Van Life - Fat Girl Fit

A Wilderness Weekend At Glaskogen

Last weekend we took the camper van to Glaskogen Nature Reserve. My husband and I often send each other Instagram posts saying we should go here and this was one of those.

Glaskogen – Värmland

Glaskogen is the largest nature reserve in Värmland and actually covers a huge area of 111,000 square miles!

As you approach you will more than likely pass cyclists or hikers that are exploring the area.

The Amenities

We booked a space for a camper van, which was within the trees on the side of the lake and it was gorgeous! Each pitch in the area had tree coverage, a fire pit and its own path through the plants to access the lake.

The area we were in was about a 10/15 minute walk from the main centre in Lenungshammar and there were two toilets. It is not uncommon in Sweden in nature reserves and to find compostable toilets. Not these are not my favourite – looks like a toilet but is basically a toilet seat into a hole and I am always worried something is going to come up like an animal or something. Anyway the toilets on the site were compostable but were a tad bit stinky (not terrible but not great). There were toilets at the main centre also as well as facilities for washing up.

The showers are also by the main site so again need to walk and not super close. They were dated and also not the cleanest but I would note that cleanliness often depends not just on staff cleaning but also those using them.

There is a cafe on site about a 5 minutes walk from the main centre, called Cafe Carl. On a Friday they have a pub night and they have seating both inside and outside. We had food and drink here and it was lovely.

You can hire canoes, kayaks and paddle boats from the main centre too and we saw lots of people loading up with their kit before heading across the lakes to where they were camping. We have an inflatable kayak and paddle board so we did not use this facility.

There are loads of hiking trails that can be as long or as short as you like as well as cycling trails.

The main reception has a shop with both local produce include ceramics and hunting knives as well as camping equipment, food, ice creams and more. You can purchase fire wood from here and collect nearby. We actually bought some on arrival and needed more but as we were in the van and set up the young lad on reception offered to drop to our pitch when his pitch ended rather than us carrying it which was very kind of him!

You also need to purchase a licence called the Glaskogen card if you plan to hike, use the lakes in any way or cycle in the nature reserve. It also covers the use of the fire pits, wind shelters, overnight cabins, dustbins and toilets in the nature reserve.

Your contribution makes a difference and increases our opportunities to offer even better service in the future. All for you to have a magical and easy wilderness experience. The money paid for the Glaskogen card goes directly to the care and maintenance of the area. For the two of us this cost roughly £20.

Did We Like It?

I think it would be hard not to like this place and we will absolutely be returning!

I would say the clue in the name Glaskogen Wildcamping if you do not have a camper with toilet/shower or staying in a cabin is something to bear in mind. Originally I was disappointed a little in the facilities but then realised it is a site on the Nature Reserve intended to be wild camping so need to remember that.

Most people there had either paddle boards, kayaks, or bikes and it was great to see everyone enjoying the surroundings, which are just stunning.

Given the size we only saw part of the area and when we return would probably take our bikes to explore more.

Category: Sweden, Van Life

A Weekend Stay In The Camper At Örnviken

Last year was full of buying a house in Sweden, renovating parts of said house and then building an attefallshus. This left little time for camper van travels, but that will change this year!

Our camper van is a converted VW T5.1 and whilst we have a solar panel and so do not need electric, we have been having some issues with it and so we looked for a site where we could stay in the van and have electric. I found Örnviken and it ticked another box as it was on the eastern Swedish archipelago.

Örnviken – Söderköping

Örnviken is just outside of Söderköping and has something for everyone wanting to camp. There are:

pitches for motor homes and camper vans, either on the seaside, premium area where the boats dock or the field
pitches for tents
cabins to rent
glamping tents with decks
aurora huts, which are like floating rooms complete with beds, kitchenette, toilet and deck
tree tents (I had not seen these before and they look bonkers)

We booked the Vanlife seaside so we were right next to the water, plus it has fewer pitches so would be less busy. Every pitch in this area had electric, there was a fire pit to grill and sit around, a toilet, sink outside for washing up and a decked stairway to sit on the lake. It was about a 5 minute walk to the main facilities for showers.

