Vlog 33: Visiting the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2019 at the Birmingham NEC

[@travelcampervansandmore]

Some of your fellow youtubers could take a leaf out of your book when it comes to presentation. Excellent job, you deserve your Press accreditation!

[@Vandemonium]

Thank you!

[@annie2950]

Very enjoyable and interesting. Love the Stigette moment too. Thanks David.

[@danieltaylor5231]

Its amazing how much you saved by doing it yourself. And I think yours looks just as good as those vans too.

[@janisripple754]

We are your narrow boat subscribers We really enjoy your travels..essentially during Michigan winters and Covid

[@teresaemmerson9599]

Excellent tour, loved your thoughts as you took us around the camping vehicles 👍

[@katcankan7129]

I like the way you edited this footage. Thank you for showing us around this event 😊

[@TimNevins]

Good to see the trusty navigator vertical again. I was concerned you'd left her for dead on that Welsh hilltop. Thanks for doing this. It completely satisfies my urge to go to an RV show. The van queue is tempting, though.

[@HamuelSomer]

We all know the best part of the day at the show is seeing all the dogs

[@Vandemonium]

True

[@originalpickaxe]

Wnat the ones in the mini skirts and hot pants.................LOL!

[@antman5474]

I especially like the last van shown in your presentation, originality is the way forward and that particular vehicle had it in bucket loads albeit in a tiny package.

[@smudolinithegreatdragobear2433]

YES! That airdeflector thingy is the one I was on about a few videos back!

[@crstothard]

Well, David John, when do we get to meet your "navigator"/fridge operator? Greetings from NYC!

[@Vandemonium]

She's very camera shy :-)

[@crstothard]

@@Vandemonium Well we shall continue to hope.

[@bluebellwood4287]

Does miss navigator still travel with you in late 2020 .

[@jsabo7098]

Excellent overview of the show. Well done, and very interesting. Everything seems so tiny compared to RV’s here on the other side of the pond!

[@Vandemonium]

There were a handful of big ones but even then nothing like what you have.

[@cr0ft-2k]

You woudn't want to maneuver a 45 foot Class A in most places in Europe, though. To say nothing of the fact that fuel costs two-three times more in Europe.

[@llessibm]

Some absolutely stunning vehicles with eye watering prices - still we can all dream ... or buy a banger and have fun converting it (as you know only too well).

[@Vandemonium]

Banger? How dare you! Hahaha ;-)

[@anthonypelosi3779]

I am hoping you will be doing a part -2. So much more to see please 😀

[@Vandemonium]

Alas that's all there is, it's as much as we managed to film in the day but yes there was a lot more to see too.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Thank you for the tour of the recreational vehicle show. Some very good ideas for anyone who is considering doing a fit out like you did. Prices are unreal on so many of these you have to wonder how anyone affords them but it is wonderful to dream about them. Your approach made much better sense.

[@andyrbush]

Looking at the show camper vans what seems to make a huge difference to the interior appearance is the edging around the worktops and such. Looks a lot better than stained ply, which looks great on top but not so good at the edges. Although it is probable much stronger than the wood used in the show vans.

[@FerroequinologistofColorado]

I’ll say I’d LOVE to have that grand California caravan. That would be perfect for a mobile KZbin studio when I’m Train spotting around the states.

[@lloydbaker7104]

I find it amazing the difference between North America and European campers/caravans, love the Go Pod. Your Navigator does and excellent job at product demonstration!

[@petersargent4078]

Just got back from the show. Lots to see. Glad you like the folding campers as I've got one which I find easier to manage than a camper. You captured the show pretty well.

[@Vandemonium]

I think they're ingenious and I like anything like that :-)

[@debpartin6618]

Sent this to fellow English teacher colleagues overseas. Your command of the English language is phenomenal.

[@Vandemonium]

Haha thank you 🤣

[@debpartin6618]

@@Vandemonium might be new fans ? One lives in Germany One of my pet peeves us when someone says Me Hand or Me whatever. We use my here. That I seen or Me and Joe

[@ceeceety2320]

I have zero knowledge about the Rhino liner on a narrowboat, however, I did have a liner installed in my truck bed and it protected it superbly. I would imagine it would be a great addition to your narrowboat. Just one man's opinion.

