Our 7 Month Wait is Nearly Over...

[Davenjo]

We are off to the Motorhome and Caravan show at the NEC tomorrow to browse and purchase all of the extra bits be didn't know we needed (we are seasoned tent campers and have a garage full of gear but I'm sure there will be some things we still "need"!!).

Then, on Friday, we are off to Derby to pick up "Noo the Gnu". Since the van arrived with them less than 2 weeks ago, Hillside have pulled all the stops out to hit our deadline against a backdrop of preparing for the NEC show last week and having a large chunk of their workforce there setting up and staffing the stand this week. Hopefully there won't be any last minute hiccups!

Then, on Sunday, we are off with fully laden van, bikes and boat on trailer for a week in the Lake District - an event I have organised for a small group of others, hence my insistence on the van being ready for this weekend.

To say we are getting a little excited would be an understatement!!

 

[Loz]

We are off to the Motorhome and Caravan show at the NEC tomorrow to browse and purchase all of the extra bits be didn't know we needed (we are seasoned tent campers and have a garage full of gear but I'm sure there will be some things we still "need"!!).

Like a ridge monkey sandwich toaster

 

[Davenjo]

Like a ridge monkey sandwich toaster

Ohhh ohhhh - will have to dig out my diablos

 

[Simmo49]

Hope Hillside get it finished on time @Dave Harris , a mate of mine had a long wait for his Brand new T5.1 LWB conversion there and when he did get it they had forgot to put a door on the toilet wash area!
It's a lovely van though and the finish is superb although he had a few niggles they were all sorted.
It wasn't the cheapest at 50k+ but I think he did his homework and Hillside came out the best option for his preferred layout.

 

[Davenjo]

@Simmo49 - me too! We have gone for a SWB with a pop top rather than the high top as it gives us more flexibility to use as a car so no separate "toilet wash area" for us. I think any conversion will have a few niggles/snagging issues - the measure will be how well they are dealt with if/as found.

Agreed they are not the cheapest but, before ordering, we went to one of their open days where we were able to see vans at various stages of conversion to see what goes into the build and how well they are put together. We could have ordered one of their brand new stock van and had it converted within about 3 or 4 weeks but decided to spec exactly what we wanted, hence the 7 month wait with VW.

I say "exactly what we wanted" but since joining this forum I've come across a few more grands worth of extras I could of specified with VW!

 

[former member]

Hope it all goes well Dave!
I think we now qualify as "seasoned" campervan users (had our last Cali three years, done a 5 week Euro trip in the current one) so feel free to ping any questions over; takes some getting used to after tenting but it's SO much better!

 

[Davenjo]

Hope it all goes well Dave!
I think we now qualify as "seasoned" campervan users (had our last Cali three years, done a 5 week Euro trip in the current one) so feel free to ping any questions over; takes some getting used to after tenting but it's SO much better!

Thanks - may well take you up on that offer!! Main things for us is to gain the ability to tour a bit more (too much faff putting tent up and down for less than 4 or 5 nights) and extend the camping season which, as we get older, seems to be getting shorter and shorter!!

 

[Pedro]

This post is brill, I'm reading it and getting excited for you, that's when you know it must be good
Enjoy.

 

[Buggirl]

Excited!

 

[Loz]

My fingers are almost stripped of nails now, collection is pencilled for Friday paperwork is done, but I don't know if it's got to the dealer yet so let's see what happens tomorrow...

 

[Buggirl]

My fingers are almost stripped of nails now, collection is pencilled for Friday paperwork is done, but I don't know if it's got to the dealer yet so let's see what happens tomorrow...

Exciting! Pics as soon as you get her please!

 

[former member]

My fingers are almost stripped of nails now, collection is pencilled for Friday paperwork is done, but I don't know if it's got to the dealer yet so let's see what happens tomorrow...

It'll be great to have another California on the forum!

 

[BiTurbo]

Fantastic, I bet you are well excited. We looked at hillside as they were on our list. But just too much plastic edging for me.

 

[Walski]

I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of this one Dave, will be a nice compare and contrast to mine. Also heard a lot of good things about Hillside.

 

[Roadrunner]

Last years Camping and Caravan show. Check out the T5 & 6's
Spud's Daily Photo: The Caravan Show

 

[Davenjo]

Noo the Gnu is finally here - looking forward to our first week away starting on Sunday.

 

[BiTurbo]

Awesome.... Enjoy!

 

[Mojo]

That looks great, I bet you are all well chuffed! @Dave Harris

 

[Walski]

Sweeeeeeett. Nice one at @Dave Harris, looks really nice. Campers look really nice in grey..... oh I guesss I would say that!!!
Loving the bike rack too. That's coming up on my purchase list. I'm guessing you'll be doing some fiddling with it tomorrow (or like me when I got mine back, happy to just sit in it all day!!), if you get chance, would you mind measuring how far out from the tailgate the bike rack sits in the closed position. So I can see if my van will fit in my garage with it still attached. Cheers.

 

[StudleyGlass]

Very smart guys , you will have great adventures in that baby