From Dreams to Draws: Behind the Scenes of Our Wild Campervan Giveaway

When we first came up with the idea of converting a van and giving it away, it felt like the perfect blend of madness and magic. As my mother would say in her Northern Irish accent, "another one of your hare-brained ideas". An idea that started out (ironically) at the Johnny Vegas Field of Dreams Glampsite and has turned into one of the most intense and surreal experiences of our lives. This is the untold story of our campervan prize draw: the blood, nervous sweat, and £1,000-a-day Facebook ads that made it happen.

The Build: More Than Just Nuts and Bolts

It started with a shell of a van and a vision. Converting it wasn’t just about jigsawing panels out of the side of the van (eek!) and figuring out electrics—it was late nights, early mornings, and the kind of DIY that tests your sanity. Every panel fitted, every wire run, and every hole drilled carried a little piece of us with it. This wasn’t just a prize—it was a rolling symbol of graft, passion, hope, (and blisters). We learned as we went. YouTube How To videos have never been so well-watched. Friends roped in to help. Clayton Power and Vanz Adventures deserve a massive shout out for the amazing battery and stunning furniture involved in making this van what it is. 

By the time we finished, the van wasn’t just road-ready; it was dream-ready. A tiny home on wheels, made with our own hands. We were proud—and completely knackered.

The Reality of Trying to Go Viral (and Paying for It)

Once the van was ready, we knew it needed to be seen. Cue the whirlwind of digital marketing and emails to our database. We dove headfirst into Facebook and YouTube ads, burning through a jaw-dropping £1,000 a day just to stay visible in the endless scroll of content.

It was terrifying. Watching that ad spend tick up faster than we ever thought possible, while sales only crept up slowly, was a lesson in commitment. We weren’t just gambling on reach; we were betting on ourselves, and our small business, big time. And as the draw date crept closer, the pressure mounted. We almost pulled the plug on it all twice but instead we did what all small business owners do in times of great stress. We went to the pub and brainstormed on the back of a napkin all the ways we could make this work. We went ahead with it even though we were going to lose a significant amount of money because giving up just seemed defeatist and boring!

The Live Draw: Nerves, Numbers, and Not Quite What We Expected

Then came the live draw. The moment everything hinged on. Heart racing, live on Facebook for everyone to see, watching the names fly across the screen. It was a strange experience as we hadn’t done one before and it felt quite lonely sat in a van, reading out numbers. But just like that, we had a winner.

Mr Landzhov from Birmingham. We didn’t know him from Adam and there was no immediate feedback or elation. For us it felt like a huge, sobering anticlimax. Mr Landzhov had bought a single £6.99 prize draw ticket after seeing our stand at the NEC in February. Talk about luck of the draw.

Long story short (we’re aware it’s getting very long), the Landzhov family came to see the van and adored it. However, they decided that it was too big, and that it wouldn’t even fit on their drive, so they opted for the cash alternative.

The Surreal Ending: A Toast in the Field of Dreams

A few weeks later, we stood right back where it all began—in a sunny carpark at Field of Dreams. With a massive cheque in hand we popped a bottle of bubbly and transferred £40,000 to the winner’s bank account by phone while standing in the same spot where the idea first sparked, the same spot Johnny Vegas did the van prize draw promo video for us. And actually, that moment made it all worth it (sort of)! The Landzhov family turned out to be the loveliest people we could wish to meet. They took us to the pub for a lunch, they bought our eight year old daughter a gift, they gave us wine. We were blown away by their kindness. Yes we had just given them £40k, but still! We are so happy for them and so glad the money has gone to such a lovely family.

What We Learned

Would we do it again? Never. But here’s what we know for sure: chasing big dreams takes guts, patience, and an insane amount of belief. Not everything goes the way you think it will—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a shot.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the ride. Whether you bought a ticket, shared a post, or just cheered us on—we felt it all. And who knows? Maybe the next crazy idea is just around the corner.

Stay tuned. Stay wild. And never underestimate the power of a harebrained idea.