If you’re considering a campervan conversion, the first step is to decide on a base van. There’s a huge amount to consider, including: brand, model, weight, fuel type, specifications, and of course, the price.
Tips For Choosing a Campervan Base
There are a number of vehicles available at the moment which are well suited to a campervan conversion. To help you to choose which is right for you, we’ve put together some top tips, including key things to consider in your search for the perfect base van.
Size Matters
Of course, first and foremost it’s important to settle on a van that will comfortably fit both you and anyone else you’ll want to take on your travels. The size of your family (or possibly friendship group) will ultimately whittle down your choice of base vans, so take some time to consider this.
As well as this, think about how long your average trip will be. Short breaks and long weekends don’t require huge amounts of storage. Extended trips may require more space for keeping those essentials close by while you’re on the road.
Ultimately, the size of the vehicle you choose for your campervan conversion will come down to your expectations, requirements and the size of the party you’re most likely to travel with.
Age Before Beauty
Yes, a campervan that looks the part is fantastic. But if you’re looking for a campervan conversion that will go the distance, think carefully on both the age and mileage of the vehicle. An older vehicle doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be more prone to breakdown and in need of more repairs, however it is a factor to consider.
If you’re looking for a vehicle with character, classic VW campervans are very popular. Due to their popularity, it’s not too difficult to get hold of spare parts. However, if you’d like the character of a VW without the uncertainty of potential breakdowns, the newer Transporter models are very recognisable and reliable.
Prioritise Your Priorities
At the end of the day, a campervan conversion should be made for you. Therefore, your base vehicle should be able to accommodate all of (or at least most of) the things that you would like. So, when it comes to picking the right base for your conversion, first decide on your priorities. Is a separate toilet/shower room important to you? Do you need lots of storage? Will you be travelling with your kids?
Take some time to write down a list of your top priorities and ask questions about the vans you look at. Some of them might be totally unsuitable for the things that you want or need, which will quickly shorten your long list.
Thrash Out Your Budget
Finally, decide on your budget. Work out how much you are prepared to spend on your base van and conversion, and work from there. Like anything else it’s very easy to get carried away when you start shopping around. But there’s nothing so disheartening as being bought back to Earth sharply when you realise everything you’ve dreamed of falls way out of budget.
For this reason, set a budget. If you’d like flexibility, think about the highest amount you’d be prepared to spend and then consider what boxes a van would have to tick to warrant spending that amount. That way, if you come across a van that perfectly suits your needs you’ll be able to work out quickly whether it falls into budget and whether you can get the ball rolling on purchasing it.
Campervan Conversions From Denby
Here at Denby, we provide a flexible campervan conversion service. Whether you would like to source your own base van, or would like us to help with finding one for you, our expert team knows everything there is to know about campervan conversions. From our popular Balmoral conversion to the Denby Weekender, we’ve got campervan conversions for every need and want. To see some examples of our vans in action, check out our campervan conversions gallery.
For help on your search for a base van, contact us today. We have a wide range of campervans for sale which can be personalised with your choice of campervan conversions. Alternatively, we have a wide range of contacts throughout the country we can draw on to source the van you have in mind.
