New camper purchase advice

However fantastic a conversion with a rear bench seat that is fixed is a no no for me. Your kids will be a long way back on a journey.
 
two-saabs said:
Can it be added as an optional extra? It can in Switzerland. Unfortunately the UK site is not working for me right now so I can't check.
Click to expand...
Not to my knowledge.
 
WelshGas said:
Not to my knowledge.
Click to expand...
I'm trying to add to the configurator now, its there as an option, but not working!

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

VW Van Configurator | Build Your Own VW Van | VW Vans

Configure your Volkswagen Van and build your own van in a few simple steps. Discover our pick-up trucks, camper vans, kombi and panel vans.
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

@Original poster - If this is a route you're interested in, give the dealer a call and ask them to use their configurator to check it can be done or not (it = add hook-up power to a Beach Tour)
 
Cali pros-
- Whole vehicle beautifully designed with the support and expertise of one of the world's biggest vehicle makers.
- Built in a factory, not a barn/workshop.
- Whole vehicle warranty ditto.
- High residuals.
- Drives like a car.
Cali cons-
- Henry Ford. Any layout you want as long as it's this one.
- Sliding door drivers side only.
- Upholstery specced by someone who has no dogs or children. Dark and speckly should be an alternative.
I bought a low spec new Coast. No regrets so far. Delivered Jan 21 three months from order. Rear cam, 80l tank, window in roof, Ascot Grey. Good luck whatever you choose.
 
Thank you everyone for your advice and comments.

I think we have decided to go with a conversion from Platinum Wave Campers in Solihull, placed £1k deposit. We like the interiors of some of the conversions we have seen more than we did the California. We also liked the additional space a LWB would afford us (2 adults, boys 2 and 4, and a German Wirehaired Pointer), we do plan on using this as the family second car. Reviews I have seen seem very positive, but there doesn’t seem to be much mentioned about them on many of the forums that I have looked at. They claim to be a large luxury VW conversion company (of which there seems to be many!).

We have viewed a two tone light blue/candy white top LWB 6.1 t32 DSG 150bhp with delivery miles and we were impressed, the cost has jumped up from our planned £50-55k mark to £62k for the conversion in question. The only important thing missing for us was a Webasto but they have agreed to retrofit for £1000 (with the cost to them supposedly being £1600).

The spec below is standard on their luxury conversions -
  • Pop top roof from Westdubs (seem good?)
  • Smev 9222 combi sink cooker unit
  • Top of range Waceo Crx50 fridge
  • Touch on touch off L.E.D lights with double sockets
  • Top of range leisure battery
  • 240v hook-up
  • Sargent Power Management System
  • All made from lightweight ply
  • Double swivel seats
  • Matching luxury leather upholstery
  • Hard wearing Altro flooring
  • Lots of storage space
  • Overhead lockers
  • Rock n Roll bed – M1 Crash Tested (brand is Fabworx)
  • Fully lined, insulated with Veltrim, Hydroweld & Peace Matt
  • Fresh and waste water tanks with 12v pump
The following is specific to the conversion we are looking at -
  • Reverse Camera
  • Cruise Control
  • 7 Speed DSG Automatic
  • 150 BHP
  • Long Wheelbase (LWB)
  • Air Con
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Bluetooth
  • DAB Radio
  • Apple Car Play & Android Auto
  • Luxury Insulated Blinds (seem a lot better than many conversions we have seen)
  • Reimo Rail
  • Gloss Bed Board
  • USB Ports
  • Gas Locker
  • Smev 9222 Combi Sink Cooker Unit (No Gas Bottle Supplied)
  • Top Of The Range Waceo Crx50 Fridg
  • Sink With Clean And Waste Water Tanks
  • Touch On Touch Off L.E.D Lights With Double Socket
  • Top Of The Range Leisure Battery
  • 240v Electric Hookup
  • Power Management System
  • All Made From Lightweight Ply
  • Front Double Swivel Chair
  • Tambour Doors
  • Matching Upholstery
  • Hard Wearing Altro Floors
  • Colour Coded Bumpers
  • Manufacturers mechanical warranty
  • 12 month conversion warranty
  • 20" Velare Wheels
  • Barn Doors
  • Candy White and Squirrel Grey Two Tone
I would have liked the barn doors to have been a tailgate but I can see advantages of each.

I hope nobody comes back with any horror stories about Platinum Wave campers...?

Thanks again for the comments.

Kev
 
T32 is a good base as the extra weight capacity is needed in a LWB.
If the barn doors are a problem there is/are conversion kits available to tailgate.

I'd go for 18" wheels, better pothole handling and ride plus tyres are cheaper.
Check load rating on 20" is OK for the T32
 
Last edited:
That’s the same price I’m paying for my Ocean that’s a Campervan on the V5 etc, each has their merits I suppose.

