The quest has started......

[Cuffy]

Posted my "hello" thread last week and thought I would start a new thread on “Operation Connie”, (It will be named after the wife's Nan)

So the weekend was upon me and we have started the long road of ascertaining which camper would be right for our needs, no kids but 2 dogs will be our travelling companions.

A swift trip was on the cards to Tewkesbury to see the guys at The Camper Van Factory to get some ideas, advice and take a look around their stock and what they currently have under conversion. I must admit, they were excellent in answering what must have appeared to be some daft questions but as we are both new the whole camper thing I couldn’t fault them for their knowledge, patience and friendliness.
After an hour of interrogation, wandering around, snooping in all the little cubby holes, we have decided to go down the SWB route, the wife felt more comfortable in the SWB than the LWB.

Within an hour of leaving, they had supplied me with a list of their current stock and price lists which included the basic conversion, they’re shifting around 4 vans per week and their stock doesn’t hang around for long, it would have been very easy to become too impulsive, pick a van and handover some of the queens English and leave grinning like an idiot. However, we did refrain.



Next was a trip down to Big V Kampers & Kustoms in Swindon who specialise in all things conversion, met with the owner, Karl. He is like the oracle of the transporter world, very impressive set up, has over 20 staff working for him and an order book which is full until October, he gave us loads of sound advice on the conversion process and what to look for when sourcing a van, for either conversion or one that’s already been done.
I'm waiting for him to send me a spec list, we then pick what we want for the conversion, he will then tell us if it's doable on the budget that we're looking at. He is totally honest and upfront, no hidden agenda or last minute add-ons.


What’s next on the agenda I hear you ask?

Well, it will be to test drive a few different variants, preferably already converted to give an idea on power, drive comfort etc. I’m hoping to get down to Reading this weekend to do just this, as I said earlier, it’s very easy to be impulsive but I don’t want to buy the 1st thing that I see and regret, head over heart needs to be the way forward.

Once I know which engine type, size, power etc I want, the search will then start in earnest.
I do like the idea of sourcing a van and having the bespoke conversion, but as many on here would probably testify, the budget can run away from you very quickly when you start looking at all the Gucci kit that is on the market. Must remember head over heart.

Definitely not ruling out an oven ready van as patience is not my strongest point and having to wait for a conversion would send me bananas.

I shall keep this post updated of my findings and errant ramblings and hopefully in the not too distant future I will be posting in “Show us your T6”



All advice gratefully received.

Peace out.

Cuffy.

 

[t6blo]

Exciting times.

Can’t comment on the campervan bit as my use case for my van is as a Kombi not to sleep in.

I would fully recommend a DSG (semi auto) gearbox mated to a 150 Euro 6 engine (as futureproof as you’re going to get from an emissions perspective right now).

Also ensure van has aircon - useful in winter to stop misting up as well as summer. Plus helps with resale.

Both my vans have been DSG and I wouldn’t go back to a manual - maybe it’s because I am lazy/nearly 50

 

[Cuffy]

I would fully recommend a DSG (semi auto) gearbox mated to a 150 Euro 6 engine (as futureproof as you’re going to get from an emissions perspective right now).

Also ensure van has aircon - useful in winter to stop misting up as well as summer. Plus helps with resale.

Both places I visited said the same about A/C, they also said if you're going down the DSG route, expect ta pay more for the van, this will then eat into the conversion budget. The wife is hung up on low mileage where as I'm not too bothered, as long as it hasn't been to the moon and back. I will certainly take your advice on board, I'm over 50, so the auto is turning my head

 

[t6blo]

You’ll pay a small premium for DSG for sure, but they also make the drive abit more special and less van like so worth every penny in my opinion.

 

[Texxaco]

Exciting times.

Can’t comment on the campervan bit as my use case for my van is as a Kombi not to sleep in.

I would fully recommend a DSG (semi auto) gearbox mated to a 150 Euro 6 engine (as futureproof as you’re going to get from an emissions perspective right now).

Also ensure van has aircon - useful in winter to stop misting up as well as summer. Plus helps with resale.

Both my vans have been DSG and I wouldn’t go back to a manual - maybe it’s because I am lazy/nearly 50

Agreed with @t6blo DSG all the way. Make your life easier especially if you’re planning on a camper conversion.

Air con is not something you should omit from your list unless you like boiling In your van in the summer plus retrofit of air con is not cheap or easy.

 

[SAJO]

Look forward to your adventures, from my own perspective I bought a DSG, and would recommend it, but as others have stated be prepared to pay a premium for this. I agree about a Euro 6 engine to future proof yourself. My van is due for its first stage of conversion in two weeks time, looking forward to it.

 

[Mule]

If you're not in a hurry, one of the best ways of ensuring you have the correct spec (and therfore keeping control of costs), is to hire a couple of different campervans to get a feel for how you would use it and what you'd prioritise. i.e. Is there enough room for the dogs as well as a bed when it's laid flat, or would the LWB be better?
How are you using the storage, do you need room for a porta potty etc? Or will you be making use of a drive away awning which means you can decamp all of the 'stuff' you need?

