Green lane capable camper

[Van-Wild]

We're now looking at something similar Van Wild for very similar kind of locations really.
I'd be interested in seeing how you've customised the bike rack- again we're thinking of doing something similar.
Have you been anywhere outside the UK?

I've travelled extensively in the following countries:

France, all the way down to the pyrenees.

Germany, a circular route from NW to Berlin, then down to berchtesgaden, across to the black forest, then up the western border to france/Belgium.

Northern Italy. Lake como in the NW, across to the eastern border with Slovenia.

Austria. All the way over to Vienna.

Denmark.

Wales.

Scotland. Including the Isle of Skye. Mostly western Highlands, the cairngorms and all the way over to gardenstown, Edinburgh.....

I'm planning a trip to Scandinavia next year. I wild camp everywhere. Only stayed on a handful of actual sites. Mostly in germany as it's dirt cheap and always great facilities. I have a thule bike 4 bike rack on the back. I moved two of the bike rests onto the uprights and bolted on jerry can racks. I have one for fuel and one for water. The bike rack is rated for 60kg but I'm careful not to go over about 50kg, just in case. It's the perfect vehicle for a family of 4. 2 adults, two children (10 and 6) and a dog. The cassette toilet is easy and convenient. We use biodegradable fluid in it so we don't need to dispose of waste in a chemical facility. But we are still discrete. We use a 7ltr pump shower to wash, which we use in a pop up camping toilet tent for privacy. I carry a cobb oven to cook outside and have a dutch oven for an open fire, which is my preference.


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[Janne]

You will have a fantastic trip in Scandinavia!
Do you have the means to heat up the shower water? If not, no need to water for the shower. Lakes and streams everywhere.

 

[Van-Wild]

You will have a fantastic trip in Scandinavia!
Do you have the means to heat up the shower water? If not, no need to water for the shower. Lakes and streams everywhere.

Of course. 3ltrs cold and 2ltrs hot is the perfect ratio. 5ltrs total will wash 2 adults. Or 1 adult and 2 kids. The novelty of washing in rivers and streams wears off pretty fast.

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[Janne]

It is very refreshing. Wakes you up very rapidly!

 

[Nomad64]

There is also the Mazda Bongo 4 x 4 camper, and the VW Syncro, and these are good.

IMHO 4x4 is an expensive and generally unnecessary complication for most people which narrows down the choice of vehicles. These guys were the inspiration for my overlanding travels and although I eventually swapped my VW Kombi for a Defender 110, this shows what can be doe with 2WD and a decent set of AT tyres.

http://www.vwvagabonds.com

Most of Africa gets around on roads often in a state which 99% of the 4x4s in Europe never be used on using humble Toyota Hiace minibuses - though occasionally if the driver has decided to wash his taxi in a river in Mozambique, they can be grateful of a passing Brit in a Landy!



Those RB44s look like the perfect basis for an overland expedition vehicle but (rightly or wrongly) acquired a shocking reputation for unreliability when used by the British Army maybe just not squaddie proof or maybe HM Forces have been spoiled by the impeccable reliability of green oval badged products! FWIW, despite the attractive prices when sold via disposal auctions, I can’t recall seeing an RB44 on or off the road in civilian use.

 

[santaman2000]

Of course. 3ltrs cold and 2ltrs hot is the perfect ratio. 5ltrs total will wash 2 adults. Or 1 adult and 2 kids. The novelty of washing in rivers and streams wears off pretty fast.

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I’ve been wondering for a while so I guess I’ll ask now: The O.P. mentioned wanting onboard shower and toilet facilities. Do the commercial sites along projected travel routes (or any sites open to the public) commonly have water and sewer hookups? Or do they even commonly have a station to refill your freshwater tanks and dump your sewer tanks legally? If not, those onboard facilities might be a bad idea.

 

[Janne]

Yes, everywhere.
Since the distant times when we invented the car and motorways, and associated services, we realized the need to get potable water and a way to get rid of the bodily waste early on.


Specially the motorway service stations have those well designed and for free, but to be honest, sometimes they can be tricky to find.

The organized camping grounds - the same, but to be frank I have not used one of those for over a quarter of a century, so I might be wrong.

 

[Van-Wild]

I’ve been wondering for a while so I guess I’ll ask now: The O.P. mentioned wanting onboard shower and toilet facilities. Do the commercial sites along projected travel routes (or any sites open to the public) commonly have water and sewer hookups? Or do they even commonly have a station to refill your freshwater tanks and dump your sewer tanks legally? If not, those onboard facilities might be a bad idea.

