We are based in the north east of Newcastle and we both work in hospital settings, so we live a fairly hectic, busy lifestyle with on-call commitments and out-of-hours working. Having the freedom of a van to get away and be in a completely different environment from the hustle and bustle of the city is almost imperative for us.

We have two boys who are both under ten, and being able to get them into an environment where they can be adventurous and excited by what they find is also really important to us.

We are pretty avid outdoors people: cycling, spending time on the water, whether that be in a kayak or on a paddleboard, swimming, or walking down a river. Then there is cycling, whether that is on a gravel bike, road bike or mountain bike. Fundamentally, we do lots of different things. Having lots of storage opportunities and spaces that could be used in a versatile way was therefore really important.

For us, the campervan was something to invest our time in. We wanted a space that was functional and robust, and the last thing we want to do on a long trip away with the family is to be stressing about details or issues.

The Onyx van is exemplary in its finish and detail, and that is obviously appealing, but the thing that makes it extra special is the robust detailing in terms of its infrastructure: the batteries, inverter, power supply and water heating. These are the sorts of things that can really derail a trip in unfamiliar circumstances. Having the stability of a vehicle that is so well set up for both off-grid and on-grid living just takes that level of stress away from travelling.

We had previously had a van of the same size, and we learnt a huge amount from having that different van. What the Onyx guys gave us was the freedom and opportunity to design something that opened up a whole load of new opportunities for the future.

I first came across Onyx through web searches and was really attracted by the finish and detailing on the vehicles. When you are investing a significant amount of money in a vehicle of this calibre, you want the finish to be exceptional and exquisite, and that was what originally attracted me.

We then met Chris and Heather from Onyx at the NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show, and that was enough to give me all the confidence I needed in the people. Going through a build like this requires a relationship with people you trust to make the right decisions, who will listen to you, and whose conclusions you know you can trust. I had no doubt about that. They listened, they were accommodating, they were inventive, and that was the perfect combination for creating a vehicle.

This is something we have discussed since: it felt like when they were building the vehicle, they were building something they were genuinely passionate about and proud of. That gave me the ultimate confidence in their decisions and in the finished product.

We wanted a four-berth vehicle. We wanted pop-top living. I wanted the finish to be exceptional, but also to have something a little bit unique and different. Ultimately, I wanted it to be somewhere we could be happy and comfortable travelling as a family, and somewhere the kids would be invested in too.

It was an enjoyable process with minimal stress, and we were given confidence throughout by the team. We had some supply-chain issues, but I felt supported through those. There was very little in the way of surprises and there was really good, clear written communication about costings, inventories and timescales. The team were also really open to discussing a whole load of details, from vehicle registration to future-proofing modifications.

Something I personally think is really important is that the very final details and finish are ultimately what you, as a customer, have to live with. If you have concerns about snagging or minor issues, they can really sap the joy from something at the end of the process.

Even now, I still feel supported. The team are really communicative and happy to discuss any issues. There really are not many, but knowing that any slight modifications that might be needed will be dealt with is an absolute non-negotiable for me. It means I do not have any sour feelings or worries and can just enjoy the finished product.

We have got a really cool pop-top. Our two kids share the double bed upstairs. They have really nice opening vents, so they can have a beautiful view in the mornings and evenings. There is a ladder to climb up, and the external ladder makes a really cool little exit spot. We have got storage space up there as well, which is good for books, trinkets, teddies and all that other stuff. We can leave their sleeping bags up there when we close the pop-top. There is also a nice fan, which makes sure it is cool if the weather is hot.

In the cab, the MAN vans are really nice. The layout itself works brilliantly, it is a really nice drive and feels very high-end, which makes long journeys really pleasant. The sitting and eating area is great, and the flexibility of a table that can extend also helps. Having rear chairs that move apart makes travelling on long journeys pleasant for the kids too. There is plenty of space in the walkways to move around and store things during journeys.

The kitchen is great. The induction hob is magic, and the layout and storage space for all of your kitchen utensils, shopping, tea and coffee equipment is ideal. I will be honest, it was something I was worried about beforehand: how were we going to fit everything in? But on a recent two-week trip we had space to spare.

The king-size bed is magic. There is loads of space, and it is nice to be able to push it back to give yourself more room when you are not sleeping. All the overhead storage racks are great, with loads of space for stuff, and with the addition of the Vandrobes this makes packing for a trip really easy.

