I spent 24 hours in the ‘world’s worst campervan’ – inside was a horror movie… but just £500 made it so cozy
A VAN lifer has turned the “world’s worst campervan” from a horror show into a cozy home for just £500.
Will Robey, who runs a YouTube channel dedicated to travelling the UK in different vans, spent 24 hours in the motorhome, which had been left abandoned on the roadside before being restored.
In his video, he explained that the van had been found at a scrapper’s yard after being picked up from the spot where it had been left to rot.
The 1990 Ford Apache, named Doug, looked set to end its life there, before Neil, the current owner, saved it and tried to give it a new lease of life.
He only paid £1,000 for it, but some might have even considered that a high price given the state it was in.
The walls were caked in black mould and Neil himself described the interior as “like a horror movie”.
Indeed, a few problems still remained by the time Will took it for a test run.
For example, the drivers seat was rusted into place, meaning it couldn’t be moved backwards or forwards to accommodate drivers of different sizes.
Likewise, the steering was “heavy”, the engine noise was deafening and it had to be jump-started due to some battery issues – oh and the windscreen wipers were almost impossible to switch off.
But Will tried to see the positive side, hailing the “air con” system in the form of several holes in the frame of the cab.
However, it was inside where the real saving grace could be found.
The interior of the van had been given a complete makeover, with all the mod cons installed.
Gone was the disgusting mould, filthy loo and torn wallpaper, replaced by a “cozy” and “communal” living area and pristine bathroom area.
Neil had installed a kitchen area, including a gas hob, sink and microwave and even put in a central heating system
The windows had sturdy privacy blinds added, which could be retracted at will, while cupboards had been dotted tastefully around.
Elsewhere, the bedroom could be found at the rear of the kitchen, cleverly placed on top of a storage area, up a small stepladder.
Perhaps best of all, Neil put in a smart TV, which can run off mobile data, allowing Will to settle in and watch the football while enjoying a hot meal at the spacious dining table.
Will said: “Have a look at this.
“This, ladies and gentlemen, has been completely transformed.
“When they bought it, it looked absolutely nothing like this
Amazingly, the conversion only cost Neil around £500 from start to finish, leaving him with a budget-friendly motorhome he can “travel the world in”.
Van lifer's tricks for beating the cold while living on the road
From TikToker RVA Hiker Girl
- USB rechargeable hand warmer (£12.99 on Amazon)
- Thermal pyjamas
- Cozy socks
- Thermal insulation foil around windows and door
- Cold-weather sleeping bag
- Plenty of blankets
After settling in to bed following a lavish spread of fajitas and chocolate sponge pudding, Will added: “My god is it going to be cozy.
“I do have just enough legroom to reach out.
“What a cracking setup this is.”
Social media commenters certainly seemed to agree.
One wrote: “Got to love Doug.
“He’s just a lovable mess.”
Another added: “This motorhome is so cool and cozy.
“This beats those luxurious vans that you had driven.”