If you’re thinking about taking a VW T6 day van or VO campervan on a long adventure, we’ve just come back from a month-long family road trip around France and Spain – and we put ours to the ultimate test. Here’s what we loved, what we found trickier, and what we’d change next time.
Why We Chose a VO Campervan for the Trip
We’ve owned our VW T6 day van for over four years and originally converted it into a VO campervan for everyday family life. The layout gave us:
- Open central space – perfect for getting changed after beach days or muddy dog walks.
- Pop-top roof – extra sleeping space for the kids during overnight trips.
- Full-width RIB bed – with three ISOFIX points for our children’s car seats.
- Thule wind-out awning – instant shade and shelter for lazy days at camp.
We deliberately skipped the kitchen pod – the space worked perfectly for us. When we rehomed an older dog last year, it was easy to pop a dog bed behind the driver’s seat without sacrificing too much room.
Our Clayton Power off-grid system gave us 12v USB and 240v socket points for charging the kids’ gadgets, plus a diesel heating system for the winter.
After spending three weeks in Italy last year in a hire car and Airbnbs, we knew we wanted our next European adventure to be in our own campervan. Our youngest was finally old enough to travel well, and the VO was already a trusted, reliable vehicle. With a tow box for extra storage, we could take everything we needed.
The Pros of Travelling in a VW T6 Day Van
- Compact and easy to drive – the VW T6 is nimble in towns and a breeze to park.
- True off-grid camping – the Clayton Power system meant we could camp for days without hook-up.
- Everyday practicality – the VO layout works brilliantly for both daily use and longer trips.
- Comfortable ride – two captain seats in the cab and a full-width RIB bed gave the kids plenty of space, even with big ISOFIX seats.
- Ample storage – under-seat space and a top locker for smaller items.
- Entertainment on the go – rear speakers meant music for the whole family.
- Pop-top convenience – quick and easy sleeping space for two.
The Cons of a Day Van on a Long Trip
- **Outdoor living limitations **– about 70–80% of our belongings had to be stored outside. Great in sunshine, less so in bad weather.
- Cooking space – all cooking was done outside with minimal worktop space.
- Storage access – we used a pop-up tent for gear, which worked but meant constant trips back and forth.
It was back-to-basics camping, but with the comfort of a warm, cosy van to sleep in each night.
Daydreaming About a Different Setup
Halfway through the trip, I found myself imagining a layout with a fixed kitchen – like our EX conversion, which still allows for a wide bed but adds a fridge, sink, and loads of storage.
If we didn’t already have our base van, this might have been perfect for us. But with twin sliding doors that we use constantly, we wouldn’t want to block one side with a unit.
Our Future Campervan Plans
Next year, we’re planning to convert a larger van and take it on another European road trip.
We loved the agility of the smaller T6, but a bigger van would mean:
- More storage without unpacking daily
- A larger pop-top for the kids
- The option to have everything set up permanently
Our only challenge is the seating layout. We currently have all three children together in the back, which works perfectly. In a bigger van, that might mean two in the back and one in the front – something we’ll need to plan carefully.
Final Thoughts
Our VW T6 VO campervan proved to be reliable, comfortable, and incredibly versatile for both daily life and long-distance travel. For families considering a day van for a European road trip, it’s a brilliant choice – just be prepared to embrace outdoor living and a more minimal kitchen setup.
If you’re after more comfort and indoor space, a bigger van might be worth the trade-off in agility. Either way, the adventure is what makes it truly special.