Wild River Campers

Wild River Campers We create bespoke campervan conversions, campervan hire experiences and upgrades designed for adventure, comfort and freedom.

Based in Derbyshire, we build and hire campervans for road trips, weekends away and memory-making journeys. We are a family run business based in the East Midlands between Derby and Nottingham, that specialises in custom built camper van conversions. Our aim is to help our customers explore the wide open road whether its taking in the beautiful countryside, visiting a summer festival, or a trip t

o the beach to catch the surf. With a bespoke purpose built campervan all this is possible, we are here to help you create those van-life memories and adventures that will last a lifetime.

Fixed bed or make-up bed? This could start an argument…A fixed bed in a campervan is absolute luxury.No building it ever...
12/06/2026

Fixed bed or make-up bed? This could start an argument…

A fixed bed in a campervan is absolute luxury.

No building it every night.
No moving cushions around.
No, trying to remember where that one awkward infill piece lives.
Just climb in, get cosy, and wake up ready for the next adventure.

But… and it’s a big but… it does take up space.

That space could be extra seating, more storage, a bigger kitchen area, or just a bit more room to move around when the weather turns and everyone ends up inside with snacks, wet coats, and a dog that suddenly seems twice the size.

Then there’s the make-up bed.

More living space in the day.
A layout that feels open and flexible.
Great for families, social trips, and anyone who wants their van to feel less like a bedroom on wheels.

But every night? You’ve got to build it.
And every morning? You’ve got to put it away again.

So, which side are you on?

Are you team fixed bed and ready to flop, or team make-up bed and more living space?

At Wild River Campers, we design campervans around how you actually travel — whether that’s weekend escapes, family holidays, wild swimming trips, or full-on road adventures.

Because the best layout isn’t the trendiest one.
It’s the one that works for your life.

Fixed bed or make-up bed — what would you choose?

Hire or buy a campervan?It’s one of the biggest questions when you start dreaming about campervan life.Do you hire one f...
11/06/2026

Hire or buy a campervan?

It’s one of the biggest questions when you start dreaming about campervan life.

Do you hire one first and test the waters?
Or do you take the leap and invest in your own?

The truth is, there’s no right or wrong answer. It depends on your lifestyle, your budget, and how often you want to be out making memories.

Hiring a campervan is perfect if you want adventure without ownership.

You can pack a bag, collect the keys, and head off for a weekend, a week, or a spontaneous escape without worrying about storage, maintenance, insurance, or the cost of buying a van.

It’s a great way to try campervan life, see what layout works for you, and find out what you really need before making a big decision.

Buying a campervan is perfect if you know this lifestyle is for you.

If you want the freedom to go whenever you like, keep everything packed and ready, and create a van designed around your life, your hobbies, and your adventures, then owning your own campervan can be amazing.

And that’s where a bespoke conversion comes in.

At Wild River Campers, we design and build campervans around real people and real adventures. Whether that means space for paddleboards, room for the dog, a proper toilet, off-grid power, extra storage, or a cosy place to make a brew after a long walk.

So whether you’re ready to hire for your next adventure or you’re dreaming of building your own van, we can help.

Wild River Campers — where your adventure begins.

The finishing touches make all the difference…When it comes to campervan conversions, it’s not just about the layout, th...
10/06/2026

The finishing touches make all the difference…

When it comes to campervan conversions, it’s not just about the layout, the woodwork, or where the kettle lives — although we are very serious about a good kettle spot.

It’s the comfort.
The fabrics.
The seat cushions you sink into after a day at the beach.
The bed cushions that turn a clever layout into a proper, cosy night’s sleep.

That’s why we use **Cube Upholstery** for our seat and bed cushions.

They’ve recently done a brilliant job on our T5 seats, and they’ve also created the cushions for one of our customers’ U-shaped bed seating areas — and honestly, what a difference it makes.

Campervan cushions have to work hard. They need to look good, feel comfortable, fit properly, and stand up to real-life adventures — muddy paws, sandy feet, family weekends away, cups of tea, snack crumbs, and everything in between.

A well-made cushion set can completely transform the feel of a van, turning it from a build into a home-from-home.

At Wild River Campers, we love working with skilled businesses who care about the details as much as we do. Because every part of your van matters — from the handcrafted woodwork to the seat you curl up on after a day exploring.

