Hi Community,

We're heading to South America with our converted truck, which is a light vehicle (3,500 kg limit) that we’re shipping by boat in October this year (2026). But after weighing it, we’re at 4,500 kg. Based on your experience, do you think we’ll get stopped in South America (Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and southern Brazil) because of this? Are there police checks for overweight vehicles? Has this happened to any of you?

Thanks in advance for your experiences and advice!

Les Megy Rozé Un Petit Voyage en Plus

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!

Hi there,

New to the forum, I’m planning a trip to Norway in a camper van and want to drive the entire FV 17. Does anyone have a link where I can find the 6 ferries I’ll need to take and their costs? Thanks everyone

"Hey fellow road-trippers! 🚐🔥 After 4 years on the road, I’ve noticed something simple: we’re all looking for the same things. Authentic welcomes, great local eateries, and stops that don’t feel like supermarket parking lots. But it’s always bugged me to see small producers or local guesthouses getting their margins eaten up by big booking platforms. That’s why I created TerraNomad. The concept is straightforward:

The pro (farmer, restaurant, small campsite, guesthouse) pays no commission to be on our map. In return, they offer a special welcome or discount to members.

It’s direct, local, and human. We’re starting in France, then heading together toward Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Quick question: Does this kind of "no-middleman" network speak to you? I’m opening the first 100 Founding Member spots this Friday night (special launch price at 12 € for the year—just 1 € per month). Can’t wait to read your thoughts and see if you’d be up for this adventure! 🌍✋"

Hi there, I’m trying to plan a family week’s holiday in Scotland. I’d like to rent a motorhome or a camper van. My partner has never driven a motorhome and the roads are making me nervous… I’ve seen camper vans, but are they much smaller? There’ll be 3 adults and a 7-year-old. Some rental companies tell me “no problem with motorhomes,” while others say “definitely not if you’ve never driven one.”

Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks

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!!

Motorhome trip in Norway from September to November: who's done it before?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a road trip in a motorhome from early September to late or mid-November.

My idea is to head up through Sweden to the Lofoten Islands, then come back down along the Norwegian coast.

I've already traveled through Norway in the summer (July-August), but never in the fall.

If any of you have done this kind of trip before, I'd love to hear about your experiences, especially regarding: • the weather and first snowfalls by region; • road conditions and any potential driving challenges; • tires (summer, all-season, winter, etc.); • ferries during this period; • the northern lights (where and when did you see them?); • and, more generally, anything you wish you'd known before setting off.

I was thinking of going up through Sweden and then back down along the Norwegian coast. Do you think that's the best route for this season, or would you do it the other way around?

Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences!

Hi everyone. We’re taking a 15-day RV trip, Montreal to Quebec City loop. Late September to early October 2025. I was wondering if it’s easy to find spots for the RV at that time, and if we absolutely have to book RV campground sites in advance? Also, if you’ve got any great places to park and stay, we’d love your recommendations… thanks so much!

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, I’m planning to pick up a camper van in Dubai and drive it back to France... is this even possible? What’s the best route? What are the main challenges? Are there secure parking areas along the way? Is diesel fuel available for the whole trip? ... So many questions... Thanks for your help! See you soon!

We’d like to go to Morocco for the first time at the end of November or beginning of December in our camper van! 😊 Looking for someone to share the road and the crossing with, and head down to Agadir. We’re in no rush—we love seeing beautiful things. Retirement suits us just fine! Couple in our mid-60s. ;)

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

Hi there, I’d love to hear your thoughts on a trip to New Zealand in a campervan. Is it a good idea to mix hotels and a car on the North Island and a campervan on the South Island? Or should I do the whole trip in a campervan—though visiting big cities seems trickier that way. Other questions: which companies do you recommend, and what are the least tiring or most sensible routes? 😄 Thanks for sharing your experiences and ideas!

Hello everyone! 👋

First of all, thank you for accepting us into the group. 😊

My name is Gérard, I’m a 77-year-old retiree, and I have a charming young wife of 70 and a sweet little Biewer dog celebrating his first birthday. 🎂🎉

The three of us are planning to leave from Cannes in our motorhome and head to Dakar.

Personally, I know this route very well, having done it three times in a 4x4, the last trip being in 2016.

Regarding Western Sahara, I know it’s not particularly recommended to cross it right now, but I haven’t heard any bad news about it yet.

As for crossing the "no man’s land," I remember it being a very difficult track, impassable with a motorhome. I’ve heard that they’ve recently improved the track and that it might now be possible to cross those 4 km with a motorhome (?)

Actually, I’m reaching out to experienced travelers who could give me their thoughts on crossing at the end of 2025. 🙏

By the way, if other motorhome travelers have the same plan, maybe we could discuss it together? 🤝

As for Mauritania, I know it’s a long stretch of tarmac, and from what I remember—aside from the "Gare du Nord" stop to refuel and enjoy a good tea—you have to switch to "survival mode."

