Camper vans

Here are some companies offering van, camper van and motorhome insurance.

UK

• Quote Line Direct - Cheap Van Insurance Specialists
• Caravan Wise - Campe
  

It is often nice to watch a DVD in your vehicle. If you have a television you can simply add a DVD player to your setup. If you are staying in campsites and are using a 240 volt power hook-up then you will not have any power problems. If you have a 12 volt system then you will have to use a power inverter. Running a television and a DVD player from your leisure batteries will use your power quickly. A better solution is to use a laptop to watch DVDs. See above.

Television

If you want to have a television in your van you have a few options. 

Laptop computers are a great addition to a camper van or motorhome, especially for longer trips. With your laptop you can watch DVDs, listen to music, watch television (with an adapter), browse photographs from a digital camera, write notes and send emails. It is possible to use your mobile phone to connect to the Internet and send emails when traveling, although this can be expensive. You can also make use of WiFi, which is available in more and more places each day. Laptops use a reasonable amount of power. If you are connected to a mains power supply, such as in a campsite, then you will have no problems. If you have a 12 volt power system then you will either need to plug your laptop into an inverter, or use a 12 volt adapter. Inverters are inefficient at converting energy, and a 12 volt laptop adapter is a better idea. If your laptop computer has a DVD player you should be able to use the built in software to watch DVDs. It is now possible to buy television adapters for laptop computers. The television adapter is normally a USB device that once plugged in, allows you to watch television on the laptop. Analog and Digital television versions are available. They normally come with a small aerial, which you may want to upgrade.

WiFi

WiFi is a wireless system that allows computers with a WiFi adapter to connect to a WiFi access point or router. Once the laptop is connected to the access point or router the laptop can use the Internet. WiFi is available in more and more places. More and more campsites are offering WiFi. There are many cafes and bars in urban areas that offer free WiFi access to all customers. Many libraries offer free WiFi access also. There are several places where you can pay for WiFi access.

I'd highly recommend having a stereo in your vehicle. Listing to music, or a language CD, is great when driving along. Music is also great when you are parked up and enjoying a drink, watching the sun go down. Most vehicles have a stereo fitted to the dashboard, powering speakers in the doors. It is generally better to add additional speakers to the living area of the vehicle, and wire these to the dashboard stereo.

Stealth camper vans are home made camper vans that do not look like a camper van from the outside. This generally means they do not have any windows. People do not add windows to their camper vans to avoid the attention of thieves. I made my own camper van without any windows, and never had a problem with light, ventilation, or crime.

When you own a large vehicle like a camper van or motorhome you soon become aware that it is more difficult to park than a car. If you have a small camper van such as a Volkswagen transporter, or even a short wheel base panel van, you won't have many problems, as they fit into most car parking bays.

If you have a larger vehicle, such as a motorhome or long wheel base panel van, finding a suitable parking space is more difficult. At car parks with marked bays, such as supermarkets, you can often park across two bays. Supermarkets wont mind this generally, but if you are parking in a pay and display type car park you will probably need to buy two tickets, one for each space. Check the conditions though, as you might end up with a ticket even if you do that.

Choosing the best supplier of gas bottle for you can save you headaches when you do run out or need to refill.

Europe

Each country throughout Europe has its own supplier of gas bottles, each with its own adapter and regulator. People who regularly spend long periods of time in different countries often have a different gas bottle for each country. Campingaz is available throughout Europe, but only comes in small bottles, which is OK for single travelers or short trips, but not cost effective for others.

Camper vans and motorhomes are great vehicles for sports. They offer space to carry sporting equipment, somewhere to sleep if staying overnight and somewhere to make hot drinks and food. Below are some tips about carrying and storing sporting equipment.

Bicycles

Bicycles are a very popular option when touring with a camper van or motorhome. Read the section dedicated to bicycles.

Only take what you need in your vehicle, carrying unnecessary items will only slow you down and use up valuable storage space. There are a number of items I would recommend that will make your travelling life easier:

Guide books

Destination travel guides

There are many popular travel guides that contain an amazing amount of invaluable information about even little visited locations. The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet are the most popular, and not just for backpackers. The information is aimed at all travelers. Also check other publishers such as Footprints

You may wish to include some media entertainment in your vehicle, to help with the dark evening or raining days. Most vans will include a radio/CD player in the cab, which provides music for the living area also. The advances and falling prices of media technology make it easier and more affordable to add other entertainment to a camper van or motorhome.

Sections

• Music, stereos and speakers