Meet the Quirky Hosts sharing the magic of vanlife

While drooling over beautifully handcrafted campervans is definitely one of our favourite pastimes, the real magic comes from the amazing people behind them. Our Quirky Campers hosts make every adventure possible: from making sure each camper is road-ready, to giving guests the inside scoop on all the tips and tricks, to answering those “quick question” moments and always welcoming you back to hear where the road has taken you. And if you’ve ever dreamed of sharing your own campervan with like-minded adventurers, joining our host community could be the start of something pretty special.

Our Owner Champion Sherel hit the road in Skycamper to visit some of these incredible people and hear their stories. Here’s what they had to say and a few of our Quirky takes too!

Meet our hosts

How did you first fall in love with campervans?

Mark (Skycamper): I happened to hear that a contact was selling a beautifully bespoke campervan, and the timing couldn’t have been better. Skycamper already had charm and character, so it was easy for us to add our own touches. The previous owner had rented it through Quirky, so joining Quirky Campers felt like the natural next step for us.

Joanna (Hermione): My passion for campervans started as a child, travelling through Europe in VW dormobiles with my family. Years later, I wanted to recreate those adventures for my own kids, so I took the plunge and brought Hermione to life. With the help of a close friend who runs a camper conversion business, I crafted a van that reflects our family’s personality and passions including a hand-painted exterior by a local artist.

Helen (Toto): My love of campervans started in childhood, travelling through Europe in a bright orange VW with my family of five. Those trips left me with starry nights, river swims, mountains in the distance and one big promise to myself: when I grow up, my van will definitely have a toilet and shower. When I discovered Toto, it was love at first sight. I saw his potential straight away. He’s my perfect Pinterest van! With a few tweaks to make him truly mine, Toto became both a creative project and a symbol of freedom.

Caitlin + Tom (Yan): Our journey started in 2019 when we built our first campervan and spent a year travelling across Europe. That trip changed everything, it gave us a firsthand understanding of what works (and what doesn’t) in a tiny space, and sparked the idea for our future.

What made you decide to share your van with fellow adventurers instead of keeping it all to yourself?

Mark (Skycamper): For me, it’s all about freedom. Following the weather, chasing whims, getting to places you’d never be able to stay otherwise, and meeting incredible people along the way.

Quirky’s take: We love this answer because it captures exactly what campervan life is all about. But there’s also a practical side to hosting too: when you’re not using your van, sharing it can turn those parked-up days into extra income. It’s a great way to help cover running costs, fund future upgrades, and make the most of a van that might otherwise be sitting idle on the drive.

How difficult was it to get everything to list for hire?

Mark (Skycamper): It was really easy and straightforward. Quirky’s support team guided us through every step, from creating our listing to getting the photos approved. We felt looked after from the start, and once everything went live, bookings came in sooner than we expected. 

Quirky’s Take: Getting your campervan ready for hire is often much simpler than people expect. If your van is already well cared for and roadworthy, the main things are making sure it meets our hire requirements, has a Gas Safe certificate if gas is used, a weighbridge readout confirming the post-conversion weight, and insurance in place that allows you to rent it out to customers.

Our team will guide you through the process step by step, so you are not left to figure it all out on your own. For many hosts, the biggest hurdle is simply getting started.

Is it much work to rent out your campervan? 

Helen (Toto): When I’m not busy with Toto I run an online shop. It’s good to have a second income source to cover the winter when Toto’s a bit quieter. It’s really important for me to have a flexible job otherwise I’d struggle to fit Toto in. Also as it’s just me responsible for renting out Toto, I have to fit work around him, I’d definitely prefer an extra set of hands every now and then but it’s certainly manageable solo. Since I bought Toto I have also been taking DIY classes at the local college, woodwork, plumbing, electrics etc. It’s been so helpful learning how to fix problems myself without having to pay someone else to do it for me, and it’s a lot of fun too.

