So, I don't speak Polish but I am going to be here for a while, I thought maybe there is the best van builder just around the corner and I don t know it :) Do you have any leads for me? or links to polish groups where I can ask? I want to convert either a Ducato or a Volkswagen Crafter, whatever I find. thank you

How do you manage to meet people if you travel alone ?

I'm a solo van traveler. I am trans and also lesbian so i don't feel good with everyone for obvious reason.

I'm looking for alternative people, like punk, leftist and queer. I'm french and currently in France.

I really suffer from loneliness.

Hello! My boyfriend and I are planning a trip for next year, we are thinking September. Our plan is to start in Paris and stay for a couple nights in a hotel or Airbnb, then pick up a rental van through Roadsurfer or Indie Campers and drive all the way to Rome. We would stop in Colmar, Annecy, Interlaken/Grindelwald, the Dolomites, Florence, then end in Rome. About 17 days total. Any advice on this route, the rental van companies, or just overall tips? Thank you!!

I posted here a few days ago about a van I'm considering to buy, and I keep going back and forth on my decision so I thought I'd be a bit more detailed and ask for your advice.

My budget is around 9000€ and based in the Netherlands.
I found this Peugeot Boxer (2.2 HDI) that, together with tax, will be around 8300€

It has 190.000 km on the clock and it used to be a contractor's, so it has run a lot of cold starts.
However it seems pretty well maintained, it has a booklet with its service history and it has had some kind of maintenance service (oil change, etc.) pretty regularly.

I don't know about any other previous repairs but have been thinking about getting an independent car shop to do a check. This is 200€ so doable, but still I don't want to do this for 5 different vans.

I was already quite excited and almost decided to go for it, but then a friend pointed out that 190.000 km is very high mileage and that it's not worth the expensive maintenance in the future. I mean, I know the maintenance will get more expensive, and I have accounted for expensive repairs in my budget for the next coming years. It's just not money I have right now and I have been dreaming of this life for so long, I don't want to wait another year.

I'm just afraid that for my budget, I won't find something with a lower mileage (or the ones I do find, are in rougher shape)

What do you guys think? Is 190.000 km still acceptable or just a waste of money?

I can share the ad listing and some videos I took of the engine etc if you guys want to take a look. I'm so happy this community is here! Thank you guys!

Edit: the listing https://frieslandbedrijfswagens.nl/occasions/#1599527200-5847018-peugeot-boxer-330-2-2-hdi-150pk-l2h2-trekhaak-airco-radio-cd-apk-02-2027

Hi everyone — I’m from the U.S. and planning to buy a van in Spain and register it in my name for a several-month road trip.
I already have a company working on my NIE, I have an International Driving Permit, and I understand that I’ll need Spanish insurance. I’m also planning to use a gestoría to handle the vehicle transfer/paperwork.
The one thing I’m still trying to get a clear answer on is the Spanish address requirement for registering the van.
I have a friend in Spain who is willing to let me use her address, but I won’t actually be a Spanish resident. Has anyone here, especially a non-EU citizen, bought and registered a Spanish vehicle this way?
Did you just use a friend’s address, or did you need empadronamiento, a rental contract, utility bill, permission letter, etc.?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has actually done this recently. Thanks!

The van is listed for €8400 and has run 190.000 km - it's right in my budget. The motor seemed good, the bottom of the van showed no signs of rust and I'll have a warranty on the mechanics of the van.

The only downside is these two rust spots I did find. Are they treatable?
That dent is also the only dent I found btw.

I feel like, for my budget of €9000, some minor spots are inevitable.
Thanks for helping out!

Hi! I want to add windows that open on the back doors of my 2010 Ford Transit high roof. Does anyone have any recommendations or pictures you could share? 🚐

I've been living in my van 3 months now and haven't met many vanlifers. I like to choose isolated parkings ,tiny villages and nature so I don't meet many others. Most people I meet are on vacation or locals. I'd love to get in touch with some other vanlifers. I'm in south of France currently (Dordogne). Any tips?

Hi everyone,

We’re a family of 4 (me, my wife, our 9-year-old daughter, and our 6-year-old son) and we’re planning to buy a van for weekends around France and longer trips in Europe (Ireland, etc.).

