Talking about the success of campers is almost inexplicable for someone who values ??the comfort of an XL bed, a bathroom with shower and bathtub or room service. Spending your vacation with a tiny suitcase, washing yourself in public spaces and sleeping in a vehicle is not for everyone, but it has its audience. An enthusiast who prefers a small, low van rather than a large volume camper. We tell you why.
The difference between both segments is clear and lies in the commercial vehicles they use to camp. While the conventional camper starts from a passenger van like the Volkswagen Multivan, the large volume makes it from its larger brothers like the Volkswagen Crafter.
This extra space allows, in most cases, to offer spaces such as a bathroom with a built-in shower, a complete kitchen with a stove, a large refrigerator and a sink, closets for all the luggage and a bed for two or three people. What’s more, models like the new Iveco Daily Camper also incorporate a lifting roof to install a second double bed.
Despite the comfort and independence that large-volume campers provide, models like the Volkswagen California still cannot find a ceiling in their sales. What’s more, they are renewed and they do so with the same concept of a compact vehicle with reduced height as the spearhead, as is the case with the next generation of the Bulli T.7.
In its new generation, it incorporates two sliding doors, an extendable piece of furniture and a plug-in hybrid variant, but its 1.90 m height remains one of its main claims. This time, there is also the possibility of removing the individual rear seats in order to generate more cargo space in the cabin.
In a country where underground car parks usually have a height limit of around 2 metres, traveling with a motorhome or L2H2 van (large volume camper) can be a complication when parking. With an L1H1, on the other hand, you avoid this problem in cities, but also in restricted spaces for camping.
One of the most used methods to limit the presence of residential vehicles in tourist areas, such as a beach or a park, is to place a height barrier at the parking access. That simple fact will allow conventional campers such as Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo, Citroën Holidays or the future Nissan Primastar Ventus to access it.
On the other hand, a motorhome or camper equipped with a full bathroom should look for a nearby motorhome or camping area. These spaces are usually regulated and many of them involve a cost per night/person, so they lose out in terms of freedom of movement. A disadvantage that rewards those who travel with a more compact house on wheels, despite the fact that they tend to be the ones who require camping the most, due to the difficulty of living inside.
Parking without problems is the biggest benefit of the camper, but it is not the only one. They also have a dynamism similar to that of a passenger car, except for the weight of their equipment, furniture and tanks. For this reason, it is easier to get used to driving, with reliable engines and lower fuel consumption. Hence, they are the preferred models when renting on platforms, such as Roadsurfer, which has a wide range of this segment.
Finally, they are narrower vehicles and their aesthetics go unnoticed. It is a plus of security and peace of mind when parking them during the week and even using them as a vehicle for our daily trips, taking advantage of their loading capacity and versatility. Furthermore, the passage of time has confirmed that its market value, which is the amount that can be received when selling it on the second-hand market, remains high.