Try Before You Buy a Campervan
Thinking about buying a campervan? Try one before you commit.
Buying a campervan is a big investment. Before spending thousands on your own van, why not hire one and experience campervan life for yourself?
At DUB Camper Hire, our ‘Try Before You Buy’ scheme gives you the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a fully equipped VW campervan and discover what it’s really like to travel, camp and live in a campervan.
Whether you’re considering your first campervan or deciding which type of van is right for you, a rental gives you the chance to experience the lifestyle without the commitment of ownership.
Find out if campervan life is really for you
It’s easy to fall in love with the idea of owning a campervan. But the reality can be very different from what you expect.
Hiring a campervan lets you experience the highs, the practicalities and even the little quirks of campervan ownership before making a major financial commitment.
You can discover:
- How comfortable you find sleeping in a campervan
- Whether you have enough space for your family or travel companions
- How easy the van is to drive and park
- What it’s like to cook and live in a compact space
- How much storage you actually need
- Whether you prefer an automatic or manual van
- How well a campervan fits your lifestyle and travel plans
- What equipment and features are important to you
- Whether you’ll enjoy spending weekends and holidays on campsites
- How practical a campervan is for the type of adventures you have in mind
A few days away in a campervan can tell you more than hours of browsing adverts.
Why hire before you buy?
🚐 Experience the driving experience
A campervan isn’t quite like driving an ordinary car. Even a compact VW campervan has a different driving position, size and handling.
Hiring one allows you to spend proper time behind the wheel rather than taking a short test drive. You’ll quickly discover how comfortable you are driving on motorways, country lanes, in towns and when parking.
🛏️ Test the sleeping arrangements
One of the biggest considerations when buying a campervan is sleeping space.
Is the bed comfortable? Is there enough room? Do you need a pop-top? Would you prefer a fixed bed?
Spending several nights in a campervan will give you a much better idea of what works for you than simply looking at a showroom model.
🍳 Try everyday campervan life
Campervanning is all about making the most of a smaller space.
Try preparing meals, storing your belongings, getting ready in the morning and relaxing inside the van when the weather isn’t perfect.
You’ll soon discover which features you really value — and which ones you could live without.
👨👩👧 Find the right size for your adventures
The perfect campervan depends on how you plan to use it.
Are you travelling as a couple? Taking the family? Bringing the dog? Planning weekends away or longer touring holidays?
Hiring first lets you understand how much space you really need before choosing your own van.
🐕 See how your dog gets on
If you’re planning to take your four-legged friend on your adventures, hiring a pet-friendly campervan gives you the opportunity to see how well your dog adapts to travelling and sleeping in a van.
You can also work out how much space you’ll need for your dog, their bed, food and all their other essentials.
🏕️ Experience different types of camping
A campervan can give you the freedom to explore everything from traditional campsites to beautiful touring locations.
Hiring lets you experience the camping lifestyle without immediately committing to ownership.
You may discover that you love spontaneous weekends away — or that you prefer longer, more organised trips. Either way, you’ll learn something valuable before buying.
Make a more confident buying decision
A campervan can be a significant investment, so getting your decision right matters.
Rather than buying a van and discovering six months later that it’s too small, doesn’t have the right layout or simply isn’t getting used as much as you expected, try one first.
A rental gives you the opportunity to create your own checklist of must-have features based on real experience.
You might discover that you need:
- An automatic gearbox
- A pop-top roof
- More sleeping space
- Additional storage
- A larger kitchen
- More living space
- Space for children
- Space for your dog
- A particular layout or specification
That’s valuable information to have when you’re ready to start shopping for your own campervan.
Calculate the real cost of ownership
It’s also worth considering how often you’ll actually use your campervan.
Ownership doesn’t stop at the purchase price. There are ongoing costs such as:
Insurance • Servicing • MOT • Road tax • Tyres • Repairs • Storage • Cleaning • Maintenance • Depreciation
If you only plan to use your campervan for a handful of weekends and a couple of holidays each year, you may find that hiring provides a much more flexible way to enjoy campervan adventures.
With rental, you simply hire when you want to travel — without the responsibility of looking after a vehicle all year round.
Try the campervan lifestyle before buying one
At DUB Camper Hire, we specialise in luxury VW campervan hire and have over 10 years of campervan and motorhome experience.
Our automatic VW campervans are fully prepared for your adventure, with insurance and 24-hour AA Roadside Breakdown Assistance included as standard.
Based between Knutsford and Macclesfield in Cheshire, we’re ideally located for exploring the Peak District, North Wales, the Lake District and destinations across the UK.
And because we’re campervan enthusiasts ourselves, we’re happy to share our experience and help you get the most from your trip.
Your next campervan could be closer than you think
Don’t spend thousands on a campervan only to discover that it’s not quite right for you.
Hire one. Drive it. Sleep in it. Cook in it. Explore in it.
Then decide whether campervan ownership is right for you.
Ready to try before you buy?
Book a VW campervan with DUB Camper Hire and experience campervan life for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Try Before You Buy scheme suitable for first-time campervan buyers?
Absolutely. In fact, that’s exactly who it’s designed for. Hiring a campervan gives you the opportunity to understand what you like and don’t like before making a significant investment.
How long should I hire a campervan for before buying?
We recommend hiring for at least a long weekend, although a week-long trip will give you an even better understanding of campervan life. You’ll experience more driving, different campsites and several nights sleeping in the van.
Can I take the campervan away for a proper holiday?
Yes. We encourage you to use your rental as a genuine holiday. The more you use the campervan as you would your own, the more you’ll learn about what you need from a future purchase.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Our campervans are pet-friendly, making them ideal for testing whether campervan adventures work for both you and your four-legged companion.
What if I decide campervan ownership isn’t for me?
That’s one of the biggest benefits of hiring first. You can enjoy the freedom and adventure of campervanning without being tied to the financial commitment and responsibilities of owning a campervan.
Try before you buy with DUB Camper Hire
Don’t just imagine campervan life — experience it.
Hire a VW campervan, take it on an adventure and find out whether campervan ownership is the right choice for you.