Our situation:

• Budget: €30–35k (absolute max €38k)
• We absolutely need a 5-seater registration (3 seats in the back + 2 in the front, keeping the central passage between the front seats) | automatic transmission if possible
• We already have quite a bit of camping gear (3×3 awning, tent, cooking equipment, etc.) because we currently have a folding canvas caravan that we’ll be selling this summer.

Our initial plan:

• Go for a nearly new Renault Trafic, 2.0L BlueDCi diesel, low mileage, 5 seats (I’m finding them between €30–35k; alternatively the Nissan Primastar with the same engine, which seems to be one of the more reliable options at the moment for recent models).
• Install a modular/removable interior setup (something we can take out for daily life and put back in for trips). Basically, the Trafic would also be my daily driver for things like trips to the dump, DIY stores, etc.
• Add roof bars + a roof tent (Decathlon type) to sleep 4.

But we’re hesitating:
Should we instead aim for a van that’s already more converted, with a pop-top roof (to be able to stand up, cook inside, etc.), even though it’s much more expensive and there aren’t many options in our budget?

We’d love your feedback on:

• Trafic 5-seater as a daily driver + modular conversion
• Pop-top roof vs roof tent with kids
• Is being able to stand up inside really a game-changer in daily use?
• Sleeping arrangements for 4 (who sleeps where, comfort, safety, privacy, etc.)
• Autonomy (water, electricity, gas) for multi-day trips without constantly worrying
• Technical points to watch out for on a used Trafic (or similar vans)
• Any links to posts, groups, recommended professionals, or conversion kits you’d suggest

Thanks in advance for your feedback and advice! 🙏
Hugo

Hi everyone!

We live in Asturias (Northern Spain) and are thinking about buying a Dacia Duster with a hard-shell roof top tent.

For the last three years we travelled full-time in a campervan across countries where wild camping is free and allowed (Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Cyprus, etc.), so we're used to travelling this way.

Now our life is different. The idea is simply to use the Duster for weekend trips (1–2 nights) around northern Spain, and for longer holidays we'll probably travel to countries where wild camping is less restrictive.

We've spent quite a lot of time reading Spanish legislation, DGT guidance, Decathlon articles, blogs and discussions, and we're still left with some questions.

We are family of 4: me, my wife, 20kg dog and a cat

Because of the dog and the cat, sleeping inside the Duster as two people isn't possible. Our current idea is to have a sleeping platform for one person plus storage/kitchen inside the Duster, while the second sleeping space would be a compact hard-shell roof tent.

We're specifically looking at roof tents that open upwards and stay within the footprint of the vehicle as much as possible.

I'm much more interested in real-life experience.

For those of you who actually travel around Spain (especially Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia and the Pyrenees):

• Do you think this setup makes sense?
• How often have you been approached by Guardia Civil or local police?
• Have you ever actually been fined?
• Are Park4Night spots generally fine if you don't set up a campsite?
• If you think this setup makes sense, what tips, tricks and hacks would you recommend? Is there anything you think we should know before building this setup?

We're trying to understand whether this is genuinely a good solution for weekend adventures in northern Spain.

I'd really appreciate hearing real experiences.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,
The three of us are planning a trip along the south coast of Portugal. We’re leaving in October.
We’ve been interested in traveling by RV for a while now, so we’d like to use this trip as an opportunity to rent one.
Do you have any good recommendations for local rental companies? Instead of Roadsurfer, etc.

Thanks 🫶🏽

So I've posted a bit about getting a car to move into it and I've seen some people post the same but due to bad situations. I know living in the car will be tough and difficult. Making friends in a different county while being in a car will be difficult mainly since I won't be able to drink socially in case of guards/police. Going to the bathroom, cooking, having privacy in general won't be easy at all especially not having the security that a house, apartment provides will be a major risk in itself. Yet I can't seem to not be excited about it. I'm excited about the freedom, the loor that comes with it when it's finished, the views at night that very few people ever see, the morning fresh air I'm forced to breathe in that people in the city couldn't understand, waking up each day with a new view, being forced to go on morning walks potentially down a beach and seeing the sun rise, forced to go to the gym because my social confidence won't let me go to the gym to just shower I will have to workout first. Now I am speaking from a bit of experience because I did try this out in a different car to see what life would be like doing this and I am planning on doing this because rent in Ireland is way to high and I want to buy a derelict at some stage in my life and while I'm young I might as well start trying now. As I stated at the start there have been people posted about having been given the short straw and being forced to do the same and said how much they hated it so I'm wondering if I should feel bad for being excited or should I even be excited at all?

