VW campervans and alternatives

Got our VW from here, you take or buy and ex lease hire van from them various specs and they convert to your spec. Been around years quality fit and finish :0) Top fellas!

http://www.leisuredrive.co.uk/

Worrying

Re: Bongos. I’m a fan. But I’d never, ever even think of spending 10k let alone 15k on one.
Ours was £4750 with 66k miles. Totally unconverted (which is what we wanted). Some clever ‘across the back’ conversions with sink and fridge come in at <1k and can be removed for day-to-day use.
That’s where it’s at for me. With 15k, I’d be converting my own T5 without a doubt.

Good bongos start at 5k ish, mine was 7k with 35k miles, I was 1st owner from import fsh (in japan) rwd not 4wd with a/c e/w c/l, fitted blinds and curtains, pop top, auto box,
Had it four years and been all over eu and uk, not missed a beat, use it as daily car (I’m a visiting support worker) and it fits in a standard parking place, nice to drive as well

I’ve got a MWB VW LT35 which is basically the same thing as Andy’s Sprinter. Slowly working through a DIY conversion…

[/url]

[/url]

[/url]

[/url]

Van cost £3.8k, spent probably another £2-3k on bits and pieces – new saab leather seats, swivels, full lining, insulation, panelling, carpet, beds, eber heater, water tank, pump, tap, sink/stove, leisure batts, split charger, lights, skylight… It is a lot of work though – which is why mine’s still not done 9 months after starting…

I did a bit of “fiddling” with my bongo. Made a cross rear galley (sink/Weaco fridge/2 ring hob). kept one forward facing bench seat. Modified the front seat runners so the driver/passenger seats could be lifted out and put back in reverse. Essential in a bongo IMO where it is a very cramped vehicle and there is a lot of spare space in the front.

Still I agree with Sam, it all takes so much time, which was why I bought a pre converted Van.

And now for something completely different:

For those of you where money is no object and whose requirements are a camper van / rustic guest cottage / small lorry:

http://www.tonkecampers.nl

Another lottery win option – not sure what the design brief was for this, but the exterior looks like it was designed for Steve Peat, while the inside looks like it was designed by Jordan:

http://www.v-trek.com/

whose requirements are a camper van / rustic guest cottage / small lorry

thats niché worthy of STW 🙂

That is beautiful.. only two berth though.

I seriously wish they made caravans that nice. Well, Tab do, but I wish more people did 🙂

Molgrips – do you mean the V trek or the Tonke?

Most of the Tonke ones are three berth.

A yes.. two or three those tonke. Still nice, but how practical is that lovely walnut exterior?

To be honest they’re nicer than standard campervans and no more expensive really.

And for a spot of seriously gnarly motorcaravanning.

http://www.unicat.net

http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/mercedes-benz/unimog/mercedes-benz-unimog-expedition-camper-concept/

I’d love to have one of these if only for turning up at the local Camping and Caravan Club Rally (Motor Caravan Branch) and scaring the bejesus out of the old dears in their matching leisure fleeces.

To be honest they’re nicer than standard campervans and no more expensive really.

I guess you’re right – comparable with a high end coach built motorhome certainly. Also have the advantage of the base vehicle earning it’s keep as coal lorry / milk float.

Check the interior on this one…. it’s nicer than my house.. and about the same exterior dimensions. Try getting that into Tescos carpark:

http://www.unicatamericas.com/photos_man14264.html

Lol@sprocket.

I have seen those unicats before. Wtf is that huge bank of dials and knobs in the 6th picture?

Wtf is that huge bank of dials and knobs in the 6th picture?

They’re the controls for the bank of SAM missiles cunningly integrated into the cassette toilet….Either that or it has a very complicated microwave oven…

EDIT: Looking at the specs, I would say that they control either:

The BGAN global communications system (voice and data) or the Portable (Spectra “Aquifer”) 6 gph reverse osmosis unit

Clear?

Yes sir!

I wonder who buys those things.. News agencies? Research organisations? Armies?

Wannabe Bond villains or Thunderbirds characters mostly I expect.

I’d love to drive over a hummer in one of those.

vw’s are a hobby for those with fashion over function in mind. get a sprinter – even vw agree which is why the newer LT series are sprinters with a different badge
(awaits backlash)

vw’s are a hobby for those with fashion over function in mind. get a sprinter – even vw agree which is why the newer LT series are sprinters with a different badge
(awaits backlash)

Well you did ask…

Next time you’re out and about, count up the number of VW vans on the road which are more than 10 years old compared to non VW vans of similar vintage. Not so many are there? At least not many which aren’t already rusting away. Do the math, as they say.

It may be self fulfilling prophecy because they’re so coveted and consequently well looked after, but generally VWs just age so much better.

The only reason there are so many VW vans on the road is that the world of fashion decided they were trendy. The usual faux bohemian inverted snobbery type thing that’s been going on since the 60s.

The only reason there are so many VW vans on the road is that the world of fashion decided they were trendy. The usual faux bohemian inverted snobbery type thing that’s been going on since the 60s.

There’s probably an element of truth in that, but I’d still take my 15 year old T4 over a 15 year old Transit anyday.

SprocketJockey, I’m not sure that’s true at all, possibly it’s a geographic thing but up here I doubt the VWs are even a big minority. Old Talbots etc, sure. Various van conversions. But not that many VWs.

Anyway, all these campers are clearly teh gay. I want a camper conversion in one of these…

2000lb-ft of torque. That’ll tow a lot of broken down T2s.

Oh well, maybe another, why not.

up here I doubt the VWs are even a big minority. Old Talbots etc, sure. Various van conversions.

Where’s “up there”. Minsk?

Edinburgh. I’ve been places where VWs are more common, cornwall and devon obviously, but not so many back home.

I’ve been on a few road trips in Andy’s sprinter…

Once your nose gets over the smell of old brut, and you’ve passed the ‘where things go in the van’ test, and Poddy’s 6 pairs of spare wheels are all packed away, it’s actually a pretty decent journey…. 😉

DrP

Northwind, really? Plenty of Transporter conversions floating around Edinburgh. I pass two on the mile and a bit into work and if you include mine that’s three.

I don’t know about the fashionista aspect but i bought mine because it was the best tool for a particular job. Size, comfort, quality, overall feel and stealth camping (also it is 5cm shorter than the majority of carpark height barriers).

Daily driver and hobby, best of both worlds? The T5 is a Kombi so is like a car to use. I chose the T5 due to the high residual value and hopefully hence low depreciation. Not been that reliable though, DMF and gearbox so far. Splitty is great, but thirsty. Best fun thing I have ever driven.

Russell