Fantastic. I have been doing this across the US for the past year. It has been great. So much better than tent camping... I love all the creature comforts, at my age :-) I plan to be back in SE Asia next year, I love camping, though in Thailand accommodations are so cheap, it might be more financially viable to just get a hotel room with aircon. A tin box in Thailand's heat would be hard, without serious AC. IMO
All the conversions were top notch, as with most countries for some reason governments just don't want you living mobile.... Funny thet. The Great bar about these vans is that you can live out of them rather than live in them and wherever you park it that's your home 👍
I mentioned getting a motorhome in Thailand to my better half (Thai Mrs). She poo pooed the idea saying it’s so cheap to just stay over in a hotel. Looks good but the practical side for me would be going for the hotel (soz) 😎🙏🙏🙏. Great vlog as usual Les Cheers
My wife said the same, no tents no vans but cheap hotel rooms no problem. We go on our Travels in a big way in 2026 when I get my State Pension, this is my Travel money only. Car hotel to everywhere in Thailand.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream from what I’ve seen on your blogs Les,,, which are lots,,, I thought your pension would be in 27? Age goes up to 67 in April 26. 😎🙏🙏
I’m 6 feet too and m looking for a van to convert into camper van. I came across ya channel. It’s awesome! Thailand is so different from Europe. High roof vans there are inexpensive with many options such as Ford transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Fiat Ducato etc..
As we were leaving Bangkok we seen some Brand New Caravans but we did not have time to stop and look. I agree the build of professional campervans are looking good.
Lol, non of them any good for me far too small but Siam the quality is great. Have a great time in your van Dave. Been with Trace for the last 4 days he is finding his feet now. 👌
@RetiredandLivingthedream The would work mate, just need a little adjustment and either the passenger or drivers seat forward. Let Trace know that the Grove was chocha, due to the gare have height barriers put up. They are living there now, so only a matter of time for barriers to go in the Grove. Mine gets where water wouldn't get though😉
ahhh the good life...lol...I'd probably opt for buying a used refrigerated panel truck and deck it out ...full standing room and freezing temperatures year round!...lol...for half the price..
@@RetiredandLivingthedream yeah for some for sure...I just searched up on marketplace and chatted with a guy selling a nice looking 2016 Nissan Navarra Panel box truck for 164k...said the box can stay between 14-16c degrees...nice!
Looks great and insulation is not a big deal there as it would be in western countries. I guess in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai you could have some freezing nights.
People live full time in vans back home. If that was your thing you could lease a nice bit of land very cheap and use it as a base. Lot's of possibilities besides camping,
Most are about 11 to 15 years old but they check the engines and give a 3 month warranty on the engine. The milage can be high or low, the cost is higher with less milage. As with any vehicles.
Back in my other life I've owned a couple different RV styles including a raised roof van. I noticed one toilet had a water flush tank attached. They must have a black and a grey water tank under. I've never noticed any RV dumping stations or facilities in my travels around LOS. Did they offer up any info on the subject? You would need a robust power supply to run the ac at night for sleeping.
Yep Black water tank which empty into a Bucket. Put a cassette toilet in and have an outside access then you pay extra Tax, have access to the cassette inside the van no tax. They have no worries dumping it in a ditch or a toilet stn at the Petrol stn.
Who's buying them ? Is it mostly westerners or is it Thais or is it a mix, interested to know as i had to explain motorhomes and caravans to my Mrs first time she visited UK , ended up taking her to look at them at a big dealers a couple of miles away as she wasnt getting the concept that well.
I imagine being in a campervan in Thailand, would be like being in a greenhouse with a wood burner inside! 😂 With regards to height, a lot of van lifers convert high top vans, the best is a Luton van, as you can use the space over the cab as a double bed.
The milage is high on some but others are normal eg Hotel vans are normal milage but all engines are checked over and have a 3 month warranty. Both Petrol and Diesel engines available, you can take your own van or let them obtain the van for you. Hope this helps.
600,000 is 1200/600 nights in a Hotel with Breakfast, even at 100 nights per year thats 12-6 years worth of exploring. just saying w.0 taliking about tax/ins/petrol over and above an averge 4 door car. GREAT IDEA, but I have just killed my own DREAM.
