Vanlife Books

                  The Best Vanlife Books 

Since the pandemic, the #vanlife phenomenon has gone absolutely nuts! Prior to the phrase 'vanlife', most of us, well versed in all things leisure vehicle related, were simply referring to it as campervanlife, but as is the trend these days, words are being shortened and language is evolving. Why bother saying 'delicious' when 'delish' will suffice or definatley when 'deffo' will do, you get my drift?

So what is 'vanlife'? Well, there are generally two schools of thought, for those that live full-time in a motorhome or converted van, and are living the 'vanlife', and those who are campervan enthusiasts, and use the term as it encompasses, quite literally, the van in their life. Don't get too hung up about who exactly owns the right to define their particular lifestyle or avid interest as 'vanlife', because I think everyone involved in the leisure vehicle world has their right to use what terminology they wish to define what they are doing.

Remember back in the day when everyone referred to a camper-van in the UK as a 'Dormobile', when in fact Dormobile was a trade name, used by the Dormobile Company for their own product. It became a generic name for any camping vehicle in post WWII Britain, in much the same way we refer to a vacuum cleaner as a 'Hoover'. I remember people still using that 'Dormobile' terminology well into the 1980s, but the words 'Motor-Caravan' and 'Caravanette' were also being banded around. I came in for my own fair share of criticism in the early 90s, when I began to frequently use the word 'camper' to describe a motorised/converted leisure vehicle. I was told, in no uncertain terms that the word 'camper' referred to a person that camped, and NOT a vehicle! I stuck to my guns, and slowly but surely, as the 90s wore on I was beginning to see leisure vehicles described as 'campers' more and more, particularly within the press in the UK. Yes, as a motorhome publication writer I was able to push the 'naming' agenda, and eventually my work was done. Today the term 'camper' is generally used within the UK to describe both poptop campervans and larger motorhomes, and I'm quite pleased that I played a small part in finally bringing into use a short, catchy term, most 'deffo' (wink, wink).

Whilst some of the addresses in this excellent travel book are now out of date, 'The Independent Travellers Handbook', published in 1980 is worth tracking down at a used book store, Amazon or eBay.

For those entering into 'vanlife', be that as a permanent living home or simply buying a campervan in which to camp, it is easy to be bewildered by the vast array of books, blogs, social media groups and periodic publications which are now available. Some of the recent books published are nothing more than decent 'coffee table' editions, with a nice picturesque colour cover, and packed with campervan pictures taken in exotic places, Those pictures are designed in order to attract you into the book on offer, while offering little in the way of substance via any guides, useful information and tips. So tread wisely when parting with your hard earned cash! That is not to say that every recent book on this subject is not worth buying, as there are some really good travel guides out there, written by people who have talked the talk and walked the walk, so to speak. There are also some really good books now available about converting a van for full-time living or simply as a bespoke campervan, built to your own design. I have been collecting #vanlife related books for over 30 years, and have built up quite a collection, and I think one of the first books I spotted in a used bookstore some years ago was the one pictured above, The Independant Travellers Handbook', a small hardbook which contains some very informative tips, ideas and suggestions for the avid van explorer. Some of the info in there is now a little out of date, but it is still a book worth looking out for around old book shops.

The book pictured above is a 'must read' for those who love long distance travel. Written by Bill Miller, and published in 1986 with an ISBN number 0 9510898-0-3. This is one man's account of an epic journey by road, through Mexico (from England), in an old Austin Cotswold motorhome. This is a fascinating insight into Bill's epic journey in which he covered 7000 miles. It covers the highs and the lows of travelling as a single person in a far off land, and his story telling puts you right there with him. Packed with some insightful b&w photographs and great details about the towns and people he encountered on his way. As a rather sad footnote to this story, I learned about this book from a reader of my motorhome column in a British magazine, who sent me pictures of an old Austin Cotswold Motorhome he had discovered sitting in a scrapyard in Devon. It did turn out to be the same van in which Bill had had traveled through Mexico some years previous. Sadly, the van was crushed some time later, after many of the spare parts had been sold off. That van, as found is pictured below.

Another of my early books was actually written by my motorhome mentor, the late John Hunt. John was very influential in the pioneering days of the leisure industry in the UK in the late 1950s. An ex-navigator in the RAF, and later a school teacher, John started the first motorhome magazine to go on sale monthly in the UK in 1966. That magazine is still going today, and I can proudly say that I have been writing for said magazine for around 25 years now, after meeting John in the early 1990s. John's one and only book was titled 'The Practical Motorcaravanner', a really good hardback edition, published in 1983 by 'David & Charles'. The ISBN number for this book is, 0-7153-8428-7. 

The book 'Contents' are pictured here, and are pretty much self explanatory.

 My next book dates from 1968, and although written as a motorhome guide for the period, is now quite out of date when it comes to information and contact details. This book will appeal to the classic campervan enthusiasts, as it contains really great info about the models from the late 1960s, together with some lovely b&w pictures. If you are a fan of classic British motorhomes, then this is a must-have book for your library. Written by Tim Wilkinson, and published by 'David & Charles', 'Motor Caravanning' is the simple title. It does not appear to have an ISBN number, so if attempting to find a copy, you will have to rely on the author name, title, and the picture below of the front cover.

