You don't need a big motorhome or a large van to start sleeping and travelling on wheels: the microcamper (a small car, an MPV or a mini van, adapted) is the simplest, cheapest and most discreet way to get into camper life. It has its limits, of course, but also unique advantages. Here's what it is and who it suits.
What a microcamper is
A microcamper is a small vehicle (anything from a family car or an MPV to a compact van like a Kangoo, Caddy or Berlingo) simply adapted so you can sleep and travel: usually with a folding bed or a module in the back, some storage, and sometimes a small portable stove. Minimalism on wheels at its purest (see camper minimalism).
The advantages
- Cheap: the most affordable entry into camper life, both the vehicle and the conversion.
- Versatile and discreet: it's your everyday car; you use it daily, park it anywhere and enter cities without the restrictions of a larger vehicle (see the camper in the city).
- Easy to drive and cheap to maintain and fuel.
- Ideal for starting out or for getaways and light adventures (see microadventures).
The limits
- Very limited space: enough to sleep and little else; no proper indoor bathroom or kitchen.
- Little built-in autonomy: without proper systems, you rely more on facilities.
- Not for long stays or prolonged bad weather (little space to "live" indoors).
- Best for one or two people and active trips (out during the day, back to sleep at night).
Get more out of it with a little power
Even minimal, a microcamper gains enormously from a small electrical setup: an auxiliary battery (lithium, light and packed with usable energy) for lighting, charging devices and a small fridge gives surprising autonomy for its size (see calculator). And many simple conversions don't need complex certification, though it's worth checking (see certifying modifications).
In summary
The microcamper is the cheapest, most versatile and most discreet way to get into camper life, ideal for one or two people and active trips, in exchange for limited space and autonomy. The step to take today: if you want to get started without a big investment, or need a vehicle that also works for everyday life, a microcamper is perfect; add a small lithium battery to gain surprising autonomy. Combine it with microadventures.