What is driving a campervan really like?

Orange Campers Ltd
Dec 11, 2025
5 min read

If you’re thinking about owning your first campervan, one of the biggest questions you’ll have is simple: What is driving a campervan actually like?

Is it harder than driving a car? Does the size take some getting used to? Will you feel confident on real roads, not just in theory?

The truth is, with today’s modern 'vans (especially the ones we build here at Orange Campers), driving a campervan is far easier, smoother and more intuitive than most people expect.

With improved visibility, clever design, and loads of driver tech, it very quickly becomes second nature.

And if you want to see it for yourself…

Watch Richard explain his experience of driving a campervan

Here’s our brand-new video where Richard takes you through the Pop Top MWB, High Roof MWB, and the Micro Camper, showing the visibility, modern driving aids, reversing tech, daily driving comfort and why he doesn’t own a car anymore.

Sonya’s take: “Driving a campervan is surprisingly easy.”

“For me, driving the MWB is surprisingly easy. Rich normally takes over the driving, but when he injured himself over the summer, I was pleasantly surprised what an easy car-like drive the pop top MWB was, with the added bonus of being nice and high up. The view of the road and surroundings is a great panoramic.

I love the Micro Camper for different reasons. It's not as high up and feels a little more versatile — much like driving the Transit Custom we used to convert, but narrower and a bit more practical if you have any really narrow spaces you need to access or trips down very narrow lanes!”

Sonya’s experience is exactly what many new drivers feel: the MWB gives you height and comfort, the Micro Camper gives you confidence and versatility.

Richard’s view: “Driving a campervan today is nothing like it used to be.”

Richard drives all three of our demonstrators regularly, whether it's commuting, school runs, weekends away, and he’s seen how far the technology has come.

Here’s how he describes driving a campervan today:

“I like driving a medium wheelbase because it's much quieter than the older version. And it's a nice smooth drive. Now it's full electric power steering, so it feels very light to drive. It's got very good vision, 'cause you're sat quite high up in the chair. You feel like you've got a very high vantage point where you can see clearly all around. It's like driving a four-by-four vehicle.

It's got big mirrors with blind spot assist, and a digital rear-view mirror which shows you clearly what's behind the vehicle. When you're reversing, your big mirrors really help, plus you've got a full 10-inch screen digital reverse camera — really good quality.

There are lots of driver aids now — blind spot assist, lane assist, braking assist, parking assist — all these things make it an easier van to drive. Far easier than it used to be.”

And when it comes to the Micro Camper:

“The Micro Camper is car-sized. When you're in it, you just forget that you're in a little van… It's a nice quiet engine and the automatic's even nicer. It doesn't feel like a big van — or even like you're in a van, to be truthful.”

In other words, driving a campervan is now designed to feel intuitive, safe and familiar — even for first-time drivers.

What our owners say about driving a campervan

Nothing beats hearing it directly from the Orange Campers community. Here’s how real owners describe their everyday driving experiences…

Kev

“Our Ducato High Top auto is, I find, effortless to drive. The steering is light, has fantastic turning circle — better than our car! And the 9-speed gearbox is seamless — a joy to be in!”

Maggie

“My Peugeot Boxer high top manual goes like a dream and is easy to handle for a little old woman here! Impressed how much more one can see up there in the van, compared to a car…”

Gary

“My wife and I drive the manual Peugeot Boxer Trouvaille Classique and a fully automatic electric CUPRA Born. Two very different beasts, but to be honest, we have no issues swapping from one to the other. We love the high position of the campervan, and of course, we just adjust our driving to suit the vehicle and load.”

Eliza

“Mine is the Toyota Proace automatic… The Toyota is a great drive, very easy… Oddly, it’s easier to reverse onto the drive than the Mini! … I would definitely not want to drive anything bigger than my Toyota Micro Camper round the local Cumbrian country lanes.”

Andrew

“I had my Ford Transit Custom Actif, as my only vehicle for over a year. I just love driving it.

The size means it fits into almost any parking space, and it has a commanding road position, which makes navigating traffic really easy.

The manual gearchange is light, and it has a full complement of driving assistance aids, the most useful of which is the speed limiter/ adaptive cruise control, which recognises speed limit changes on the road, really good when touring to avoid a ticket.

In a nutshell, the electric car represents routine, the campervan represents adventure.”

Gill

“Still getting used to my manual SWB High Top Ducato. Much easier to park than anticipated, and it has a good turning circle. It still just fits in most car park spaces.

I'm used to driving a 4x4 Skoda Yeti and have to remind myself to be patient at roundabouts as I can not accelerate off as quickly, but it's not too bad. I'm also far more cautious on tight bends! I'm getting used to the gears, still struggle a little with the handbrake, it was too far down for me, next to the drivers door..I'm only short! So I've put a handbrake extender on it. Most of the time this is great, but sometimes I don't get quite the right release action and panic!! I'm definitely getting better, but I drive far more cautiously than I do in my car, which is probably good. It's not as quiet as my car, and the suspension is harder. I do notice more bumps.

After almost 2 weeks away in it though, I'm now not noticing the differences so much! I love the Ducato for holidays, even though we are not using it for sleeping on this trip. Being able to stop for a cuppa or snack and having food in the fridge, along with meals for the dogs if we are out too late, it's amazing.

I love all the extra space too, it's so quick to pack. Packing my car with luggage for the 3 dogs and us was a nightmare; the car was filled to the top, and I could never find what I wanted quickly. In the campervan, everything has a place

I did find that many car parks restrict height to 2.1m, but I then looked around and found some free parking, so I saved myself money!"

Their verdict? Driving a campervan feels natural, empowering and often easier than expected.

So, what is driving a campervan like?

To sum it up:

Easy — thanks to modern steering, cameras and driver aids
Comfortable — especially with that high-up panoramic seating position
Confidence-building — particularly in the Micro Camper
Surprisingly familiar — more “big comfy car” than “commercial van”
Enjoyable — the height, the view, the space… it’s a treat, not a chore

Driving a campervan today is nothing like it used to be. Innovation has taken massive leaps — and once you’ve driven one, you’ll understand why so many of our customers say they’d happily use theirs as a daily vehicle.

But the best way to know?