The answer to the question ‘what is a campervan?’ may be obvious to us but we appreciate that’s not going to be the case for everyone! If you find yourself asking this question, we’re here to help with the answer…

Put simply, campervans are small, recreational leisure vehicles with living space, a bed(s) and a cooking area. 

A major distinction of a campervan over other types of leisure vehicle is that there is no separation between the cab and living areas. 

Campervans don’t always look the same though. Whilst many converters utilise VW Transporter and Ford Transit Custom base vehicles for their campervan conversions, and that’s true of us at Redline Campers too, what the campervan contains on the inside can often be very different. 

Like ourselves, many converters will see the base vehicle as a blank canvas and utilise this to build a vehicle that satisfies the needs of our customers. That’s certainly what we do at Redline Campers. 

Taking a vehicle originally designed for cargo and commercial purposes and transforming it into something that is designed to accommodate day-to-day living, within each of our conversions you will find a living area, a sleeping area, kitchen facilities, and a pop top roof. In addition to this, each of our models also have storage space, a leisure battery, an electric mains distribution system, an on-board water tank, and a gas connection.

One of the best things about campervan conversions is that they are customisable. Opt for our built-to-order campervan conversion service and you will be able to choose the colour of your cupboards, worktops, flooring and upholstery. Beyond this, you can choose the exterior paintwork colour, styling features such as wheels, spoilers and lowering springs, and practical features such as diesel heaters, towbars, awnings and solar panels.

What category is a campervan? 

To drive a campervan you need a standard category B driving licence. So, if you have a valid regular driving licence, you can drive a campervan. The only rule is that the vehicle does not weigh more than 3,500kg. 

As a class B vehicle, campervans are more compact than some other leisure vehicles. Larger vehicles require a category C or A licence. 

What is the difference between a campervan and a motorhome?

Campervans are smaller than regular motorhomes. Motorhomes usually offer more space as they are longer vehicles. An easy way to differentiate between the two is if the driving cab is separate from the living space. 

As they have more space, motorhomes often come fitted with a dedicated toilet and shower room. In a campervan, these facilities can be added but usually by utilising a Porta Potti and a shower tent/12v portable shower.

Why have campervans become so popular?

Our parent company, Venture Caravans & Motorhomes has been trading since 1971, and during this time they’ve sold tents, caravans, motorhomes and more. Over the last few years though, we can confirm there has been a surge in the number of people buying campervans. Part of this came from the travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With foreign travel off the cards and hotel stays made difficult, many people looked to exploring the UK instead. Campervans gave them the perfect vehicle to do so in. 

Campervans aren’t just for COVID though, there have always been aspiring nomads who  buy a campervan and take off to live life on the road. ‘Van life’ has become a trend in recent years with over 17 million posts on Instagram and 1.1 million posts on TikTok (last checked July 2024). These influencers showcase their lives on the road with only the necessities. 

Using a campervan for holidays allows travellers more control. With a campervan you can be more flexible when it comes to how long you can stay in a place as you aren’t restricted by flights or bookings. A campervan also allows you to take off at a moment’s notice. So long as everything is packed up and ready to go, weekends and even nights away at short notice are made so much easier.

Once you’re set up with your campervan, holidays can be a great deal cheaper. After all, you have your transportation and accommodation covered. There are still some costs such as obtaining a campsite pitch but you will find that it’s much cheaper than a hotel.

Find your campervan today

We are here to help you find the campervan of your dreams! You can purchase a campervan from Redline Campers in one of three ways, you can either:

• Buy a pre-built campervan from our forecourt stock
• Choose our built-to-order service
• Supply your own van for conversion

To learn more about what is included in each campervan in our range, take a closer look at each of our models:

• Redline Classic Campervan
• Redline Sport Campervan
• Redline Sport XS Campervan
• Redline Sport SKR Campervan
• Redline Sport + Campervan
• Redline Trekker Campervan

Should you have any questions, our team will be happy to answer them. We have branches in Daventry and Hitchin, our Daventry branch can be contacted on 01327 703371 and our Hitchin branch can be contacted on 01462 452856. Should you like to email us, you can do so at sales@redline-campers.com