Campervan Suggestions - have I missed any options?

[downthepub]

Hello there, we are planning to change our much loved T6 California for the next size up. We want a fixed bed and the Cali is hitting 80K. With a big Nordic trip planned for next year, my T6+DSG grenade complexity timebomb paranoia is twitching.

Requirements being a fixed bed, autobox, reasonable engine, large fridge, 2 berth only, no need for a pop-top, max dimensions, 3500kg, 2.8m height and about 6m in length. We don't want a motorhome (just not us) nor anything on a Ducato chassis. Preferably German, but Transit would be ok. Either new or recent.

So far the shortlist is:

• Eriba Car 600 (leading so far)
• Westfalia Sven Hedin (interesting but bugger all dealers in the socialist utopia of Scotland )
• HYMER Grand Canyon S (pushing the budget)
• Yucon V-City 6.0DB (not entirely certain these are available in RHD)

We've looked at the Bailey/Transit vans, but the interior layouts are pretty gash. So no thanks. And the GC 600 and 680, are either too tall or too long.

Anything we are missing? ta in advance

Edited by downthepub on Tuesday 27th May 22:43

[Johnnybee]

You'll probably be aware of this but I'd think long and hard about buying a Transit. The motorhome forums have plenty of people suffering breakdowns from faulty injectors, even on newer models. And then there is the dreaded wet belt.

[downthepub]

Thanks, I hadn’t realised the Transit engines were as open to faults as the engines in the smaller stuff - and wet belt in those engines. Blimey.

[MOMACC]

What's your budget?

I'd be looking at a converted crafter or a MAN

[downthepub]

Budget is flexible, generally speaking in the 80-100K range. Less is always better but we do use our van a lot so not really interested in cutting corners.

[mickk]

downthepub said:

Thanks, I hadn t realised the Transit engines were as open to faults as the engines in the smaller stuff - and wet belt in those engines. Blimey.

As long as you have them serviced regular, use the correct oil and change the wet belt at 70k they're fine, I've had 2 both have hit over 100k (one is away being converted to a campervan at this present time) and I purchased a new one last December.

The majority of the horror stories are from hire companies that have the vehicles thrashed from new and throw any old oil in the engine.

[toon10]

The Sven Hedin seems to review well. Have you seen the Swift Trekker range? The XL is cheaper because it doesn't have a pop top and it has a rear lounge arrangement but is a 2 berth. I suppose it means that the bed is better as it is length ways not transverse. The S and X are 4 berth with pop tops but have the rear bed/garage layout although the bed does lift up to give more garage space so maybe not a true "fixed" bed.

After my experiences with a T6, I'd never have another VW. I also know too many people who have T5 and T6's who feel the same. I've not had a Ford van but the wet belt issues are still a concern.

[HarryW]

You obv have your reasons for not wanting a Ducato based one, but that probably excludes 85% of the available market and puts you in a van that is narrower which limits layouts without having to go to the 6.7m+ vans to compensate.
Perhaps see what bespoke companies such as IH or McLaren do.

[HarryW]

If you don’t mind long wheelbases then the Wildax Altair range on the MAN chassis are very nice.

[downthepub]

Thanks all for the contributions, really appreciated.

To give some colour to our aversion to certain base vans, some good friends of ours bought a new Ducato-based van (might have been an Adria) a little while after we got our used California. They had a particular time window before their kids (boy & girl) got too big to comfortably share in the poptop.
Unfortunately about a month after they got it, it developed a gearbox fault which was a complete mission to get fixed. All told it was more than a year with being fixed/not fixed. My mate ended up phoning Fiat in Italy trying to get traction. That type of thing. Elements of farce around parts being delivered and then the dealer realising they didn't have the tool to fit the bit. That window with the kids was greatly reduced due to the van being off the road, and the whole thing has left a sour taste.

Therefore, if we are dropping a kick in the arse from a 100K on a van I'd dearly like to try to minimise any aggro. Nothing in life is certain, and there are plenty stories of VW engines/gearboxes stting themselves I do acknowledge.

[HarryW]

downthepub said:

Thanks all for the contributions, really appreciated.

To give some colour to our aversion to certain base vans, some good friends of ours bought a new Ducato-based van (might have been an Adria) a little while after we got our used California. They had a particular time window before their kids (boy & girl) got too big to comfortably share in the poptop.
Unfortunately about a month after they got it, it developed a gearbox fault which was a complete mission to get fixed. All told it was more than a year with being fixed/not fixed. My mate ended up phoning Fiat in Italy trying to get traction. That type of thing. Elements of farce around parts being delivered and then the dealer realising they didn't have the tool to fit the bit. That window with the kids was greatly reduced due to the van being off the road, and the whole thing has left a sour taste.

Therefore, if we are dropping a kick in the arse from a 100K on a van I'd dearly like to try to minimise any aggro. Nothing in life is certain, and there are plenty stories of VW engines/gearboxes stting themselves I do acknowledge.

Ok that makes sense. I m assuming it was an automatic? What year/age was the problematic one? I ask as in the last 5 years Ducato s have 3 different automatic gearboxes.
My van is a 2019 with the Fiat Comfortmatic gearbox (basically a robotised version of the manual 6 speed) and I ve had a failure but thankfully my Fiat Proffessional dealer knew what they were doing and resolved it FoC in a matter of weeks. This gearbox is seen as voodoo to most that don t understand it and is legend in its horror stories when being repaired by those not in the know.
In 2020 they switched over to a ZF 9 speed, as fitted to Land Rovers and many other motors. The only issue I know of is the software mapping needed to be updated on the higher output engines (160/180hp) as it was being reported with torque converter issues, slippage, slow change etc and ultimately failure with fault lights.
In 2024 they switched again to an AT8 8 speed gearbox, this outwardly was for economy and CO2 improvements, I suspect the ZF wasn t quite up to it?
This gearbox is the ASIN FW 8 speed as fitted to Volvo, Toyota, Lexus and GM (I think BMW too?) it is known for it high torque capacity, but can still have the same issues the ZF9 issue cited for.

Personally I think if you went with the newest AT8 gearbox then the issue you are trying to avoid might just be historical. It certainly opens up the campervan market more. I hope that helps.

Edited by HarryW on Thursday 29th May 23:17

[Spuffington]

Knaus BoxDrive 680ME?

I had a BoxDrive 600XL on a MAN TGE 4x4 180 with the auto box, straight from a T6 Ocean I couldn’t really get on with. Loved it and only changed due to having another child. Chassis and drivetrain way better than the Ducato 2.3 180bhp I m in now but with the 5.4t coach builts, there;s very little other option. Can t recommend a Ducato on anything smaller though.

Edited by Spuffington on Saturday 31st May 10:03

[HarryW]

If looking at the 6.8m MAN then Knaus 680 is nice, as is the Wildax Altair I mentioned earlier.
Adria do a Max version of their Twin Campervan on the MAN chassis too.