RV travel

I'm currently converting a DAF/HEULIEZ MB205 bus.

Cheaper and more spacious than a regular vehicle, the paperwork (in France) isn't too difficult for approval.

I'm ready to help anyone who wants to tackle this kind of project. Those who know, help those who want to....

It's all in the title: I want to convert a van for traveling far, to places like Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya (among others!)

Indeed, 4x4 vehicles are too small and too conspicuous (and too expensive)

So I need a van with a 4x4 platform; but there are very few of them: a few Mercedes, the Citroën Jumper I think, and that's about it!

What can you recommend to me, knowing I can't spend too many dollars?

Thanks for your advice

See you soon

We’ve got our flight tickets and a few euros in our pockets, and we’re heading to Mexico for four weeks in July.

I’m looking for a great tip on renting a vehicle from a reliable local agency and an idea of the going rates. There are three of us, including a teenager.

Can we find RVs or 4x4s with a camper shell to be self-sufficient? If so, is it allowed to sleep near the sites, and is there any danger with this type of accommodation?

Are the roads suitable for driving large vehicles like these?

We leave in just under two months... Woo-hoo!!!!

Hi everyone,

We’re starting to look into whether it’s possible—like in Australia or South America—to buy a reasonably priced camper van and then travel as a family in Thailand, Malaysia, or India. From what we’ve read so far, it doesn’t seem very doable, but you never know... A big thanks to anyone with experience or insights!

Just back from Georgia and Armenia. Trip in April 2011 with a small Renault Trafic van. No particular difficulties... except the GMR.

Hey everyone, currently in Brazil. We're on a world trip and we'd like to buy a truck to continue our journey. Ideally, we're looking for something equipped and not too expensive. The question is: where can we find a cheap, good second-hand small truck? Also, how complicated is the paperwork for the registration, etc.?

Thanks for your replies! Cheers

Hi there!🙂 I’m reposting my request to see if anyone knows the address of a scrapyard—it’d really help a lot of people. Thanks!

My husband and I dream of going on Umrah or to Mecca in a camper van.

Can anyone give me some info on this? Thanks! 😉

Hi, We're planning to go to the Balearic Islands in a camper van in January. We're looking for great tips for the ferry crossing: Sète or Barcelona? Is the weather nice in January? Are 20 days enough? Is wild camping allowed? Are there service areas? Thanks for your info. Have a nice day, Michel

Hello, We’re planning a trip in May-June 2025. Could you share your driving experiences on the main road network with a motorhome (our vehicle is 7.2 m long and 2.25 m wide)? What basic route would you recommend for a tour of Corsica? We’re also planning to rent a small car locally to visit spots that are harder to access with the motorhome. Thanks for your feedback, and kind regards. Michel Droux

Hi there,

I’m looking for a group of camper van travelers to cross China in September 2025, from Kyrgyzstan to Laos via Lhasa (no visa required for Europeans if staying less than a month).

Hey everyone! I’m planning a van trip along the Carretera Austral from February 9th to March 1st, 2025. My main questions are about timing and the must-see spots. Here’s what I’m thinking, but I’m not sure if it’s realistic (ferries, road conditions, weather, etc.). I’d love all your tips and suggestions! 🙂

Sun 2/9: Pick up van in Puerto Montt, explore the area, hot springs (which ones?) 2/10: Drive to Chaitén (too short?) – road + 7-hour ferry according to maps 2/11: Drive from Chaitén to Queulat – 200 km, 3 hours (still according to maps) 2/12: Queulat + hike to see the hanging glacier, then drive to Coyhaique – 3 hours, 200 km 2/13: Coyhaique to Cerro Castillo Park – 100 km, how long is the drive on this stretch? 2/14: Drive to Puerto Río Tranquilo – how long is the drive? 2/15: Exploradores Valley + is a day hike doable? 2/16: San Rafael Lagoon 2/17: Mármol Chapels 2/18: Drive to Puerto Yungay to catch the ferry to Puerto Natales around 7–8 PM with the van.

For the short ferry crossings, how far in advance should I book?

All your advice is welcome! Thanks so much!!

Hello fellow travelers, I've made the France-Benin trip several times via the Mali "Route de l'Espoir," and the last journey was pretty tense—2013, 🥵‍🔥 military convoys and all the chaos in Mali from the border to Bamako. 😅 So, I’m planning to take the route again but this time via Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, with a good old J9 (the mayor’s vehicles I used to travel in… 😎. Though the Mercedes 308 wasn’t bad either). Has anyone done this recently? A friend of mine did it 4 years ago, but things can change pretty quickly. If you’d like to share your latest experiences, I’m all ears! 😊 Have a great weekend! 👋

Hi there,

I’m planning a family van trip from July 24 to August 14, 2025, from Montréal to Tadoussac. Is it necessary to book campsites in advance?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Gigi.

