by John Douglas

Camper vans have many optional extras and facilities and most first time buyers or hirers, do not have all the information to make an informed choice over which van to choose. A lot of people will be taken in by the styling of a camper and will pay little attention to the actual facilities. Most campers have basic facilities as standard, enough to just about cover a few nights away. Optional extras can though, make a big difference to your comfort levels.

You should consider a number of factors, such as family size today and what it may become in the near future. Your needs will change as your family grows and now may be the time to plan ahead. The kind of trips you wish to make can also have a bearing on the vehicle most suited to your needs. Buying or renting presents different considerations with regards to price as does whether you go for a new or second hand vehicle.

Consider some of the available optional extras in the next few paragraphs and deciding whether these are an absolute must for you now, could save you money in the long term. New or used, buying or renting choosing the right mix of extras can make all the difference to a long road trip.

Campers often have plenty of seating, some for up to eight people, but may only sleep four or five at the most. This is often made up of two adults and two children or sometimes three young children. A camper should be spacious enough in the day time so as to allow ease of movement for all the family. At night, space is often at a premium due to the nature of bed arrangements. Generally even the cheapest will have some daytime space, the expense is often down to how much space is required at night. Try to find the right mix for your budget.

After the sleeping arrangments, the next thing you should check is the living area and kitchen. Among the best facilities, some of which are only optional, we could include air conditioners, microwaves, water heaters, furnaces, not to mention TV and sound systems. Solar panels are one other great additional element, that meets both ecological and comfort purposes. Moreover, if you want to personalize your camper van, there are many companies that offer customizing services. Thus, you can decide for yourself the colour of the upholstery, whether its leather or fabric and even down to what floor covering is used.

A comfortable drivers seat is a must for those long journeys and many prefer the feel of a quality leather seat. Storage is at a premium on most campers and that is why you will find many extra storage options. Some of the larger ones even have a cooler for drinks with drain holes in case of spillage. Some vans offer small compartments in the floor that are ideal for smaller item storage.

Quite often simple looking designs, with as little decorations as possible not only make the camper van interior look roomy, but can also be very stylish and elegant. Some more facilities you may want to include are electric flush toilets and even a built in shower. However, as always remember the guiding principles for all such improvements is to keep it space efficient, comfortable and functional. The last thing you want to do is to fill up your camper van with so many extras, that there's little room left for comfort.

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