As summer gets closer and closer, there’s no doubt that it is the perfect time to think about getting involved with a project. If that project could help you to see the great outdoors then that’s all the better, and nothing fits this more perfectly than building your own campervan. If you’re not sure about whether this would be a good thing for you to do or not, we have put together a list of 9 great reasons that building your own campervan could be the best thing you ever do.
1 – A project to get your teeth into
No matter whether you have a full time job, you’re retired, or anything in between, it’s always good to have a project to work on. Building a campervan is a great thing to do, as it can get you out and about, and even if you don’t think you have the right skills for this project at the moment, it’s never too late to learn. This will certainly keep you busy, and you will love the results of your project at the end of it.
2- You can travel wherever you like
Having your campervan is basically like having your own little hotel on wheels, and this gives you the chance to travel wherever you like, whenever you like. This kind of freedom is amazing, and it means that there is pretty much nowhere that is outside of your limits anymore. It is much easier to find somewhere to park a campervan than it might be to find a hotel with availability if you want to travel somewhere at the last minute, so building your own campervan will give you a huge amount of freedom.
3 – It’s cheaper than buying a campervan
If you are looking to start camping, then you might have had a look online at some of the campervans that are available to purchase. Although there are some really stunning examples of vans to choose from, these also come at a price – often just as much as you might expect to pay for a small house! If you decide to take the project on yourself, you will find that it is a much cheaper option, as you can source the materials and do all of the work yourself, meaning that it will work out as a lot cheaper than buying a finished model from a dealer.
4 – A new, family activity
Camping is something that you can get the whole family involved in, and in a world where people are more ‘plugged in’ than ever before, camping is something that really can bring people together in an amazing way. Not only can creating your own van mean that you will be able to enjoy a lot of quiet time with your family, but you will also be able to get them involved with making the van in the first place, which means that there will be lots of fantastic bonding opportunities in the near future.
5 – You will be able to take your pets
If you’re a pet owner, you might think that you cannot go on holiday, because you don’t want to leave your pet at home. If you have a campervan however, your pet will be able to come with you, as you’ll be the one who makes the rules. If you make your own design, too, you will even be able to add in a little corner that’s just for them, giving them the chance to have just as much of a relaxing holiday as you.
6 – No (or low) costs for accommodation
If you have a campervan, there are lots more choices for where you can spend your break than if you were relying on a hotel or similar accommodation. By building your own campervan, you will have the chance to avoid hotel costs altogether, as there are lots of places that you will be able to park up for free, or for a small cost. This can take out an incredibly expensive aspect of holidaying, and by simply making one initial investment to get your van built, you should save a huge amount of money in the long term.
7 – You have all the facilities you need
One thing that’s great about a campervan is that you can literally take everything with you that you need, meaning that you’re never too far away from the facilities that you enjoy. It also gives you the chance to stop on the road and enjoy a meal or a rest if you need to, without having to worry about how far away you might be from your destination. Basically, you have everything you need to feel at home in the vehicle you’ve built, and you can be sure that it’s a wonderful feeling.
8 – A layout to suit you
There are lots of different layouts that you can choose with a campervan, and which layout you choose will very much depend on what you want to gain from your campervan. If you’re buying one from a dealer, you will find that your choices are limited, and you might need to compromise with the layout that you eventually opt for. If you make your own van however, you can choose literally whichever layout you wish, and you can design it to fit with your needs perfectly. You can choose whether to have fixed beds, room to store bikes, a shower space, and many other things. No matter what you might like to make the most of, the flexibility of choosing your own layout is something that is sure to make it worth it.
9 – Packing is made a whole lot easier
If you want to go on holiday, your options often involve hiring accommodation. If you choose this option, you will need to pack your suitcases every time you wish to travel, and this is something that can take a lot of time. If you build your own campervan however, this is something that you can get away from – at least to some extent. Whether you have a kitchen and bathroom area, clothes storage area, or toys and books storage for the kids, you will be able to leave a lot of your equipment in your campervan even while you travel, which will cut down a lot on the amount of packing that you need to do before you go on a break. This can make your break much less stressful, and it means that you will know that you’ll have the majority of things that you need in your van, even before you leave for the trip.
When you take a look at the reasons above, you’ll see that building your own campervan is more than worth it. A lot of people who have taken this step in the past have been thrilled with the outcome of their work, and this means that they now have the freedom to enjoy their van whenever they need to. So, now is the ideal time to start your research and think about gathering materials – as there is no doubt that you have a great adventure ahead of you if you decide to take the plunge and build your own campervan.