We had fun hiring before we bought so treated that cost as mini holiday rather than part of 5he van purchase.

Good luck with your research and the ever growing shopping list for things you didn't realise you needed!

 

[Cuffy]

If you're not in a hurry, one of the best ways of ensuring you have the correct spec (and therfore keeping control of costs), is to hire a couple of different campervans to get a feel for how you would use it and what you'd prioritise. i.e. Is there enough room for the dogs as well as a bed when it's laid flat, or would the LWB be better?
How are you using the storage, do you need room for a porta potty etc? Or will you be making use of a drive away awning which means you can decamp all of the 'stuff' you need?

We had fun hiring before we bought so treated that cost as mini holiday rather than part of 5he van purchase.

Good luck with your research and the ever growing shopping list for things you didn't realise you needed!

Good shout on hiring different spec's of van, didn't really cross my mind.
Definitely like the look of the drive away awning. As you said, gives a bit more scope to dump stuff.
Cheers for the advice so far.

 

[interbear]

Good luck with your venture. We are relative newbies to campervan world and would advise the following after our purchase earlier this year and early use experience.

1) The van itself - DSG 150 all the way. It’s a delight to drive. Easy to use and powerful enough to handle most challenges. LED headlights recommended, they’re excellent. Reversing camera recommended. The SWB is easy to manoeuvre and the wing mirrors are nice and big, but we’ve found the reversing camera really useful addition. Highline recommended also, air con is a must and Apple CarPlay we’ve found really f good for navigation. We didn’t spec the on board satNav, an expensive and unnecessary option.
2) Camper conversion - we’ve found the RIB bed really good, easy to set up and pack up every day. We’re recommend a Webasto diesel heater. We have a Reimo Easyfit pop top roof / bed, also very easy to use and the spoiler on the front helps reduce wind noise. We also specced an oven/grill in ours but have hardly used it so wouldn’t do so again. Gas wise we went with the simple 907 camping gaz approach due to concerns on availability of LPG with the underslung tank option.
3) Converter - As you seem to be south west located, I’d recommend you pop down to visit Autohaus Factory in Minehead. They did our conversion, it’s excellent, a couple of friends have the same, all happy with the quality and service. All of their standard conversions are based on Highline spec T6.1 SWB with reversing camera and LED lights included. Home - Autohaus
4) Other stuff - Driveaway awning is indeed good for storage and the dogs or others that travel with you. First time we tried it in France a few weeks ago was a right faff but after 2/3 attempts at connecting and disconnecting it it became super easy. Worth investing in. Although we also have a Fiamma F45 wind out awning with storm straps which is great for weekend trips.

Enjoy the adventure of purchasing your camper, it’s almost as much fun as then using it

 

[Sackmycook]

Posted my "hello" thread last week and thought I would start a new thread on “Operation Connie”, (It will be named after the wife's Nan)

So the weekend was upon me and we have started the long road of ascertaining which camper would be right for our needs, no kids but 2 dogs will be our travelling companions.

A swift trip was on the cards to Tewkesbury to see the guys at The Camper Van Factory to get some ideas, advice and take a look around their stock and what they currently have under conversion. I must admit, they were excellent in answering what must have appeared to be some daft questions but as we are both new the whole camper thing I couldn’t fault them for their knowledge, patience and friendliness.
After an hour of interrogation, wandering around, snooping in all the little cubby holes, we have decided to go down the SWB route, the wife felt more comfortable in the SWB than the LWB.

Within an hour of leaving, they had supplied me with a list of their current stock and price lists which included the basic conversion, they’re shifting around 4 vans per week and their stock doesn’t hang around for long, it would have been very easy to become too impulsive, pick a van and handover some of the queens English and leave grinning like an idiot. However, we did refrain.



Next was a trip down to Big V Kampers & Kustoms in Swindon who specialise in all things conversion, met with the owner, Karl. He is like the oracle of the transporter world, very impressive set up, has over 20 staff working for him and an order book which is full until October, he gave us loads of sound advice on the conversion process and what to look for when sourcing a van, for either conversion or one that’s already been done.
I'm waiting for him to send me a spec list, we then pick what we want for the conversion, he will then tell us if it's doable on the budget that we're looking at. He is totally honest and upfront, no hidden agenda or last minute add-ons.


What’s next on the agenda I hear you ask?

Well, it will be to test drive a few different variants, preferably already converted to give an idea on power, drive comfort etc. I’m hoping to get down to Reading this weekend to do just this, as I said earlier, it’s very easy to be impulsive but I don’t want to buy the 1st thing that I see and regret, head over heart needs to be the way forward.

Once I know which engine type, size, power etc I want, the search will then start in earnest.
I do like the idea of sourcing a van and having the bespoke conversion, but as many on here would probably testify, the budget can run away from you very quickly when you start looking at all the Gucci kit that is on the market. Must remember head over heart.

