Van Life UK: When Everything Goes Wrong on a Motorhome Trip!

Taking Elvis (our motorhome) out is always an adventure, but this particular weekend was extra special.

We finally got to do something we’ve dreamed of for ages: a convoy trip with our friends!

But as with any van life adventure, things didn’t go exactly to plan.

The Convoy Assembles

Our friends Ben and FIFA decided to dip their toes into van life, renting a motorhome named Flora for their very first trip.

We were thrilled to guide them through it.

But the surprises didn’t stop there—our friends Tracy, Neil, and Faith also rented a van to join us!

Rookie Mistakes & Battery Blunders

We headed down to a beautiful, off-grid park-up near Chipping Campden. Almost immediately, the van life chaos began:

• The Water Disaster: Ben filled Flora’s fresh water tank but accidentally left the dump valve open underneath. All the fresh water poured straight back out onto the grass!
• The Power Outage: Tracy and Neil arrived with a completely dead leisure battery in their rental. We had to run an extension cable out the back of Elvis just so they could have lights and power for the night.

Exploring Chipping Campden & Toilet Etiquette

After surviving our off-grid night, we walked into the beautiful, historic town of Chipping Campden.

We explored the incredible 400-year-old market square managed by the National Trust, grabbed a fantastic breakfast, and learned about the town’s wealthy history in the wool trade.

Back at the campsite, it was time for the ultimate motorhome rite of passage: teaching the newbies how to empty the chemical toilet.

Let’s just say there was a lot of holding breath, nervous laughter, and avoiding looking down the drain!

A New Campsite and Olive Taste Tests

We packed up and moved to a new, fully equipped site near Stratford-upon-Avon.

After doing some van tours to compare Flora against Elvis’s layout, we hit the local pub for some chicken tikka wraps and crispy chili beef.

We ended the night gathered around our vans, creating a makeshift charcuterie board and convincing Ben and FIFA to try olives for the very first time

Despite the missing water, dead batteries, and toilet-emptying fears, our first group van trip was an absolute blast.

To watch the full first couple of days, check out the video on our YouTube channel below

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