Bicycles and Campervan Life

Bicycles are a great addition to a camper van or motorhome. Bikes make exploring towns, cities, parks and lots of other areas much easier.

They are particularly useful for popping down to the shops when your vehicle is parked, or enjoying a leisurely ride out in the country or along the coastlines.

It’s never been easier to carry them along with you on your holiday with the all the options that are available.

Here are a few bicycle storage options.

Bike rack for camper vans with vertical style Barn doors

Camper vans with vertical style rear doors need a bike carrier that attaches to the main opening door only. When the first door is opened the bike rack swings open with the door. Fitting is simple. Only fit this type of rack if your rear doors and hinges and in good condition. Drill through the door outer, and then add some wood batten inside the door. Use long bolts and large washers through the door and the batten to add strength and spread the load and job done.

Camper van bike rack, up and over door Camper vans 

With up and over style doors need a bike carrier that bolts to the door, on all four corners of the bike rack. This spreads the weight evenly. When opening the door the bike rack swings up also.
Fitting again is relatively simple, before bolting to the door, hold the rack in position and ensure the door opens fully without the rack touching the van.

On the roof
If you have a roof rack you may want to store your bike on the roof rack, securing it with straps. Having a ladder is definitely recommended for climbing on the roof of a van. This option is handy alternative that can be used for various other things too.

Tips

1. Always chain your bike to the rack. Thieves may try and steal it!
2. Always check the bikes are secure before driving away.
3. If you are camping near the sea cover the bikes. They will rust quickly otherwise.
4. Remember to state if travelling by ferry that you are carrying bikes on a rack.
5. Failure to enter vehicle dimensions correctly may lead to problems at port, such as additional charges or not enough space being available for you to board the ferry.

A Brief Guide For The Confused !!!??

If you’re interested in VW campers but confused about the different models, here’s a quick tour.

Type 2 Bay window camper 1950-1967 

This was the VW first camper van, which was adapted from the VW bus (known as the Samba) – which itself was adapted from the VW panel van. The campers were fitted out by Westfalia, a coachwork company who worked in partnership with VW for many years. There were a huge number of configurations of the furniture, and other conversions too. The campers had the same air-cooled engines as the panel vans and 6-volt electrics.

Type 2 Bay Window Camper 1967-1980 

The taller and larger VW bay window camper van had 12-volt electrics, a sliding side door and larger engine. It still had the friendly, rounded shape but with better visibility and more space. Westfalia continued to do conversions, and a large number of other companies such as Devon, Danbury, Canterbury and Dormobile joined the market too.

There are also VW camper vans that have been converted by small companies and DIY conversions as well. Most were conversions from buses, but some companies did the conversion from vans. Versions of the VW bay window were still in production in Mexico and Brazil long after VW had stopped production in Wolfsburg. The bay window campers are often known as Kombi’s - particularly in Australia and South Africa, and, confusingly the California was a VW Camper Van conversion which didn’t come from California!

Type 25 VW – the Vanagon 1980-1991

The VW t25 was larger again and provides substantial space. The shape is much more blocky with very 80’s square styling. It was known as the Vanagon in the USA and is often referred to now as the VW t3.

Type 4 1991-2003 This is known as the Eurovan in the US with camper versions by Westfalia and by Winnebago. This big difference is where the engine is - in the front! So it has a pronounced bonnet. 

Type 5 2003- 2010 

This van is a direct successor to the T4 so it is a sizeable van. The Volkswagen T5 is remarkably well designed and constructed and demonstrates excellent engine performance.

Type 6 2010                                                    

Latest model, slightly different in its front end shape, a bit of a facelift from the T5 with a different interior dash. Again excellent engine performance.

                                             

                                                  

Choosing the right Conversion

No one can tell you which specific vehicle you should buy and use for conversion.  Everyone has their favorite, in fact there is probably a forum discussing this exact topic.  Instead this section looks at the key things you should consider in terms of forward planning and thinking about what you're going to put in your conversion and what you want to use it for and therefore what you should be looking for in a vehicle.

Dimensions - or Size Matters! 
Put simply, your choice of vehicle will dictate how much space you have inside for the conversion.  It will also determine the possible arrangement or layout of what you want inside.   The key dimensions are length and height. 
This consideration makes the VW T5 pretty popular.  They have a good interior space. In terms of size, if you have decided to go for this panel van one of the main considerations is whether to try for a short wheel base (SWB) or long wheel base (LWB).   Long wheel base vans give the most space, for example in a VW Transporter this comprises an extra foot in between the wheel arches.  The downside is this can make them a little harder to manoeuvre. There is also the consideration of roof height as there are also extendable roofs which house bed space.

Engine size is also important.  Generally, the more power, the more you pay but if you are driving long distances and you don't want it to take forever then it is probably worth investing in a bigger engine size - and remember that the bigger the van, usually the heavier it will be and therefore the more fuel it will gobble!  It’s all a compromise as always - If you are happy to pootle about at 40mph then no worries.
Right, one last thing to consider with regards van size.  Roof racks or bike racks are ideal to extend the carrying capacity of your campervan and keeping the inside clear.  However, being able to cram everything you will be taking inside the van at certain times will be useful.  I'm thinking for security in cities and also to get cheaper fares on ferries.  The minute you have external add-ons they will charge more.
The best option is to think about the following...
Size will dictate what you will want to put in the van e.g.:

• cooker / stove and gas
• fridge
• sink and water tank
• second battery
• bed / seating
• table
• storage units
• toilet
• kit / toys (bikes, boats, skis, surfboards etc...)

What you will use the van for:

• long trips
• short trips
• daily driving
• good / bad roads
• just you or 2, 3, 4 people etc...
  ....and then use these to write your wish list of van features and start looking for your dream vehicle!

Staycation

Nearly double the number of holidaymakers are considering a camping holiday Staycation this summer as the recession forces people to cut back on expensive holidays!

A survey conducted for an insurance company has found that 30 per cent of people are considering a camping holiday this year, compared to just 17 per cent who went on a camping in the previous year.

The research is the latest evidence to suggest that camping holidays are experiencing a jump in popularity this summer as British consumers tighten their belts and seek out cheaper breaks. 

The survey from LV suggests that campers plan to spend an average of £450 on their trip which equates to an estimated injection of £6.1 billion into the tourist industry.

The most popular destinations for campers are Cornwall, where 15 per cent are planning to go, followed by the Lake District and Devon.
Emma Holyer, at LV, said: "Camping is a fantastic way to experience the great British countryside, and maybe a hot summer will be predicted and it could be a bumper year for camping and UK holidays in general."
Eurocamp, a British company and one of the three biggest camping holiday companies in Europe, has for the first time in 15 years set up centres in Britain, in an attempt to cash in on the trend for holidaymakers to indulge in a so-called "staycation".
Last summer it  opened camp sites in nine bases in association with the National Trust and the Forestry Commission to attract travellers hit by the recession, and reluctant to visit Europe, because of the high value of the euro. 

What better reason to invest in a practical vehicle that can be used for everyday transportation that will get you on your travels more often!

Please click here for for popular campsites in Wales