That’s all for my little chat! I hope to gather some useful information.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and I wish you a great 14th of July.

Gérard, Martine, and Bahia 🐾

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.

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 😉

I'm planning to drive to the UAE by road, going through Iraq. Has anyone done this and can give me some info? Specifically about the border crossings Turkey/Iraq and Iraq/Kuwait.

Hi there! After searching online, reading books, and getting help from our van rental company, we’ve finalized our upcoming road trip along Australia’s East Coast. We rented our van (a Sandpiper) from Vanz Travel (a small team of French expats based in Sydney).

Our itinerary focuses on Aboriginal culture where possible, wildlife and flora, stunning landscapes, and the must-see spots.

1. Flight PERTH - CAIRNS 15:05–21:15 2. Departure for diving cruise 06:00 3. Diving cruise 4. Diving cruise return 16:00 5. Cairns (visit Port Douglas) 6. Cairns: Pick up the van 7. Cairns → Atherton Tablelands 8. Atherton → Mission Beach → Townsville (Whitsundays cruise) 9. Townsville 10. Townsville → Airlie Beach 11. Airlie Beach 12. Airlie Beach → Cape Hillsborough 13. Cape Hillsborough → Mackay 14. Mackay → Rockhampton 15. Rockhampton → Agnes Water 16. Agnes Water → Rainbow Beach 17. Rainbow Beach → Camping Habitat Noosa 18. Noosa 19. Noosa → Sunshine Coast 20. Sunshine Coast 21. Sunshine Coast → Brisbane 22. Brisbane → Springbrook National Park 23. Springbrook → Byron Bay 24. Byron Bay → Coffs Harbour 25. Coffs Harbour → Port Macquarie 26. Port Macquarie → Port Stephens 27. Port Stephens → Sydney 28. Sydney 29. Sydney → Jervis Bay 30. Jervis Bay 31. Jervis Bay 32. Jervis Bay → Pambula 33. Pambula - Merimbula 34. Pambula → Lakes Entrance 35. Lakes Entrance → Wilson Promontory 36. Wilson Promontory 37. Wilson Promontory → Mornington 38. Mornington → Melbourne 39. Melbourne 40. Melbourne 41. Flight to PERTH

We’re starting from PERTH because our son has been living there since May of last year, and we’re taking the opportunity to visit him while doing this big East Coast tour.

For the first six days of our trip, he’ll be with us—that’s why our van journey starts on day 7.

I’m sharing this itinerary for those who know the East Coast well and might have tips on things we shouldn’t miss. When we return, I’ll share what we loved (and what we liked less). If you have any feedback on this route, don’t hesitate! 2.16.1.2 Yann and Valerie

Hi there,

Do you think traveling by RV along the French Riviera in winter is doable, given all the parking restrictions in the area? Any nice spots where we can park and then hop on our bikes to explore? Thanks for your tips!

hi where can you park a camper van in Trieste to sightsee and sleep? thanks

Hi everyone, We’re leaving from New York and want to head to Quebec in January to visit friends. We’re traveling in our camper van with all-terrain tires and have chains. Is that possible? From what we’ve heard, winter tires are mandatory, which we get—otherwise, there are heavy fines. Can anyone give us some info? Thanks

Hi there, I have a bit of a crazy dream... I'd love to drop everything and hit the road with my wife and kids in a camper van. I want to visit villages to learn, immerse ourselves in other cultures, and see different perspectives on the world. To teach my kids different values.

Hi there, We’re planning a trip from Darwin to Perth (about 6 weeks) in a campervan. The reviews for the main rental companies (Star RV, Indie Campers, Apollo, Britz—just to name a few) are terrible. What should we make of that? Is it just the unhappy customers who complain? So, who should we go with? Thanks for your help

We're thinking of visiting Portugal, either in November or next April. We'd rent a camper van for 4 weeks and try to see as much of this beautiful country as possible! Any tips or ideas?? Thanks :)

We're torn between a campervan (better in bad weather) and a 4x4 with accommodations, especially since lodging is expensive this summer. The question: can you still reach off-the-beaten-path spots with a campervan, or are you stuck taking the crowded main roads all the time? Thanks! Another question: For a 10-day trip, what’s the best option—circumnavigating the island, the west, south, or north?

Alaton

hi we’d like to rent an RV for the USA and we’re wondering if RAODSURFER is a good rental site thanks

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

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?

Hi everyone, My husband and I are planning an RV trip to Alaska. If any of you have already done a road trip in that part of the world, could you share your experience with us? We’re planning to leave in mid-June (departing from Halifax). Any tips or info would be greatly appreciated. Annie