Caitlin (Yan): One of the best parts is seeing so many different people heading off on adventurous holidays — solo travellers, couples, families and everyone in between. We’ve welcomed couples from Germany travelling with their baby, retired couples trying a campervan holiday for the very first time, and seasoned travellers heading off to pursue their favourite sports. Whoever they are, they’re usually a lovely bunch of people to meet, and it’s always a joy handing over the keys when they’re so excited for the adventure ahead.

There is, of course, some work involved in renting out Yan. But when things go smoothly, as they mostly do, it fits into our lives fairly easily. We’ve created a streamlined system where we send out videos and a manual before pick-up, so by the time guests arrive, they already feel familiar with the van. That means we can give them a quick tour and have them ready to hit the road within about half an hour.

We also give guests our mobile numbers in case they have any questions while they’re away, and we have a few backup contacts. Such as family members and friends who know Yan well, in case we’re out of signal on adventures of our own. In reality, we find people rarely need to contact us, as we provide clear documentation in advance.

Quirky’s Take: Renting out your campervan does involve some hands-on involvement, but many hosts find it very manageable. Once your van is live, the main tasks are keeping your calendar up to date, preparing the van before trips, carrying out handovers, and staying on top of general upkeep between bookings.

You can also set your calendar and handover times to suit your own schedule, so you are only renting out your campervan when it works for you.

In return, your campervan can generate meaningful income. We support you throughout with systems and an experienced customer service team designed to make the process as smooth and straightforward as possible.

Why choose Quirky Campers to help your van hit the open road?

Joanna (Hermione): I decided to list our campervan with Quirky because I loved the personal touch they offer as a family-run business, and it’s clear they genuinely love Quirky campervans. Compared to other platforms, I think Quirky gives a much more personalised service.

Helen (Toto): I chose Quirky Campers to list Toto because I really loved the look of the vans they already had. They were all fun, unique, and had their own personalities. Plus, the Quirky team is small, friendly, and really helpful, which made the whole process a joy.

Quirky’s Take: Quirky Campers is built specifically for unique, characterful campervans, which means our customers are actively looking for something special, rather than simply the cheapest option. That tends to attract people who genuinely value the vans they hire and the experience that comes with them.

We also offer a supportive, experienced team of real campervan owners, strong marketing, and a platform that is trusted by both hosts and customers.

For hosts, that means access to a highly engaged audience, expert guidance, and a rental platform that understands the value of a one-of-a-kind campervan.

Something else that sets us apart from many competitors is that we carefully manage campervan supply in line with customer demand. Put simply, we want our hosts to earn a sustainable income, so we only onboard campervans where we know there is demand and where we are confident our customers will love them.

What advice would you give to other hosts? 

Mark (Skycamper): I’d say, try before you buy. Find a van that works for you and your hirers, check out what’s around you to see where the gaps are, and definitely talk to other hosts.

Joanna (Hermione): If you’re feeling nervous about listing your campervan, I get it. But if you’re thinking about giving it a go, I’d try Quirky first. It feels more like joining a family than dealing with a faceless corporate company.

Helen (Toto): If you’re thinking about renting your van, it’s really important to spend plenty of time getting to know it so you can handle any hiccups that come up. And if you’re nervous about letting others use it, try to reframe it. I get really excited that my lovely Toto gets to go on holidays with fun people, rather than sitting on my driveway feeling lonely. I definitely recommend Quirky Campers, go wild and give it a go!

Behind every Quirky Camper is a story: childhood road trips, creative projects, big adventures, and a love of life on the open road. Our hosts don’t just share their vans, they share the freedom, personality, and joy that comes with them. Whether it’s a lovingly restored classic or a handcrafted tiny home on wheels, every camper in our collection exists because someone decided to turn their passion into something others could experience too. If you’ve ever dreamed of sharing your own campervan with fellow adventurers, there’s a whole community here ready to welcome you.