My next offering dates from 1976, 'Motor Caravanning-a complete guide', by Henry Myhill. The ISBN number for this is, 0 7063 5086 3. Henry was a very experienced gentleman when it came to motorhome travels, a friend of John Hunt and regular contributor to John's magazine. Henry did actually live full-time in his motorhome for around 15 years, and was a wealth of information about travel. Once again, this is written in guide form, with some info now outdated, but his advice on the practical side of using a motorhome remains relevant today. Another book from the midst of time well worth tracking down.

'Drive it!-The Complete Book of Motor-Caravanning' by Chris Park, published by 'Haynes' in 1979. A large format book in paperback. Yet another title written as a guide to motorhome use, and again some info is now a bit dated, but it remains useful for those beginning on the journey of motorhome/campervan ownership. This is another book, which because of its publication date, will appeal to those who love classic British campers and motorhomes. The ISBN number on this one is, 0 85429 237 3.

My Cool Campervan by Jane Field-Lewis and Chris Haddon. First published in 2011 by Pavillion Books. A well designed hardback book featuring an array of retro-style campervans, with some inspirational interior ideas for those considering a classic model, or those simply searching for ideas to create their own vanlife space. The ISBN number for this one is, 978-1862-05905-4.

Home Away From Home by Kate Trant, published by 'Black Dog Publishing' in 2005. This is a big one! 208 pages packed with motorhomes and campervans from around the world, with the main focus on UK and USA models. I do feature within this book, and supplied some of the material within it. Contains some wonderful photographs, plenty of ideas, together with lots of period advertising material. The ISBN for this edition is, 1904772-27-7.

Home on The Road by Roger B. White, published by The Smithsonian institute in 2000. This is a fabulous paperback which will be of special interest to North American readers/vanlifers. A well researched book dedicated to the development of the motorhome/RV in America. Contains plenty of history and some fabulous b&w photographs. The ISBN for this book is 1-5609892-4.

Vanlife-Inspiration for your Home on the Road, by Foster Huntington,  published by Sphere in 2017. This is a heft hardback edition, and probably one of the first books published using the 'vanlife' title. Heavy on photographic content if you are looking for ideas and inspiration. The ISBN is, 978-0-7515-707-4.

VW-Campingwagen 1951-1991 by Michael Steinke, published by Shrader Verlag in 2003. A small hardback book dedicated to the VW Westfalia, and chronicles the complete range from 1951 to 1991. Contains detailed drawings, illustrations and photographs. A must-have book for anyone with a passion for the Westy models. All text is in German, but the cut-away drawings and illustrations are pretty self explanatory. The ISBN is, 3-613-87223-4.

Gypsies and Gentlemen by Nerissa Wilson, published by Columbus Books London in 1986. One for the history buffs out there. A really nice hardback edition detailing the history of the touring wagon, from the horse-drawn variety to the later motorised 'homes on wheels'. Incredibly well researched, and packed full of fascinating historical facts. Contains some of the most wonderful b&w photographs from early gypsies, to pioneering motorhomes through to wartime caravans and motorhomes used by Sir Winston Churchill. The ISBN for this one is, 0-86287-297-9.

Now we come to my own three books, published in hardback by 'The Crowood Press' in the UK.

These are slightly larger than A4 in size, and all three books are the result of around 30+ years of collecting period vanlife material and research.

Classic Campervans-the inside story, by MartinWatts, published by Crowood Press in 2007. An historical account of British campervans and motorhome from the mid-1950s through to the late 1970s. Detailed chapters about some of the best-selling models produced in the UK during a 25 year period. An invaluable book for those with an interest in British campervans, or those seeking inspiration for their own vanlife build. The book contains a wealth of colour photographs, and some excellent cut-away drawings of motorhome interiors. Plenty of info on the British vans from the Bedford CA and CF, the Ford Thames and Transit, Rootes/Chrysler Commer, Austin-Morris 152/J2, Leyland Sherpa, Morris Marina and the Mini Wildgoose. ISBN is, 978 1 86126 947 8.

Bedford Campervans and Motorhomes, by Martin Watts, published by the Crowood Press in 2010. Again, slightly larger than A4 in size, this is a hardback edition which chronicles the most popualr British campervans and motorhomes built using the Bedford vans, from the early Bedford CA, to the Bedford CF, the smaller HA, the Midi and the Vivaro and Movano.

Chapter about the famous UK models by Dormobile, Auto-Sleeper, Ci/Autohomes, Calthorpe, Jennings, Danbury,  Canterbury and many more. Once again laced with historical info, colourful photographs, period brochures and those popular cut-away drawings of interiors.

The ISBN for this one is, 978-1-84797-157-9.

Classic Dormobile Camper Vans by Martin Watts, published by the Crowood Press in 2009. As you might expect from the title, this book is a dedicated history of the Martin Walter Ltd (Dormobile) company, and all the models they produced from the 1950s through to the late 1980s.

Every Dormobile model is covered, from the famous poptop Bedford CA in the mid-50s, through to the Toyota Hi-Ace Dormobile of the 80s. Dormobile produced some of the most iconic British campervans for four decades, until their demise in the early 1990s. Their  Bedford CA Dormobile, with its candy-stripe canvas lifting roof, became a familiar sight in the UK throughout the 50s and 60s.

The book contains company history, model names, advertising material, many photographs and diagrams, plus a chapter on every Dormobile model.

The ISBN for the Dormobile title is, 978-84797-083-1