Why The VW Caddy Camper Is The Most Underrated Micro Camper Ever

Sprinter van life is very fashionable right now; there are so many insta-perfect images out there of people travelling to beautiful places in their beautiful camper conversion that it can be easy to lose sight of the real joy of van life travel. Travelling in a van is about seeing new places, experiencing new things and meeting amazing people along the way, not about how picture-perfect your tiny home is. We think small campers are often overlooked which is why we’re going to be looking at the VW Caddy Camper today, one of the most underrated micro campers out there. 

When people dream of living the van life people will often pass over a compact camper van such as the VW Caddy Camper, thinking it is too small to hold all of the van life essentials needed for an epic road trip. But tiny campers have so many benefits compared to a larger vehicle and can be just as good as, if not better than a giant RV. Today we’re here to change your mind and show you ten reasons why a smaller camper van can make the perfect tiny home to travel the world in. 

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10 Reasons Why The VW Caddy Camper Is Completely Underrated

1. Affordable To Buy and Run 

First up on our list of why the VW Caddy Camper is a fantastic vehicle is that it is a much more affordable camper van, compared to a larger RV. A VW Caddy is not much larger than some family cars, so the price you’ll be looking at paying isn’t going to be hugely more than a regular car. If you’re in the market for a cheap camper, but something that is still going to be reliable then a compact camper like the VW Caddy Camper could be something to look into. There are also a lot of second-hand options out there, which can save you a few pennies during your initial purpose. 

Often, people will overlook the price of running a campervan, when looking at van life costs, and see owning a camper as having a second car. It may sound obvious, but running a larger camper is going to guzzle much more fuel than your car. Unless you go for a VW Caddy Camper. The smaller your camper, the less fuel it will take to run as the engine is not carrying as much weight, which means you get to save more money for your road trips!  

2. Easy To Drive and Park 

A VW Caddy Camper is not much bigger than a large car, so driving these vehicles is an absolute dream. No country lane is too narrow, which is excellent news for reaching that beautiful park up spot. If you’re used to driving a car and are looking to buy your first campervan, then something that bit smaller could be a good option, as you will feel safe on the roads and won’t have to adjust your driving too much. 

One of the biggest bonuses of owning a VW Caddy Camper is that is it so easy to park! If you’re used to driving a large RV, then you will know that planning where you are going to park is at the forefront of every trip. This isn’t just so you can find the most picturesque spots but also so that you know you will be able to park your camper. However, in a VW Caddy Camper, no parking spot is too small, so you’re free to go wherever you please with even less planning and stress. This is especially true if you’re heading to a busy city or a tourist hot spot. In a large camper this would often mean timing your drive so that you can park before peak time, but in a VW Caddy Camper you only need one car space, and you’re good to go! 

3. Allows You To Get Creative With Your Conversion

Just because a VW Caddy Camper is smaller than your average self converted campervan conversions it doesn’t mean you can’t get inventive with your build. In fact, by having tight dimensional limits, you can stretch your creativity to come up with suitable solutions, that both functions well and looks good. If you enjoy the van conversion process then turning a VW Caddy into a Camper will be an exciting process for you, not only is it fun to do but it’s also quick meaning you will be seeing results in no time at all. 

There are so many amazing van life ideas out there in the form of vanlife blogs, video and images. If you plan on converting your VW Caddy Camper yourself then it is worth looking at some inspiration first; see what others have already done but stretch yourself and see how you can take the design that one step further. If you are planning on converting your own van then check out our how to build a campervan E-book!  

4. Encourages You To Get Outside 

Travel in a van isn’t about spending time inside your camper, although it’s great to have that home base and somewhere warm and cosy to eat and sleep, it’s the time outside that makes your trip memorable. Therefore, if you’re an outdoorsy person, a VW Camper Caddy would be perfect for your next road trip. A VW Caddy Camper is smaller than most campervans, meaning it encourages you to open the doors first thing and stretch your legs outside. 

This need to make the outdoors an extension of your living space when travelling in a VW Caddy Camper isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it allows you to connect with nature and your surroundings and explore the areas you are staying in. For me, there is nothing better than a day spent almost entirely outdoors and when you’re living in a van, especially something small like a VW Caddy Camper, this becomes the norm. 

