Small panel van conversions

[Helzie]

Hi

We currently have a small camper van and are going to go for a slightly bigger van when I retire as we will be spending more time in it. However, we only want to go up a bit in size as we have to park on our narrow street, which has marked spaces, and we are likely to do a lot of touring on single track roads.

I quite like the look of the Globecar Roadscout R and the Knaus Boxstar 540, which are both 5.4 metres long and 2 metres wide. They would just manage to fit within the parking bays on our street but would be a lot more comfortable for a long trip than our current van.

Does anyone have any experience of either of those?

Are there any other PVCs around this size that we should consider?

Thanks.

 

[colinm]

We have the larger Campscout which has some of the same design points. Had the van nearly ten years now and have been very happy with it.
Some things which you might want to consider.
The bed in the Roadscout R is fairly narrow, 4'4" at head end, 3'10" at foot end ?
I think the fridge is compressor on that model, for offgrid you might want to have extra battery and solar panel.
The washroom is a slightly smaller version of ours, if it works as well at that size, then it's a brilliant way of getting a decent size washroom in a small van.
We had the standard twin hob replaced by a twin hob with grill.
If you can stretch to the 6m model it will seem much more spacious, with a better bed etc.

 

[Helzie]

We have the larger Campscout which has some of the same design points. Had the van nearly ten years now and have been very happy with it.
Some things which you might want to consider.
The bed in the Roadscout R is fairly narrow, 4'4" at head end, 3'10" at foot end ?
I think the fridge is compressor on that model, for offgrid you might want to have extra battery and solar panel.
The washroom is a slightly smaller version of ours, if it works as well at that size, then it's a brilliant way of getting a decent size washroom in a small van.
We had the standard twin hob replaced by a twin hob with grill.
If you can stretch to the 6m model it will seem much more spacious, with a better bed etc.

Great to hear that you are happy with the Globecar. Did you buy it new?

The bed in our current campervan is only 97cm wide (so 3ft 2in) and that's the whole length! We sleep head to toe to make room for our shoulders. Luckily we are short to make up for our wide shoulders.

We have a compressor fridge in our current van and it seems to do fine with the solar panel we fitted. I think we would definitely have a solar panel again.

No washroom or toilet in our current van (just a portable one) — anything at all would be luxury!

Good idea with the grill.

 

[AllanD]

Are there any other PVCs around this size that we should consider?

Have a look at the Auto-Sleepers Symbol, it's on the 5.4 meter MWB Boxer. We had one and loved it, no problem spending 2 month trips away in it. It was a little tight for storage and cooking space, we adapted and managed ok but when the new Symbol Plus was launched we traded it in for one to have the extra storage space and great kitchen layout. The Plus model is on the 6 meter LWB Boxer so sounds like it would be too tight for your parking bay.

 

[Helzie]

I quite like the 'garage'-type storage space in the Globecar and Knaus. I think it looks a bit bigger and better layout than storage under the bench seats.

 

[colinm]

Great to hear that you are happy with the Globecar. Did you buy it new?

The bed in our current campervan is only 97cm wide (so 3ft 2in) and that's the whole length! We sleep head to toe to make room for our shoulders. Luckily we are short to make up for our wide shoulders.

We have a compressor fridge in our current van and it seems to do fine with the solar panel we fitted. I think we would definitely have a solar panel again.

No washroom or toilet in our current van (just a portable one) — anything at all would be luxury!

Good idea with the grill.

Yes we got it in 2011.
Well the bed should be much better.
I would guess SMC are well versed in fitting grills to Globecars by now.

 

[1807truckman]

Hi, an alternative is from RP Motorhomes the Rebel is based on the medium wheelbase Mercedes Benz Sprinter, it comes in at 5.9 metres.

RP Motorhomes

Luxury motorhome and sporthome panel van conversions. Specialise in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van conversions. We are the class leader, award winning company who offer adventure, functionality and fun, finished off with the RP Motorhomes quality and exceptional high standards; a truly luxurious motorho

www.rpmotorhomes.com

 

[wildebus]

I would think a van with the high bed and garage underneath would give the maximum storage.
A van with an overhead cab (are they available in PVCs?) would extend the living/sleeping area without increasing vehicle length.
If you need to keep within 2M width as much as possible, that would take the Ducato/Boxer/Relay versions out the picture, which would really limit the factory-made options.
a MWB Master/Movano would I think fit within your external space limitations, but the Ducato base with the extra few inches of width and straighter walls would be better maybe for living with?

 

[Helzie]

Hi, an alternative is from RP Motorhomes the Rebel is based on the medium wheelbase Mercedes Benz Sprinter, it comes in at 5.9 metres.

RP Motorhomes

Luxury motorhome and sporthome panel van conversions. Specialise in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van conversions. We are the class leader, award winning company who offer adventure, functionality and fun, finished off with the RP Motorhomes quality and exceptional high standards; a truly luxurious motorho

www.rpmotorhomes.com

I'm afraid that's just too long for us to consider due to the constraints on parking in our street. There are marked bays, the street is fairly narrow, and it's a crescent so curved as well!

 

[Helzie]

I would think a van with the high bed and garage underneath would give the maximum storage.
A van with an overhead cab (are they available in PVCs?) would extend the living/sleeping area without increasing vehicle length.
If you need to keep within 2M width as much as possible, that would take the Ducato/Boxer/Relay versions out the picture, which would really limit the factory-made options.
a MWB Master/Movano would I think fit within your external space limitations, but the Ducato base with the extra few inches of width and straighter walls would be better maybe for living with?

