Owned an elderly HiAce camper van for a few years, a Japanese import. Turned out to be an absolute disaster - coolant loss and severe overheating on the M74 led to one garage bill after another, but all to no avail. Sold it at a big loss just to be shot of it.
..but we did have some good times in it. Rather claustrophobic with more than 2 though, and the bed was a cushion jigsaw. I have to say I do prefer our large tunnel tent though, a Coleman Mosedale 5, much more space for family camping, and cost only £265.
If I were doing it again, and we might when our youngest grows up, I would buy a low mileage 9 seater minibus and do a VERY simple conversion myself. Just rip the back seats out, add curtains and bench seats that double as beds in the back - no cooker, shower, cupboards, toilet etc - job done. And it could be used as a van! No way would I buy an elderly camper van again - ridiculously expensive for what you get, and nothing but trouble.