VW camper wilders

[Jean]

T25

Hi there,
We have a T25, Daisy. Had her for 9 years. Been all over GB and Europe with her.

 

[listerdiesel]

Here's one we saw in the USA in 2010 at the Portland engine show:

Peter

 

[Summer]

Campervan

Hi all.
Just wondering how many VW Camper owners were on here. Most of the guys on here own lovely new warm motorhomes lol.
Just in the middle of insulating mine.

I'm a happy camper an owner

 

[wildebus]

Oooo, didn't notice this thread.

Yup, I guess I am one of these (Camper info here)
T5 LWB Shuttle based self-conversion :drive:

 

[Kajay]

VW T6 conversion

We have a cosy VW camper van. Since finishing our conversion end of August last year we’ve overnighted 13 different places in some amazing wild camp spots, found with Wild Camp App, and a few scenic campsites but we avoid static caravan type sites as tend to be busy and regimentally laid out. Our van is custom converted to our spec, not the normal layout. Just enough room for the two of us to camp out in comfort.

 

[Nabsim]

Do you find it a bit awkward having cupboards/cooker at the roof low end Kajay? My mate is wanting a T5 conversion (or get one done to his spec) but is looking at low end being bed end, he says you don’t need height there. Asking as you will have experience of it where he is just going off pictures and what dealers say to him

 

[Discokegs]

1976 bay window as seen in my pic.

 

[Kajay]

Do you find it a bit awkward having cupboards/cooker at the roof low end Kajay? My mate is wanting a T5 conversion (or get one done to his spec) but is looking at low end being bed end, he says you don’t need height there. Asking as you will have experience of it where he is just going off pictures and what dealers say to him ��

We purposely didn’t have a cooker/sink unit fitted as I didn’t want to cook inside the van. It was more important to have a comfortable seating area, and lots of storage which we couldn’t have with cooking/sink unit. We use a Cadac to cook outside and it’s more enjoyable than cooking in basically what is your lounge/bedroom/loo all crammed into a confined space. We have a roof Bed, an L-shaped small extra sofa bed with storage underneath for awning, and all our walking gear. A built in portaloo, built in large standard coolbox, two storage cupboards, and storage above loo and coolbox. When our van is packed up,nothing is on show, and we can still have comfortable sitting space. The roof we have is a HiLo roof, which is high at both ends, so if your friend is fitting a cooker unit there’s ample head room at back as well as front end.

Not having a sink/cooker works great for us, if weather is bad, we can either use awning or pub to eat out .

P.S the second pic I posted is double purpose built unit with built in loo and coolbox, both just pull out to use, then slide back in again. The worktop lifts up for more storage on top, we store TV and other stuff there. The tall cupboard is for storage, and so is the small cupboard next to it. When we viewed conventional conversions, at shows, i used to wonder where all stuff would be stored as very limited. Not having sink/cooker unit was best for us. We can experience outdoor camp cooking with comfortable seating and sleeping area with no clutter on show

 

[wildebus]

The main reason all the Campervan conversions you see at shows have a hob in them is that without the hob it is NOT a Campervan. It really is that simple. No Hob ... No classification as a "Motor Caravan" under DVLA/DVSA rules.
(this reclassification rule was the only reason I fitted a little kitchen pod with single burner in my VW T4, but actually was handy for brewing up TBH).

both my T4 and T5 were standard low roof tin-tops and having a high roof LT now truly is much much better (IMO) I have to say. I did look at elevating roofs for headroom (rather then sleeping) purposes and the side-elevating was the one I nearly went for on the T4 (sort of like the one in the first photo in this post - https://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/motorhome-chat/35955-vw-camper-wilders.html#post410661)

 

[Caz]

Funny, never noticed this thread before.

I changed my Swift Sundance 530LP for an Autosleeper Trooper - VW T4 - in November 2015. I love the van but it is really too small, even for just me and the dog, and I'm thinking it's time I upsized again.



And before anyone comments that I'm driving on the wrong side of the road - that photo was taken by a friend when I drove past her somewhere in France last year.

 

[wildebus]

Funny, never noticed this thread before.

I changed my Swift Sundance 530LP for an Autosleeper Trooper - VW T4 - in November 2015. I love the van but it is really too small, even for just me and the dog, and I'm thinking it's time I upsized again.

View attachment 64049

And before anyone comments that I'm driving on the wrong side of the road - that photo was taken by a friend when I drove past her somewhere in France last year.

