Nation is crazy for campervans, according to new club survey

The UK is crazy for campervans, according to the largest survey of its kind undertaken by the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the publishers of Campervan, What Motorhome and MMM magazines, Warners Group Publications.

The survey found that in the UK alone there are around 225,000 motorhomes and campervans in use, and Volkswagen campervans of all ages make up around 90,000 of these. Half of new members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club are motorhomers, including around 30,000 campervanners. 

This survey also dispels the myth that campervanning is a hugely expensive hobby — over half of respondents spent less than £20,000 on their campervan and nearly a third spent under £10,000. Just one in eight respondents spent over £45,000 and three quarters spent less than £35,000.

Campervan owners love to pamper their vans and many of them give them special names; a recent poll of van owners showed that nearly 10% of them call their vans after someone who they wanted to remember, had left them the money to buy the van or was special in their lives. This was closely followed by owners giving names with ‘van’ in them such as Frank-en-van, Vanny-de-Vito, Nelson Van Dela and Dick Van Dyke!

Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “The chance to have a real break from the normal day to day routine on a holiday that offers spontaneity and adventure is a key reason why campervans have grown so much in popularity; the freedom to jump in the van and take off at a moment’s notice is very compelling. Many campervanners are hugely proud of their vehicles and develop a real bond with them, even down to giving their van a name!”

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