The Amenities

We have pretty much everything we would need but on site there was:

many toilets dotted around so regardless of where you were staying it would not have been far to get to a toilet and washing up facilities
many fire pits with grills for anyone staying to use
many decked areas for anyone staying to use
a small cabin/kiosk with essentials you can purchase, based on honesty so you take what you want and swish your money for it (you scan a QR for the code to enter)
service centre where there are four toilets and two showers (this would be my only comment that two showers is not that many for the site although many people staying would have their own facilities in motor homes), and washing up facilities
there is a floating sauna you can rent either in full or for half
you can hire paddle boards (including paddle and life jacket), which are SEK 150 for 2 hours
there are several places with access to swimming in the lake
from 1 June you can also hire boats (we were a day too early for this)
you can also book a breakfast basket to be delivered (we didn’t do this)
there is a food truck in the harbour (Smygöppen) run by a couple from New Zealand and I can say hands down probably the best fish and chips I have eaten – delicious!
there were also several people fishing on the site too

Did We Like It?

We will absolutely be returning to this site! Everyone we met was super friendly. The camp site was immaculate and really well kept. It was a little chilly to get in the water and we went just before boat hire was available (which if anyone knowing me reads this knows I am terrified of open water so I was not overly disappointed but I would give it a go when we go back).

Check in and check out is midday, which works well as some sites you cannot check in until late afternoon and need to be out early so this was perfect. It cost SEK 510 for our weekend here, which is roughly £40, and I think that is really reasonable.

My husband loves a sauna so I booked that for the Saturday. It can hold ten people (although I would say I think that would be quite cosy!) and you can either book the whole thing of half. I booked half, which cost SEK 395, which is roughly £30, and you get that for 3 hours. The people who were in a motorhome next to us had booked the other half so we ended up chatting with them. Close by is a well stocked open cabin with wood for the sauna already chopped to help yourself to. There is a deck area on both sides with chairs and a small table. There is also access to get into the water and a shower to use on the deck. I did try the sauna a few times but they are not my thing – although whilst reading my book I got sunburned and ended up more red than if I was in the sauna! Being on the water means you don’t always feel how hot it is!

The only down side I would say is that you are there to stay in the archipelago and enjoy that and there are no trails for hiking around, which was a shame. We headed out on a main road (which is super quiet) thinking we could follow a track but it turned out to be private. Personal preference but we always enjoy going for a wander and it was beautiful there so a shame not to be able to explore a bit more.

Category: Cycling, Hiking, Running, Sweden, Van Life

What Is There To Do On The Göta Canal In Sweden

The house we have purchased in Sweden is a 5 minute walk to Lake Boren, which joins part of The Göta Canal, also known as ‘Sweden’s Blue Ribbon’.

This morning is the annual docking at the dry dock where the boats go out for the season. This is a 200 year old tradition where they add the water to the dry docks where boats are stored and there just so happens to be a cafe next to it, Mallboden, that sells tasty food whilst you watch it all unfold and they were actually the ones that told us about the docking today.

A Bit About The Göta Canal

The canal was historically the main waterway from the east to the west, starting at Söderköping on the east coast. The canal navigates some of the gorgeous Swedish countryside and goes past Lakes Roxen and Boren before joining the Vattern.

We knew of the canal from our previous visits to Motala to see friends and participate in the Vatternrundan bike ride. Now we have moved here and been exploring we were intrigued as to how far the canal is and where it goes.

The canal has 58 locks over the 190km distance that it spans and there is a lot to see and do with full information on this website. Given the distance of the canal this means that it also boasts the longest avenue of trees with circa 10,000 trees and as they need replacing there are around 50 trees per year planted by sponsors and should you be interested in being a sponsor you can find more info here.

What Can You Do On The Göta Canal?

You can hike and cycle the towpaths or take a boat along the canal and even better it is completely car free!

There are events on the canal, including:

guided bike ride or you can hire bikes or ride your own and there are routes available here
boat trips on the canal and on the lakes that it passes
cruise on the canal over 3 days
rent a kayak or canoe
Kanallopet run in May with options for 5km, 10km or half marathon distances
stand up paddle boarding (and in the past there was a race for this, which could return)
part of the canal had an event for skiers in the winter as a one day event

There are many food and drink stops too, that include:

Mallboden – their tarta Flambé is one of our favourites and they also have a few pitches for motorhomes right next to the canal as well as hostel accommodation
Camarda – this is an Italian deli, which is on our list to visit but comes highly recommended
Cafe Baltzar – this is located in an old shipyard, which also has shopping and above a museum
Tva Sma Hus – this is located where the canal joins the Vattern and a perfect stop for an ice cream
There are many more to choose from here and I would love any recommendations you might have!

More Info…

There is a lot of information about the canal available on the West Sweden website here.

You can also divert from the canal to neighbouring towns to explore, for example it is 24km from Tividen National Park, which is one of the favourites we have visited here so far.

