Author
Jasper writes campervan reviews, travel guides, and practical advice, with a focus on everyday use and relaxed touring around the UK.
Latest storyMotorhome Safety, Weight & Licensing
The plate on a category B motorhome is 3,500 kg, so what you can carry is whatever the van leaves over. We put the makers' own running-order and payload figures side by side, run the family-of-four sum, and list the questions to ask on any stand at the NEC.
Jasper11 min read
Motorhome Tech, Heating & Systems
Jasper13 min readThetford now sells a kit that turns its C220 and C260 cassette toilets into separating toilets, Dometic has shown rival kits, and a microwave toilet that burns waste to ash has appeared in Germany. Each one changes the least-loved job in the van in its own way, and each suits a different kind of owner.
Campervan Reviews
Jasper27 min readA full look at the Volkswagen Grand California 680 Dune as a two-person long-distance tourer: dated UK prices, why the 3,880 kg weight means a C1 licence for many drivers, the real payload sums for front-wheel drive against 4MOTION, the lengthways bed, four-season kit and a viewing checklist.
Campervan Buying Guides
Jasper11 min readThe Atom Core 600 B is a £62,600 VW Crafter campervan with a rear lounge. We put it against the Fiat-based Swift Merlin 122, Auto-Trail Expedition 66 and Elddis Autoquest GTV 260, and against its own Atom siblings, to show exactly what you are paying for.
Campervan Buying Guides
Jasper11 min readDethleffs has priced its new Just Van from £61,990 in the UK, with diesel heating, a compressor fridge and lithium power as part of the pitch. Here is what that money actually buys, how it compares with what else sits under £65k, and what to check before you sign.
Campervan Reviews
Jasper8 min readA clear, honest look at the Citroen Holidays, the compact pop-top campervan built on the SpaceTourer. What it does well, where it compromises, and who it really suits.
Campervan Reviews
Jasper26 min readA thorough, plain-English guide to the Hymer Grand Canyon S 600 Xperience: what it is, how it drives, what it costs to own in the UK, who it suits, and where it falls short.
Campervan Reviews
Jasper26 min readA long, honest look at the Malibu Van first class two rooms camper van: the clever bathroom trick, the build quality, the real-world running costs, and who it actually suits in the UK.
Motorhome Reviews
Jasper29 min readAn honest review of the Swift Trekker 594, a full-size four-berth coachbuilt motorhome about 7.85m long on the rear-wheel-drive Ford Transit, with a fixed rear island bed, centre washroom and a 3,500kg category B weight.
Campervan Kit & Gear
Jasper25 min readARB and Thule both make excellent awnings, but they're built for different vehicles and different lives. One is a rugged, rack-mounted pull-out for 4x4s and overlanders; the other is the wind-out cassette awning that defines campervan and motorhome touring. Here's how they really compare, and which one you actually want.
Van Life How-Tos
Jasper15 min readHiring a campervan is the smartest, lowest-risk way into van life, whether it's a one-off holiday or a try-before-you-buy. Here's the honest guide to how UK hire works, what it really costs, where to book, and the things to check before you hand over a deposit.
New & Noteworthy
Jasper10 min readThe Eriba Car 600 and 602 now offer an optional pop top roof, and it changes who these campervans suit. Here is what the two layouts do differently, how the pop top affects real touring life, and why the metallic bicolour finish makes the manual pop top the best value choice.
Costs, Running & Reality
Jasper15 min readAmanda hires a VW Westfalia in Amandaland and discovers the hard way that charm is not the same as convenience. A practical guide to campervan and motorhome toilet options, with honest pros, cons, and recommendations.
That's every story. The first one went up in May 2025.