[@johncraig2684]

well manicured hands...lovely tattoo and showcased those appliances like a professional from The Price Is Right.......she's a keeper propose now before she's snapped up.

[@McRocket]

Finally, a VW campervan I like (the Grand California). ☮

[@suemeyer8989]

Interesting variety of camper vans. I think what you did with your conversion is just perfect and probably not as much of a gas guzzler as many in the show.

[@greenabby]

The last van layout you showed reminded me of a Murvi.

[@bryanwatt9751]

Love the ending! LOLs!

[@MichaelMartinNfldtoTexas]

I find it funny that VW has a campervan called the Grand California which won't ever be sold in California.

[@Cous1nJack]

Chicken tax 🍗

[@mischef18]

Thanks for taking us along bro, there is some lovely stuff there. For me I am tending to look more at caravans or the pop top type campers as some here are 40 or more years old and still in great condition or have had a complete rebuild. Not sure how a camper van would fair over 40 years but the maintenance costs would be astronomical I would think. I follow a guy in England who completely restores MK3 Cortina's and he shows them at the NEC every year Anyway all the best

[@xx7egg]

very entertaining.....you have an element of alan partridge to your narration

[@Vandemonium]

You’re not the first to suggest it either! 😂😂

[@valiantv2897]

aha, back of the net

[@stilcrazychris]

That was very entertaining. Some of those things cost more then the 3 houses I owned & on was a mobile home... lol... They sure love that plastic look. I prefer the wood grain look myself. I like your van a whole lot better then the ones that's on display. Just put you a stand up liquor cabinet in your & you be right up there w/the big dogs. Don't forget to put that light in there to suck up your battery life to. Great video & your Assistant that done Vanna Whites moves.... lol... Chris from Missouri

[@jdh_images]

Nice informative production - much better than others I have seen of the show.

[@Vandemonium]

Thank you!

[@rogerbixley791]

The best review I have seen of the show so far. Thanks for posting.

[@justin.s9783]

Good vid. The one with the drink cabinet looks what i imagine a English pub looks like. The dark wood did look nice. And save the outtro for the second part of the vid , see problem solved 😆

[@RetroRatz]

We was there today! We thought the best buy was the Roller Team Motor home 675. At 45k price tag, and it was huge with so much space!! Best of all still under 3.5k weight! Bargain motorhome. We have a video to release next week, with it in! Was a good show, with a mix of items!

[@mrbillmacneill]

Hi Dave Wow! A lot of rv 's to choose from for sure something for everyone eh? Some of those vans were very luxurious. The outfitting and convenience looked topnotch on the $$$$$ ones however I wondered about their ability to withstand vibration and how they would do on the gravel FSR roads [ forest service roads] that lead into the more remote campsites here in B.C. the main roads are quite decent but they are gravel so lots of vibration. I think a lot of these vans are in need of a diet. they could use a bit more balsa wood and foam if you are going to have all those drawers and counter tops I reckon... I would love to see how easily the various Van offerings merge onto the freeway and the acceleration times involved. How about those really steep uphills? We have quite a few of those here in B.C. so it is a concern. I have been stuck behind many an RV turtle struggling up hills here and have no wish to inflict that on my fellow motorist when I got one,so weight has been something we kept an eye on. No wood - foam board really strong and light which gives you more leeway on things like the battery package weight. I am happy to report the great white whale [its a ford transit hi top with the baby powerstroke] flies up the long coquihalla uphill sections despite having to push a ' barn door' where ever it goes. for those that are interested in what the coquihalla looks like in the winter : images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index-SouthernInterior.html lots of nice views for the armchair traveler and we find useful to help plot what the weather looks like and plan our route accordingly which wont be in the interior due to the mountain passes being just a bit to cold and snowy this time of year. oh and I have a plan now for the heater noise proofing ....again dont hold your breath waiting for the momentous news of its arrival . its a definite plan now.

