Campervan show checklist - (Draft)

Oct 10

2 min read

Before you go - What size van will you need? How will you use it?

How will you actually use it, not just the holiday week? School run, weekly shop, weekends, longer trips.
How many people, every week, not “just in case”?
Do you need to get under height barriers? A lot are around 2 metres. A pop-top with the roof down can be right on that line, and roof bars or a solar panel can put you over.
Mostly on a campsite with hook-up, or off-grid? Hook-up means you may not need the big lithium and solar package someone will try to sell you.
Do you need 230 volts off-grid? If yes, does it have an inverter?
Will you need a toilet?
How will you manage waste?
Where does the food, bikes, awning, chairs and the rest actually live?

Run your hand along the furniture, worktops, sink cut-out and floor. Smooth and sealed, or rough?
Gaps between panels, cupboards and drawers: straight, or wonky?
Carpet joins: clean, or wrinkled?
Sealant on a brand-new show van should mostly be invisible. A squeezed, bumpy bead around the pop-top or windows is a rush job.
Overhead cupboards: how are they fixed, and do the doors and drawers stay shut? Nobody crash-tests the cupboards.
Find the fuse board. Can you actually get to it?
Lie on the bed. Open it and close it yourself.
Open and close the roof yourself. Can you manage it?
Does the van have enough storage options? Can you extend with roof bars? Tow-Bar?

The base van is warranted by whoever built it (e.g Volkswagen/Ford/Mercedes). The conversion is warranted by the converter.
On the new VW Transporter the base warranty is 5 years. Does the conversion match it?
What is excluded or separate? Heater, fridge, hob and water pump may go back to the appliance maker. Who do you call?
Is water ingress covered on the roof, windows and pop-top? Does that depend on an annual habitation check? What does that check cost, and can it be done near you?
What voids it? Can you add a solar panel, or change anything later, without losing the warranty?

Is the van in front of you the van you get for that price, or a top-spec show build?
Ask for the itemised list. Heater, inverter, large battery, induction hob, bed, hot water, wheels and body kit may be extras.
What is the base vehicle? Lower spec or higher spec, manual or automatic, Commerce, Commerce Pro, Sportline, diesel, electric, hybrid. They are not the same price. Compare like for like.
When can you actually take delivery?
If the base-van price changes before yours is built, does your price change, or is it already locked?

Do not sign today. Sleep on it. Research properly and make the right decision for you