The Van I rented last summer was a view conversion from them and that helped me choose a Cali over a conversion as IMO I don’t like carpet stuck to walls or tambour doors as I found they jam easily


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Kev3kev3 said:
Thank you everyone for your advice and comments.

I think we have decided to go with a conversion from Platinum Wave Campers in Solihull, placed £1k deposit. We like the interiors of some of the conversions we have seen more than we did the California. We also liked the additional space a LWB would afford us (2 adults, boys 2 and 4, and a German Wirehaired Pointer), we do plan on using this as the family second car. Reviews I have seen seem very positive, but there doesn’t seem to be much mentioned about them on many of the forums that I have looked at. They claim to be a large luxury VW conversion company (of which there seems to be many!).

We have viewed a two tone light blue/candy white top LWB 6.1 t32 DSG 150bhp with delivery miles and we were impressed, the cost has jumped up from our planned £50-55k mark to £62k for the conversion in question. The only important thing missing for us was a Webasto but they have agreed to retrofit for £1000 (with the cost to them supposedly being £1600).

The spec below is standard on their luxury conversions -
  • Pop top roof from Westdubs (seem good?)
  • Smev 9222 combi sink cooker unit
  • Top of range Waceo Crx50 fridge
  • Touch on touch off L.E.D lights with double sockets
  • Top of range leisure battery
  • 240v hook-up
  • Sargent Power Management System
  • All made from lightweight ply
  • Double swivel seats
  • Matching luxury leather upholstery
  • Hard wearing Altro flooring
  • Lots of storage space
  • Overhead lockers
  • Rock n Roll bed – M1 Crash Tested (brand is Fabworx)
  • Fully lined, insulated with Veltrim, Hydroweld & Peace Matt
  • Fresh and waste water tanks with 12v pump
The following is specific to the conversion we are looking at -
  • Reverse Camera
  • Cruise Control
  • 7 Speed DSG Automatic
  • 150 BHP
  • Long Wheelbase (LWB)
  • Air Con
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Bluetooth
  • DAB Radio
  • Apple Car Play & Android Auto
  • Luxury Insulated Blinds (seem a lot better than many conversions we have seen)
  • Reimo Rail
  • Gloss Bed Board
  • USB Ports
  • Gas Locker
  • Smev 9222 Combi Sink Cooker Unit (No Gas Bottle Supplied)
  • Top Of The Range Waceo Crx50 Fridg
  • Sink With Clean And Waste Water Tanks
  • Touch On Touch Off L.E.D Lights With Double Socket
  • Top Of The Range Leisure Battery
  • 240v Electric Hookup
  • Power Management System
  • All Made From Lightweight Ply
  • Front Double Swivel Chair
  • Tambour Doors
  • Matching Upholstery
  • Hard Wearing Altro Floors
  • Colour Coded Bumpers
  • Manufacturers mechanical warranty
  • 12 month conversion warranty
  • 20" Velare Wheels
  • Barn Doors
  • Candy White and Squirrel Grey Two Tone
I would have liked the barn doors to have been a tailgate but I can see advantages of each.

I hope nobody comes back with any horror stories about Platinum Wave campers...?

Thanks again for the comments.

Kev
Click to expand...
Don't know anything about Platinum Wave. In our conversation we have an underslung LPG tank in place of bottled gas. Very easy to refill at any LPG/Autogas station. Our heating runs off the LPG via a Proper heater. Think about hot water, we love it and also have an external hot shower point. For personal showers we use a small shower tent. We stayed with the 16" wheels as we found skinny wheels gave a poor ride even if they looked good. Uprated the radio for DAB unit with built in sat nav.

We have almost no carpet stuck to our walls, I could have had non if I had been more on the ball.

Enjoy the van
 
Wildcamper said:
Don't know anything about Platinum Wave. In our conversation we have an underslung LPG tank in place of bottled gas. Very easy to refill at any LPG/Autogas station. Our heating runs off the LPG via a Proper heater. Think about hot water, we love it and also have an external hot shower point. For personal showers we use a small shower tent. We stayed with the 16" wheels as we found skinny wheels gave a poor ride even if they looked good. Uprated the radio for DAB unit with built in sat nav.

We have almost no carpet stuck to our walls, I could have had non if I had been more on the ball.

Enjoy the van
Click to expand...
Have been thinking about an outdoor shower, but what happens to the waste water…does it just go on the ground or is there a catchment system..?
 
Kev3kev3 said:
Thank you everyone for your advice and comments.

