VW type campers
Discussion
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.
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.
mike9009 said:
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.
If it wasn't a Hi-Top it'd be worth nearer to ten for an early aircooler like that without rot. T25s are the last affordable VW but even they're starting to go northwards. Bay windows are often north of £20k and splitscreens twice that for good ones... despite the... shall we say "acquired taste" of a driving experience. T5s are still too new to have got cheap (and are basically a modern van with windows, if that's your bag)Our T25 cost £4000 six years ago and probably worth £6000 now.
To the OP; Westafalia are the camper conversions most sought after in VW pop-tops for the simple reason they were to such a standard that VW actually warranted and approved. Plenty of "lesser" conversions are to as good a standard though, and with ones like the Viking you get much more roofspace than int he Westie; you could sleep three children with a bit of wriggle room in a Viking roof. Not all pop-tops have a sleeping arrangement in the roof though, some are simply an extension to give you more headroom, which might be more suitable if there's just the two of you.
For the "ground" floor, most VW convos will have a rock'n'roll bed; a flat upholstered panel above the engine cover, then two others which fold to make a seat base and back or go flat to extend the fixed panel into a bed. Some are full-width of the van, more often three-quarters (still enough for two adults who can tolerate each other). Most campers have a row of three or more units opposite the side door which are generally power interface and storage; sink with plumbing, water storage and gas bottle; hob with fridge. Though obviously these can be moved about or bespoke as the owner likes.
The sky's the limit for add-ons' "captains" front seat that swivel to face the living area; pop-up awnings that can be like an entire frame tent (and that you can leave separate free-standing if you need to drive the van away for excursions); roll-out sun awnings; tables; extra seats; an entire discotheque of lighting options; even toilets (though do you really want to perform that kinda business in your sleeping space?). Many time-served firms in the aftermarket supplying everything you might ever need
Edited by Nik da Greek on Saturday 11th August 16:12
Addendum; If you buy a VW from T25 back be prepared to adjust to a slower pace of life.... fast they ain't! My T25 is a two-litre aircooled and it's slower than my (eleven year older) 1200 Beetle 
Hills will have you causing traffic queues. Waterboxers and turbo diesels are a bit less affected by terrain challenges, but IMHO loose the appeal of having a VW (simple, aircooled mechanicals) and aren't appreciably faster in the top end anyway
Hills will have you causing traffic queues. Waterboxers and turbo diesels are a bit less affected by terrain challenges, but IMHO loose the appeal of having a VW (simple, aircooled mechanicals) and aren't appreciably faster in the top end anywayNik da Greek said:
mike9009 said:
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.
If it wasn't a Hi-Top it'd be worth nearer to ten for an early aircooler like that without rot. T25s are the last affordable VW but even they're starting to go northwards. Bay windows are often north of £20k and splitscreens twice that for good ones... despite the... shall we say "acquired taste" of a driving experience. T5s are still too new to have got cheap (and are basically a modern van with windows, if that's your bag)Our T25 cost £4000 six years ago and probably worth £6000 now.
Edited by Nik da Greek on Saturday 11th August 16:12
Ours is not perfect and we prefer the convenience of having the high top. (ie a day trip to the beach means pulling up and putting the kettle on) We are slowly getting the rot contained (more welding planned this winter) and then eventually a respray. But to be fair ours is in pretty good nick, just needs keeping on top of (this year was new interior, last year oils leaks and windscreen out, prior year new carbs fitted etc. etc.). We also do not have the original Solex carbs (not sure if this damages the value?) and have replaced with twin Webers. I prefer it this way.... Ran faultlessly over two weeks in France....
Ours was originally an Autohomes pop-top but at some stage in its life it had a high top installed.
Yeah, I didn't mean that to sound critical of hi-tops... just to say that they tend to go a bit cheaper than fabric ones. I was very tempted myself when we bought our pop-top, but it was just the fear of car park height barriers that swayed us 
Yours certainly doesn't look rotted in the pic, looks great (although they all like a bit of a rot, don't they? 
) . Fortunately in ours the smell of oil leaking from the rocker box onto the heat exchanger and burning off stops the damp carpet smell getting too strong
Yours certainly doesn't look rotted in the pic, looks great (although they all like a bit of a rot, don't they? ) . Fortunately in ours the smell of oil leaking from the rocker box onto the heat exchanger and burning off stops the damp carpet smell getting too strong Late to the party here.
Running a T4 (2.5) with a rock and roll bed and a pop top.
Just come back from two weeks in Cornwall (450+ mile drive for us to get there) two adults and two kids (12 and 11)
No furniture, but I was always a bit of a legend on Tetris and that's stood me well for camping in the van.
I pack a folding table, twin gas stove + bottle, 4 compact sleeping bags and a box with all cooking essentials + food in any gaps under the seat. Then we use 2 x kit bags and 4 folding chairs as they can 'mould' to the gap down the side of the seat where most would have furniture. They double up as padding for a mega width bed lol!
The rest of the space is for the two iSUPs, 1 x surfboard and 4 x bodyboards On the back is the towbar mounted bike rack with 4 bikes.
