Have a look at Run4Adventure YT channel. Loyd has just converted a Caddy
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I’ve been trying to convince the Mrs to switch to a van once the inevitable happens and the beems finally blows up. Be great for those beach, camping, moor trips etc. I keep telling her that driving a modern van is more akin to a car, but she’s still left unconvinced.
Maybe a Caddy/Connect/Berrrrlingo may be a good half way house. (not that we have any spare money at all at the moment!! So if the Beems did blow up, we’d actually be a bit screwed! 
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Hmm I read alot of that before getting mine. Whether mine is different being a LWB or with a full conversion and pop top - but I don’t find it like a car at all.
I’ve changed the suspension, put smaller wheels on, more expensive tyres than I’ve ever specced on a car and its improved handling/comfort considerably - but its still nothing like a car. And thats just the ride - also down on a few creature comforts. Tho I do actually find it less tiring than driving a car.
Its very much a second vehicle for us - not one for popping to the shops. BUT - it is great when travelling - whether we use it as our hotel or just a day vehicle.
Its a bit annoying I neve really had this for racing - other than Costwolds few years back. So much better for the wife and dogs to have somewhere to go back to and relax/sleep.
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OK, maybe an analogy too far to be fair.
But they’re a lot nicer to drive then back in the day. Nice high driving position, but you do need to be aware of the fact that you’re taking up more volume on the road vs a car that probably ain’t much shorter or narrower.
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I think it depends, mine is like driving a car, actually I think more comfortable. But it doesn’t have the low profiles of the VW scene, it doesn’t have pop top and still has the rear bulkhead which makes a massive difference to noise, warmth and comfort. Like with many things, you need something specc’d to your own use case. A camper would be useless for me whereas a plain van wouldn’t be of use to others.
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Yeah it aint much wider… mines about 5metres long (as the wife found out when she cut a corner and opened the wheel arch up on a rock 
).
Blind spots are all bigger, its slow as he11 pulling off in 1st, I find I’ll lane change so much less, I wont be trying to jump a queue - much slower/patient driving (not least cause it cost a fair bit and spent ages getting it how we want it… not really replaceable like for like. So extra care due).
But recent trip was great - 3 days in Northumberland, over to Arran on Ferry… the return journey got cancelled - no panic, we only need somewhere to park for the night and we are sorted. Much more relaxing when you can just hop in the back (like when queued for ferry) - add in the fridge and such and advantages over a car start to add up.
So plenty of upsides… and we are starting to get more use from it.
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Bikepacking and cycle touring thread this.
I’ll move all of these to the “I enjoy defecating into a bucket” thread soon
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Trying to take the focus away from that other thread I’m ignoring 
Ok, getting the thread back on track before Vlad Poet loses his shit
Some Decathlon bike luggage which looks alright?
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A Ford Freda???
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I’d never heard of a Freda 
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Yeah, in the funny name poker Ford went, Heh Mazda, I’ll see your Bongo and raise you a Freda.
ETA - we better stop or we’ll have Pol Po(e)t after us!
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I had thought of this one a while back! They’re quite popular and not bad priced!
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