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Our FIRST Campervan Night Went WRONG 🌧️😅 | UK Family Van Life

Kim Lawler | Family Adventures & Creative Living

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We finally did it! our first ever night in the campervan 🚐
We headed to Shay Gate Farm for a test night with the kids and the dogs, in our VW T6 Transporter (aka Honeydew) and it was a bit of a mixed bag 😅

Everything started off perfectly: cosy beds, van coffee in the sunshine, and a proper little family adventure to a nearby pub. But then the wind and rain hit overnight and things got interesting.

Our toilet tent blew over (exposing the car seats to the elements 😭), the awning nearly went flying, and by 6am we were packing up and heading home.

BUT… not all bad 👇✔️ The van setup actually worked really well✔️ Everyone slept comfortably (Panda toppers = game changer)✔️ Dogs settled perfectly in their little space✔️ Fridge & gas worked perfectly✔️ We learned a LOT for next time

In this vlog:
Full campervan tour (VW T6 with Spartan conversion)
Our first night on a UK campsite
The reality of family van life with kids + dogs
What worked, what didn’t, and what we’re changing

If you’re thinking about campervan travel in the UK with a family, this is a very real first trip 😅

Things we learned we need:
A better system for storage & easy access
A window vac for condensation
A sturdier setup for windy weather 🌬️

If you’re into family travel, UK adventures, and realistic van life, you’re in the right place.

⭐ If you enjoyed this vlog, don’t forget to subscribe for more family travel + creative life content!

❤️ Links ❤️
Website: https://www.finestimaginary.com/ & https://www.kimlawlercreative.com/
Instagram: Instagram: finestimaginary
Email: kim@finestimaginary.com

Music from Epidemic Sound: https://share.epidemicsound.com/4kl3b4
Main vlog camera: https://amzn.to/3EyIYGy

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Hiya! I'm Kim, a designer from Yorkshire who loves a bit of travel, the outdoors, reading, and coffee drinking. Join me and my little fam on our adventures - at home & away!

Some of the links above may be affiliate links.

20 Comments

@itsme_kimmers9502 2 months ago

We stick our car seats in the driver's seat and passenger footwell behing the captain seat. Works pretty well 😊

@ZaraCarter-v5z 1 month ago

Congrats!! So many happy adventures to come🤗looking forward to your next vlog!!

@L1zzyF3rret 4 months ago

Coupla tips: you can silence the parking sensors by pressing the P> button, and life up front will be transformed by a T5 Cuppy 👌

@andylynch739 4 months ago

Good on you for following your dream, shame about the weather but you and your family are going to make many happy memories together which your kids will talk about for years to come. Priceless.

@amyod 1 month ago

A lot of campsites charge for or don’t allow a pop up tent next to a van. We put the car seats stacked on the drivers seat

@coasttocoastcaravanning6138 4 months ago

Look at an Olpro Utility Pod. 2m x 2m fully enclosed. Much easier than toilet tent .

@sallymurdoch2769 4 months ago

Really enjoyed this! We started with a Mazda Bongo at 55 after I persuaded my husband! We then moved onto a VW. Don’t be put off, you will love it. As you say, you will find what works for you. Lots of hints on Facebook groups and I just went through the photos on these groups, looking at ideas. Once you’ve sussed sleep and keeping things dry, everything else will follow. You can also buy screens for your pop top which makes it quieter, darker and warmer. Ours worked great.

@Lee-ui1wc 4 months ago

I did enjoy it and look forward to moor fun adventures, keep going guys xx

@adelehobson6277 4 months ago

Lots of fabulous memories to make. Like us all, you learn as you go along. Happy travels xxx

@paultasker7788 3 months ago (edited)

As we have recently bought a campervan (no kids just us 2 and a dog) I always like watching other peoples conversions to get more ideas. I'm very envious of your swivel seat. Ours is a pain to use. To the point I'd only use it if we have additional guests. Same fridge. And most other things are similar although we've got a transit custom and not a VW. Same table system on rails. Agree with a family a drive away awning will make a big difference. Don't bother with ours on short trips but if you're camping for a week somewhere it gives you a lot more room. A space heater works really well in spring and autumn inside and means you don't need warm weather to camp. Far more compact and effective than an electric radiator which we tried first. If you have electric hookup use it as it'll save you gas! Electric kettle much quicker than gas. That's a lovely location you've got.

@handpanphil 4 months ago

gorgeous looking van 😍

@lequimper 4 months ago

You got loads more right than we did on our first trip. Rain and wind is always a challenge in a Campervan but you will find ways to manage those times. Something like a Cinch tent might give you a little bit of extra space and flexibility, given there are 4 of you plus the dogs?

@lowtide961 4 months ago

Loved your honest video, we've all been there 😂 it definitely gets better the more you do it, look forward to seeing your travels

@AdamAvison-b2s 4 months ago

Next time the weather will be better

@petethomas8651 4 months ago

Hi Kim , you've brought back some great memories 👍
Couple of top tips for you , to help with space , at home before you go lay the children's sleeping bags out in the pop top , plus anything else you can lay flat up there , and vacuum bag your bedding , above the cab you can put a 4 way stretch covered shelf that will fits all the the way left to right and when in transit it will store between your fridge and drivers seat , there's loads you can do , the elastic net pockets are a life saver with small items , good luck to you have fun

@Archangel_101 4 months ago

get a driveaway awning or a small gazebo . you need to really pin down the toilet tent with storm pegs and storm straps are really handy ...were just learning too lol also most sites let you take a pup tent ot just a small pop up tent for the dogs much better for the warmer weather ...we have personaly got a small gazebo with storm pegs etc and place it close to the van with an extra zip up panel and put our loo tent inside .or put a pup tent inside ...gives you way more room hope this helps