I think we have decided to go with a conversion from Platinum Wave Campers in Solihull, placed £1k deposit. We like the interiors of some of the conversions we have seen more than we did the California. We also liked the additional space a LWB would afford us (2 adults, boys 2 and 4, and a German Wirehaired Pointer), we do plan on using this as the family second car. Reviews I have seen seem very positive, but there doesn’t seem to be much mentioned about them on many of the forums that I have looked at. They claim to be a large luxury VW conversion company (of which there seems to be many!).

We have viewed a two tone light blue/candy white top LWB 6.1 t32 DSG 150bhp with delivery miles and we were impressed, the cost has jumped up from our planned £50-55k mark to £62k for the conversion in question. The only important thing missing for us was a Webasto but they have agreed to retrofit for £1000 (with the cost to them supposedly being £1600).

The spec below is standard on their luxury conversions -
  • Pop top roof from Westdubs (seem good?)
  • Smev 9222 combi sink cooker unit
  • Top of range Waceo Crx50 fridge
  • Touch on touch off L.E.D lights with double sockets
  • Top of range leisure battery
  • 240v hook-up
  • Sargent Power Management System
  • All made from lightweight ply
  • Double swivel seats
  • Matching luxury leather upholstery
  • Hard wearing Altro flooring
  • Lots of storage space
  • Overhead lockers
  • Rock n Roll bed – M1 Crash Tested (brand is Fabworx)
  • Fully lined, insulated with Veltrim, Hydroweld & Peace Matt
  • Fresh and waste water tanks with 12v pump
The following is specific to the conversion we are looking at -
  • Reverse Camera
  • Cruise Control
  • 7 Speed DSG Automatic
  • 150 BHP
  • Long Wheelbase (LWB)
  • Air Con
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Bluetooth
  • DAB Radio
  • Apple Car Play & Android Auto
  • Luxury Insulated Blinds (seem a lot better than many conversions we have seen)
  • Reimo Rail
  • Gloss Bed Board
  • USB Ports
  • Gas Locker
  • Smev 9222 Combi Sink Cooker Unit (No Gas Bottle Supplied)
  • Top Of The Range Waceo Crx50 Fridg
  • Sink With Clean And Waste Water Tanks
  • Touch On Touch Off L.E.D Lights With Double Socket
  • Top Of The Range Leisure Battery
  • 240v Electric Hookup
  • Power Management System
  • All Made From Lightweight Ply
  • Front Double Swivel Chair
  • Tambour Doors
  • Matching Upholstery
  • Hard Wearing Altro Floors
  • Colour Coded Bumpers
  • Manufacturers mechanical warranty
  • 12 month conversion warranty
  • 20" Velare Wheels
  • Barn Doors
  • Candy White and Squirrel Grey Two Tone
I would have liked the barn doors to have been a tailgate but I can see advantages of each.

I hope nobody comes back with any horror stories about Platinum Wave campers...?

Thanks again for the comments.

Kev
Click to expand...
I found the tailgate pretty heavy and would actually prefer barn doors! You don't have stored foldable chairs, and it doesn't double up as a temporary roof, but I think generally it's more practical
 
couplands said:
Have been thinking about an outdoor shower, but what happens to the waste water…does it just go on the ground or is there a catchment system..?
Click to expand...
If on site you must ask the owner/manager. In most cases they have not minded shower water to go straight to ground. If they don't want that then we stand in a collapsible bowl to collect the water and dispose down a grey water drain.
 
Wildcamper said:
If on site you must ask the owner/manager. In most cases they have not minded shower water to go straight to ground. If they don't want that then we stand in a collapsible bowl to collect the water and dispose down a grey water drain.
Click to expand...
Ah, the collapsable bowl. It has 101 uses… :thumb
 
Kev3kev3 said:
Hi,

I am looking at purchasing a VW van which will be used with 2 adults and 2 kids (currently 4 and 2). Hopefully to be used for days out as well as weekends/week here or there away camping. It will also be used as a second car for school runs.

I have had a brief look in the dealership at a California Ocean and also at a couple of VW conversions. At the moment I am swaying more to the conversions.

Wondering if anyone can offer advice as to whether I would be missing out on anything if I perhaps went for a conversion from somewhere like Revolution Campers over a new California from the dealership.