Hi, I’d like to know if gas stations with LPG are well distributed in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile? Thanks.

Hi,

After reading tons of posts, blogs, and travel journals... there’s almost nothing about exploring Brazil by camper van. All the RTW (round-the-world) trips seem to skip this country. So why? Safety seems to be the main (and only?) reason. But we cross Pakistan, for example. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. PS: If you’ve got any links about this destination by camper van, I’d love to check them out.

Hi there! We’d love to spend a few weeks in the sun this winter, but not too far away—southern Spain or Portugal sound perfect! Any regions or spots you’d recommend for an active retired couple who also love golfing? Best regards,

Hi everyone, Apart from the road between Cusco and Hidroelectrica—which is tricky but doable—is there a safe place (like a campsite?) to sleep at Hidroelectrica and visit Machu Picchu the next day? Thanks!

Hi everyone, we’d like to go to Morocco for the first time around April, preferably from France or Spain. Which departure port would you recommend, and for arrival in Morocco, are there any ports that are better? I’ve read that some arrival ports aren’t very safe. Thanks for your advice!

I just spent December and January in Morocco with my motorhome. I took the ferry from Algeciras to Tangier, then stayed a week in Marrakech, followed by a week at Aglou Plage. After that, I headed up into the mountains to Tafraout for two weeks, then back to the ocean in Sidi Ifni for another week. Next, I spent a week in the mountains near Agadir at Aourir, followed by another week by the water at Sidi Kouaki near Essaouira. Then, a week in Safi, the pottery city, before stopping at Dar Bouazza near Casablanca. Unfortunately, I had to rush back to Spain, where I live 4–5 months a year near Valencia, just 10 km from the disaster on November 29, 2024—my rented house was burgled. I still had Rabat and Tangier left to visit, but luckily, I was at the end of my trip. Morocco is an amazing place to explore!

Since campsites are often far from cities, I got around by bike. It wasn’t always super safe, but the roads are now really well-maintained. If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, my experience is fresh, so the tips are too!

Hello fellow travelers 😎, I’m taking advantage of VoyageForum’s comeback 😉even better😉 to post my request for help. Thanks for reopening this essential forum. My wife and I are planning a trip to Scotland in April-May 2025, in a camper van (L 8.70 x H 3.00). I’m mentioning this just to avoid roads that won’t work for us. However, we also enjoy parking and exploring by bike. We’ve already prepared the first part of this trip well. To combine business with pleasure, we’d like to continue on to Wales and Cornwall. This extension will last about 20 days. The second part of our trip will start in Chester and end in Dover. We’d love to hear from "seasoned travelers" who’ve already done these routes—tips on must-see places and landmarks, possible stops at campsites, motorhome areas, or "wild" camping spots without issues or restrictions. And of course, the culinary stops! All of this with respect for the places and people. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, but I’ll build our itinerary as I gather information. A big THANK YOU to everyone who shares their experiences and recommendations. Gérard 😉

Hi, for Romania between April and June, this trip could be considered for two people. Thanks for your feedback!

Planning Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Greece for autumn 2025

Hi there, We’ve rented a 4x2 camper van in Iceland from June 8 to 28, 2025, and we’re planning to drive around the whole island. Do we really need the optional sand/gravel/tire insurance? Thanks in advance for your tips!!

Hi, I’d like to buy an RV in France and travel across Europe. What are the ways to make that happen from Quebec?

I already have one in Quebec—is it worth exporting it?

Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips for a trip to Corsica in May-June 2025. Best regards,

I’m planning a 6-month trip to Europe from Canada. I want to ship my Volkswagen Westfalia van from Halifax to Antwerp. Since I’d like to come back the following year, I’m wondering if I can store my van in Antwerp for 6 months at the end of the trip and if it’s worth it price-wise instead of returning by RORO and leaving again. Do I need to clear customs for my van before storing it? Thanks for your answers.

Hi there, we're considering driving from Toulouse to Dubai starting mid-December 2025 and heading back to France in early January 2026 (work constraints). We're planning to take the route through Iraq, which is currently the safest option. If anyone might be interested in joining us for the trip, feel free to get in touch!

Hi everyone,

Could anyone recommend a place to park with a camper van (parking lot or camper van area) so I can visit central Toulouse using public transport?

Thanks in advance for your tips. Best regards