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**oldbmw** · #1 12 Mar 2016

Hi
The time has come for me to have a bit more comfort. So a two person camping car seems to be a good solution. It has to be diesel powered. with a toilet and shower. Cooking facilities can be minimal but at least one bed/bunk available whilst running. I live in France where prices are very high and wondered if it would make sense to buy from Germany? Whats involved? I am thinking small transit van sized like the old Autosleepers by Talbot.

**Walkabout** · #2 13 Mar 2016

I had similar considerations just a few years ago and ended up:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ehicle-83477-2
because I decided that I preferred to have carrying capacity in the van rather than all the stuff of "campers" that takes up so much space, usually denies access to the back doors of that space and is used not too often.

With a wife on board I tend, therefore, to park at camping sites which have the facilities that are part of your wish list - on my own then "wild parking" works OK for me.

**oldbmw** · #3 8 Apr 2016

I bought myself a 1994 Hymer 510. 2.5 l Renault trafic based.
needs a big service to bring things up to date then hopefully good to go.

**xfiltrate** · #4 9 Apr 2016

OldBMW, Cherchez la femme!
Forget the car, keep the woman.

xfiltrate

**Quintin** · #5 20 Apr 2016

Because of overwelming bureaucracy in France, you need to be absolutely certain that you can get a carte gris for any vehicle (even EU registered) you buy outside of France. You will need a certificate of homologation (or whatever its called these days) for the vehicle itself and you will also need to get any electical system and or gas system certified as conforming to French standards. I have given up trying to register my custom-built Merc 4x4 truck here (I live in the Tarn) for those very reasons even though in previous lives it has been registered in both Germany and the UK without any problem.

Good luck...
Q

**oldbmw** · #6 20 Apr 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quintin

Because of overwelming bureaucracy in France, you need to be absolutely certain that you can get a carte gris for any vehicle (even EU registered) you buy outside of France. You will need a certificate of homologation (or whatever its called these days) for the vehicle itself and you will also need to get any electical system and or gas system certified as conforming to French standards. I have given up trying to register my custom-built Merc 4x4 truck here (I live in the Tarn) for those very reasons even though in previous lives it has been registered in both Germany and the UK without any problem.

Good luck...
Q

Is why I bit the bullet and bought it in France. Carte gris back in 10 days

**38thfoot** · #7 28 Apr 2016

I fancy a first gen Citroen dispatch/Peugeot expert/first something, same size as a car, back long enough to sleep in and you could refine to your hearts content from inflatable bed, through camp cots which is what I used when I borrowed one) or depending on your woodworking skills I have seen one with table and chairs that convert to a double bed.

Cheap to buy, cheap to run and eminently practical.

38

**RussG** · #8 28 Apr 2016

We went for one of these, it'll have a permanent double bed, shower/toilet and a fridge/freezer. What more do you need

**Warin** · #9 29 Apr 2016

In safety terms .. I would be reluctant to let someone occupy a bed in the van whale travelling.. make the seat recline to some comfortable angle, head rest and seat belt and let them sleep/snooze there?