New to this- can we have some opinions?

Kitchen position doesn't matter as the manufacturer sets up the axle position etc to balance the load.

If I was buying another van I'd go for the Club Lounge style where the front end of the van has seating in a U shape with table in the middle.

Shower and toilet are great if you want to do a bit of free camping. We now find we use the toilet in the van at night even in parks as we are getting lazy in our old age??

Don't like Porta potti as you need to store em somewhere and empty them more often as you don't want the contents sloshing around whilst travelling.

I am sure the van manufacturer knows how to balance the van with the locating, however I would definitely advise having the kitchen area away from the front door and out of the way of people going in and out. This is especially true if you have kids.

If you have to get passed the chef when he/she is cooking all the time it disrupts everything and is possibly dangerous.

If the kitchen is out of the way of the door, the non cook can easily go out of the van to get things done then pop inside to chat.

You have started the right way anyway :-)

Research research and more research !!!

We spent over a year researching our van and are very pleased we did.

(A) if you can go to a caravanning expo thing somewhere and look at lots of different types and styles, talk to people looking at vans as well as the guys selling them.

(b) go and stay in a few caravan parks and talk to some caravaners most are more than happy to share their knowledge and experiences.

then go and do some more research !

There is no perfect van for everyone you just need to find the right van for you.

You have started the right way anyway :-)

Research research and more research !!!

We spent over a year researching our van and are very pleased we did.

(A) if you can go to a caravanning expo thing somewhere and look at lots of different types and styles, talk to people looking at vans as well as the guys selling them.

(b) go and stay in a few caravan parks and talk to some caravaners most are more than happy to share their knowledge and experiences.

(c) hang out here and read the discussions and ask questions

then go and do some more research !

There is no perfect van for everyone you just need to find the right van for you.

We like to have the door opposite the stove, if you have a accidental fire on the stove it's quicker to get it out of the van.

Cheers

Hi Val and Chris

If you can, try before you buy. One way to do this if you cannot hire is to purchase cheap, and resell after trying it for a few trips. When you get out to the places you like to visit, talk to others about the pros and cons of their rigs. Most are happy to show you theirs, and talk more freely in person if there were any problems than putting it on the internet. We spent years looking (while tenting or what ever). You will also want so many toys that modern vans have these days, but most are wants not needs.

I love my front kitchen by the door, which means i can get out easily with hot liquids, and can create a breezeway if the weather is hot. The fridge is set centrally (weight).

Small all in one bathroom has proved invaluable and greatly increased the places we can stop overnight.

Our van is no frills, but takes us into all sorts of wonderful places.

Motherhen

We have a full ensuite and wouldnt have it any other way

Friends have an all in one and hate it.

G`day Val & Chris,
Look at vans everywhere, Caravan Shows, Caravan Sales yards, Caravan Parks even caravans parked in the street.
If you have decided to travel mainly the black top then most vans can handle it, but if you are considering that one day you might wander off down a dirt track or maybe an outback adventure then the underneath build of the van is more important than any feature of the internal layout.
When I was at the stage of researching that you now are, the first thing I would do when looking over a van was to lay down and look underneath.
At the Bendigo Caravan Show I was doing just that and when I stood up the salesman asked me what I was looking at, I said that I was checking under there because if under there is no good then it`s a waste of time looking at the rest.
Take your time, it`s pretty hard to get it right first go, I am happy with my second van, my mate has just ordered his third new van in 5 years.

Enjoy,

regards,

Scrubby