10 years with a 4×4 Campervan

Last week was a milestone in our van travels of 10 years with a 4×4 campervan.

Time really goes quickly, where has the past decade actually gone? It seems like only yesterday selling the old motorhome for a new van and what an adventure it’s been.

Thinking back over the years, has been a real reminder of such amazing travels. There’s been so much fun, laughter and learning, and luckily only a few tears along the way.

How it all began

Our change to a 4×4 camper began in 2012, when the seed was planted during a motorhome trip to Austria.

After parking above a scenic lake with binoculars in hand, we spotted a couple of 4×4 campervans in the distance.

Scanning the water through the lens, with mountains surrounding us, we noticed gravel tracks leading to the 4×4’s. There, on the waters edge were the campervans in the middle of idyllic scenery.

We knew, after 8 years of conventional motorhomes, we were ready for a different kind of van.

Choosing a 4×4 Campervan

It wasn’t for another 2 years until we finally put the Carthago Chic up for sale. Waving off the new owners a few weeks later came with a mix of sadness and excitement.

Eventually, by the end of 2014, we knew a Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 was the base van for us. Now all we had to do was choose one.

Dusseldorf and Stuttgart

We’d been to the Dusseldorf show a couple of times and remembered La Strada.

This relatively small company specialises in panel van conversions. Although they mainly build on Fiat Ducato’s, their Regent S 4×4 range is on the Mercedes Sprinter.

Back in 2014, there was one La Strada dealer in the UK, but they didn’t keep stock. This meant, we were going to have to return to Germany to view.

At the time, there were just 3 manufacturers building on the Sprinter 4×4. Luckily, all were exhibiting at the Stuttgart Messe in January 2015.

HRZ, CS and La Strada really were ahead of the game when it came to the overland campervan industry. Looking back, they were building 4×4 campervans long before other manufacturers, so hats off to them.

The Stuttgart Show

It wasn’t long before we were walking through the halls of the annual Stuttgart Show. It was a cold January in 2015, with snow on the ground but a warm welcome in the halls.

Back then, buying a CS or HRZ meant importing ourselves, which we weren’t really keen on doing. However, if it meant choosing the right camper, then it was a task we were willing to take on.

Although we liked the HRZ, importing was going to be difficult, as they were still applying for a Certificate of Conformity.

CS already had the COC, but we just weren’t sure on the interior of their overland camper, the CS Independent.

This left La Strada and we instantly knew this was our preferred choice.

Choosing La Strada

La Strada was the manufacturer for us. We liked the interior layout, combined with solid fitments, an abundance of cupboards, drawers and overall great build quality.

Our long list of “must have’s” may have been a little demanding, but La Strada ticked most items.

The La Strada team were really helpful too. Choosing interior fitments, colour schemes and extras came about over a couple of days at the show. Finally, the list was complete, but we couldn’t order direct with La Strada.

This was done with the UK dealer back home. After a 10 month wait from ordering, we took delivery of our brand new 4×4 campervan on a damp November morning in 2015.

Why we chose a Mercedes Sprinter 4×4

What we loved:

• The look and size of the Mercedes Sprinter.
• It’s 5.98m length, fits into most standard parking spaces.
• You can stand up inside without popping up a tent roof.
• The size and head room meant having a full shower room, toilet and wash basin.
• We wanted a traverse bed which fits thanks to side pods.
• The longevity aspect of the mechanical side was a real incentive.
• Research at the time was showing the Mercedes Sprinter to be robust, hopefully keeping going for a few hundred thousand miles.
• We were thinking of shipping, where every cm of size matters on cost.
• The solid, sturdy feel.
• Relative simple electronics – less was more for us.
• Left hand drive availability – we were to spend most travels abroad so this made more sense. Also for shipping, there was one country on our possible list at the time where you could only drive with a LHD.
• Weight – 3.5t – important to have greater travel flexibility after coming from a 4.2t motorhome.
• Ground clearance – essential having extra height comparing to our previous motorhomes.

Why we chose La Strada

What we loved:

• Solid interior fitments – no rattles or movement, solid hinges and openings
• Individual colour themes
• Very few others out there
• Every inch of space utilised – storage
• Off-Grid build – diesel heating/water, compressor fridge, solar etc
• Fabric insulation on ceiling, walls, back doors.
• Seitz windows
• Storage shelf above cab
• Leather seating options (wanted wipe over covering)
• Deep Drawers
• Froli Springs under mattress
• Windows in rear door
• Full shower room with fixed sink and SOG toilet
• Small company to deal with, personal feel

First trip away – 10 years with our 4×4 Campervan

Our first trip away came a few weeks after collection, when southern Spain came calling.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before an incident near the town of Aguilas, when someone took a screwdriver to 3 of our brand new tyres. With the tyres as flat as pancakes, it was one of those learning curves we could have done without. After all, you can prepare for one flat tyre, but three in one go is a different story.

All incidents cost money and this was several hundred pounds but the main thing was, we were safe and we hadn’t been robbed.

Every incident is a learning experience and as the years go on, there’s always something else to add to the book of invaluable knowledge. After 20 years motorhoming we’re still learning but most importantly we still love this way of travel more than ever.

Unexpected travels down under

Fate often changes life’s direction and our unexpected hand came after winning flights to Australia after entering a competition with Heathrow Airport.

We spent 6 months driving overland across Australia in a campervan. We should have shipped the Sprinter there, but at the time, despite getting quotes on everything, we chose not to. It was an adventure to change our lives for good though!

The following few years saw us with a campervan in New Zealand, spending British Winter in the sunshine.

Although these were amazing adventures, bringing so much life experience, it meant the La Strada was sitting at home for a while.

European travels – 10 years with a 4×4 Campervan

Spending so much time in Australia and New Zealand didn’t stop European travels in-between.

The European adventure van travel bug was truly set in stone 25 years ago when caravanning then motorhomes took us across the channel. Embracing van travels through Europe in the 4×4 camper has been a major part of continuing that journey.

Europe has so many incredible destinations and so much history that’s always enticing us back for more.

It’s also just so easy for campervan travels with so many countries being camper-friendly and many offering motorhome areas. Morocco is another destination we’ve been fortunate enough to venture across. Every country brings another memory, more unbelievable moments and the draw to find the next favourite place.

Once those wheels begin to turn, the freedom just becomes addictive.

Has anything gone wrong?

The Mercedes Sprinter has been pretty much faultless. In 10 years, we’ve only had two things go wrong, hopefully it stays that way!

Otherwise, anything else that’s happened has been done as a result of other people.

That’s two accidents and the tyre incident, but there’s been some close calls too. A couple of occasions when vehicles hit us really slowly – once on the front tyre, the other the rear spare tyre, both times missing the van!

As years goes on, little scratches become less of a problem and we’ve realised there’s no use getting upset when things do happen.

Was it worth buying a 4×4 camper?

After 10 years with a 4×4 campervan, there’s the question, was it worth buying?

Athough we love having the 4×4 camper, for most of the time, the 4×4 hasn’t really been necessary.

Nonetheless, we wouldn’t want to return to being without it either. The difference we think is having the extra ground clearance, this has been invaluable. While the amount of times we’ve used the 4×4 is few and far between.

The advantage is knowing of the ability in the vehicle to get to places, with the option of having the 4×4 if needed.

Overall, it’s been an amazing 10 years with plenty more adventures yet to come and no desire to swap just yet!