Category: Hiking, Van Life

The Camper Van Goes To The Isle Of Wight

We are always up for any excuse to have a weekend away in the van. Plus weekends away mean minimal holiday days need to be used allowing more time to go away over the year!

The crossing to Isle of Wight, with Wight Link, has several options for routes including:

Lymington to Yarmouth (40 minutes)
Portsmouth to Fishbourne (45 minutes)
Portsmouth to Ryde (22 minutes although this route is not for cars and only foot passengers and cyclists)

Booking the ferry was easy online, I downloaded the app, which gives a QR code for quick check in on arrival, however, the registration of the vehicle was recognised and we were through very easily. On the way back we were early and offered to go on the ferry due before us (they departed once an hour). Staff were very friendly and accommodating and it was good to see all the dogs on the crossing – we were not sure how April would be as she has never been on a boat and not the best with some floors but she seemed to love it! There was a poster on the ferry that estimated there would be 4.6 million passengers during 2023.

We had booked to pitch the camper van at Grange Farm in Brightstone. We managed to get a pitch right near the edge of the campsite overlooking the sea. We had an electric hook up grass pitch. The site had really good facilities with toilets, showers – even a bath which we have never seen before on a campsite, and more for kids including two playgrounds. There were also goats, pigs, alpacas and rabbits everywhere! They also have two street food options onsite – one offers breakfasts, fish and chips and drinks and the other wood fired pizzas. There is also a shop with loads to offer and you can pre order fresh pastries and breads the day before for collection the following morning. Staff here were lovely and couldn’t be more helpful.

You could walk directly from the farm down to the beach and walk along the front and it is located on Military Road, which stretches from Freshwater to Blackgang. The road has scenic sea views for the entire stretch.

There is so much to see and do on the Isle of Wight and something for everyone. We managed to pick a weekend where there were a few things going on:

an ultra walking/running challenge on where participants were completing a route the circumference of the island, which is 106km in total, either over 1 or 2 days
a cycling event much the same as the above with different distances on offer including the full 100km or the 55km option
a beer festival at the steam railway

We did a lot of hiking, found a delightful tea room called Tandem Team Room serving a lot of fresh homemade cakes and is also a B&B.

There are so many walking routes and friendly faces in local pubs. Some of the footpaths were not as maintained as we thought they would be, but roads are not overly busy – the coastal path was lovely with stunning views.

Of course I had to take the opportunity to visit the Mermaid Bar and will admit until we were there this weekend, I actually had no idea that this gin was made in the Isle of Wight.

If you are interested in a short break off the coast of England with stunning landscapes, beaches, and something for everyone young and old the Isle of Wight is definitely one to check out. The Isle of Wight is also very camper van friendly and we didn’t have an issue navigating any roads or parking. It does follow the same rules as mainland England so wild camping is not allowed unless you have specific permission from a land owner.

This was the third time I had been to Isle of Wight – once when I was at school, once when our son was younger and now this trip. We will definitely return!

Ferry crossing was gifted but all opinions are my own.

Category: Van Life

Christmas Gifts Ideas for Camper Van Life

Van life has well and truly become part of our life and if anything I would like more adventures in the van!

Before we purchased our campervan we had spoken to others who had vans and we were warned they can be a labour of love. We are lucky (touch wood) not have had major issues to date (and long may that continue) but had the odd thing, but what I have found is that there are always things to buy – some you need and some you just want.

I wrote a blog post previously on essentials for van life that you can read here. It is Christmas shopping time for sure and if you have a campervan and looking for inspiration or looking for a gift for someone with a campervan then take a look at some suggestions below:

Games – we always have some games on hand in the van and our favourites are normal playing cards of course but also Uno and Monopoly (much quicker than the board game Monopoly).
Tripod fire pit from Aldi, £44.99 – this was an amazing find in store and it doubles as a fire pit and grill and packs away so slim and easy in a bag with handles. We very often light at night and have used to cook on also.
Dry robes, from £140 – we both have Dry Robes and always have them in the camper van when we go away. They fold down relatively small and are useful for changing, after wild swimming, for toilet/shower runs on camp and for all year round.
Physion Mini Massage Gun, £59.95 – when we are on adventures in the van we often take our bikes or go hiking and this massage gun is compact, easy to take with us and use after being out all day.
Adventure journal, £25 – I don’t have this but have seen it online and looks like a great way to document adventures and memories.
Grounded book, £16.99 – my son got this for me last year and it is such a good book all about how having a connection with nature can improve our mental and physical wellbeing.
Camping and Campervan membership, from £45 – we are members (feels like a very grown up thing) and definitely has been worth it, giving access and information on campsites and discounts. We have found campsites where you have to be a member and all have been sites we would recommend.
Brit Stops, £32 – not a membership as such but by signing up you get access to stay at certain stopovers (not campsites) and I have used this in a pub car park when doing the King Alfred’s Way bikepacking. You announce your arrival and have somewhere safe to stay – there is no charge but as I found we got a drink and food ahead of staying.
Big Bobble Hats, £22 – always useful to have in the van for cold days and nights and to keep adventuring all year round. Use code FATGIRLFIT20 for a 20% discount.
Camping Blanket, £77 – not something I have but will be going on my list.
JBL mini speaker, £29.99 – we got this on one of our ferry crossings on our trip to Sweden in June and it is fab, small and compact, easy to carry/store, sounds great and can charge by USB.
Jet Boil, £139 – I looked at this for a very long time and finally purchased at the start of the year and it is worth every penny. We have used for cooking and for drinks both when we are pitched and also on hikes – fab item!
Ordnance Survey app, from £4.99 per month – my husband has this and we very often use when out and about, very handy!

Happy Camping!

Category: Van Life

Camper Van Trip To Sweden

Sweden is a country that my husband and I love. The people are lovely, as is the way of life with it being mainly centred around family and being outside, from our experience, and this is mainly why we are planning to move there at some point in the future.

When we got our camper van we had planned to do a long trip heading over to Sweden in it to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and my 40th birthday. But this was in the early months of Covid, postponed until the following year and then again until this year. Because of the unknown we had got a little lazy with the planning but once we knew it was going to happen we were straight on the case!

Booking three weeks off work was approved, bank holidays were announced and as they are later than usual meant we had even more time off and so planning began.

What Route To Sweden

There are a few options but we chose the following both out and back:

Ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland (6.5 hours) with Stena Line
Hook of Holland drive to Rostock, Germany (7 hours)
Ferry from Rostock to Trelleborg, Sweden (5.5 hours) with TT Line

We had cabins on both ferry trips and unfortunately suffered theft of components of my husbands bike (on a bike rack, locked with multiple locks, whilst in the hold) whilst on the TT Line. Their customer service was quite honestly non-existent and over 3 weeks on we are still awaiting responses. The experience with Stena Line was the polar opposite and for this reason we would not travel with TT Line again nor recommend them to others.

What Do You Need For Travel?

When travelling through multiple countries you need to check both entry requirements and rules that need to be followed in each as they can differ. We had to do the following:

Passports
Download our Covid Passports
UK sticker for our campervan
Headlamp convertors (stickers for headlights)
Carry a red warning triangle in case of emergency
Reflective jackets
First aid kit
Breathalyser
Spare bulbs
Insurance certificate
V5 registration document

You can purchase a European Driving Kit, which contains most of the above, that we did.

What To See

When planning a road trip and researching, asking friends and trying to draw up some semblance of an itinerary it is difficult to narrow it down as there is always so much to see and do. So on the list was:

Tiveden National Park – we wild camped at Sorangs Bergsjo fishing lake. It was a beautiful spot with a little jetty, fire pit, firewood, shelter and picnic table. We hiked the Trehorningsrundan trail, which was a 9.5km loop around the lake and stunning.
Ekopark Omberg – we wild camped at Bokskogens, which was a small area for 5 campervans that overlooked Lake Vattern. It was stunning with a short stairway to access the lake for swimming, fire pits, firewood, shelter and several picnic tables. We have cycled up Omberg on the Tjejvattern and Halvvattern events so had seen the stunning views from the top and the hiking and off road bike trails. We hiked from where we camped on the trails to Omberg Touristhotell, that we cycled past on the previously mentioned bike rides. We then hiked back into the park to the viewing station at the highest point of the park, Hjassan.
Kvarntorpshogen stairs – 427 steps up one of Europe’s longest wooden staircase. At the top there is a sculpture park to look around.
Vatternrundan bike week.
Tisarstrand campsite – we decided to stay on this campsite by Lake Tisaren for a night. We hiked from here around the local trails and woodland and once again found many rest stops with picnic areas, fire wood and shelters. This campsite was great and right on the water, with all facilities you would need and many BBQ areas.
Linkoping – we stayed on a campsite by Lake Roxen for two nights called Sandvik’s. It was right on the lake with all facilities, however, you did have to pay for hot water but it was only 5 SEK for 5 minutes. We hiked from here around the local trails and my husband used the paddle board on the lake also. We then spent a day in the town exploring.
Motala – our friends live in Motala and this is where the Vatternrundan events start and finish. We spent weekends with them and love this little town. There may also have been some house hunting whilst we were there to see what we would be looking to buy when we eventually move there.
Amsterdam – my husband has been but I have not and was excited for this! We stayed at Camp Zeeburg, which was fab! Excellent facilities, on site restaurant, shop, bakery and goats! This is situated on the canal and the staff were great too! I would note that this is situated in an environmental zone and so if you have a vehicle that runs on diesel you need to check the emission class here and apply for a temporary exemption. The reality was that it is beautiful city in parts and some areas (as expected) not so much!