Big thanks to Cube Upholstery for helping us add that final layer of comfort, quality, and style.

Campervan comfort, properly done.

Wild River Campers — where your adventure begins.

Exciting parcel day at Wild River Campers!Well… two very large parcels, actually.We’ve finally gone for it and ordered o...
09/06/2026

Exciting parcel day at Wild River Campers!

Well… two very large parcels, actually.

We’ve finally gone for it and ordered our new foldable electric bikes. These are something we’ve been looking at for a while, and after plenty of research, we found a pair that fit both our budget and what we wanted them for.

Our must-haves were:

Folding, so they’re campervan-friendly
Electric, because hills are not always our friend
Gears, for a bit more flexibility
Fat tyres, for off-road tracks, beach days and exploring a little further
Good value for money, because adventures still need a budget

And don’t worry, we haven’t left Ella out. She’s already got a bike, and at 13, we decided her legs definitely don’t need any electric assistance just yet.

So the next job is fitting a bike rack to the back of the van, loading everyone up, and seeing where the tracks, trails and questionable ideas take us.

Watch this space for some shenanigans.

Ella can pedal. We’ll be over here pretending the electric assist is purely for research purposes.

**The Campervan Lesson Nobody Wants to Learn the Hard Way**One thing Wilbur has taught us?Never underestimate the import...
08/06/2026

**The Campervan Lesson Nobody Wants to Learn the Hard Way**

One thing Wilbur has taught us?

Never underestimate the importance of the right breakdown cover.

When you’re travelling in a campervan — especially a larger one like our extra-long-wheelbase Wilbur — not all breakdown policies are created equal.

It’s worth checking the details before you set off:

Does your cover include campervans?
Are there size or weight limits?
Would they recover you from a motorway?
Do you have onward travel?
Are you covered abroad?
Can they handle a larger van if recovery is needed?

We’re with the AA, and I can honestly only sing their praises. Every time Wilbur has broken down, they’ve been brilliant — getting us safely off the motorway, helping take the stress out of the situation, and making sure we weren’t left stranded.

Because Wilbur is such a big van, not every recovery option would work for him, so having the right cover gives real peace of mind.

We’ve seen this first-hand with friends who have broken down in their campervan, only to find out when they rang their breakdown provider that their vehicle wasn’t covered for recovery due to its size.

And sadly, that is not the kind of thing you want to discover at the side of the road.

It’s easy to assume that standard breakdown cover will be enough, especially if you’ve used it for cars before, but campervans can be a different story. Height, length, weight, modifications, and European travel can all affect whether you’re properly covered.

It’s not the glamorous side of campervan life, but it is one of the most important.

Adventure is wonderful — but preparation is what keeps it enjoyable.

Before your next trip, check your policy carefully. Your future self, your family, and your campervan will thank you.

From empty van to sun-seeking explorer van… Meet Lola.Lola is one of those vans that has grown with her owners. She firs...
05/06/2026

From empty van to sun-seeking explorer van… Meet Lola.

Lola is one of those vans that has grown with her owners. She first came to us for a simple, clever set-up with a folding bed — practical, flexible, and ready for weekend escapes.

But the more Lola was used, the more her owners discovered exactly how they wanted to travel.

So, she came back.

And then she came back again.

Over time, Lola has evolved into a proper adventure-ready camper, built around comfort, off-grid freedom, and real-life travel.

She now has a fixed bed for easier nights on the road, upgraded fridge-freezer space for longer off-grid trips, plenty of storage tucked neatly underneath, and even a built-in dog cage — because every explorer needs their four-legged co-pilot looked after too.

One of our favourite things about Lola is the light. With all those windows, she has the most incredible panoramic views, whether she’s parked up by the sea, tucked away in the countryside, or rolling off a ferry ready for another European adventure.

And her latest upgrade?

Wi-Fi — because even when you’re chasing the sun, it’s handy to stay connected.

That’s what we love about bespoke campervan conversions. They don’t have to be “finished” on day one. They can grow with you, change with your lifestyle, and become more perfectly yours with every journey.

Lola started as an empty van.

Now she’s a comfortable, capable, dog-friendly explorer van built for freedom on the road.

Where would you take her first?

