If campervan life looks like it could be for you, and you can just about see yourself packing up the van and hitting the road for holidays, weekends away, or even just a day trip to the beach... you may have some questions first...
All first time buyers have a lot of questions about how to buy a van, what it's like to own one, and what day to day campervan life might feel like... so we've put together this list of FAQs to help you get your head around all the info you need.
As van owners for over 20 years, we love sharing our passion for campervanning with our customers and readers, so please do get in touch if you have any more questions!
In this article:
Is a campervan a good investment?
How do I choose the best van for me?
How do I finance my campervan?
What's it like to own a campervan?
What’s it REALLY like to sleep in a van?
Can I personalise my campervan?
Are you ready to buy a campervan?
Is a campervan a good investment?
Our answer on this one is always an unequivocal YES!
Not only does a quality conversion - like both our Trouvaille Classique and Actif models - hold value incredibly well for resale, these cleverly-designed compact vans can double as a second vehicle. This means you won't have to own a separate vehicle for everyday use, and you won't have to tax and insure an extra vehicle.
Our compact vans are also really versatile, meaning you'll get way more use out of it in the day-to-day - we use ours as a spare bedroom, a home office, a mobile meeting room, and it's even doubled as a practice or treatment room for various therapists!
How do I choose the best van for me?
Your lifestyle, what you'd like to use the van for, and where you'll be storing it are the most important considerations here.
Large vs compact campers
We specialise in compact vans, meaning that our campers are the same size as everyday vehicles, can be stored on a standard driveway, and are as easy to drive and manoeuvre as your average family car.
So that's the first point to consider - are you looking for a compact and convenient vehicle to keep at home and use daily (like the 'vans that Orange Campers has on offer), or would you prefer something bigger with a full sized kitchen and a shower room on board for long stints on the road?
A touring companion vs an active adventure base
If you're planning on hitting the road in comfort and taking things at your own pace in a compact van with a large interior feel, the Trouvaille Classique will suit you down to the ground.
Available as a pop-top or high top, with a 130m RIB bed and all the little bells and whistles you can imagine to make for an exceptional van experience, the Classique is ideal for family trips and seeing the sights.
If it's adventure you're after, the Trouvaille Actif will be more your style. Built on a high spec Ford Transit Custom, apart from luxury details like parking cameras and a quick clear windscreen, it features roof rails for your boards and kayaks, a bike rack on the back, solar panels, lithium batteries, an external shower, and limited split diff for driving in tricky terrain.
How do I finance my campervan?
Whilst we're not able to give financial advice, there are options out there for you, so you don't have to wait for retirement to follow your dreams!
If you're wanting to trade in your regular vehicle for a campervan you might like the look of our micro campers which is a shorter height making it more car-park friendly than our other options.
We also partner with specialist finance company Pegasus Finance. For more information you can use their calculator on their website.
What's it like to own a campervan?
Imagine waking up on an unexpectedly sunny Saturday and deciding to hop in your van and head to the beach for the weekend. With nothing more than a bag of clothes to organise, you'll be taking your accommodation with you, and within a couple of hours you could be taking your paddle boards off the roof and exploring the coast.
When you’ve finished in the waves, rinse off with your van’s outdoor shower, then plug the gas barbecue into the external barbecue point for an evening snack before setting up your super comfortable bed and falling asleep to the sound of the waves.
Or... imagine planning an off-grid summer trip across the country, picking the most remote spots to enjoy the tranquility of nature in places that most people could only dream of visiting. With your Trouvaille’s solar panels and lithium batteries, plus your roof rails for a kayak and bike racks on the back, you’ll be completely independent and set up for every adventure you can dream up.
Perhaps you'd enjoy a winter adventure, heading up to see the northern lights and taking your cosy accommodation with you, cooking comforting meals in the kitchen area after a bracing walk, or enjoying hot cups of tea whilst playing board games with the family as your van’s inbuilt heater keeps you all toasty warm.
This is just a taste of what it’s like to own a camper of your very own… has it whet your appetite?!
What's it REALLY like to sleep in a campervan?
Many first timers wonder this, because surely it can’t be all that comfortable to sleep in what’s basically a big car, can it?!
Well, yes, it really can!
Our vans have a 120cm bed in the Actif, 130cm in the Classique, which is a really generous size for a compact van. We’ve included handy USB ports and lights in the sleeping area, so you have everything you need to hand when it’s bedtime. And the way we’ve positioned the bed also means that you can still access the fridge and sit at the table while the bed is made up.
For extra comfort we recommend a mattress topper, and we always travel with luxurious cotton sheets, the best pillows and a cosy duvet rather than sleeping bags to really make it feel like home.
You’ll experience all of this if you hire one of our vans - we supply all those little extras that make for an exceptional van experience, so feel free to try before you buy if you want to really get a good feel for what it’s like to sleep in a van.
Can I personalise my campervan?
One of the best things about our Trouvaille campervans is that yes - you can choose the colour of your base van from the range we have in stock, and we have a really wide range of interior options for you to choose from too.
We’ve come up with some combinations of colours and fabrics that work well together, but you’re also welcome to take us up on our bespoke interior service, where we work together to come up with an interior that’s customised to your tastes and needs.
Ready to buy a campervan?
If you're ready to invest in your Orange Camper's Trouvaille, we have two models for you to choose from:
Our original Trouvaille Classique, and our newer addition, the Trouvaille Actif.
To get the ball rolling, just get in touch and we'll set up a time to discuss the process - which you can also learn all about by clicking here.
In the meantime, you're welcome to hire one of our vans to try before you buy - but beware, many a hirer has been so taken with the Trouvaille's excellent use of space and attention to detail that they couldn't help themselves buying one after a weekend in our van!
Happy campervan shopping!
Rich & Sonya
PS - We've just created an insider-only mailing list where we share our secret campsite recommendations, special offers, and first access to new vans coming available. Click here to subscribe.