Campervan: Interesting Facts About Van Life That Would Excite You
By – Ashwathy Nair
When it comes to RVs, it can be difficult to understand the lingo at first. What is a campervan, exactly? What distinguishes it from a motorhome? What does RV even stand for, anyway?
While the lines between types, sizes, and classes of RVs are often confused, there are a few clear differences in the types, sizes, and classes of RVs.
Today, we’re going to talk about campervans, which are getting increasingly popular.
So, let’s move forward with what a campervan is and how it differs from other recreational vehicles.
What Is Actually A Campervan?
A campervan, widely recognized as a camper van, caravanette, motor caravan, or simply a camper, is a self-propelled vehicle that serves as both a mode of transportation as well as a place to sleep.
Campervans are classified as Class B vehicles, which means they are relatively smaller than both Class A and Class C vehicles (no, you didn’t misread; Class B vehicles are probably smaller than Class C vehicles).
A campervan is a van that has been converted to include sleeping and living quarters. They’re frequently based on Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit frames. Any vehicle, however, may be converted into a campervan, with classic VW vans being a common choice.
People are abandoning the traditional “American dream” of owning a home in favor of the nomadic lifestyle of living in a van, which has grown in popularity in recent years. It has its own hashtag, #vanlife, and has become a social media sensation.
What Are Some of the Characteristics of a Campervan?
The characteristics that you’ll discover in a campervan will vary greatly depending on the vehicle. Because space is restricted in campervans, you are severely limited in what you can fit in them. As a result, the following items are frequently seen in a standard campervan:
- Sleeping Area: It’s so obvious that a camper wouldn’t be complete without a place to sleep. As a result, anticipate finding a bed, which is preferably one that can be folded up.
- Storage: Campervans come with storage options, although due to their tiny size, storage capacity may be limited. That’s why you’ll often find campervans with roof racks to help improve storage space while still giving plenty of room for living quarters inside as well.
- A Compact Kitchen Space: While some campervans don’t have a kitchen at all, you can typically locate one with just the essentials, such as a small dorm-style refrigerator and a dual gas burner to prepare food on.
- Dining Space: If a campervan has an eating space, it will most likely be a little table that folds out when not in use.
- Mobile Toilet Facilities: Because most campervans do not have a wastewater tank, you won’t find full bathroom facilities in one. Some variants, on the other hand, include a portable toilet that can retain wastewater.
Of course, this isn’t a full list of features available in a campervan, but it does include the most common ones.
In fact, self-contained versions are designed, with all of the functions needed without the requirement for external resources or campground facilities.
You may put any things you want in a campervan if you have the correct budget, van size, and creativity (within reason).
Here are some interesting facts about camper vans that you may not be aware of:
- It all began with the use of a manufacturer parts mover. When Volkswagen introduced the classic Type 2 van in 1947, it revolutionized the camper van industry. The original van was created to transport automobile parts around a vast Volkswagen facility in the United Kingdom. Ben Pon, a Dutch VW importer, devised a design for a larger parts supply system than the present solution, the Volkswagen Beetle. He based the van’s concept on a VW Beetle chassis. The Type 2 van was introduced to the market and quickly became the ultimate “do whatever you want” It rose to prominence as a camper van during the hippie movement of the 1960s, and the rest is history.
- In 1995, the first version of the Sprinter vehicle was introduced. As a middle ground between huge trucks and compact trucks that were larger than ordinary vans, Mercedes built a van with high cargo space and maximum durability. Because of its usefulness and endurance, the Sprinter has become the gold standard chassis in the camper van sector.
- Standard RVs are not exclusive to camper vans (also known as conversion vans). There are two important differences between conversion vans and their RV counterparts, particularly the comparatively modest RVs in the Class B category. To begin with, a Class B RV nearly always includes a full bathroom, a spacious cooking space, doors, large cabinets, and other amenities. Bathrooms and other “luxuries” are not always required, according to many people. Second, due to the high quality of the chassis and equipment utilized in many camper vans, they tend to hold their value longer than Class B RVs.