You can squeeze loads more in the gaps everywhere and it all just sets up when you get to your location.
Oh...this year I took a 2 man tent for my son....could have got away with not having it, but was handy.
Big thing to remember....less is more....! Did one night in Treen, 6 at Gwenver and 7 at Polzeath before heading home....spending 4 nights in our own beds then another two at Whitlingham broad this weekend..
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIBEoxPBDjX/?taken-by=...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl3LH6Jg7CY/?taken-by=...
Love it....it's a honking smoke pile and my friends have fancy new vans, but we love it and use ours more than they do. That being said, we holiday abroad too, so my budget ain't all van.
Running a T4 (2.5) with a rock and roll bed and a pop top.
Just come back from two weeks in Cornwall (450+ mile drive for us to get there) two adults and two kids (12 and 11)
No furniture, but I was always a bit of a legend on Tetris and that's stood me well for camping in the van.
I pack a folding table, twin gas stove + bottle, 4 compact sleeping bags and a box with all cooking essentials + food in any gaps under the seat. Then we use 2 x kit bags and 4 folding chairs as they can 'mould' to the gap down the side of the seat where most would have furniture. They double up as padding for a mega width bed lol!
The rest of the space is for the two iSUPs, 1 x surfboard and 4 x bodyboards
On the back is the towbar mounted bike rack with 4 bikes.You can squeeze loads more in the gaps everywhere and it all just sets up when you get to your location.
Oh...this year I took a 2 man tent for my son....could have got away with not having it, but was handy.
Big thing to remember....less is more....! Did one night in Treen, 6 at Gwenver and 7 at Polzeath before heading home....spending 4 nights in our own beds then another two at Whitlingham broad this weekend..
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIBEoxPBDjX/?taken-by=...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl3LH6Jg7CY/?taken-by=...
Love it....it's a honking smoke pile and my friends have fancy new vans, but we love it and use ours more than they do. That being said, we holiday abroad too, so my budget ain't all van.
Had this Bongo for 10 years now. Fully converted and also good for tip runs! V6 Petrol auto with A/C and , touch wood, has been as good as gold.
Camping for 2 is just about bearable but bear in mind you'll need an awning / gazebo to put all the crap in overnight [ or put it in the roof if nobody is up there ]
My daughters have currently bagged it for a trip to Scotland
Loads of info at www.igmaynard.co.uk Bongo Fury site
Camping for 2 is just about bearable but bear in mind you'll need an awning / gazebo to put all the crap in overnight [ or put it in the roof if nobody is up there ]
My daughters have currently bagged it for a trip to Scotland
Loads of info at www.igmaynard.co.uk Bongo Fury site
Myself and the Mrs have a camper van converted from a 2008 VW T5 with 145k miles on the clock. It's brilliant. Drives well, insanely practical and you can p
s off at the drop of a hat. Id have no hesitations sleeping in it for a few weeks (longest I've done is around 7 days)
We had a sky line pop top fitted earlier this year with a roof bed and we actually prefer to sleep up there as it's less hassle than making the rock and roll bed up and leaves the kitchen area free for morning tea and coffee if somebody is up first.
s off at the drop of a hat. Id have no hesitations sleeping in it for a few weeks (longest I've done is around 7 days)We had a sky line pop top fitted earlier this year with a roof bed and we actually prefer to sleep up there as it's less hassle than making the rock and roll bed up and leaves the kitchen area free for morning tea and coffee if somebody is up first.
bxlbaz said:
Thanks for all the info, what are your thoughts on Westfalia models generally such as the Kepler One ?
The Westfalia models are the only vans I’d consider other than a California. Friends of ours bought a new Club Joker City. It’s a completely different layout to the Cali, has a loo and a shower, but virtually no storage and the downstairs bed is really a single, which could be problematic in bad weather when you might want to sleep downstairs. They have also had problems with it (the Westfalia stuff, not the base van) which involves taking it to Hampshire every time (still not fixed). For me, that would make it a no no but I do admire the design. I went in it a couple of weeks ago. The drive and ride is nowhere near the Cali and it squeaks and rattles all over the place. I think they are quite close to swapping it for a new Cali. The Keplar One interests me. There is a chap on here with one who will be able to give you chapter and verse on it. If we were doing longer European trips I’d have to take a serious look. It’s LWB so a bit more space and with a loo and shower, great for off grid camping. However, based on the ownership experience our friends have had with the Joker, I’d need to be convinced by the quality and support.
flatso said:
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.
Also makes it cheaper on Autoroutes too.I am in the process of turning this 2013 ex Miele service van
Into this...
Just some odds and ends to tidy up and it’s done.
Mixture of some DIY, some off the shelf parts, some custom parts... but far more personality than most of the stuff I could find for sale
If there’s enough interest I can do a full build breakdown.
Into this...
Just some odds and ends to tidy up and it’s done.
Mixture of some DIY, some off the shelf parts, some custom parts... but far more personality than most of the stuff I could find for sale
If there’s enough interest I can do a full build breakdown.
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