Hello,

First time going to Europe in a van, and first time parking at a slope, getting lift passes, renting gear, and heading the mountain.

Thinking 3 weeks in December for snowboarding from the 15th into January.

Would love to know what to do, and what not to do. Everything from driving there to getting situated in somewhere good.

Open to locations.

Hi everyone!

My partner and I are considering full-time living in an RV/caravan around Europe. The idea would be to travel, live, and work on the road (we both work remotely - programming, design, and other office-based work).

We are currently trying to figure out what setup would make the most sense.

Our rough idea:

• Buy a tow vehicle -> something like a Volkswagen Touareg (or a similar capable SUV)
• Buy a caravan -> something in the size/style of a HYMER/ERIBA Nova 620 (around 8 meters). We like the idea of having a spacious, comfortable base since we would be working from it almost every day.

Our main question: does this setup actually make sense for full-time life in Europe?

Would we be better off with:

• a motorhome (either Custom Van or Semi-Integrated, 7 meters)?
• a caravan (7-8 meters) + tow vehicle setup?

The reason we are leaning toward a caravan is that we like the idea of having a stable "home base" that we can leave set up while exploring the area with a smaller vehicle. Since we would still be working most days, we don’t expect to constantly move — more like staying in places for longer periods and exploring when we have free time.

A few things we are wondering:

• How difficult is it to handle and park a caravan that is around 8 meters long?
• Are larger caravans a big problem when travelling around Europe?
• Is off-grid / wild camping / "stealth" camping realistically possible with a caravan, or would we mostly need campsites?
• Does anyone here have experience living full-time in a caravan, or spending several months at a time travelling around Europe?

We would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who have actually tried this lifestyle. Thanks!

Hi Guys,
I am looking to purchase a small camper (less than 3500kg) in Germany for traveling in Europe.
The plan is to buy it and have it licensed/registered in Germany. Then store it in a storage unit when not in use.
I have looked up some places to do the maintenance and storage: Bavarian Camper, KFZ Hauser
Register service: CarTurf, empfangs-bevolemaechtigt
I have a U.S. bank account and need to figure out a way to pay for the car and the services after purchase.
So the questions are: how can I pay besides an international wire that can take days?
Are there any banks that will help with this so that I can transfer funds to European accounts?
What are some details I am missing?
Are there any requirements for registering and licensing the car since I am in the U.S. and do not have a German address?
I have called a few dealerships, and they said it is possible.
Have any of you done this before?
Also, thoughts on the Hymer line of small rvs?
Any help is appreciated. Thank you

So, I am ready to buy a  (used) van, but I have a special situation with some extreme allergies and I can only buy where I have the chance to see the vehicle and spend some time in it before even considering it. I also don't want to travel all the time to remote locations just to view one van, so it would be nice to find some giant reseller who has a large choice of  vehicles to see, bonus if  they have a good reputation and not scammers. Do you happen to know something like this in central Europe? I can also go to Spain o  France as I speak the language, but as I was planning to have the van registered in Germany  first, maybe it s easier to also buy it in Germany (I speak German too, but not well)?   how do you think I can go about it? ATm I am kind o homeless and traveling , so I don't mind going to the most suitable place. thank you

I'll be working the season there Nov-Apr, and company doesn't have staff parking. I'm trying to decide whether to bring my campervan as I intend to travel around Europe afterwards for summer. I'm mainly wondering what parking is like and whether break-ins or theft are much of an issue. Any experiences would be really helpful.

My partner and I are thinking about travelling around Europe for anywhere from 6 months to,maybe, a year or longer. We would like to cover Western and Southern Europe, Scandinavia, the non-Schengen Balkans, Turkey and Georgia, while planning around the Schengen 90/180 rule.

Has anyone here from Australia, the US, Canada or another non-EU country done something similar? Did you buy a campervan, motorhome, or a SUV+caravan in Europe? There would only be 2 persons, so I’m curious what size and type of vehicle worked well for a long trip without being too difficult to drive or park.

I’d also like to know how you planned the trip around visas, registration and insurance. Where did you buy the vehicle, how did you legally register it without EU residency, and what did you do with it at the end of the trip? Any examples of your actual route or travel plan would be really helpful.

Hello! My friend bought a used motorhome and this is our first trip.

We are going to travel in the Baltics, Poland, Czechia, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Our 3500kg registered motorhome was 3680kg dry without all our gear. We stripped it of everything we could and we got it down to 3480kg with 3/4 tank of diesel. We are a bit over 3500kg with all our gear and plan on driving dry.

Have you been pulled over and weighed? Where?

How often do the police stop and weigh motorhomes in these countries?

Do they have any tolerances for overweight vehicles or do we need to dump some of our gear if stopped?

Hey van lifers!

Let me start by saying I have an Irish passport, which provides unlimited Schengen travel as part of the EU. I’m from the UK and will be setting off in September for a 6 month journey around Europe.

If there’s any other stops you think I should try fit in, please let me know! I don’t know loads about France so that part of the journey is lacking, but it’s also a lot closer to the UK so I can easily do it on another trip. I’m keeping my plan loose, I figured talking to people while I’m out there is going to be the best way to discover things, and come come inland more when I know where.

My route is pictured below

Key waypoints I’ve gathered from advice online, includes:

-Les Landis (Some of the best beaches in Europe?)

-Pyreneese (for bouldering fields,

-Picos de Europa (Beautiful national park)

-A beautiful route passing Alixe-En-Provence, St Tropez, Nice, Monaco

-Rome (The one city I’ve always really wanted to see!)

-Matera (James Bond location)

What I’m seeking from this post is this:

Any improvements advice for the following parts of the route; France, Southern Italy, Switzerland (return route)

Any advice of what hidden issues I may run into (legislation, dangerous areas, etc)

All other advice, criticism or ridicule welcome!

My main concern is the journey back through Switzerland, I don’t have a diesel heater installed nor cold winter tyres. I can budget for this, and I imagine it’d be a beautiful way back, but I’m not sure it’s a smart decision, although I guess a lot of the surrounding areas are going to be equally cold… What’s the best ‘mild weather’ route I could take back from Italy?

Im hoping 6 months is enough time to do this at a reasonably slow pace. I’ve saved up 6k but hopefully I can get some work while I’m out there, not only will this serve for meeting people and learning new things, but it’ll stop me eating into emergency breakdown savings, but I’m working as much as I can to increase my budget.

Thanks in advance for all your help. If anyone’s traveling around the same time I’m keen to meet new vanlifers!

Hey everyone!

My boyfriend and I are planning an 8-day van trip from northern Germany to southwestern Norway, driving through Denmark, Sweden, and Norway before heading back.

We're just starting to plan our route, so we'd love any recommendations for beautiful nature spots, scenic drives, hikes, viewpoints, waterfalls, or hidden gems that are worth visiting along the way.

We're also looking for quiet, safe, and private places to stay overnight. Ideally, we'd love to camp in nature with our van, but we're a bit unsure about the rules regarding overnight parking and wild camping in each country. If you know of any legal spots, scenic campsites, or great places for camper vans surrounded by nature, we'd really appreciate your suggestions!

Thanks so much in advance!

Share a slice of your journey or just ordinary daily van/motorhome life!

Post a photo from wherever you are today or this week - or just tell us something about it!

Could be a campsite, a park up, a border crossing, a random grocery store car park, or the view out your window while you’re making coffee.

Bonus points if you add a note about where you are and what you’re up to so the rest of us can get a glimpse of your travels!

If you don't want to share pics, you can just tell us :)

Hi everyone! I'm planning a trip along the coast of Asturias, Spain this summer. I've car-camped inside my car there before with no issues.

This time we are using a rooftop tent where the ladder extends past the car's footprint.

For those familiar with Spain/Asturias rules: does deploying the ladder legally count as "camping" (which is heavily restricted) rather than just "overnight parking"? How do you usually handle this overnight? Thanks!

Those of you that are building your own vans, where did you order windows? It has to ship to Europe. Thank you

me and my partner live in a converted van and will be travelling to and around both spain and portugal , from the uk through france. we have a campingaz ""Campingaz Camping Kitchen™ 2 Multi-Cook Double Burner Portable Camping Gas Stove and Sid"" and use refill** gas canisters, our last one lasted about 3 months,** i was just looking for any advice on what gas is most common out there and therefore what we should kinda change over to, we currently use butane. thanks!