Ready to create a campervan that grows with your adventures?
Get in touch with Wild River Campers and let’s start planning your build.

Now it’s time to introduce me…I’m Marie — Matt’s better half, the one behind the posts, the website, the videos, and qui...
04/06/2026

Now it’s time to introduce me…

I’m Marie — Matt’s better half, the one behind the posts, the website, the videos, and quite often the campervan rambling.

I help with all things social media, sharing our story, chatting away on videos, and obsessing over the finer details inside the vans.

Because yes, the layout matters.

The storage matters.

The electrics, comfort, and practical bits absolutely matter.

But so do the little touches that make a campervan feel like yours.

A fairy light here and there. The odd plant. A cosy corner. And, of course, a good IKEA shelf.

By day, I’m normally a community nurse, doing a job I absolutely love. But after a major operation in October, I’m not quite back doing that just yet.

So for now, it’s nurse by day — or at least nurse at heart — and campervan guru by night.

And honestly, I could talk the ear off anyone about campervans.

Because campervan life doesn’t have to mean selling everything, living on the road full-time, or chasing huge adventures every week.

So yes, I’m the one you’ll see chatting away on the videos.

You might spot the odd spelling mistake, thanks to dyslexia. You might see a sentence that doesn’t quite go where it was supposed to.

But that’s okay.

Because this isn’t about being perfect.

Just like a campervan adventure, it’s about the journey — the stories, the detours, the laughs, the fish and chips, and the memories made along the way.

Tell me — what’s one little detail that makes a campervan feel like home to you?

02/06/2026

Stranded in Wales There are definitely worse places to be stuck… especially when there’s fish and chips on the beach involved.

After talking about how to keep your campervan warm and dry, it only felt right to talk about the other side of van life — how to keep your campervan cool in summer.

For our own van, we’ve looked into air con units, but for the few really hot days we get in the UK, we’ve found there are simpler ways to stay comfortable on the road.

A good Maxxair-style roof fan, proper campervan insulation, a white van to help reflect the heat, screen covers on the front windows, curtains closed when the sun is strong, USB fans, and even putting the awning out for extra shade can all make a big difference.

Good insulation doesn’t just keep warmth in during winter — it also helps slow the heat getting into your campervan during warmer weather, helping the space stay more comfortable for longer.

Whether you’re planning UK campervan adventures, weekends by the coast, or future trips into Europe, keeping your van cool comes down to good design, airflow, shade, and a few simple habits.

At Wild River Campers, we create bespoke campervan conversions and ready-to-go campervan hire experiences designed for adventure, comfort and freedom on the road.

Wild River Campers — where your adventure begins.

How it started vs how it’s going…Wilbur began life as a freezer van, but here at Wild River Campers, we saw adventure wr...
01/06/2026

How it started vs how it’s going…

Wilbur began life as a freezer van, but here at Wild River Campers, we saw adventure written all over him.

We converted him into a four-berth family campervan, originally designed for hire and built for comfort, freedom, and proper off-grid exploring. He’s fully equipped with an on-board shower with hot water, a toilet, a large fridge, and brilliant boot space for all the adventure gear — especially the paddle boards.

Although the paddle boards are having a little rest at the moment, seeing as I’m currently hobbling around with a broken foot. You’ll learn these things about me as we go.

Wilbur is an extra-long-wheelbase van, which means he gives us loads of space inside — perfect for family trips, muddy kit, beach days, and all the little comforts that make life on the road easier. The trade-off? Tiny car parks are not always his best friend. Let’s say parking him can sometimes be part of the adventure.

He’s no longer a hire van now. Somewhere along the way, Wilbur became our family campervan.

And yes, his engine has given us a few stories of its own. We’re already on engine number two, so it’s fair to say he’s tested our patience as well as fuelled our adventures.

But he’s also just taken us all the way to Holland and back, proving that even with a few quirks, he’s still very much part of the adventure.

That’s campervan life, isn’t it? A little bit of freedom, a little bit of problem-solving, and a whole lot of memories.

Wilbur, where our adventure really began.

Ready to start your campervan adventure?

From bespoke builds to road-trip-ready hire, Wild River Campers is here to help you travel with comfort, freedom, and confidence.

Drop us a message — your next adventure could start here.

Address

11B Wilne Road
Sawley
NG103AL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+447756990392

Website

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