With the habit as a base camp – the freedom to just go

Text: Helena Bergström, Photo: Press images from Sun Living

How much camper do you really need? Sun Living focuses on vans that focus on simplicity, flexibility and an active outdoor life. With the V-series, the idea is to make it easy to pack the essentials, set off and get close to nature. We like the idea – perhaps not least because we ourselves have discovered the charm of traveling with a camper van.

How much motorhome do you really need?

We have always driven a relatively large motorhome ourselves. When we bought our motorhome, one of the main reasons was that Peter's sons would have plenty of space. Life is different today, but we still need space. We often take long trips and since we also run FREEDOMtravel, the motorhome functions as both a home and a mobile office.

But bigger is definitely not always better. Our current motorhome is 7.3 meters long and we usually say that we absolutely do not want a motorhome larger than that. On the contrary, we have sometimes wondered if the next motorhome could perhaps be smaller. Maybe even a tin can, although in that case we would look at models in the larger range.

Because we've had time to experience life with a plate ice cream quite a bit. We've been traveling with a plate ice cream through Estonia for three weeks, about the same amount of time in Ireland and for a couple of weeks in Istria in Croatia. And there's something special about the smaller format.

Flexibility is a big part of freedom

With a flatbed trailer, it's easy to get around, turn onto smaller roads and find a parking space. At the same time, most of the things we associate with motorhome life are in place: bed, kitchen, refrigerator, bathroom, heating and storage.

Peter also has a favorite thing about sheet metal: the sliding door. Opening the large side door and standing in the kitchen cooking with a view of the sea, mountains or forest gives a special feeling. The line between outside and inside becomes almost blurred.

Of course, there are disadvantages too. When you, like us, can be out on the road for a long time and also have to fit computers, camera equipment and a very small office, a camper van can be cramped. For us, the choice is not about whether a camper van is better than a larger motorhome, or vice versa. It's about how you want to travel.

Sun Living V-Series – freedom without hassle

This is where we find the idea behind the Sun Living V-series. Sun Living is a brand from Adria Mobil and, like Adria, is manufactured in Slovenia. We drive Adria ourselves and have done so for many years, so the connection feels a little extra interesting to us.

When we looked at Sun Living, our feeling was that the design and execution are a bit simpler and more stripped-down than in many Adria models. Not worse, but simpler. The focus is on function, smart solutions and things that are actually needed to get going.

Sun Living themselves sum up the idea behind the V-series with ”freedom without hassle.” It’s about vans with well-thought-out features and spaces that can be adapted to how the car will be used.

Vanen as a small base camp

Of course, a plate ice doesn't just have to be a vehicle for a long road trip through Europe. On the contrary, the smaller format can be just as suitable for small adventures.

Pack your hiking boots and head out to a nature reserve. Bring your climbing gear and find a rock. Load up your bikes and explore new trails. Go to the ocean to paddle, to the forest to pick mushrooms or to the mountains for a few days of hiking. The van becomes a small base camp on four wheels.

That's also the feeling conveyed in Sun Living's imagery from Lundaberget, where a van serves as a starting point for climbing and outdoor activities. When the day's adventure is over, a kitchen, water, heat and a real bed await. And the next morning? Then the adventure can continue somewhere else.

Everything you need – without unnecessary hassle

Motorhomes have become increasingly advanced, with digital systems, exclusive materials and technical features. This can of course be both comfortable and fun, but it also drives up the price.

Sun Living has chosen a simpler path. The idea is to offer what you actually need for motorhome life, without making the vehicles more complicated or more expensive than necessary. And simplicity also applies when it's time to buy the car. Here, you shouldn't have to start with a base price and then tick off a long list of equipment and packages to get the car you really want.

The V-series is built on the Fiat Ducato and comes with a ready-made standard equipment that includes the most important things to get started and travel comfortably. For those who want a little more, there is a ready-made plus package as an option. It doesn't get any more complicated than that.

With a total weight of 3,500 kilograms, the models can be driven with a regular B driving license.

Motorhome life under a million

An important part of Sun Living's philosophy is also the price. While it is not particularly difficult to find new motorhomes that exceed both one and two million kronor these days, Sun Living wants to keep its vans at a more accessible level.

The V-series starts at 849,000 kronor, and all models are under the million mark. That's still a lot of money. But for those who compare it to today's market for new motorhomes and vans, it's interesting that it's possible to get a new and well-equipped van without spending over a million.

An old acquaintance returns

One of the models that Sun Living is particularly highlighting for the Nordic market is the V 60SP. The model has been here before and is now making a comeback. The V 60SP is the simplest model in the V series and fits well with the basic idea: a van with a focus on what you need to be able to get out and enjoy the motorhome life.

The V 60SL and V 60GX are also offered on the Swedish market, with other layouts and solutions for sleeping and storage.

Maybe freedom doesn't have to be so complicated?

We still don't know what type of camper we'll choose when the time comes to switch. When we're out for months at a time, we're very grateful for the space in our current camper.

But every time we travel by plate ice, we are reminded of the charm of the smaller format. The agility. The proximity to nature. The ability to get to places where a larger vehicle might feel unwieldy. And that big sliding door that Peter loves to open when it's time to cook dinner.

Because sometimes an adventure doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. Pack the essentials, choose a destination and hit the road. Or, as Sun Living themselves put it: put your phone in "camper mode" and enjoy living in the moment.