[@WestcountryYokelOnYoutube]

Wow it's changed a bit since I went last. I'm think that was 1990. Lol

[@mr.nomadic]

Great video ,some are like canal boats on wheels 😁

[@tronalpha2552]

Hello David. A littel while ago you bought a new washing machine. you could do a video on that telling us how thats wofking out for you. Gerard.

[@Vandemonium]

See my cruising the cut channel for that!

[@judithmatthews8460]

I’m imagining sleeping in those tent things on top of the van on the cliff edge in Wales. Budget Economy flight to America.

[@PhilPage227]

Some amazing models there David.

[@andyrbush]

The problem for me with having lived in the US, everything in the UK looks tiny, especially the camper vans aka RVs. And for the price of a UK camper over UK 100,000 which is currently about $125,000 you can get the entry level large RVs. But then living in Thailand you can easily get 2,500 nights in a hotel, which might be why I have never seen a camper van in Thailand. Yes there is no resale value in a hotel night, but the cost of camp site in the UK seems to be very high which needs to be taken into account.

[@johnbrookes2196]

Didnt like the Proace wood finish. I think your more rustic look is pleasing enough to the eye and its doesnt matter if you cause any major scuffs . I know if I spent over 40.000 pounds on a factory bought one I would be worried every time I used it.

[@carringtonscapers4368]

Wow - you managed to condense a show of that magnitude into a very comprehensive 14 minute video... we're most impressed. Having been at the show all day today we know that at the end most folk are just too ... er "tired" to film fancy outro's :-) well done Sir.

[@Vandemonium]

Thank you! There was so much more still that we didn't see or I couldn't fit in as well!

[@2LaneTraveler]

3:14 You could probably fit your whole camper van inside that bedroom. 9:07 Folding trailers are neat, but not recommended in certain parts of the USA. You wouldn't want to camp in a soft-sided enclosure in bear country.

[@steadycamuk1]

Excellently edited and crafted video. Don't feel seasick watching your vids. The Grand California is good but a bit too plastic for EVERY surface to me . Expensive to tool up but then cheaper to manufacture . Very Interesting tour round the show - thanks

[@retirerehirelife4373]

A really nice video of the NEC show. Thanks so much.

[@nfc153]

The Citroen Martello (Wellhouse's name) is based on the 2016-on Citroën Dispatch, aka Toyota ProAce. I think a comparative review is in order, if anyone from Wellhouse is watching this!

[@Vandemonium]

Ah, cheers. I wondered if it was the newer Dispatch. Cheaper than the Lunar Toyota conversion and had a good spec; good value I thought.

[@ncplantdoctor]

It would be hard to justify owning a camper van which cost more than your narrowboat. Nice tour. Thanks for sharing.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Thank you so much for thgis look at a RV show not in the USA. Please find time to do another show...Thanks!

[@grahamhardyvanlife5704]

Its a Citroen Dispatch and they have changed the name to say its got fancy motorhome stuff in it. LOL.

[@jmpattillo]

I've seen people comment that the European RV industry is at least 10 years ahead of the US. Seeing this I can believe it.

[@jayoneill1533]

Fun stuff but at those prices you could stay many, many nights in a nice hotel. I think your lovely Toyota conversion makes much more sense and you can use it as a daily driver. No outro you say? How about using the wide establishing pan shot with a clever voiceover? Let’s face it, David, you are no shoddy amateur!

[@Vandemonium]

Cheers :-)

[@firefly24601]

Riveting footage of the shuttle queue, that's where most people's blood pressure peaks all day! ;)

[@michaelhodges2448]

Well done well demonstrated

[@cr0ft-2k]

That behemoth of a shower compartment in the Grand California seems to just pinch it off in the middle and makes it look extra cramped, somehow. And way too much white in there for my taste. I too prefer wood or at least fake wood.

[@grahamhardyvanlife5704]

Portable projectors are not cheap, got on myself but it only dose 480p so not the best but its super low power.

