🎙️ Episode Title: Ep 187 w/ John Stuckey at Bear Hug Campers - Building the Perfect Campervan | Vanlife Design & Road Trip Freedom

In this week’s episode of The Winging It Travel Podcast, I chat with John Stuckey, the founder of Bear Hug Campers, a UK-based company known for crafting custom-built campervans that perfectly blend design, functionality, and adventure.

John shares how his passion for travel, craftsmanship, and freedom led him from building his first DIY campervan to launching a thriving business helping others bring their vanlife dreams to life. Based near the South Downs in England, Bear Hug Campers has become a go-to name for bespoke van conversions, off-grid living setups, and self-build support.

We unpack every stage of the campervan conversion journey — from early inspiration and learning the essential skills to understanding realistic build costs, materials, and layouts that actually work on the road. John also reveals the biggest rookie mistakes first-time builders make, the non-negotiables for safety and quality, and how to make smart choices that save money without cutting corners.

If you’ve ever dreamed of designing your own van, taking a road trip across Europe or North America, or simply embracing a more minimalist, nomadic lifestyle, this episode is packed with invaluable insight and encouragement. John’s experience offers both the creative inspiration and practical knowledge needed to start your own vanlife journey.

We also discuss the latest vanlife trends for 2025, including the rise of smaller, stealthy vans, clever space-saving designs, and why more people are turning to modular and off-grid builds. Plus, John explains how Bear Hug Campers supports the growing self-build community through his online van conversion courses, offering hands-on guidance, video tutorials, and a vibrant learning community for DIY builders.

This is a must-listen for vanlife enthusiasts, digital nomads, and travellers who want to combine creativity with practicality — and discover what it truly takes to build a home on wheels.

🎧 Support & Connect

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show — it really helps others discover the podcast!

🔔 Subscribe, leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review for Winging It, and support the podcast via Buy Me A Coffee!

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 Safety First: The Importance of Quality in Conversions

03:07 Budgeting for Your Dream Van: Cost Breakdown

06:01 Travel Tales: Exploring the UK and Beyond

08:55 The Allure of American Road Trips

12:03 Cultural Experiences: Japan and Its Unique Charm

14:49 The Journey to Van Conversions: Personal Experiences

18:06 Learning the Craft: Skills for Van Building

21:04 Bear Hug Campers: The Business of Custom Conversions

29:01 Building a Community Around Van Conversions

30:12 Budgeting for Van Conversions

34:35 Essential Features in Van Conversions

37:09 Cost-Saving Strategies Without Compromising Quality

41:07 Safety First: Where Not to Cut Corners

42:57 Common Rookie Mistakes in Van Conversions

48:35 Trends in Campervan Designs

51:06 Choosing the Right Van for Conversion

57:37 Must-Have Elements for a Successful Build

59:07 Designing the Perfect Van Layout

01:02:08 Understanding Customer Needs in Van Conversions

01:03:57 Training and Education for DIY Van Builders

01:06:05 Common Challenges in Van Conversions

01:08:37 Exploring the Van Life Community

01:10:00 Travel Destinations and Client Preferences

01:11:06 Unique and Challenging Requests in Van Builds

01:14:05 Future Projects and Innovations

01:16:05 Quickfire Travel Questions and Insights

🌍 Follow Bear Hug Campers

• Website: bearhugcampers.com
• Instagram: @bearhugcampers

--------------------------------------------------------------

Voyascape: Travel Podcast Network - https://voyascape.com/

Winging It Travel Podcast - Website

Please leave a review and a 5-star rating wherever you get your podcasts!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Winging It Travel Podcast Credits

Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond

Contact me - [email protected] 

Social Media - follow me on:

Instagram

TikTok 

Facebook 

--------------------------------------------------------------

Support My Podcast - Memberships

Patreon - Here

Buy Me A Coffee - Here

Affiliate Links 

If you click one of the below to book something, I get a tiny commission, which helps the podcast.

Book Flights with Skyscanner - Here 

Use Revolut Travel Card - Here

Book Your E-Sim With GigSky - Here

Book Hostels With Hostelworld - Here

Booking.com - Here

Book Experiences With Viator - Here

Discovery Car Hire - Here

Book Buses With Busbud - Here

Book Trains With Trainline - Here

Travel Insurance with SafetyWing - Here

Book Flights With Expedia Canada - Here

Buy my Digital Travel Planner - Here

--------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for supporting me and the podcast!

Cheers, James.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the new Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Check out the new Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast