I’m Daniela and with my partner we’ve converted a bright yellow Peugeot boxer, named it “Sunny” because why wouldn’t you, and have travelled around Europe and now do van trips all around the UK. Van life has brought really exciting holiday opportunities, with a lot of flexibility and the ability to connect with the outdoors and nature, which we love.
“It’s an adventure, and perfect adventures are a bit messy!”
A bright yellow Peugeot boxer, named ‘Sunny’!
How did you find your van and where did you buy it?
We spent ages looking online at different models and types but ultimately, we knew we wanted something with standing height and wide enough to sleep sideways in. We found the car initially on Autocars and then contacted the seller, a great small business ‘Hampshire Vans’ in South Hampton directly. The van actually needed a bit of work done, but we loved that it was yellow, and bright colours are so hard to come by, so we held out a few weeks until it was ready.
Approximately how much did you van cost to purchase?
£10,000 + VAT, total £12,000,
Approximately how much did you spend building it out?
Probably between £8,000-£10,000. So complete purchase price & spend to fit-out the van, would total around £19,000-£22,000.
Did you complete all the Van Build yourself?
Yes! Some bits were more successful than others, but we learnt a lot!
What was the most difficult part of the campervan conversion?
We didn’t have a conversion space, which we hadn’t considered before starting. It meant we were cutting up bits of wood in our bedroom, with rigs balanced between the bed and desk. Woodchips everywhere, no matter how frequently we hoovered.
It was also hard work completing it over winter. We wanted to start sooner, but the project overran, and since we were working during the days, there was just no daylight to work in, which made it much more challenging.
If you could change one thing about your van build what would it be?
We have changed things as we go to suit our evolving needs, but I guess one thing that comes to mind is the colour of our floor. We chose a lightish grey, and it looked so grubby quickly, which was an oversight.
Is there anything you forgot to bring and didn’t have in your Van once you started Vanlife?
We bought extra hot water bottles on the road and some thermos travel cups that we use all the time!
What do you work at when on the road during Vanlife?
On our first trip, we worked as we travelled, picking up freelance work. I am a researcher, so I took on small research jobs and the like. Nowadays, we both have full-time jobs and prefer to be free while we travel. We only go for week or weekend trips, and I love that the van is pure holiday space now.
What is one place you want to take you van that is still on the bucket list?
I’d love to drive to the south of Spain and take a ferry to Morocco!
Has Vanlife changed your life and if so how?
It has given us really exciting holiday opportunities and much more flexibility to enjoy the outdoors. We live in the city, but we appreciate getting in touch with nature as much as possible.
What is the hardest or most frustrating thing about living on the road?
Rainy days, when everything is wet and cold, and nothing can dry! It really gets me down. Whenever we are close to a city, we go and find something great to do indoors, but if we are hours away from towns or cities, we feel stuck very quickly.
What is something you expected to be difficult in Vanlife that actually turned out to be quite easy or not an issue?
Sharing the space with on another! We thought we would be on top of each other, but we easily found a system that worked for us. Although the space was small, it didn’t feel overwhelming. I would go and sit in the front passenger seat if I ever needed a moment away, and we were very good at using noise-cancelling headphones to zone out when we needed! Okay, I’ll add these headphones to a checklist of campervan gear.
What is the best place you have visited in your van & why?
Slovakia! Such gorgeous mountains and lakes, and it was so quiet. We absolutely loved it there, a real hidden gem. Slovakia has the most castles of any other European country (I think!…some cool fact like that!) and we had an amazing time castle trailing through the country.
On average, what is your weekly expense when 'van-lifing'?
Our biggest expense is always diesel, so it really depends on how far we drive. If it’s a lot, the diesel can be around £300. We spend about £40 on groceries and about £20 on gym memberships for the two of us. Then nights in campsites, again it depends if we are free camping or not, but we budget around £15 for campsites if we are choosing that option. In many areas, they cost more like £20 or £25, but there are some great spots at the back of a pub or so where it is much cheaper. Parking is about £5/day if we visit famous walking spots., otherwise free. I love coffee in the morning, so when we are near a good coffee shop, I spend about £3 a day on that.
Has your diet changed since you've started Vanlife and describe a typical day of eating for yourself?
We tend to eat similar food as we do at home except for no oven, so lots more stovetop meals.
Describe a typical day for you in Vanlife?
Wake up slowly, and I get out of bed first and prepare a coffee, listening to my audiobook. I always take about an hour to myself in the morning, drinking my coffee in the front seat, chilling, meditating, and setting myself up for the day. My partner takes his own time, has a scroll, messages some friends, and completes his Duolingo. He then usually prepares muesli or yoghurt for our brekkies.
Then we often drive about 30 mins to an hour, and go for a walk, or a swim or something like that. Often, this is all day long, but if it’s just a short one, we will spend that afternoon popping into town or topping up on supplies. After our hike, we often come back, make a tea or hot chocolate, and spend a bit of time chilling and planning where to sleep that night.
We make a conscious effort for date nights where we have a firepit and sit outside together with a drink. We love playing cards to relax in the evenings. But on more regular nights, we curl up with Netflix on our laptops and watch a series or something. On our most recent trip, we binged through the show ‘the blacklist’.
Is there any one bit of advice you could offer to someone considering Vanlife?
Try it! Test out a week in a van and then maybe a month in a van. It takes a lot to travel full time but it’s an incredible way to live for a while!!
What is your go to van meal & why?
Spaghetti with dry soy mince bolognese – delicious, easy, little washing up, uses all store cupboard ingredients.
Can you think of a difficult van situation and how did you get out of it?
We’ve had a few instances where we parked up somewhere and realised there were so many bugs. It’s really unpleasant, and sometimes, we don’t have time to find a new plan and have to stick it out. We close all the windows, but it’s just not as nice.
Adding bug nets over the sliding door is one of the modifications we would like to make to the van in the future, partly for bug prevention and partly for a little added privacy when we want airflow but are in a busy space with lots of people walking by.
Have you ever felt a bit lonely on the road? what did you do or how did you handle this?
Yes! I miss family and friends when we are away for a long time, which is why we mix up further away trips with more local ones. It’s nice to know you have something to miss at home even when you are in the most beautiful nature!!
Any last comments about van conversions, van tech & hacks or van life?
I think there is so much you can’t know until you try it! Definitely read all the blogs and watch all the YouTube but also don’t be afraid to figure out what works for you and go with it! It’s an adventure, and perfect adventures are a bit messy!
Lastly
Adventure Level: 8/10
Van Building Level: 1 van build
Self-Build Level: 100% DIY
Countries Visited: 21
Bandit Level Unlocked: (out of the blocks/Almost/Chief bandit) ? Almost.
Related Posts
