar panel to your roof (looked like it possibly in the drone shots) and if so, was this quite straightforward? Keep up the good work!

[@CampervanJourney]

Hi Andrew, Yes, we have had a 300 watt Solar Panel added and the van came with the Hymer Lithium Battery upgrade. We spent two weeks without needing to plug in to EHU and didn't have to think at all about power usage...it wasn't a cheap upgrade but it has given us so much more independence to enjoy some more basic stopovers as you will see in the upcoming videos...cheers JT

[@NickCook-kz5di]

Hi JT, pick up our 2 yr old Free S on Tuesday and can’t wait to get out on the road like you. How are you finding the awning. I was worrying about how far you have to wind it out to then get the legs down! I’m not 7ft tall 😂

[@CampervanJourney]

Hi Nick ! That's exciting ! I'm not very tall, 5'8" on a good day, and the van has an extending winder, but we have had to wind out prob just over a metre to be able to reach the legs to drop down. We could use the little fold out camping stool we take with us if need be...cheers JT

[@askiro42]

Hi JT like the previous person im wondering what electrical set up you have. Do you have solar, lithium batteries etc to stay off grid anndcan inverter etc . Im looking to buy a hymer and wondering if i should buy the smart system setup they offer.

[@thetrickeys2635]

Hi, we picked up our Hymer Free S 600 six weeks ago. We had the Hymer Smart Battery System (150 Ah LFD) incl. addition charger fitted. Just come back from four days (three nights) off grid camping in very warm weather (refrigerator working overtime) and used 35% of the batteries capacity, so would guess we could last a week off grid. No solar fitted as our Dealer would not fit panels to the pop top roof. Batteries were back to 100% after an eighty mile drive home. Hope this helps. David

[@askiro42]

@@thetrickeys2635 thanks for that, yes very helpful, I've ordered the autonomy pack from Hymer with 240ah and solar but only a 1300w inverter in package. Also nobody could tell me anything about the system as it's so new. Extremely helpful. Happy camping

[@CampervanJourney]

Hi ! So, the van came with the upgraded lithium battery pack option and solar prewire, but we had to get a panel fitted by a specialist as Hymer don't provide info to their dealers as to how to fit a solar panel, a bit odd...! The guys we used in Dorset have done a great job. We had a 300w flexible panel fitted and we have just returned from our trip without needing to plug in at all ! Admittedly we did have plenty of sun, but not once did the power display drop below 50% on leisure and main batteries. Solar and Lithium = extra cost but far more independence ! Hope this helps, let me know if any other questions. Cheers JT

[@askiro42]

@@CampervanJourney thanks for that, I'm getting the full autonomy set up with lithium batteries and 2x85w solar on roof. One question what size inverter do you have and what electrical items did you use on the system.