Those Troopers are very nice Campers and hold their value brilliantly

I think the T4/T5 size Campers are great as a everyday Vehicle you can also go away in. But how families of 4 or 5 (usually plus a dog or two) manage I have never got my head around.

 

[Nabsim]

Thanks Kayjay, hope you dont mind I have sent him the pics and your comments, may give him some fresh ideas as he was angling towards a small tent as well for him and missus to sleep in while little un was in the van. They could all 3 sleep in a layout like yours no worries

 

[Kajay]

The main reason all the Campervan conversions you see at shows have a hob in them is that without the hob it is NOT a Campervan. It really is that simple. No Hob ... No classification as a "Motor Caravan" under DVLA/DVSA rules.
(this reclassification rule was the only reason I fitted a little kitchen pod with single burner in my VW T4, but actually was handy for brewing up TBH).

both my T4 and T5 were standard low roof tin-tops and having a high roof LT now truly is much much better (IMO) I have to say. I did look at elevating roofs for headroom (rather then sleeping) purposes and the side-elevating was the one I nearly went for on the T4 (sort of like the one in the first photo in this post - https://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/motorhome-chat/35955-vw-camper-wilders.html#post410661)

We’re not fussed about what it’s classed as with DVLA. It’s still a camper van to us

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Funny, never noticed this thread before.

I changed my Swift Sundance 530LP for an Autosleeper Trooper - VW T4 - in November 2015. I love the van but it is really too small, even for just me and the dog, and I'm thinking it's time I upsized again.

View attachment 64049

And before anyone comments that I'm driving on the wrong side of the road - that photo was taken by a friend when I drove past her somewhere in France last year.

Caz, have you thought about a slightly bigger Autosleeper?

I do love them.

Unfortunately newer Autosleeper vans are a bit over our budget, but if you have the money you can pick up some pretty some decent ones second hand.

 

[Robmac]

We’re not fussed about what it’s classed as with DVLA. It’s still a camper van to us

I've also done that sort of camping, but all of the habitation gear was removable from the van.

The only problem I can foresee is if you ever have to make an insurance claim. Is it insured as a campervan?

 

[Robmac]

...having said that, I see that this firm offer day van insurance, which would probably cover your needs;

DIY - Self Build Campervan Insurance and Day Van Insurance

I've never heard of that before.

 

[wildebus]

I've also done that sort of camping, but all of the habitation gear was removable from the van.

The only problem I can foresee is if you ever have to make an insurance claim. Is it insured as a campervan?

This is the thing ... You can have two identical vans, one is classified as a Motor Caravan, one is still a Panel Van, and in the even of an insurance claim writeoff, the Panel Van is worth whatever a basic panel van is worth, plus limited contents. But the Campervan is worth maybe twice as much or more plus the value of all the camping accoutrements. (plus Campervan Insurance is usually cheaper plus Campervans under 3.05t ULW are subject to car speeds, not commercial van speeds)

Why make life more difficult for yourself?

 

[Caz]

Caz, have you thought about a slightly bigger Autosleeper?

I do love them.

Unfortunately newer Autosleeper vans are a bit over our budget, but if you have the money you can pick up some pretty some decent ones second hand.

Yes I have thought about a bigger Autosleeper. Or an Adria, Wildaxe, Autocruise, Timberland, Devon and any other PVCs that spring to mind, in fact I think about them constantly! Most of the ones I really like are way beyond my budget and would be wasted on me with my hound who can wreck things without really trying, :dog: in fact because of him I don't want anything too new and shiny so am looking at quite old ones - but they tend to be smaller and not have the layouts I like.

I'll find something.

 

[Kajay]

I've also done that sort of camping, but all of the habitation gear was removable from the van.

The only problem I can foresee is if you ever have to make an insurance claim. Is it insured as a campervan?

Hi, it’s insured as a van with modifications. I’ve informed insurance of them all. Hubby bought it as panel van through his business for work. We already had another van that he continues to use for work. The mods are seating, cupboards, and diesel heater and poptop roof bed. No fitted gas or fridge. We wanted more storage and not having a fitted sink/cooker and fridge gave us that plus a more comfortable layout and second bed sofa bed that we can use if putting poptop up is not an option when overnight parking. We are only weekend campers, and daytrippers. Spur of moment stop overs if we find a nice spot. Cook outside in the fresh air or eat out.

 

[Deleted member 53168]

from holland

I bought a VW T25 Syncro 16" almost five years ago and broke it during my first holiday. I was busy repairing it the last 5 years (on and off) and now we travel in it finally.