Introduction of a Berlingo chauffeur

[EM58]

Hii there, 

Bought a Berlingo Multispace 2012  (November 2023) with the idea of creating a simple solo traveler for my hobby photography. Driving throughout Europe. Currently adding a thread about its transition. A great learning curve for myself, willing to share its mistakes and successes with other members of this forum. Hopefully readers will reply with tips & tricks. Looking forward to that. Oh yes,  I live in the Netherlands and retired. Warm regards to you all.

[Leonberger]

That sounds like an interesting project: I look forward to watching it develop, no doubt accompanied by decent photographs!
Enjoy both the car and the project. I have found that my Berlingo has become part of the family.

[IKUN]

That sound very attractive. But to be honest I think maybe you may need a short period of time getting used to drive a berlingo before you start a long distance trip across the Europe if you didn't drive a berlingo or other vans like that before. The steering of b9 berlingos is very light, only 2.5 turns lock to lock, not 3 turns for normal passenger vehicles. And it drives not as stable as most passenger vehicles and much more likely to wander between lines on the motorway. If there is strong wind or if you overtake a HGV too close, the wind will make it more unstable. Also if there is a whole or something like that on the road surface, it will influence the steering wheel directly. I've heard that not only b9 berlingos but also almost all the vans are like that. So you may need some time getting used to driving it after your project and I think start from short distance trips may mightly make sense if time permitted. I never tried any vans before and when the day I bought my berlingo I drive it back I feel very tired to drive it on the motorway. But only after several days I enjoy driving it very very much.

But I also think this project is very attractive. Camping in a berlingo is MUCH more comfortable and fun comparing to almost all the estates and suvs, you can get much better use of the space inside the van. Also after you get used to driving a berlingo you will also find it is hard to back to a passenger vehicle as the view would be much worse than your berlingo.

[EM58]

Thank you IKUN, for the advises and motivations. For more than 10 years I had a BMW 5 series, an unbelievable car. Actually the best I ever had! But the 'romantic feeling, the way I sit in the Berlingo (age 66), the glass (as a photographer), is GREAT. I am in nature, and during a trip it is vacation time. So why should I drive fast and in bad weather?
Coming to the minicamper (with imperial) I was too afraid to mount solar panels permanently on the imperial. That has to deal with some windy experiences I feel in the Berlingo, as you described them. I need time to get a better feeling of the car. The cruise control is AMAZING, I love it. Never had one before! So sitting high, with lots of class, around the 100 km/h I feel like 'going on holiday'..........all the time.
After the current complete motor revision, I am sure I feel more relaxed to get 7000 km extra.

Maybe I am still in the romantic mood, going ion a long trip soon. I will absolutely learn form adventuring with the Berlingo mini-camper. Surely will keep you updated in a thread about the next chapters. Thank you!