VW Camper van - where to buy?
Discussion
Hi,
My friend is looking to buy her husband a VW Camper (T5/T6) for his 50th Birthday (Lucky man!). She is after some advice of what to look for and potential companies who can help her navigate the myriad of different options? I follow Rolling Home Campers on insta and they look good. Any other companies the ol PH massive can recommend? Or any buying tips gladly received?
Cheers
My friend is looking to buy her husband a VW Camper (T5/T6) for his 50th Birthday (Lucky man!). She is after some advice of what to look for and potential companies who can help her navigate the myriad of different options? I follow Rolling Home Campers on insta and they look good. Any other companies the ol PH massive can recommend? Or any buying tips gladly received?
Cheers
towser44 said:
A work colleague has one and insists you need one with at least a 150 BHP engine definitely not a 102 BHP one!
The 102 and 150 are exactly the same engine, just different states of tune from the factory.A £300 Pendle or Revo map will sort that little issue, out of warranty obviously.
The VW camper van is a great idea but the beds are only 112cm, 120cm or if you are lucky 130cm.
The roof beds aren’t really designed for 2 adults to climb up in after a drink, can you sleep on a small double mattress with walls either side?
I chose to go simple and get a VW Kombi And fit a Forty Winks bed system and place a mattress on top. What I have is a usable vehicle and when I want it, a camper. Throw in a mattress, the camping boxes and off we go.
The roof beds aren’t really designed for 2 adults to climb up in after a drink, can you sleep on a small double mattress with walls either side?
I chose to go simple and get a VW Kombi And fit a Forty Winks bed system and place a mattress on top. What I have is a usable vehicle and when I want it, a camper. Throw in a mattress, the camping boxes and off we go.
As has been mentioned above, LOADS of cowboys who think they can buy a 10k van, throw some flat pack units in it and a bed and charge £25k.
Look for reviews if you're buying a conversion. Exploria, New Wave Customs, Vanworx, Rolling Homes (as mentioned - they look decent), Alpine Campers etc. There are various conversion companies who buy vans, fit them out basically to a template and sell them. The beauty of a conversion is that you can specify it to your own tastes - theres a whole world of things to consider:
- LWB/SWB base van
- tailgate or barn doors
- pop top or not (or high top)
- slimline units/wider bed or wider units and thinner bed
- interior colours
- all the small things like external gas points for BBQ, awning rails etc etc.
I've owned my conversion from Alpine Campers for getting on for 6 years now and its been brilliant. The entire build has stood the test of time and had a magazine feature last year. Just a shame I can't be out getting some use out of it at the minute!
Look for reviews if you're buying a conversion. Exploria, New Wave Customs, Vanworx, Rolling Homes (as mentioned - they look decent), Alpine Campers etc. There are various conversion companies who buy vans, fit them out basically to a template and sell them. The beauty of a conversion is that you can specify it to your own tastes - theres a whole world of things to consider:
- LWB/SWB base van
- tailgate or barn doors
- pop top or not (or high top)
- slimline units/wider bed or wider units and thinner bed
- interior colours
- all the small things like external gas points for BBQ, awning rails etc etc.
I've owned my conversion from Alpine Campers for getting on for 6 years now and its been brilliant. The entire build has stood the test of time and had a magazine feature last year. Just a shame I can't be out getting some use out of it at the minute!
My trouble is I think I need several campers....I want a small one for narrow lanes (think trips to Wales, Cumbria etc)....but a bigger one to enable off-grid us (think nice toilet option!)
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk were amongst the nicest we saw at the NEC last year - really good quality. Not cheap, but looked very well made & the fella at the show clearly knew his stuff!
The other one I quite like (aside from the tall appearance!) is the Wingamm Micro-S - a regular VW sized footprint (but a bit taller ;-), but with full drop down comfy looking bed plus full wet room. Loads of decent detail (one central locking key opens ALL the doors/access cupboards etc) A German pal of mine has an older one and raves about it. Maybe the idea compromise. But the height does look odd ;-)
Oh yeah, & then I think maybe https://www.go-barefoot.co.uk is the answer....but then I think "down winding lanes?", & I take that age-old path of "doing nothing". Then I think how much cash I just saved, and perhaps I'll just carry on camping or B&B/hotelling
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk were amongst the nicest we saw at the NEC last year - really good quality. Not cheap, but looked very well made & the fella at the show clearly knew his stuff!