But the Roadscout R on the Fiat Ducato base is only 2.050m wide so that would just fit in the parking spaces.

I think practically anything we get would be an improvement on our current set up as far as comfort and space are concerned. The advantage with our current camper van (which is only 4.85 x 1.8) is that it really drives like a car and is pretty easy to park.

 

[Helzie]

I've been doing some web searches this afternoon. It's hard to weigh up the pros and cons. I like the extra garage storage in the vans with a transverse bed in the back and the lounge/kitchen at the front. But I like the all round windows at the sitting area in the vans which have the lounge in the back (but the storage looks less useful and you can't leave the bed made up).

 

[colinm]

I would think a van with the high bed and garage underneath would give the maximum storage.
A van with an overhead cab (are they available in PVCs?) would extend the living/sleeping area without increasing vehicle length.
If you need to keep within 2M width as much as possible, that would take the Ducato/Boxer/Relay versions out the picture, which would really limit the factory-made options.
a MWB Master/Movano would I think fit within your external space limitations, but the Ducato base with the extra few inches of width and straighter walls would be better maybe for living with?

The newer Master/Movano's are wider than a Ducato/Boxer/Relay.

 

[colinm]

I've been doing some web searches this afternoon. It's hard to weigh up the pros and cons. I like the extra garage storage in the vans with a transverse bed in the back and the lounge/kitchen at the front. But I like the all round windows at the sitting area in the vans which have the lounge in the back (but the storage looks less useful and you can't leave the bed made up).

Have you actually been in any? Go and sit in a few and see what suits you.
For biggest lounge area front lounge with rear galley/washroom are best, but storage is not always good, rear lounge also have reasonable lounging space, and once again storage space can be limited. The Roadscout at first glance seems to have less lounging area, but with our Campscout we often use the front and rear for lounging, for longer trips it helps keep our sanity with being at each end of the van in the evening.

 

[Helzie]

Have you actually been in any? Go and sit in a few and see what suits you.
For biggest lounge area front lounge with rear galley/washroom are best, but storage is not always good, rear lounge also have reasonable lounging space, and once again storage space can be limited. The Roadscout at first glance seems to have less lounging area, but with our Campscout we often use the front and rear for lounging, for longer trips it helps keep our sanity with being at each end of the van in the evening.

yeah, we are planning to hire a Roadscout for a week.

 

[colinm]

yeah, we are planning to hire a Roadscout for a week.

Good idea, we have had campervans for decades, when our T25 died we thought a WildAx Aurora would suit us, had lots of work on and was also building a house, had no time to sort out a purchase so hired one for a week away, good job we did, gf's claustrophobia kicked in big time in the transverse bed, nightmare week away. That's why we got the Campscout with longitudinal beds.

 

[Derekoak]

We are away for months at a time in a small camper, your existing footprint or smaller. I know you want to upgrade, but driving like a car and getting up very narrow tracks, and parking easily at home and elsewhere, and probably better mpg, are big advantages.

 

[Trotter]

As has already been said.
1, A fixed bed layout will give plenty of storage under. ( My preference)
2, A rear bathroom, front lounge will give you more than enough living space, although limited storage.
Here you’ll need to decide if you’re going to live “in” or “out of” ,your van.
A Ducato or variant will give you the option of sleeping across the van. There are pods you can fit to the outside of Mercedes Sprinters to extend the width. I’d ask, why bother. The Spinter may well be the better van if you want to do 2000000kms. A camper will never do that sort of mileage.
You say that the current van has a 32 inch bed. A MWB Ducato, will allow for a 4ft6in bed bed,with storage under. And if the cab seats are used for lounging, you’ll have masses of space for kitchen and bathroom .
All of the above is only an opinion, I’m sure there will be others who will disagree.

 

[Helzie]

We are away for months at a time in a small camper, your existing footprint or smaller. I know you want to upgrade, but driving like a car and getting up very narrow tracks, and parking easily at home and elsewhere, and probably better mpg, are big advantages.

Gosh, you must be well organised to be away for months in a camper the size of ours! The longest trip we have done is 2 weeks. Ours is fine when the weather is great, and particularly if we are somewhere were we can pitch a pup tent for decanting stuff out of the way, but it's a bit claustrophobic when we are both stuck inside when it pours with rain all day.

 

[Aly]

Have you looked at the Hymer. They have a 5.4m van.

HYMER Fiat camper vans at a glance | HYMER camper van

Powerful, economical Fiat engine, open visual axis and unique concept for two people. The HYMER Fiat camper van is the flexible all-rounder.

www.hymer.com

 

[Derekoak]

Well yes You must be immune to claustrophobia to do it. We are in France and have been away for 4 weeks, still hope to be away for another 4.
Going to a place where it is warm and does not rain much, is good. But we have no awning or tent (except the one we use for nights away from the car) just a doblo xl, with every nook filled with stuff. We can get a bike rack on the back, backpacking stuff and 2 packrafts, fresh food for 5 days, 70 litre compressor fridge, water for 5 days, lpg for 6 weeks, propex, solar panel, always wildcamping. It is a bit of a Tardis.