r/CamperVans

I've been trying to put together a route I'd actually recommend to someone doing their first campervan trip in Norway. So here's the rough version (please be honest about what's overrated, what's missing, and what I've gotten wrong. I really would love this to be a good itinerary).

Assumptions: 2 weeks, mid-July to early August, two people, comfortable with some hiking but not hardcore. Picking up the van in Oslo, dropping back in Oslo. And "First-timer-friendly" (so manageable drive distances):

Days 1-2: Oslo to Lillehammer area. Easy first leg to get used to the van, recover from travel, do one short hike. Camp somewhere with proper facilities for the first night.

Days 3-4: Jotunheimen. Up into the mountains. One real hike (Thought about Besseggen if conditions are good). Two nights here.

Days 5-7: Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen. Drive the Trollstigen pass, do the Geiranger viewpoints, take the ferry across one of the fjords for the experience.

Days 8-9: Sognefjord area. Slow days, hikes, swim in a fjord,...

Days 10-11: Bergen. One night at a proper campsite. Then walk around the old town and go out to eat

Days 12-13: Hardangerfjord and Vøringsfossen.

Day 14: back to Oslo. Buffer day for whatever got skipped, plus the drive back.

Specific things I'm unsure about and would love opinions on:

• Specific hikes that have to be put on the list?
• Anything obvious I'm missing for a first-timer 2-week loop?
• For freedom camping vs. paid campsites — what's a realistic split? I'm assuming maybe 60/40 paid/free but not sure...

after a few months, the goal stops being “travel”.

You become weirdly obsessed with:

• finding quiet parking
• reducing rattling sounds
• better storage
• one perfect warm light at night

a setup where making coffee doesn’t require moving 7 things first

Tiny improvements start feeling luxurious.

What’s the smallest campervan upgrade that made the biggest difference for you?

https://preview.redd.it/49pvpjn95b2h1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af87d533087c80afe1ebfb466bcc2428252b8a9a

I've put this together today after putting it off for weeks. I've been sent the blue trunking too but I think it looks cleaner without it. Is it ok to have the cables overlapping like this?

Other than that does it look right?

Thanks in advance.

Things that need adding:

240V socket from consumer unit
Shore power from consumer unit
12V accesories from fuse box
Cables from Orion Tr Smart DC - DC charger to the van battery
Leisure batteries (the cables are just placed for illustration purposes.

List of items

Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor  103584	1
Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-30A (360W) Isolated DC-DC Charger  105587-0	1
Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12V 30A 1 Output  109820	1
Mains Consumer Unit (Deluxe)  103731	1
Blue Sea 12-Way Fuse Box  117345	1
Site Lead 10mtrs 230V  101477	1
Battery Isolation Switch 300A (12V - 48V)  110170	2
Combi Fuse Holder for Mega & Midi Fuses  106283	1

I bought a used 2016 Ford Transit last week. It has a lot of miles and a few dents but it runs fine. The inside is empty though-no seats, no floor, no panels. I’ve never built anything like this so any beginner tips or mistakes to avoid would really help :) I cleaned it out and now I’m stuck on what to do first.

For the floor, do I need multiple layers or can I keep it basic and still be comfortable? I want something easy to clean for beach trips that won’t warp. Then for the bed, I already have a full size mattress but I want storage underneath but nothing fancy. Is a basic platform fine?

For the power, since I only need lights, charging, a small fan, and a laptop, can I start with a portable power station or should I do wiring right away?

Hope anyone can help this newbie out

Hi all, newbie here. I am purchasing a 2020 17k miles Winnebago solis 59px. The owner agrees taking it to a dodge dealership for the chassis, but don’t know what to do for PPI of the built inside. How to locate a reliable inspector? Is it realistic to do it ourselves with a list in hand?

I keep reading post-trip feedback and the thing that surprises me most is that a lot of campervan travellers don't necessarily need a lot of stuff, but somehow always love the tiny gadgets and small things.

So I'm curious: for anyone here who's done a few campervan trips, what's the one small thing that made a huge difference on your last road trip? Something you didn't think you'd need until you didn't have it, or something you brought that turned out to be essential?

Hi all,

I am currently working on my own camper van. At the moment I am using a jackery to provide electricity in my camper. I am planning to upgrade to an cee plug to get the power provided by the camping grounds. The CEE plug should only charge the jackery any consumer is plugged into the jackery. I already did buy an RCBO. Do i need to connect the PE to the chassie? And if so do I need to connect it after the jackery to the chassie too?

Thanks alot

I see people running shore power cords out a window which means you have to leave the window slightly open. I have always closed the cords in the front or back door of my van (not the side slider) since the rubber gasket wraps around the cord and the door doesn’t cut it. In all my many years of doing this I have had no problem with damaging the cord. Anybody else do this? I’m sure plenty of folks have strong opinions on the subject. I’m just relating my experience. I no longer do this because I installed an external plug.