Swedish Wild Camping Rules

One of the main things we love about Sweden is the outdoor lifestyle, which is even better with Allemansratten (the freedom to roam) that is enshrined in Swedish law.

You are also permitted to stay overnight in a campervan providing you are off the road/parked safely.

Of course you should always leave no trace, no litter and not disturb the land/wildlife around.

Cannot wait to return!

Category: Cycling, Product Reviews, Van Life

Transporting Your Bike

Do you travel with your bike? I don’t necessarily mean abroad/by plan, however, I have written a post about travelling abroad with your bike that you can find here.

When it comes to travelling within the UK, or the same country that you live, there are many options to consider, and the below are some that I have experience of to share:

Roof Bars/Racks

For our old car we had the Thule roof bars added to transport our bikes on the roof of the car. For this you need both the roof bars and then also the bike bars. We upgraded when we changed to carbon bikes so swapped from the system that leaves both wheels on to the one where you remove the front and connect to the front fork mount as certain frame clamps are not recommended for carbon bikes.

Just don’t forget your bikes are on the roof and go under a height restriction – it happens!

Wheel Bag

When we moved to the front fork mount we got some wheel bags so that we can store the wheel safely inside the vehicle. These tend to be padded, have internal accessories pockets if needed, carry handle and for double wheel bags also have extra internal padding to protect the hubs.

Tow Bar Rack

For our camper van we decided to invest in a tow bar and Thule tow bar bike rack so that we could maximise space inside the vehicle for when travelling. We did need to get the tow bar added by a specialist and we do not leave on permanently. I would say this rack is heavy and can be a little awkward – it can definitely be a one man job but easier with two people!

Inside Rack

We found this rack advertised for storing your bikes inside your vehicle shortly after we purchased our camper van. We thought that this might make a good addition for when we were travelling with the bikes without an overnight stay and so didn’t need the space inside the van. This rack is from Bike Inside and is so easy to use – you literally extend to the right length, secure in place and connect your bike to the fork mounts. It is super easy to store and there are options for different lengths, adapters, extenders and other straps and accessories.

Thule Carrier

To go with the transportation, and this is an add on for the Thule tow bar bike rack mentioned above, we also invested in the Thule carrier and this is an awesome piece of kit! It attaches and locks onto the tow bar rack, is waterproof, lightweight, packs down when storing, and you can add a bike rack with this too.

Chuck It In

There was no fancy technical way of saying this, but let’s face it, we all do it and it is always an option to literally just put your bike in your vehicle! I know I still do sometimes. We have a connector in our camper van to tie the dog lead too and sometimes (minus the dog) I use this to literally put my bike in and secure with the dog lead. No judgement here – it works a treat!

Trains

There are of course booking tickets on trains for your bike, however, I have never (believe it or not) used this so cannot comment.

As you can see we are big fans of Thule items – they can be a bit of an investment but the quality is amazing and we’ve found their stuff lasts forever (maybe not literally forever but for a long time)!

How do you travel with your bike?

Category: Van Life

Essentials for Van Life

When we got our camper van we purchased it already converted you can read more on the spec of the van and upgrades we have made here.

For our first trips we would load up with things from in the house but soon realised our preference was to not have to move things to and from the house so we gradually started getting things that we leave in the van. The idea is that we are basically good to go whenever we want!

