VW type campers

Author
Discussion

bxlbaz

Original Poster:

383 posts

150 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
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Hi folks,
Just mulling the idea of getting a small camper van for driving around Europe in, at maybe 7-10 days at a time.
A camper van appeals because of size and ease of driving, we may stay at hotels during the drives or go into towns.
There are just 2 of us so I think a decent spec Campervan should do us.
Do any of you have any thoughts or experiences using one of this type of vehicle ?
Thanks
Barrie

Zoon

6,654 posts

120 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
quotequote all
The only thing I know is that you'll pay scene tax and they are like dog poo, one on every corner.
But there must be something good about them as people keep buying them.

RedWhiteMonkey

6,806 posts

181 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
quotequote all
My inlaws have a VW California Beach and we (me, wife and 21 month son) are free to use it whenever we want. We are based in southwest Germany which is ideal for tours of Europe. In recent years we have done Norway, France, Italy and lots of Germany. In two weeks we fly to Helsinki to take over the VW from our inlaws when they finish their holiday and spend two and a half weeks exploring Finland.

Easy to drive, the wheels are pretty much the four corners of the vehicle and the controls feel just like a Golf or similar. Two people can travel and sleep in a VW camper with ease, in fact I suspect you could go smaller without any issue. Smaller options include the VW caddy that has a tent attachment or the Nissan NV200(?). The only big decision is whether you want a fitted kitchen. The one we use doesn’t, so you get a bigger sleeping area. What it does have is a really nice aftermarket storage unit in the boot that stores a gas cooker, a fridge, pans and general storage. Apparently my father in law has bought the side panels for the canopy so that it has a large living room tent on the side, not used it yet though.

TartanPaint

2,981 posts

138 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
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They're rarely forever vehicles as the novelty wears off eventually, so focus more on the depreciation than the price or the features.

We spent a fortune (for us) on our lightly used California, but sold it on again for what we paid, so it was nearly free.

bxlbaz

Original Poster:

383 posts

150 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
quotequote all
thanks all

Kneetrembler

2,069 posts

201 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
quotequote all
I have a VW van that I had converted by SLIDEPODS Devon a full width double bed and the sink & two burner gas cooker is in a unit fixed in the van that slides out the rear when you use it.
Before this we had Range Rovers, but wouldn’t go back to those again as this gives us everything that we need an everyday vehicle and also a camper.

troika

1,862 posts

150 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
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California Ocean. They are not perfect but are the best overall package IMHO. It’s been done to death on all the forums, there are a few decent conversions but they are the same money, if not more expensive. With the Cali, it’s one throat to choke if there are issues and hold their money like nothing else. Dead easy to sell on as well, conversions can be very tricky to shift. It’s horses for courses and personal choice. Best thing to do is go and look at a few and if serious, hire a couple to help make your decision.

mr shoddy

107 posts

123 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
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Take a look at the Mazda Bongo. There are loads around with lots of different conversions and configurations. They are cheap too. A tiny fraction of the cost of a VW.

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Monday 6th August 2018
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How practical are these kinds of campers for a couple of people for a fortnight or so? I'm tempted by something like a Bongo for the AWD which could be useful on wet grassy campsites. Tend to camp a fair bit but never stayed in camper.

TartanPaint

2,981 posts

138 months

Monday 6th August 2018
quotequote all
Mrs TP and I lived in a California for 6 months. But we're used to touring in an Elise with a tent, so it was sheer luxury for us.

RedWhiteMonkey

6,806 posts

181 months

Monday 6th August 2018
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
How practical are these kinds of campers for a couple of people for a fortnight or so? I'm tempted by something like a Bongo for the AWD which could be useful on wet grassy campsites. Tend to camp a fair bit but never stayed in camper.
Have no experience of the Bongo but looks big enough. If you’re used to camping I think you’ll have no issues with this size camper for two weeks. A pop up roof makes a big difference, whether is for extra sleeping/storage space at night or just so you can stand up inside. Two of us and toddler have no issues in a VW California for two weeks.

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Monday 6th August 2018
quotequote all
Do some of them have sleeping space in the popup roof then? I don't even know what the internal layouts are like so would want to look at plenty before buying anything.

I can happily fit everything I need for a fortnights camping on the back of my motorbike, but somehow if I go camping with the wife for a weekend I have to fold the seats down in my Octavia to fit everything in biggrin (That's a little unfair as she is capable of packing for a hiking weekend but tends to pack to fill the available space)

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 6th August 09:53

RedWhiteMonkey

6,806 posts

181 months

Monday 6th August 2018
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
Do some of them have sleeping space in the popup roof then? I don't even know what the internal layouts are like so would want to look at plenty before buying anything.

I can happily fit everything I need for a fortnights camping on the back of my motorbike, but somehow if I go camping with the wife for a weekend I have to fold the seats down in my Octavia to fit everything in biggrin
Not sure if all of them have sleeping space there, you’d need to check before buying, but the VWs definitely do. The roof tends to be a bit cooler as you’re effectively sleeping in something a kin to a tent, albeit with a solid roof.

mr shoddy

107 posts

123 months

Monday 6th August 2018
quotequote all
Yes most have a type of floor in the pop up roof so you can sleep up there. It's usually a bit cooler and noisier but certainly do able.

Kneetrembler

2,069 posts

201 months

Tuesday 7th August 2018
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The SCA VW approved pop top roof has a full width bed when the roof is up and a Safari canvas that unzips right back round, you can sit up there and watch the world go by or if you’re motor racing you get great views.
Dead easy to put up.

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Thursday 9th August 2018
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We've easily done 2 weeks in Scotland in a Bongo and there's 4 of us. My kids are 8 and 10 and sleep in the roof.

We do have a drive away awning for extra space though, either a smaller pop up Quechua or a much bigger Vango inflatable.

bxlbaz

Original Poster:

383 posts

150 months

Friday 10th August 2018
quotequote all
Great comments thanks all

SimonTheSailor

12,543 posts

227 months

Friday 10th August 2018
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They just seems CRAZY expensive to me, maybe you get your money back a bit later but the VWs are a lot of money. They are just vans with kitchen cupboards in.........and a bit of plumbing.......and electric........

mike9009

6,918 posts

242 months

Saturday 11th August 2018
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Zoon said:
The only thing I know is that you'll pay scene tax and they are like dog poo, one on every corner.
But there must be something good about them as people keep buying them.
We have just got back from a 14 day jaunt down to St Jean de Monts in France in our T25.

Our T25 cost £4000 six years ago and probably worth £6000 now.

We only saw one other T25 during our whole trip and to be fair only a handful of T4s and T5s.

Picture of our little beast in St Jean de Monts this week.







flatso

1,240 posts

128 months

Saturday 11th August 2018
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The MB Viano drives better, the V6 diesel is a nice, refined powerplant (for ist class) and the Facelift model has a much more comfortable suspension then the VW. It is also cheaper then the ridiculously expensive VW. It is 199 cm tall so it will do any Underground parking.

There is a Viano "FUN" Version, which is basically a 7 passenger Version with a pop-up Roof and rear bench that transforms into a bed.
It does not have an integrated kitchen, but we have a brilliant portable kitchen from the US (GrubHub) that

We have been touring around Europe with one of These for the past 3 years with 2 small kids. Works fine in the summer, for colder weather we want something bigger now.

They are extremly versatile vehicles, like a swiss army knife.