5. Can Be Used As An Everyday Vehicle 

Often, campervan owners will also need to own a second car. After all, not many people could park a larger camper in their workplaces car park. However, with the VW Camper Caddy, this isn’t the case. As it is not much larger than a seven-seater car, you would not have any problems driving the VW Caddy Camper on your daily commute. 

Eliminating the need to own a second car is not only great news for your bank account as you only need to pay for fuel, tax and servicing on one vehicle but also for the environment. One fewer vehicle on the roads is a small step to a greener world. 

6. Dual Purpose 

As well as being able to drive your VW Caddy Camper anywhere you like, as it is small enough to do so, there are also kits (such as the NestBox shown above) that allow you to easily insert or remove the camper module into your van. This means that one day your vehicle could take you to the Scottish Highlands and spend a comfortable night camping in it and the next you could be using it to take all of your equipment to work. This is perfect if you want to be able to use your van as both a camper and a work van.

Kits such as the nest box also mean you don’t need to have fantastic carpentry or DIY skill to be able to convert your VW Caddy Camper into a comfortable tiny home. You can simply purchase the conversion kit, and you’re good to go on your adventure. There are also plenty of companies who will convert your small van into a camper using their standard kit. This may give you a more efficient result if you don’t know your way around a tool kit.

7. Perfect Stealth Camper 

If you’re looking for a campervan that is perfect for stealth camping, then the VW Camper Caddy is the vehicle for you. Stealth camping is when you sleep in your campervan overnight without attracting anyone’s attention. Having the ability to do this opens up a whole host of parking that would not be otherwise available to you. If no one knows you are in your van and it does not look like a camper from the outside, which most VW Caddy Campers don’t, then you can sleep almost anywhere. 

Stealth camping is particularly great if you enjoy exploring new towns and cities on a shoestring budget as finding free city parking for a campervan can often be tricky. In a VW Caddy Camper, any parking space is yours for the night as nobody will need to know you’re inside. If you’re looking to be super stealthy, then make your camper look like a work van from the outside to throw people off. 

8. It’s A Tardis

A VW Caddy Camper may be small, but this doesn’t mean they’re not mighty, you may be surprised by how much you can comfortably fit in such a tiny space. Despite their small dimensions, these compact campervans can make the perfect small homes to take with you whenever you travel. Inside, there is easily enough space to sleep two and, with good design, there is even enough space for a full kitchenette and even a place to shower. 

If you’re an adventurous person looking to bring your outdoor gear away with you, then you will be able to make space in a VW Caddy Camper. Usually, under the bed space is a hidden treasure with plenty of room for climbing gear or as an inflatable paddleboard. If in doubt, you can always turn the outside of your van into extra storage by adding a roof rack for kayaks, surfboards and bikes. 

9. Easy To Customise With A Pop-Top 

If you decide, once you already have a VW Caddy Camper that you’re looking for a little bit of extra space, then you can easily add a pop-top. Being able to easily and quickly add a pop-top to your camper is a real game-changer, especially when it means you can now stand up inside your van. 

Having this option to take your easily enlarge your camper is a high plus point for the VW Caddy Camper. It gives you flexibility for the interior space to change and grow with you and also to develop as your budget increases. Many people will build out their camper with the aim of expanding it with a pop-top at a later date. This is an excellent idea for those looking to travel in a van on a shoestring budget. 

10. Allows You To Travel 

We’ve saved the best thing about a VW Caddy Camper until last, and that is that it allows you to travel. Owning a campervan is all about reaching new destinations and exploring as many places as you can. Whether your travel is in the form of weekend getaways or a year-long trip it does not matter, the VW Caddy Camper will get you there. 

It is easy to get caught up in appearances and want the fanciest campervan out there, which is why we wanted to save this most basic point until last. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what camper you have as long as it allows you to get out there. With so many incredible points and the critical travel factor, the VW Caddy Camper is perfect for anyone wanting to explore. 

Final Thoughts…

We love the VW Caddy Camper and this it’s about time it got the recognition it deserved. This compact, affordable camper is ideal for van life travel and will allow you to drive, park and camp anywhere you would like. Let us know what you think of the VW Caddy Camper by joining the Van Clan over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

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