I'm looking at buying a camper, a Westafelia Berlin seems to be the best option as it will sleep 5. Just wondered if anyone had any experiences and also how the seating while driving works out?
Berlin is T2 only, isn't it? Proper seatbelts for three in the back is unlikely.
If you need sleeping for 5, get a 6 berth minimum. And with 3 kids you need a bedroom (at least) so they can go to bed while you're still up.
br - I would get an awning if we were away as a full family, so that would give us the room. Just worried that if I buy one and the family hate it, it might not get used... I guess I could just go off biking on my own for some peace in it...
Mm. I think unless you can bung some of 'em into an awning or pup tent, you're into coachbuilt territory here. Still, probably cheaper than a roadworthy VW 😉
A bay window camper for 2 adults and 3 kids is going to be a squeeze !
Even if they are all very young kids.
And for driving, as mentioned above, bay windows are not going to have three sets of three point seatbelts in the back.
A Caravelle or Multivan (in T3 or T4 flavours) with a poptop/roof bed and a kitchen in the back might work if the kids are small.
Worked for us and our parents in the '70s (Devon Sundowner FTW!)
Targa green, lifty roof, bunks either side, hammock thing across the front and a double bed in the back.
No seatbelts, but great memories. 😀
hello everyone, I'm Meg and new to the forum! I just saw this post and thought i would comment as I love VWs and we rented a hippy camper last year as my husband wanted to buy one. We used a site called [url= http://www.camperbug.co.uk ]Camperbug to find a van[/url]It had a pop top roof, we've got a 3 year old and they slept in the roof, and there were rear seats that folded into a bed. All in all, it was pretty good fun but I think if you've got 5 travelling in it you might want to just borrow or hire one before committing? Even if it's just for a day just to get a feel.
How old are the nippers?
Iwan at www.amdro.co.uk has three nippers and they seem to get on fine in the vans that he converts. I have an Amdro kit, it's excellent (no kids though)
Not saying you couldn't do it with three! But it might be stretch...If they were a little older a pop up tent could be useful. Also awnings are a great way to add extra sleeping areas.
I have a new T5 California and two young kids of 6 and 8. Its fine for us and I know you can get the hammock thing for the front seats.
In all honesty 5 in one will be a squeeze and a military operation to cook/sleep/dress.
Bigger 4 berth 'fridges' would be a better bet. Or what I'm looking at which is to keep the camper for all our weekend trips etc but an eriba caravan for longer trips with 2-3 extra beds etc. THey are very light (can be towed by a smart/mini) and low enough to store in a garage because of their pop roof.
Not cheap, but last a long time and combined alot cheaper than a fridge tupecamper (Caravan on the back of a truck) which is a bit of a single use vehicle.
i know that's a ramble but the upshot is you will not be comfortable in a small camper with 3 children. Doable, but there are better solutions.
And they are all expensive unless you buy an old one..
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2 + 2 in T4 w pop up roof.
Can sleep 2 up 2 down if we're just stopping at an aire. When we get to a site we put a big quechua pop up tent up and all sleep in that usually.
The awning option is of course there. And that looks very like the one I used!
I had assumed the intention as all in the tent!
Plenty of awning options if kids and/or mum and dad happy to sleep under canvas. Then it's very doable, quite cheap and easy!
Ok, try .vwcamperco.com. They know their onions.
We did have an awning/drive away tent, but it was heavy, clumsy, and a bit of a git to erect.
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we do occasionally use a simple sheet awning that slides into a Reimo multi rail now to give us a bit of outside shelter without popping up the quechua. It takes up very little space and one person can put it up or take it down in a couple of minutes.
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