🎙️ 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
--------------------------------------------------------------
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 - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com
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 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 all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com.
If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network