Hi and thanks for the input, we will be traveling around Thailand on an extended trip once I get my State pension, we will be in the car and around 1,200 baht per night but maybe 1 month rentals to get the price down, State Pension is my travel funding. I like the van Idea but like the hotel rooms better. Thanks for watching.
Includes the Van, The basic is basic most people spend around the 900,000 THB for a much improved van. Have a look at his website for more details and specs. www.siamcampervan.com/
I agree but then Thailand offers more outside space because of the weather, most people here spend little time inside the van. Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
What a retirement that would be travelling around Thailand in a camper for a fraction of the cost to the u.k.also u could have a hotel for a few weeks to save u from driving
Out of curiosity, who is purchasing these and driving demand; what's the demographics if you have a sense of that?t It looks like they are good craftsman and have a well run shop with the latest laser cutting equipment.
The wealthy Thai's are buying these vans. Novelty. Caravan living is on the up also, a number of holiday resorts with Caravans are more expensive than hotel rooms. Thanks for watching.
Fantastic. I have been doing this across the US for the past year. It has been great. So much better than tent camping... I love all the creature comforts, at my age :-) I plan to be back in SE Asia next year, I love camping, though in Thailand accommodations are so cheap, it might be more financially viable to just get a hotel room with aircon. A tin box in Thailand's heat would be hard, without serious AC. IMO
That is my opinion also, we will be doing this once my State pension gets here in 2026 drive by car and stay a while in hotel rooms.
All the conversions were top notch, as with most countries for some reason governments just don't want you living mobile.... Funny thet. The Great bar about these vans is that you can live out of them rather than live in them and wherever you park it that's your home 👍
I like the van life, I lived in my Caravan for a time and loved it. Far better than living in a house.
I mentioned getting a motorhome in Thailand to my better half (Thai Mrs). She poo pooed the idea saying it’s so cheap to just stay over in a hotel. Looks good but the practical side for me would be going for the hotel (soz) 😎🙏🙏🙏. Great vlog as usual Les Cheers
My wife said the same, no tents no vans but cheap hotel rooms no problem. We go on our Travels in a big way in 2026 when I get my State Pension, this is my Travel money only. Car hotel to everywhere in Thailand.
@ same m8. Roll on 23rd Feb 26 lol. Might wait for the pension rise in April as it will be my last one
Can’t wait lol Best of luck to you 😎🙏🙏
@@RetiredandLivingthedream from what I’ve seen on your blogs Les,,, which are lots,,, I thought your pension would be in 27? Age goes up to 67 in April 26. 😎🙏🙏
Maybe a good idea for some , but after 46 years as a long distance truck driver it’s a no from me 😂
The guy I went with to have a look at these was a Lorry driver. Thanks for watching.🙏
😂😂 I did wonder
Brilliant video Les... Love these campervans 💖💖👍👍
If I had the money I would have one for sure, I like the van life people.
I’m 6 feet too and m looking for a van to convert into camper van. I came across ya channel. It’s awesome! Thailand is so different from Europe. High roof vans there are inexpensive with many options such as Ford transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Fiat Ducato etc..
Thanks for watching and best of luck with your van search. Enjoy.
Great video. I really like the hilux, ranger etc add on campers carryboy and other companies do there.
Some great caravan companies in Thailand too.
As we were leaving Bangkok we seen some Brand New Caravans but we did not have time to stop and look. I agree the build of professional campervans are looking good.
Super cool Aircon as well im guessing they have big battery/Inverter, Thanks Les.
Yep around 400 to 500 AH battery. Thanks for watching.
Great vlog , would be a absolute dream to travel around Thailand in one of these ,very interesting 👍👍👍
Thanks for the comment, Thailand is a great place to road trip.
Gutted Les, not a berlingo in site. Great video, though mate.
Lol, non of them any good for me far too small but Siam the quality is great. Have a great time in your van Dave. Been with Trace for the last 4 days he is finding his feet now. 👌
@RetiredandLivingthedream The would work mate, just need a little adjustment and either the passenger or drivers seat forward. Let Trace know that the Grove was chocha, due to the gare have height barriers put up. They are living there now, so only a matter of time for barriers to go in the Grove. Mine gets where water wouldn't get though😉
ahhh the good life...lol...I'd probably opt for buying a used refrigerated panel truck and deck it out ...full standing room and freezing temperatures year round!...lol...for half the price..
Any commercial vehicles here aren't cheap.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream yeah for some for sure...I just searched up on marketplace and chatted with a guy selling a nice looking 2016 Nissan Navarra Panel box truck for 164k...said the box can stay between 14-16c degrees...nice!
Looks great and insulation is not a big deal there as it would be in western countries. I guess in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai you could have some freezing nights.
Thanks for taking time to comment, The cost to build is also much much cheaper than in the UK and USA.
People live full time in vans back home. If that was your thing you could lease a nice bit of land very cheap and use it as a base. Lot's of possibilities besides camping,
Yep this is possible even build a knock down house very cheap and travel.
So are they old mini van taxis there converting. With many kms
Most are about 11 to 15 years old but they check the engines and give a 3 month warranty on the engine. The milage can be high or low, the cost is higher with less milage. As with any vehicles.
Back in my other life I've owned a couple different RV styles including a raised roof van. I noticed one toilet had a water flush tank attached. They must have a black and a grey water tank under.
I've never noticed any RV dumping stations or facilities in my travels around LOS. Did they offer up any info on the subject? You would need a robust power supply to run the ac at night for sleeping.
Yep Black water tank which empty into a Bucket. Put a cassette toilet in and have an outside access then you pay extra Tax, have access to the cassette inside the van no tax. They have no worries dumping it in a ditch or a toilet stn at the Petrol stn.
Who's buying them ? Is it mostly westerners or is it Thais or is it a mix, interested to know as i had to explain motorhomes and caravans to my Mrs first time she visited UK , ended up taking her to look at them at a big dealers a couple of miles away as she wasnt getting the concept that well.
The Thai's are buying them as it is a Novelty doing this. The same as spending nights in caravans which are more expensive than hotel rooms.
How does aircon work?
Works just like a fridge but power hungry.
I imagine being in a campervan in Thailand, would be like being in a greenhouse with a wood burner inside! 😂 With regards to height, a lot of van lifers convert high top vans, the best is a Luton van, as you can use the space over the cab as a double bed.
What’s the mileage on the vans, are they petrol, diesel or gas ?
The milage is high on some but others are normal eg Hotel vans are normal milage but all engines are checked over and have a 3 month warranty. Both Petrol and Diesel engines available, you can take your own van or let them obtain the van for you.
Hope this helps.
600,000 is 1200/600 nights in a Hotel with Breakfast, even at 100 nights per year thats 12-6 years worth of exploring. just saying w.0 taliking about tax/ins/petrol over and above an averge 4 door car. GREAT IDEA, but I have just killed my own DREAM.
Hi and thanks for the input, we will be traveling around Thailand on an extended trip once I get my State pension, we will be in the car and around 1,200 baht per night but maybe 1 month rentals to get the price down, State Pension is my travel funding.
I like the van Idea but like the hotel rooms better. Thanks for watching.
Does this price include the van or just the build out?
Includes the Van, The basic is basic most people spend around the 900,000 THB for a much improved van. Have a look at his website for more details and specs.
www.siamcampervan.com/
Are you doing a live stream today?
Yes doing a Livestream Thai time 4pm UK Time 9am
Design styles are VERY different than western standards. No room to move around
I agree but then Thailand offers more outside space because of the weather, most people here spend little time inside the van. Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
@@RetiredandLivingthedream looking forward to ur next livestream👍🏼
It’s amazing all the stuff they can fit inside the van, thanks Les 👍🏻
Since 2013 I've done found life in the UK full-time. You do need a high top cos you're back
For me not stooping would be important, Thailand does offer better outside living and the weather is much better. Thanks for watching.
In Thailand you better off having an outside shower save the space
I seen that option also and it makes sense, thanks for taking time to comment.
What a retirement that would be travelling around Thailand in a camper for a fraction of the cost to the u.k.also u could have a hotel for a few weeks to save u from driving
Out of curiosity, who is purchasing these and driving demand; what's the demographics if you have a sense of that?t It looks like they are good craftsman and have a well run shop with the latest laser cutting equipment.
The wealthy Thai's are buying these vans. Novelty. Caravan living is on the up also, a number of holiday resorts with Caravans are more expensive than hotel rooms. Thanks for watching.