Campervan Confusion: Cali vs Marco Polo vs Conversion
Discussion
mikeiow said:
Our SMax is under 15ft long x under 7ft wide.
A LWB VW T5 (for example) is 17.3ft x 6ft 2".....
I think it is a leap to decide on a MH as being an easy move. But clearly many do it!
& as you say make a decision.
I can easily see me dying having vicariously enjoyed campervans etc through lack of decision (& too many other things going on!).
What is on my wishlist?
I want a stealth van that attracts no attention....I want to be able to easily 'camp' off-grid, and perhaps with 4WD/AWD, off main roads.
I'd like emergency toilet facilities in this small thing (in my case, SWMBO actually doesn't!!).
I'd like it to cruise comfortably up to 80+ mph with no strain....and I'd like 35-45mpg.
I'd prefer petrol (hate the smell of diesel, even thought we currently run two!).
I want a kitchen unit that is easily removable to use outside if desired. I'd prefer the wagon to be registered as a campervan - can that happen with a 'movable kitchen' ?!
Enclosed awning would be handy.
I need a driving position and seats as comfy as my Volvo: big ask? Heated too please, along with the front screen (& steering wheel? okay, I'll drop that!)
I'd like adaptive cruise control (that rules most things out!), with bells & whistles on the driving side (rear camera, etc)
6 travelling seats would be handy....we could drop the S-Max if that happened....
We would want a full-width comfy bed (5' min)
I'd like decent solar and a pop top.
C'mon, where it this mythical beast ??!
LeighW - your unit looks lovely, think I said that on the other thread!
Have a look at Slidepods websiteA LWB VW T5 (for example) is 17.3ft x 6ft 2".....
I think it is a leap to decide on a MH as being an easy move. But clearly many do it!
& as you say make a decision.
I can easily see me dying having vicariously enjoyed campervans etc through lack of decision (& too many other things going on!).
What is on my wishlist?
I want a stealth van that attracts no attention....I want to be able to easily 'camp' off-grid, and perhaps with 4WD/AWD, off main roads.
I'd like emergency toilet facilities in this small thing (in my case, SWMBO actually doesn't!!).
I'd like it to cruise comfortably up to 80+ mph with no strain....and I'd like 35-45mpg.
I'd prefer petrol (hate the smell of diesel, even thought we currently run two!).
I want a kitchen unit that is easily removable to use outside if desired. I'd prefer the wagon to be registered as a campervan - can that happen with a 'movable kitchen' ?!
Enclosed awning would be handy.
I need a driving position and seats as comfy as my Volvo: big ask? Heated too please, along with the front screen (& steering wheel? okay, I'll drop that!)
I'd like adaptive cruise control (that rules most things out!), with bells & whistles on the driving side (rear camera, etc)
6 travelling seats would be handy....we could drop the S-Max if that happened....
We would want a full-width comfy bed (5' min)
I'd like decent solar and a pop top.
C'mon, where it this mythical beast ??!
LeighW - your unit looks lovely, think I said that on the other thread!
Edited by mikeiow on Wednesday 7th February 20:35
Pop up roof, rear removable kitchen with a rear tent if required,full width bed, seats 5 (so 1short) sorry, have it built in any model of van you like,as you like, heated front swivel seats etc,leather no problem etc and not mega buts.
Buy a VW T6 204 bhp turbo petrol with the dsg box and have it converted
OP -
depends how you are going to use it
assume its only 2 of you - if more then i'd recommend a bigger vehicle
VW / Vito
UK - short weekends, staying on campsites (usually some distance from the attractions), driving some where in the day, eg villages, going to the beach etc then back to the campsite at night. mostly in the summer
then a VW is perfect
Full size conversion
UK / Europe - off grid, all year round
if you are using it for mountain biking and other activities in wales or scotland, staying on CLs (farms), pubs or wild camping where allowed, then a hot shower is nice after a day on the mountain / beach. and a toilet,
or in Europe on Aires - that are in the centre of town, or on the beach, which have a tap and toilet empty point, but usually not much else
then a full size van conversion is probably the way to go. more space, proper facilities
but make sure you get one with a proper fridge, working on gas. battery fridges struggle with 30deg heat
the Sunlights look well made and good value
http://www.sunlight.de/en/models/camper-van
Motorhome
Longer holidays for 1 week or more
or skiing where higher quality insulation than you get in a van conversion is useful.
more space for Bikes, & kit - when you have expensive mountain bikes its useful to have them inside
have larger tanks for water so you can spend longer off grid
keep below 7.5m length, 3m high and 3.5t then you'll still get into all the small mountain villages (3.5t weight limit) get cheaper motorway tolls (3m height), get onto the best campsite pitches - like on the beach at lake Garda (7.5m length), travel as quickly as a car (3.5t weight)
Liner (like Spuffs)
Where you need to off grid for longer - like Morocco - or just want more luxury
depends how you are going to use it
assume its only 2 of you - if more then i'd recommend a bigger vehicle
VW / Vito
UK - short weekends, staying on campsites (usually some distance from the attractions), driving some where in the day, eg villages, going to the beach etc then back to the campsite at night. mostly in the summer
then a VW is perfect
Full size conversion
UK / Europe - off grid, all year round
if you are using it for mountain biking and other activities in wales or scotland, staying on CLs (farms), pubs or wild camping where allowed, then a hot shower is nice after a day on the mountain / beach. and a toilet,
or in Europe on Aires - that are in the centre of town, or on the beach, which have a tap and toilet empty point, but usually not much else
then a full size van conversion is probably the way to go. more space, proper facilities
but make sure you get one with a proper fridge, working on gas. battery fridges struggle with 30deg heat
the Sunlights look well made and good value
http://www.sunlight.de/en/models/camper-van
Motorhome
Longer holidays for 1 week or more
or skiing where higher quality insulation than you get in a van conversion is useful.
more space for Bikes, & kit - when you have expensive mountain bikes its useful to have them inside
have larger tanks for water so you can spend longer off grid
keep below 7.5m length, 3m high and 3.5t then you'll still get into all the small mountain villages (3.5t weight limit) get cheaper motorway tolls (3m height), get onto the best campsite pitches - like on the beach at lake Garda (7.5m length), travel as quickly as a car (3.5t weight)
Liner (like Spuffs)
Where you need to off grid for longer - like Morocco - or just want more luxury
OP, have a look at Camper King who do professional conversions on VW Transporters if that's one of your main choices - they do various models/finishes and will build to spec. with the benefit they have vehicles with varying base specs. I.e. With air conditioning, various mileages and also the option for automatic/DSG transmission. Camper King also have a rental fleet and are local to the NEC.
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