[@migranthawker2952]

When my wife and I were looking for a new motorhome, we spent a long time looking round the shows for a design that suited us. We were amazed at how many poorly laid-out vans there were. After looking at one particularly poor example, I talked to one of the staff from the company. When asked what her role was, she said part of the design team. I asked her how much time she had spent actually using a motorhome, to which she replied none! I told her she should try a couple of weeks in one, then she might learn how to design them properly, eg, not having to lean over the cooker rings to get at the sink.

[@Vandemonium]

!!!! Seriously?!!! That's crazy.

[@AZC1949]

David, your "Shoddy Amateur" is better than a lot of the "Professional" videography I have had to try and salvage. I wish just half of the crap I was handed to "fix" was as good as yours is in production, post-production and presentation!

[@Vandemonium]

Ah, that's very kind, thank you. A couple of annoying encoding glitches in this, courtesy DaVinci Resolve, but I had to live with them.

[@theodorethehamster8574]

The vw camper reminded me of a plane

[@garrystacey7018]

Great video David are you have a stand there in October 😂👍🏻

[@nigelstrarup]

Love it you have done good love it

[@joeltalbot1546]

David, most informative, thanks. I would never get away with calling my better half the “navigator.” I call her the “Commander and Chief.” A couple of things that you have that we don’t have here on the west side of the pond. One being “VAT” and the other being two monetary systems unless you consider “dollars and bucks” but then you have “quid and pounds” or € and £. Huh. Anyway nice looking units

[@Vandemonium]

Don't you have some form of sales tax akin to VAT?! Crikey. But we only have one monetary system, the good ole British Pound, £

[@joeltalbot1546]

Yes and No. If an item is purchased from another state then no, the purchase is tax free. Some states like Oregon and I believe Nevada do not have a sales tax even on in state purchases. Here in Idaho sales tax is 6% but only on some items otherwise there may be no tax at all. Personally, I try to purchase as much stuff as I can from out of state vendors. Most vendors will pay shipping if you purchase is more than $100.00. So if I lived in the state of Colorado and I purchase something for $100.00 is would cost me about $108.50 including sales tax. Living in Idaho the same purchase would cost me $100.00 and the vendor ships it over 800 miles to me for free. I am a amateur radio operator and if I purchased $10,000.00 dollars worth of amateur radio equipment I could would save hundreds of dollars just in taxes. There are no amateur radio vendors here in a Idaho and yes it would be very easy to spend $10,000.00 for amateur radio equipment. Sounds confusing but it’s a game here, the game of “let’s see if we can screw the government out of sale tax.” The winnings can be substantial. Cheerio

[@Its_me--Boo_Radley]

@@Vandemonium Most states in the U.S. have a sales tax on purchases. The taxes can be as high as 10%, but a few states have no sales tax. In my home state of Michigan, we would pay a 6% sales tax if we purchased one of those beautiful recreational vehicles.

[@Vandemonium]

What an intriguing system!

[@stacieodstacieod9555]

You are the best of the best!!

[@Vandemonium]

You are very kind ;-)

[@rwbimbie5854]

I have mixed feelings on Rhinolining. That stuff is SERIOUS protection, but there is a big difference between dumping bricks or concrete blocks into a truck bed, vs a stone on steel 15 ton force scrape when you misalign entry to a lock. I guess a big thing to consider is how frequently you MUST get Re-Blacked, vs a HaulOut & Rhino Spot Touchup

[@Vandemonium]

Agreed; I'd be very interested to see some boat-oriented real-life testing.

[@Vandemonium]

There are a few coatings around but the question is whether they can handle the demands of a narrowboat thumping around the canals. It's not just whether it can withstand bumps but also whether it will stay fully adhered to the steel such that water cannot seep in underneath and rot the boat without you seeing. Bitumen is crude but relatively cheap and easy to apply hence why it's still used. These other products tend to be costly and no-one has tried them on a narrowboat (who'd risk being first?!)

