Recreational vehicles

October 18, 2008

Camper Van Facilities

by John Douglas

Recreational vehicles often come with just the basic facilities to serve your needs. If you want to purchase or rent a motorhome or camper van, you may wish to consider what optional extras could help you enjoy a more comfortable journey. Many first timers are often swayed by the external looks of a camper, that they forget about what facilities they actually require and end up paying a lot extra later on. Optional extras are often cheaper when taken at the time of a new van purchase.

When choosing a RV to rent or buy, its a good idea to consider the size of the camper or motorhome with regards to the size of your family. Young children take up a lot less space than a few teenagers. Size is just one of several factors to take into account as well as whether you wish to rent or purchase a relatively new or used vehicle.

Consider some of the available optional extras in the next few paragraphs and deciding whether these are an absolute must for you now, could save you money in the long term. New or used, buying or renting choosing the right mix of extras can make all the difference to a long road trip.

Camper vans are designed to maximize the available space within the vehicles footprint. Obviously, larger vans will mostly result in more space. Deciding how much space you require is a personal choice that you have to make. One thing to note is that you will generally have less space when the camper is set up for bedtime. It is often in the daytime that you will require the most space for ease of movement. Space costs, so try and find a balance that suits your budget.

After deciding on the space required during the day and night, there are a few other options you may wish to consider. In the kitchen and living areas you could have a microwave, an oven, gas rings, an air con unit or even a widescreen television complete with sound system. This is where you could really blow your budget and I guess comes down to how much of your time you intend to stay in the van. The upholstery and furnishings can all be upgraded or even customized to your exact specification. One thing that is becoming more popular is the use of solar panels to drive some of the campers electricals.

One option you may wish to include is a driver's leather seat. High quality leather is durable and comfortable particularly for long journeys. You may also wish to consider more storage space, there are optional extra compartments that come in a variety of sizes. Some of the larger extra compartments usually include water drains in case you have to store liquids. Smaller compartments may not have such features and are often found at floor level, but still offer some great storage space.

Campers with simple designs and minimalistic decorations not only make the van interior look more spacious, but can also be very stylish and elegant. Some extras you may wish to consider are flushing toilets and a functional shower. However, as always remember that for all such improvements it is best to keep as much space available for interior movement, so that your extras do not impede on your comfort levels.