- Typically, camper vans endeavor their existence as cargo vans. Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Ford, Volkswagen, and other automakers rarely “upfit” their vans. They make cargo vans that serve as the chassis, which are then transformed into camper vans (thus the name “conversion vans”) by a licensed upfitter.
- It is particularly prevalent to be distinctive. Because almost all van conversions are customized, there are very few that are constructed equally. Even though some vans have similar packages and characteristics, each van produced is different.
- Camper vans aren’t all used for vacationing. Some camper vans are built for roughing it in the woods or off the grid, but the great majority of vans built are meant to be used every day for a variety of reasons, from family carriers to full-fledged residences on wheels.
- The original camper van was powered by a small motor. The Type 2 van was powered by a 1.4-liter engine. A 3 liter, 6 cylinders, 188 horsepower engine is available in two or four-wheel drive versions in today’s Sprinter vans. That should be more than enough to get you and your belongings almost everywhere.
- You may customize a camper van as you go. A lot of individuals construct camper vans in stages. In a standard RV, you wouldn’t be able to accomplish that. This will allow you to get on the road faster while spending less money upfront.
- Save money on gasoline. Because most campervans are lighter as well as more fuel-efficient than classic RVs, your engine will last longer and you’ll spend less money on gas.
- Go Green is the way! Camper vehicles can be outfitted with the latest solar energy, water recycling, and high-efficiency systems, making you feel as if your carbon imprint is as little as that of a desert shrew… That’s a super tiny rodent with a small carbon (and actual) footprint.
- Dump stations are no longer an option. Almost every traditional motorhome requires its owners to empty its waste tanks at designated dump locations. The procedure can be filthy, time-consuming, and downright disgusting…not to mention annoying. The manufacturing of vans began for persons who required a regular-sized toilet in a vehicle that they could use on a daily basis. Now the vans come with and without restrooms, however, the bathrooms have always and will continue to feature basic cartridge-style waste tanks that can be emptied into any standard toilet. It’s a smart move.
- Vanlife is a chosen lifestyle. When you purchase a conversion van, you automatically become a member of a faith-based community. Conversion vans are ideal for people who like to think outside the box and try new things. Conversion vans are popular among those who require a more convenient mode of transportation. Conversion vans are popular among persons who are willing to risk their lives on the road. Consider taking an active role in the movement!
What makes a campervan different from a motorhome?
From the above details, you might have got a clear understanding of what a campervan is. But what exactly is a motorhome?
A motorhome is a self-powered recreational vehicle that provides living amenities, similar to a campervan by definition. While you could call a campervan a motorhome in most circumstances, this isn’t always the case.
A motorhome is a self-powered mobile home that ranges from Class A to Class C, whereas a campervan is a specific type of motorhome, Class B.
So that’s the difference between a motorhome and a campervan from a technical standpoint. However, when people talk about motorhomes, they usually refer to bigger recreational vehicles like Class A or Class C.
What’s the better option, A Campervan or a Caravan?
A caravan is totally different from a campervan, or even any motorhome. In fact, it is considered a mobile home that is towed behind a road vehicle. For instance, if we think of a 5th wheeler, pop-up camper, or travel trailer.
What’s the better option, a campervan or a caravan simply is based on an individuals’ personal preference. It helps in visualizing your particular camping tour and weighs according to the pros and cons of each type of mobile home.
With a caravan, at every campground, one will have to hitch and unhitch. It will be taking a long time to set up and pack up, also, packing your caravan will be troublesome. On the other hand, once you land up at your destination, you are able to unhitch and drive around in your tow vehicle. It may seem more convenient to get around in a caravan rather than a campervan.
A caravan comes with more features such as having a full kitchen, bathroom, shower, and more. But again, in the end, it really happens to come up with the personal preference of an individual along with how one plans to use their RV on the trip.