Most EU sites have the facility to dispose of grey (dish water) and black (chemical toilet) water. Every site I've been on has the facility to replenish fresh water stocks. Most sites have shower and toilet facilities but the standard will vary dependant on site. FWIW we wild camp for weeks at a time, relying on a secluded spot for calls of nature (mandatory items are a folding shovel, toilet roll, a lighter and hand sanitiser). The cassette toilet is used for a desperate wee or poop. We can go for a week or more before needing to dispose of black water. As I've said, we use biodegradable liquids in our cassette which can be disposed of discretely into the environment, so long as I dig a hole away from water sources. This isn't a hindrance once you become used to it. We shower every day but don't make a luxury of it. Our pump shower fits well inside our pop up shower tent for privacy. Usually, us boys regularly fill a 2ltr coke bottle with warm water and shower by tipping it over heads, soaping up and then rinsing off. I've done it many times stood next to the van in a pair of swim shorts and flip flops! Ladies of course desire modesty. So the pop up tent comes to the fore. My wife has an insane ability to not need a poop for a few days (I'm regular every day!)and will generally wait until a pub turns up on route to empty her bowel . If we do go to a site (and it's very rare that we do) it's because we fancy a few days exploring the area. In Italy for instance, on a whim we booked into a site so that the kids could have a swim in the on site pool. It was a nice break from the confines of the van. If the OP is mainly UK based, I'd suggest that an RB44 or such like is too big a vehicle. You just won't be able to get to the more remote, beautiful places that you can get to in a van such as mine. That's not to say that a VW Transporter variant is the only choice. S/MWB Mercedes sprinters are also ideal as adventure based vehicle platforms.

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[Van-Wild]

Our Syncro has low range, It also has a decoupler so you can select 2 or 4 wheel drive and cross axle diff locks. They are really capable off road too. I agree with them being old now, our one is 1986 but the benefit is that road side repairs are easier to diagnose and rectify.

We've been building ours into an expedition vehicle but parts and accessories cost a fortune because of the VW scene tax and the Syncro tax. So far the restoration has taken us a year but we couldn't commit many weekends to it last year, we're hoping to have it finished with in the next six months or so.

This is ours a few months ago, it's got quite a few extras now like an expedition roof rack and new wheels and tyres.

Nice van. Where abouts are you?

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[Nice65]

@Nomad64

Good post mate, the debate over 4x4 versus driving wheels equipped with ATs, muds, snows etc rages every so often. While all of us like the idea of 4 wheel drive, box and diff options, you’re 100% correct we generally don’t need it. I’ve dumped the idea of a 4x4 Sprinter or other 4 wheeler option and opened myself a vast world of cheaper vehicle choices. Currently looking at a Sprinter that was converted by the owner to his spec. So no folding down faffy multifunctional bed/tables etc, just an oak floored van with walk in shower/loo, fridge, cooker, microwave. Double bed at back over a reduced size race boot, and single bunk beneath. Perfect, tons of space for more bunks or floor kipping.

 

[Van-Wild]

@Nomad64

Good post mate, the debate over 4x4 versus driving wheels equipped with ATs, muds, snows etc rages every so often. While all of us like the idea of 4 wheel drive, box and diff options, you’re 100% correct we generally don’t need it. I’ve dumped the idea of a 4x4 Sprinter or other 4 wheeler option and opened myself a vast world of cheaper vehicle choices. Currently looking at a Sprinter that was converted by the owner to his spec. So no folding down faffy multifunctional bed/tables etc, just an oak floored van with walk in shower/loo, fridge, cooker, microwave. Double bed at back over a reduced size race boot, and single bunk beneath. Perfect, tons of space for more bunks or floor kipping.

I'd love to see that van. I like the sound of a double stacked bed. Is the van a LWB?

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[Buckshot]

I've travelled extensively in the following countries:

France, all the way down to the pyrenees.

Germany, a circular route from NW to Berlin, then down to berchtesgaden, across to the black forest, then up the western border to france/Belgium.

Northern Italy. Lake como in the NW, across to the eastern border with Slovenia.

Austria. All the way over to Vienna.

Denmark.

Wales.

Scotland. Including the Isle of Skye. Mostly western Highlands, the cairngorms and all the way over to gardenstown, Edinburgh.....

I'm planning a trip to Scandinavia next year. I wild camp everywhere. Only stayed on a handful of actual sites. Mostly in germany as it's dirt cheap and always great facilities. I have a thule bike 4 bike rack on the back. I moved two of the bike rests onto the uprights and bolted on jerry can racks. I have one for fuel and one for water. The bike rack is rated for 60kg but I'm careful not to go over about 50kg, just in case. It's the perfect vehicle for a family of 4. 2 adults, two children (10 and 6) and a dog. The cassette toilet is easy and convenient. We use biodegradable fluid in it so we don't need to dispose of waste in a chemical facility. But we are still discrete. We use a 7ltr pump shower to wash, which we use in a pop up camping toilet tent for privacy. I carry a cobb oven to cook outside and have a dutch oven for an open fire, which is my preference.


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that sounds brill and fair play to you
We rented a Fiat Ducato over Easter which was very useful. we decided it was too big so we're looking at VW/ Reno trafic sized vans now with a pop top.
we've ditched the 4X4 thoughts too and will look more at ground clearance so maybe put some bigger wheels on or a slight lift. We'll see what the standard is and decide from there.

 

[Van-Wild]

That's what I did, height wise. Standard suspension with standard 16in wheels. Just popped on some All Season mud and snow tyres. Works a treat.

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[Bazzworx]

Nice van. Where abouts are you?

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Thanks, we're in south Gloucestershire.

 

[Nice65]

I'd love to see that van. I like the sound of a double stacked bed. Is the van a LWB?

I’m off to have a look tomorrow. I missed the sale of the very same vehicle a few months ago and was gutted. But it’s popped up again. It hasn’t been described very well by the present owner and I’m not familiar with the SWB/LWB. It’s pretty big, has an overhang but not vast, is 2014, 43,000 miles, manual box, and she wants around £30,000.

Screenshot.