The other one I quite like (aside from the tall appearance!) is the Wingamm Micro-S - a regular VW sized footprint (but a bit taller ;-), but with full drop down comfy looking bed plus full wet room. Loads of decent detail (one central locking key opens ALL the doors/access cupboards etc) A German pal of mine has an older one and raves about it. Maybe the idea compromise. But the height does look odd ;-)
Oh yeah, & then I think maybe https://www.go-barefoot.co.uk is the answer....but then I think "down winding lanes?", & I take that age-old path of "doing nothing". Then I think how much cash I just saved, and perhaps I'll just carry on camping or B&B/hotelling
Edited by mikeiow on Tuesday 26th May 12:18
Robotron-2084 said:
towser44 said:
A work colleague has one and insists you need one with at least a 150 BHP engine definitely not a 102 BHP one!
The 102 and 150 are exactly the same engine, just different states of tune from the factory.A £300 Pendle or Revo map will sort that little issue, out of warranty obviously.
towser44 said:
Robotron-2084 said:
towser44 said:
A work colleague has one and insists you need one with at least a 150 BHP engine definitely not a 102 BHP one!
The 102 and 150 are exactly the same engine, just different states of tune from the factory.A £300 Pendle or Revo map will sort that little issue, out of warranty obviously.
But I had a standard 102 and found it fine.
I didn't feel the need to go fast in a camper, each to their own I guess.
Trevor555 said:
A factory 150 comes with 6 speed gearbox also.
We have a 140bhp T5.1 version and the 6 speed gearbox makes a huge difference on the motorway, it just cruises and so much quieter.The other big thing to watch for is so many converter companies also seem to only use the lowest Gross Vehicle weight. So T26 is 2.6T is T28 is 2.8T etc. We went for a T30 as that gives us more room for load carrying, after fitting all the campervan conversion stuff like kitchens etc does use up available load quite quickly.
The other option to consider is tailgate vs barn doors. Tailgate is preferred as it serves as a shelter from the weather, but we went for barn doors as easier to open when in parked up in narrow places.
Camper King seem to do a good number of VW conversions with various different model types & offer bespoke options too & are based in Warwickshire - I’ve not got a camper though have seen a few on my travels. They appear to offer both SWB & LWB conversions.
A 102ps van can be easily remapped by the way to 140.
A 102ps van can be easily remapped by the way to 140.
http://www.platinumcustomconversions.co.uk/
Based in South Wales near Swansea
If you want a bespoke conversion these guys are superb
They can also find a van to convert for you
T5 T6 or Crafter or similar sized van
Based in South Wales near Swansea
If you want a bespoke conversion these guys are superb
They can also find a van to convert for you
T5 T6 or Crafter or similar sized van
New Wave are great, expensive but great!
I've bought a T28 panel van and will convert it to a day van.
No cooking in the van for me!
My only concern is the diesel engine, I can see the T5 engine being banned / charged for very soon. Maybe the T6 Euro 6 soon after?
I've bought a T28 panel van and will convert it to a day van.
No cooking in the van for me!
My only concern is the diesel engine, I can see the T5 engine being banned / charged for very soon. Maybe the T6 Euro 6 soon after?
Edited by rustyuk on Wednesday 27th May 21:45
The official VW California are probably the best assembled and depreciate the least. Our friend purchased one last year and managed to spend £60K without all the upgrades. We had an orange 1975 T2 Westfalia and fancied replacing it with something much more modern in a similarly bright colour. The problem we had with T6 Californias is that they have a dull palette of colours unless you buy the stripped out Beach model in grape yellow.
After months of viewing we bought a 2018 chrome yellow conversion from Knight Custom Conversions. It has diesel heater, solar panels, reimo roof etc etc and the converter seems to have done a very good job compared to most of the other conversions we viewed.
If you're not bothered about colour and customising then you'd be daft to not just get a factory California.
After months of viewing we bought a 2018 chrome yellow conversion from Knight Custom Conversions. It has diesel heater, solar panels, reimo roof etc etc and the converter seems to have done a very good job compared to most of the other conversions we viewed.
If you're not bothered about colour and customising then you'd be daft to not just get a factory California.
Robotron-2084 said:
The only issue/s with a Cali is they are all swb, suicide side door and you can’t put them through the business.
I looked long and hard at them before I got my Kombi, I’d still like one, but not until the kids have left home.
A kombi is treated as car for tax purposes unfortunately I looked long and hard at them before I got my Kombi, I’d still like one, but not until the kids have left home.
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