[@rwbimbie5854]

@@Vandemonium True about the Creep-under & Rust. We can see that happen even with a botched Chrome Plating on steel. While the hidden rust bulges are obvious with Chrome, but a flat textured black surface would be nigh impossible to detect... til your foot goes thru the deck or a duck pecks a hole in the side of the boat.

[@srqlisa7881]

some guy in the usa had 55 westfalias and jsut sold them . he had them in the open in his backyard for years. : ) peace

[@vtg100]

Nominative determinism; 55, Failing in the West. ;-)

[@scoobydog411]

Great video. Is there a proper guide book for first time camper buyers? I think if a person has a home than renting a unit for the weekend or a week long is a good idea. I didn’t the same thing your doing. I would enjoy talking with you about campers some time.

[@Vandemonium]

I don't know of such a book but there must be one, I'd have though! Renting is definitely a good plan to start with.

[@dentonmccormick6340]

well done. enjoyed your vedio

[@locallyn5643]

David another great video thank you, did your lady companion have a favorite out of all that was on display?

[@Vandemonium]

She says "all of them"!! But especially the VW campers with a little toilet/shower room at the back.

[@urbanrider7981]

Interesting video David,that grand California seems to clinical inside to me,Chris

[@Vandemonium]

Thanks; yes, me too.

[@marks-0-0]

I saw it today, yes clinical I guess but very nicely built. I'm sure it will be a good seller when it's released.

[@CP140405]

The "foldy out caravan thing" and "back of the pickup" camper thing are quite common in North America...

[@CP140405]

And the VW camper reminds me of the camper we had in Australia a couple years ago... a Mercedes Sprinter conversion.

[@katz2912]

Yes, here in Canada the "foldy out thing" is called a tent trailer and the one to put in the box of a pick up truck is a truck camper. Both very common in North America.

[@CP140405]

@@katz2912 I've also had people refer to a tent trailer as a "pop-up"... maybe it depends which side the country the person is from... I always called it a tent trailer... but I'm from the left side of the country...

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

VW have a unique way to spell Acapulco.

[@Sweetthingsbyamy]

How did you find it? I went on thursday and loved it! We found that we preferred the less expensive ones and my parents saw the newer version of their Murvi :)

[@toronado455]

LOVE the video! I'm surprised you said the more American "standing in line" as opposed to "standing in queue". Or am I wrong?

[@Vandemonium]

I don't know if that's a specific Americanism, mind you so many US phrases have now seeped over here that they're pretty standard.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

The world is shrinking...

[@zapfanzapfan]

Was the Nissan NV200 the electric version? Did you spot any electric motorhomes/campervans/prototypes?

[@Vandemonium]

I don't recall, sorry

[@alternatenutters2524]

Agreed... the map orientation was a little bass ackwards.... in keeping with our previous observations...... However.... whist hiding in plain sight..... being busted by the boots...... is she of favored navigation's...

[@marilynwisbey9446]

Hello Diamond geezer 😃

[@jonharrisphotography]

So, having seen the 'alternate' version of the Toyota Proace camper conversion, is there anything you'd have done differently in your own van?

[@Vandemonium]

Not taken from that, no

[@aaronhorn6849]

Haaa sneaky little shot of the camera shy navigator in there I see!

[@billstevens3796]

And it's someone we know! David, you sly dog!

[@Vandemonium]

I don't think you do know her

[@robinlecomte1242]

Does the "Navigator", "hale" from a Country, several thousand miles from your shores?? Also known to be interested in travelling using a caravan for accommodation?

[@Vandemonium]

No

[@richardpaine5923]

Nice vid.

[@Bashfuldoc]

Claustrophobic little spaces those vans are; horribly expensive too!. Would you consider building a Tiny House on wheels, a gypsy caravan or a shepherd 's hut on wheels; for the extra living space someday?

[@Vandemonium]

Maybe one day!

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

You get over it....the small space that is. I am unsure if anyone ever gets over what they charge for these things...I converted a cargo trailer into an caravan. Its a lot of work but in the end...well worth the trouble.

