Small camper choices

[battered]

SWMBO is interested in a small camper. I am of course charged with drawing up the shortlist for said vehicle, being the mechanical one.

Constraints:
1. "Not too big", it will be used as a normal car in a city. Not daily but a couple of times pw. So no Transit Hi-Cubes as a base, sadly.
2. Budget 5-7k
3. Nothing too old. Say 10 years max, no aircooled VWs (even if I fondly imagined that these might be in budget!)
4. Petrol or diesel OK. It won't do mega miles.
5. Standing room would be nice, even if it's tight for people over 5'6.
6. Not interested in paying "scene tax".
7. Showers/toilets not needed.
8. Modest kitchen will be fine.
9. Bed space 4ft x 6ft, to sleep 2. Awning for associate children and dogs (she wants to take her sister, with kids and dogs, now and again).

She did see a Fiat Doblo based device, this was deemed too small. I looked at it, it is indeed, the bed space is 6ft x 3ft, so 2 people would be a squeeze.

I reckon something like a Transit Custom is the right kind of size, it's a similar size to a big estate without being vast. Do they come with a pop-top option? Are they a popular conversion?

I know a T4/T5 would do it, but not in budget unless it's utterly shagged.

Any thoughts?

[FredericRobinson]

I found a Renault Trafic which meets most of those requirements, not pop-top, but hits the rest, amateur conversion not pro, but it does the job for me.

Something like this
http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...

[Brads67]

Japanese import Toyota Hiace Hi top.

Brilliant little campers. Better than a VW in every way.

[E31Shrew]

Got to be a Bongo! Mines V6 petrol, auto, all the mod cons inc rock n roll bed, sink, cooker, fridge. Perfect for lugging rubbish to the tip. Electric roof means you can stand up.
My wife, who hates driving, loves it.
you could, at a push, sleep 1 or 2 small ones upstairs

[battered]

Ooh, thanks gents. The Trafic option (see also other "traditional Transit, meaning like the Sweeney" sized vans is good, and I'd thought of the Bongo, but not the HiAce.

I think I shall get her to look out a Bongo for a look herself. It's her car, she needs to approve it and it's going to be very easy for me to screw it up if I am guilty of choosing the wrong thing.

[JimbobVFR]

E31Shrew said:

Got to be a Bongo! Mines V6 petrol, auto, all the mod cons inc rock n roll bed, sink, cooker, fridge. Perfect for lugging rubbish to the tip. Electric roof means you can stand up.
My wife, who hates driving, loves it.
you could, at a push, sleep 1 or 2 small ones upstairs

Couldn't agree more, mines a V6 on LPG so it's not even that expensive to run. I would recommend having a decent maintenance fund and don't buy a diesel.
The 2.0 petrol is pretty bullet proof but maybe a tad underpowered (it is a camper so probably adequate I guess)

I guarantee your wife will prefer the Bongo, they're so easy and nice to drive compared to a van.

[Huff]

Dear chap, go drive a Bongo before you commit to one, is all I'm going to say.

Another mate just landed himself an import Toyota Alphard instead, for similar conversion. It's a world away.

[E31Shrew]

Huff said:

Dear chap, go drive a Bongo before you commit to one, is all I'm going to say.

Another mate just landed himself an import Toyota Alphard instead, for similar conversion. It's a world away.

What problems did you have with the Bongo?

[Huff]

I didn't buy one, various friends have over the years, so have had several goes...