Our Van Essentials

Here are some of the items we have purchased that we use on every trip and find super useful:

Vango double sleeping bag – this was a bit of an impulse purchase as we had started by loading up the van with our duvet and pillows from home and then saw this in the bargain bin at Go Outdoors. This is a double sleeping bag and has another layer that you can either use as a mattress topper or for extra warmth. I have to say we love this sleeping system and it was a great investment.
230V electric cable – to use when we are on sites and require electric hook up. However, we do have solar panels and have found we can camp for quite some time without the need for electric hook up but this is still good to have in the van just in case.
Mains convertor lead – to use with the electric cable.
Gas bottle – we don’t keep ours in the van when we are not using it but necessary for using the hob. They come in many different sizes so we opted for one that sites nicely in the cupboard out of the way.
Thule Levelers – these are amazing for when you have a pitch that may be on uneven ground and allows you to position under the wheels to make sure the van is level (and yes we have a spirit level in the van to check ha ha).
Fire extinguisher – for obvious reasons, compact and made for car/van use.
First aid kit – as above.
Carbon monoxide smoke alarm – you are cooking and using gas in a confined space so this is an essential in our view.
Plates/Cups/Glasses – we opted for melamine as it is durable and easy to clean and also got ours from Dunelm as we found the difference in price with normal shops and camping specific shops to be a lot.
Cutlery – we purchased some bamboo travel sets, which have been useful although we also got some stainless steel sets too as the wood is not best for all food.
Kitchen utensils – my husband stumbled on a travel set and it is perfect, and stores away neat and tidy.
Pots/pans – we have a small saucepan but also found a pan from Ridgeway, which is multi function and means we can make most things when in the van.
Camping mug – this has been with me on the bike also. I have one that I picked up in Starbucks but there are many out there that serve the same purpose.
Kettle – call me old fashioned but I love the sound of the kettle whistling when the water is boiled. My husband is more of a coffee drinker so we also have a hob top single cup coffee maker.
Windscreen wrap – once pitched this is an inexpensive way of covering the windscreen and keeping out light when sleeping and adding some more privacy for when you are in the van itself.
Tyre inflator – this is for the obvious times you may need to inflate tyres but also for terrain where you may wish to deflate slightly for better ground coverage and traction.
Recovery tracks – these are more one of those items you hope you will not need but ground is not always even and these can help if you end up on terrain where tyres get stuck.
Tupperware – we keep a lot of non-perishable goods in the van like coffee, tea bags, snacks and have these in tupperware containers to save any spills and keep them fresh. Plus they are easy to store and fit easily in the cupboards.
Cupboard essentials – things like fry light, washing up liquid we also keep in the cupboard.
Thule straps – we also attached Thule straps to keep certain things in place like the gas bottle and other items.
Chairs – we have a captains chair and also the bench seat but it is nice to sit outside and we purchased two chairs that we keep strapped in the boot area.

Category: Van Life

#VanLife with our VW T5 Camper Van

I have posted about our camper van and thought I would share some info on our set up that others may find useful. After all it is the year of the staycation!

We got our van from SW Vans in Wales. They came recommended to us and offer vans for you to convert yourself, that are already converted, servicing and parts. We cannot recommend these guys enough! They have been helpful from the start, through the purchase process and post sale as they help answer all of our many questions and completed further work that we wanted done.

The Van Spec

We got a VW T5.1, 4 berth, short wheel base converted camper van, which included:

rock and roll bed
fridge freezer,
sink with water pumps
2 gas hobs with gas pipe
12 volt leisure battery
pop top with roof bed
folding/removable table
VW box buddy for additional storage
LED lighting
240 volt hook up with sockets
USB 12v and 3 pin sockets
new MOT
gas and electric certificates
2 year warranty

Upgrades We Have Made

During lockdown our first adventures were understandably cancelled and with money refunded we decided it was the perfect time to invest a little more and do some upgrades ready for later in the year when hopefully we can travel again and so we have since done the following:

solar panel added to the pop top roof (185 watt with Victron bluetooth controller) – installed by Planar Pete
internal 2kw diesel heater (taken directly from the fuel tank) installed – installed by Planar Pete
new sliding door panel with additional table integrated – purchased from iCamper Solutions
removed the double passenger seat and replaced with a single swivel captains chair – installed by SW Vans
additional leisure battery
side steps installed on both sides of the van
added an anchor point above the fridge freezer for the dog when we are travelling – a minor change but then she is closer to us rather than right at the back if we use the seats as an anchor point
new bumper sprayed with protective Raptor spray
awning installed on the side of the van – purchased and installed by Hill View Awnings
purchased the Thule Residency room to attach to the awning – purchased from Hill View Awnings
had a tow bar installed
purchased the Thule Velospace towbar bike rack and also the Thule Backspace carrier that works with it
purchased a Bike Inside mount, which is so easy to use and you can purchase different adaptors to allow through axle to be mounted

Do you have a camper van and any advice or top tips? We always welcome them!