[@livingladolcevita7318]

good vlog, nothing to do with camper vans or is it? have you done a review of induction hobs running off solar and if not would you do one?

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I run a induction stove and an 800 watt split A/C system off of solar. Any way you approach it...your investment will be substantial. You could start with batteries and an inverter and charge it from shore power. and/or the vehicle. Then add solar at a later time.

[@jbearmcdougall1646]

Showers get in the way....

[@chrisneedham5803]

I worry about your navigator, I hope they enjoyed themselves

[@Vandemonium]

She did!

[@andrewriley1664]

Nice nails!

[@87xfute]

So many toys, so little money !! Ho-hum never mind, maybe in the next lifetime. Haha. Seeya Rob

[@del5.0]

OK, Mr. Money Bags which is it, Grand California or the new narrowboat? If it were me I would definitely get both, as they say, "Go big or go home". Wait that doesn't make sense, those would be your homes. Ugh...I need a cocktail. Cheers my friend.

[@Vandemonium]

Ha, I wish I had bags of money but I'd rather have the boat; the Grand California is not really to my taste.

[@carlthor91]

@@Vandemonium Dave, we know you are a water lad. By the way, when do we meet the 'Navigator", ever? Cheers

[@Vandemonium]

She's camera shy.

[@Binrat228]

The Navigator does a smashing job at product demonstration!

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

@@Vandemonium Ex-MI-5 eh? All is good. Not everyone is comfortable in the limelight.

[@narrowboatlane2241]

The orange pick up truck camper looks like someones fitted it with a very large comedy elvis wig.

[@coratheexplorer1824]

You sound like the narrator on TV I just forgot what program was it

[@Cous1nJack]

Walking time six minutes. No thanks I’ll stand in line for just as long 🇬🇧

[@MyNarrowboatVenture]

Hi David. I visited the show today but didn't spend so much time looking at the campers on this occasion as I usually do, so your vlog has filled in some gaps thanks. Can't say I am overly impressed by the Grand California conversion, did you notice how slender the bed mattress was? Were any sunglasses provided in the pod bathroom!

[@Vandemonium]

Haha they should have been!

[@cleaner10399]

methinks your "Navigator" is hiding, she is in quite a few of your vlogs lately. Looks like a nice young lady. She must be real camera shy.

[@Vandemonium]

Yes, she doesn't want to appear on screen!

[@joeclarke9782]

I'm thinking @30,000,000 KZbin views of our gracious host's Vandemonium could get him that VW Grand California camper. I would love to see him take ownership and then redo it from stem to stern. Get the word out.

[@Vandemonium]

Haha that would be something!

[@127ynot]

Great vid - up to the end!! :)) did you make it to the other halls??

[@Vandemonium]

We went through several in this video

[@sylviapage8572]

I’m considering a campervan. I’ve sold my 45 foot NB to buy a bigger boat but my husband isn’t keen on cruising and I’m not that confident to single hand so I’m wondering if a van would be a better option for me. I’d be quite happy to travel alone in a van and I could travel further and spend time at the coast. At the moment Hillside are my first choice with Jerba a close second, I also like Danbury. I actually prefer the Hopton to the Grand California, there was something a bit plastic about that! However, I think I’ll go for a T6. Who produced the van with the nice wooden interior? I wasn’t keen on the one with the drinks cabinet but loved the first one you showed. Thanks for a great video.

[@Vandemonium]

No boat?! Oh no!

[@moosabones]

Have you come across vloggers ‘Travelling Togs’ ? Amazing photographers, in a campervan.

[@srqlisa7881]

Plenty of rv'ers, 4x4's, work truck,s etc use the rhino coverage and I have not heard one negative word only praises, fyi. : ) peace

[@nickwood176]

David, I believe I recognised your earntswhile assistant by her wrist tatt.

[@joeclarke9782]

I saw her silhouette from a shadow once as they were gliding down a cut. But let's not get too nosy.

[@anjh3570]

Crs... good question...

[@nigelstrarup]

May it have wings so it may fly if you are lucky

[@anthonystevens8427]

Are you becoming a camper van man 👌