The garage storage is brilliant, and having a pull-out rack for manoeuvring and extra space has really helped. The versatility of the doors and being able to rack stuff on the MOLLE panels also helps. It is great having all those additional little spaces.

So far, we have not actually found the limits of the electrical system.

It is really nice to be able to run the air-conditioning unit off-grid, as well as the induction hob via the inverter. We are also quite keen on using an air fryer, slow cooker or pressure cooker, and we have a combined version that we use regularly.

We have been away for the last few days and we have used about 40% of the battery capacity so far, despite not having very much sun. So far, we are filled with confidence by the battery capacity and the electrical system generally.

We were lucky that the arrival of the van coincided with our big summer trip, so we had the exciting experience of taking our Onyx van from the north east straight down to Hull. We travelled across on the ferry to Rotterdam and from there crossed four countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

We spent a week between France and Luxembourg exploring the mountains, ski lifts, mountain-bike trails, woods and caves. We finished the trip with friends in Holland, experiencing some of the best Dutch campsites, lakeside pitches and a really hot spell. Having the Dometic air-conditioning unit in the back made all the difference.

Most days normally started with swinging the back doors open to enjoy the view, coffee followed by breakfast with the kids, normally with them sent off on the hunt to find some croissants and bread.

We like to pack our days full of activities. On this trip that included biking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, walking and caving. We cooked in the van throughout the trip, with a mixture of inside and outside cooking. We often carry a separate cooking setup, but actually used a combined pressure cooker and slow cooker this time, which we could use both inside and out. This provided a huge amount of versatility for cooking.

After a bit of an evening wind-down, the kids would go up into the pop-top and get some sleep after a few stories, and we would enjoy some time in a much bigger bed than we have previously had in a van.

Travelling with the two kids was perfect. They had plenty of space in the back for all their toys and accoutrements. There are loads of hidden cubbyholes for them to tuck things away and, because they had their own space in the pop-top, they could keep bedtime books, teddies and everything else up there.

To be honest, I do not think there was anything we had underestimated. It just worked really well and they thoroughly enjoyed having their own space.

A couple of things were a real bonus.

The first was the storage space for the Vandrobes. They sit underneath the bed but enable you to pack in the house using what is essentially a large, compartmentalised duffel bag. You transport that into the van, hook it up and immediately have a huge amount of organised storage space for each person. Then, when you get home, you can take the whole thing back inside to unpack. In terms of easy wins and having a streamlined approach to going away and unpacking the van, this was an absolute game changer.

The slide-out tray in the garage was also a real winner. We put an upstand on the side of it and this made the versatility of that tray huge. We could strap things in, stand things up and generally make use of every bit of space. It became an ever-expanding area that seemed able to swallow up a huge amount of equipment.

To be honest, it is the colour. People love the colour and the look of the vehicle. It is obviously a real eye-catcher, and on a recent trip to Europe we were struck by how many people in car parks would give us a thumbs-up as we drove past.

Obviously, when you open the doors and have a look inside, you can see the quality and finish of the product. But what is really nice is knowing what is underneath the covers, really: the aspects of the design, engineering and finish that are hidden but make such a difference when you are actually using the van.

Thrilled, really. If this layout can be enjoyed by other people, then let us do it. Especially because everyone’s vehicle will still be unique in its own way. The touch and flair of the Onyx team’s design will ensure that. I am only happy that what we have created can now be used and enjoyed by other people.

You might get a bit of a philosophical answer here.

Spending time with family and kids in environments that are new is one of the best things. It ends up defining our childhoods, our kids’ childhoods and what we remember as we grow up, as well as just being really good fun.

The versatility, certainly for us, of having a van that we can be static, transient and adventurous with opens up so many doors. We all know that sometimes, when travelling with a family, you need some stability and certainty. You want to make sure you are looking after the people you are with. I certainly find with our Onyx van that the quality of the infrastructure and setup of the vehicle provides all of those things: the ability to go somewhere adventurous, do fun things and trust in the van that you have.

There is no doubt that this kind of vehicle is an enormous investment, and it goes without saying that it needs to be considered carefully and to be affordable. If it is something that is within your means, then I think the investment in the opportunities and enjoyment you can get out of the vehicle is worth its weight.

I also think you need to trust the team you are investing your money with. You need people who care, who will listen and who are really good at what they do. Whenever we have employed people to take on big jobs for us, whether that be house renovations or vans, I have found it is almost as much about the people as it is about the project.