France

Ellen Manning

Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Conversion Auto-Trail V-Line 635 Sport Owned since May 2022 Drive Front-wheel drive Engine 2.3-litre 140bhp diesel Economy 32/33mpg Gearbox 6-speed manual Travel seats 2 Berths 2 Equipment Smart TV, reversing camera, three-burner hob, oven, 800W microwave, three-way fridge/freezer, electric fl ush cassette toilet, LED lighting, 25-litre underslung gas tank, Whale heating and water heater, TV aerial, 230V sockets, 12V LED reading lights, external gas barbecue point, external cold shower, wind-out awning, solar panel, LED exterior awning light For many, getting a campervan is about downsizing. Stripping out the unnecessary stuff from your life and realising that you can live in a far smaller space than you’re used to. But for some of us, the journey of campervan ownership also involves a period of upsizing. That moment when you realise you love the lifestyle but may just need a bit more space than the camper you’ve currently got.

Before we took the plunge into campervan ownership, we were tenters, moving from a tiny two-man tent to a bigger canvas home, then a bigger one, until we rattled around in a huge house-sized tent complete with bedroom, enough space for a wardrobe, a camping kitchen and even a blow-up sofa.

Such extravagance meant our ‘upgrade’ to a VW T5 was in fact a downgrade when it came to space. But it didn’t matter as we had our 'van. For six years we relished the joy of having our second home on wheels, complete with fridge, cooker, bed and enough storage to get us and our dogs around Europe for three weeks at a time.

It had everything we needed for what was a huge chapter in our life. But, over time, what was once perfect for us started to feel like it was lacking in a few ways.

Space is at a premium

While there was plenty of storage space for weekends or short breaks, we found that we were lacking for longer trips. Eventually a solution was found by buying a storage box that could sit on the towbar – along with the inevitable moments of needing something from said box in the middle of the night or during torrential rain.

The lack of room extended to general living space. When we first got our ’van we had one dog. But the addition of another and his (seemingly unstoppable) growth soon meant that our living space felt much smaller than it once had.

Summer was fine, with the great outdoors acting as one big extension and, on the occasions we were prepared to tackle the task of adding sides to a wind-out awning or erecting the driveaway awning, they helped. But simple one-nighters in winter could be a struggle, with two humans and two dogs making the small space too crowded to do anything other than sit very, very still. The easiest solution in winter evenings when we couldn’t sit outside was to retire to our bed in the pop-top – even if it was only 7pm.

The lack of washroom also started to wear a bit thin. Like many VW owners, we had a Porta Potti that slid into one of the cupboards. But there are only so many times you can drop down from a pop-top in the middle of the night and fend off the loving licks of two large dogs whilst trying to have a wee before you start to yearn for a loo with a door.

Other things that we previously had never thought of also started to creep in, like the desire for an underslung grey water tank so we could empty a sink without causing dirty looks from nearby campers. The dream of a bigger fridge and cooking facilities that extended beyond two gas burners and a grill. Even the way things were powered – with long, technical conversations about what would help us get off-grid more easily. The potential for a ’van that’s not quite so conspicuous when parked up also became appealing, prompting us to think it was time to move away from a pop-top.

Time for an upgrade

The time had come, as it does for many of us, to upgrade. While the T5 had once had everything we needed, we wanted something that filled the holes we had started to notice in our facilities. We researched for months, visiting shows, spending hours online and trying to fi gure out what would work best.

A fixed bed or something we’d have to put away each morning? What kind of layout? What kind of chassis? So many decisions and the endless reminder that you’re highly unlikely to get every single element you want unless you do your own bespoke conversion.

Round and round in circles we went, analysing the pros and cons of each and every ’van we came across that we thought could be the upgrade we craved. Finally we found it – an Auto-Trail V-Line 635 Sport, which is a bigger campervan based on a Fiat Ducato

We started exploring various awnings to add that much-needed extra space Space in the VW could be cramped at times with two large dogs and two humans squeezed inside 

The washroom gives us added freedom to go off-grid

The larger 'van makes it much easier to cook and eat inside in all seasons

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chassis but aimed at two people.

This meant no space-sucking extra travel seats at the front but, instead, the luxury of two seating areas if we needed. A rear U-shaped lounge that would become our bed, but also a small workspace area at the front, as well as an optional extra small table for the two captain's seats, creating somewhere for me to work while my husband is enjoying a lazy morning, or somewhere for us to have a drink or bite to eat if we decide to leave the bed out.

Almost more importantly, the V-Line has enough fl oor space for our two big dogs, including a little hidey hole under the bed that has rapidly become the den of choice for one of them.

A key feature is the all-important washroom. Somewhere for a dog-free wee in the night, but also the added facility of our own shower for when we’re off-grid – now we have the luxury of a proper shower cubicle and somewhere for me to wash my hair in privacy no matter where we are.

Add to that the multiple power options that we never had before. As well as the two 110Ah leisure batteries that we had fitted when we purchased it and the solar panel it came with, plus the obvious EHU option, it also has an underslung LPG tank.

If that wasn’t quite enough, we took the decision to fit a pure sine wave inverter. In techno-speak that means we now have 1,500W of power to play with. In practical terms, it means there is no longer the very real fear of my laptop dying and having no way to charge it – a genuine concern for someone who often works while on the r oad or parked up in the middle of nowhere.

But possibly even more importantly, the new 'van allows me to use both hair dryer and straighteners wherever we are. Not everyone’s priority, and something I’ve done without for years, but a lovely luxury to enjoy.

Masses of space

Storage and space are much improved. At 1.3m longer than the T5, the V-Line feels like it’s got endless cupboards that give us the chance to go away for longer and to leave more in the ’van so it’s easier than ever to leave for a break at the drop of a hat.

It has a rear boot rather than barn doors, which allows easy access in and out without affecting the lounge or bedroom set-up inside. It also allows an easy place to store wet, muddy gear in winter.

Speaking of winter, I’m already excited for camping in the new camper. Central heating that isn’t pumped from a diesel heater out of one single vent. Hot water that’s not reliant on electric hook-up, and far superior cooking facilities – a three-burner hob, oven and microwave that will all make cooking proper meals even easier – along with the additional worktop space we have gained. The fridge, too, is much more conducive to van living, with its 140-litre capacity allowing us to take plenty of provisions.

At the time of writing, we’re only a couple of months into the next chapter of our campervan journey and it’s already proven to be a great decision. More space, more freedom, more comfort.

That’s not to say we don’t miss the T5. It was our first ’van and the creator of more memories than we can count. But while it was perfect for that period of time, and is undoubtedly perfect for thousands of people, our needs have changed and our new set-up suits what we need right now and probably will for a good few years to come. As with anything, as your situation and needs change, you need your home – even if it’s a home on wheels – to change with you. Which is exactly why upgrading your ’van is sometimes the perfect move.