Definitely not ruling out an oven ready van as patience is not my strongest point and having to wait for a conversion would send me bananas.

I shall keep this post updated of my findings and errant ramblings and hopefully in the not too distant future I will be posting in “Show us your T6”



All advice gratefully received.

Peace out.

Cuffy.

@RDT

 

[Long tall John]

Looking at the size of your dogs I would consider a long wheelbase if you’re planning to sleep in the van. Also one of the most haves in my opinion is power latching on the sliding door (different to power closing).

 

[Ayjay]

I'd agree with everything @interbear said above. Although I might think about remapping as and when the VW warranty expire, we've got a 150PS and find it plenty enough for us. Ours is manual and I would have preferred an auto but after searching for the right van for a long time, that was one compromise that we had to make in the end - if we ever started again, I'd hold out for it. That said, I think the main reason for that is that I hadn't had to drive a manual in years before getting the van. My wife always stuck with manual on her cars and it didn't bother her at all. We also visited The Campervan Factory - they talked a good game and their conversions looked OK but what put me off was that the vans all seemed to be relatively low powered and 5 speed (albeit often remapped) which I didn't think I could live with after driving a few. That said, others on here are very happy with them but each to their own.....

 

[Bav]

I'd urge you to reconsider a LWB van. Negligible difference driving; marginal difference parking; massive difference camping. IMO, the only valid reason for going SWB is if you don't have room for parking a LWB at home

Other than that, I concur with the Highline 150 DSG suggestions above, with LED lights a very nice to have.

 

[SAJO]

I'd urge you to reconsider a LWB van. Negligible difference driving; marginal difference parking; massive difference camping. IMO, the only valid reason for going SWB is if you don't have room for parking a LWB at home

Other than that, I concur with the Highline 150 DSG suggestions above, with LED lights a very nice to have.

Wahey; looks like I got the right combination myself, thats pretty my base van, now just need to get on converting it.

 

[Cuffy]

I'd urge you to reconsider a LWB van. Negligible difference driving; marginal difference parking; massive difference camping. IMO, the only valid reason for going SWB is if you don't have room for parking a LWB at home

Other than that, I concur with the Highline 150 DSG suggestions above, with LED lights a very nice to have.

I'll send you the wife's number so you can argue the point too

 

[Bav]

I'll send you the wife's number so you can argue the point too

If it is "just" [ahem] the wife that's preventing you going LWB, it might be an idea to arrange a back-to-back test drive of both. My money would be on her not being able to notice any difference driving.

 

[Ayjay]

@Bav. When I was looking for my van, I did just that and couldn't get over how much difference that extra foot or (or whatever it is) made - even though I would have preferred LWB, I couldn't quite make the leap. I probably don't help that I had never owned or, indeed, driven a van until then and none of those that I tried had a rear camera but they did all have rear sensors (and I was very used to driving large military type vehicles).
That was probably a good job as our parking situation has since changed and the van and car that we park on the drive now only just fit - the wheels are within the drive but one of them overhangs the pavement by about 45cm - a LWB would be just too far out.

 

[Bav]

@Bav. When I was looking for my van, I did just that and couldn't get over how much difference that extra foot or (or whatever it is) made - even though I would have preferred LWB, I couldn't quite make the leap. I probably don't help that I had never owned or, indeed, driven a van until then and none of those that I tried had a rear camera but they did all have rear sensors (and I was very used to driving large military type vehicles).
That was probably a good job as our parking situation has since changed and the van and car that we park on the drive now only just fit - the wheels are within the drive but one of them overhangs the pavement by about 45cm - a LWB would be just too far out.

I've never done the back-to-back thing, but I've driven both variants (1 hired, 1 borrowed - both campers) and I could hardly perceive any difference on the road. Perhaps that's a just a comment on my perceptiveness.

Totally accept a LWB is a non-starter if you can't fit it on your drive. Where I live, single track roads mean that it's either on your drive (fully), or it's parked half a mile away, out of sight and potentially very vulnerable.

 

[Ayjay]

@Bav. Maybe I wasn't clear, I couldn't tell the difference on the road either. It was when I tried to drive the thing in reverse that I had the problems with the extra lump sticking out the back. That's not so much to do with perception but more to do with my crap driving and / or reversing techniques (PS. I didn't much like revering my own SWB much either until I got a rear camera on it).

 

[Bav]

@Bav. Maybe I wasn't clear, I couldn't tell the difference on the road either. It was when I tried to drive the thing in reverse that I had the problems with the extra lump sticking out the back. That's not so much to do with perception but more to do with my crap driving and / or reversing techniques (PS. I didn't much like revering my own SWB much either until I got a rear camera on it).

I classify myself as a confident (perhaps over-confident) driver, but I gotta admit that I wouldn't want to reverse a LWB without a rear camera and I would probably try and avoid parallel parking one, with or without a rear camera.