We have looked at the VW in the below link and are keen. Can anyone offer any advice on this specific VW and whether there is anything we should be looking out for? The conversion seems to be brand new but the dealership has taken it in as a part ex and doesn’t know who did the conversion.

www.tynevalleymotorhomes.com

VW Campervan - Tyne Valley Motorhomes

This stunning, 2018 Volkswagen Transporter T6 is a pre-owned campervan! A 2.0 litre 83 Bhp, SWB with a 5-speed manual transmission. This campervan comes with diesel heating and electric hook-up. Having privacy windows, it features a RIB bed and 5 seat belts altogether that includes a double...
www.tynevalleymotorhomes.com www.tynevalleymotorhomes.com

Any help and advice would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...
Was in the exact dilemma at the start of the year. owned a T6 Kombi Van 2017 and looked into converting, we looked at many places and one we loved from a converting point of view was three bridge campers. however we were looking for more of a day camper/everyday vehicle to lug the family around and by the time we had costed it all out there wasn't much difference to going down the new route. we have just taken delivery of the the new T6.1 beach mid July, main reason is as others have commented the whole thing is under full warranty not just the base vehicle also the DSG auto box is smooth as and is effortless to drive
 
Kev3kev3 said:
Hi,

I am looking at purchasing a VW van which will be used with 2 adults and 2 kids (currently 4 and 2). Hopefully to be used for days out as well as weekends/week here or there away camping. It will also be used as a second car for school runs.

I have had a brief look in the dealership at a California Ocean and also at a couple of VW conversions. At the moment I am swaying more to the conversions.

Wondering if anyone can offer advice as to whether I would be missing out on anything if I perhaps went for a conversion from somewhere like Revolution Campers over a new California from the dealership.

We have looked at the VW in the below link and are keen. Can anyone offer any advice on this specific VW and whether there is anything we should be looking out for? The conversion seems to be brand new but the dealership has taken it in as a part ex and doesn’t know who did the conversion.

www.tynevalleymotorhomes.com

VW Campervan - Tyne Valley Motorhomes

This stunning, 2018 Volkswagen Transporter T6 is a pre-owned campervan! A 2.0 litre 83 Bhp, SWB with a 5-speed manual transmission. This campervan comes with diesel heating and electric hook-up. Having privacy windows, it features a RIB bed and 5 seat belts altogether that includes a double...
www.tynevalleymotorhomes.com www.tynevalleymotorhomes.com

Any help and advice would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...
Lovely looking van. I was in the same dilemma 3 years back - a conversion (All Seasons Leisure) or a Cali from a 'proper' VW dealer. The conversion wasn't that much cheaper by the time I negotiated a dealer discount! The conversions on sale were all 102BHP and I wanted 150 min. What really swings it to VW is the warranty - 5 years and that covers everything not just the base van. Imagine being stuck in Spain (say) and there's a problem with the roof - what's the conversion company going to do except say return it! Abroad you simply get a local VW dealer out. Peace of mind. And as someone else has pointed out - residuals will be more on a Cali or Beach.
 
Just to add a little bit.....
With a conversation, you normally get those furry walls. Nightmare to clean with kids and dirty fingers.
That was a big issue for me so a vw built camper was the only option
 
Scoobz1 said:
Wow just read through some of them - reminded me why I went with the Cali - 1 in 5 poor or very bad - shocking https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/bigwavecampers.co.uk?stars=1&stars=2
Click to expand...
Just goes to emphasize what I have said in the past about conversion. Do your research and choose carefully. There some fantastic converters that offer excellent warranty excellent customer service and listen to what the customer wants and where possible provides it. This is our experience of Autohaus. On the other side of the coin there are dreadful converters as well. We love our conversion it does what we want which a California did not (we tried). On residuals I can get more in 2021 that we paid in 2018 based on offers made.
 
I have just driven a VW courtesy van 40 miles, its a T6.1 with 2000miles on it, T30 Startline. As far as I can see it has absolutely zero options. I have to say in the nearly 40 years Ive been driving its not far off being the worst thing Ive ever driven.

Its incredibly noisy
Its very sloooooow ( ok up to about 15mph then it tails off )
Not sure if it actually has suspension, being an empty panel van it certainly has some bounce on the bumps
Listening to anything on CarPlay is a bit like listening to cricket on LW incredible amount of crackle & hissing
The seats are awful

Still better than 3 trains, a tube, and half hour walk.


These appear to be the basis of most of the Campervan conversions out there & I have to say if you are considering one, drive it back to with a cali the difference is enormous.
 
andyinluton said:
I have just driven a VW courtesy van 40 miles, its a T6.1 with 2000miles on it, T30 Startline. As far as I can see it has absolutely zero options. I have to say in the nearly 40 years Ive been driving its not far off being the worst thing Ive ever driven.

Its incredibly noisy
Its very sloooooow ( ok up to about 15mph then it tails off )
Not sure if it actually has suspension, being an empty panel van it certainly has some bounce on the bumps
Listening to anything on CarPlay is a bit like listening to cricket on LW incredible amount of crackle & hissing
The seats are awful

Still better than 3 trains, a tube, and half hour walk.


These appear to be the basis of most of the Campervan conversions out there & I have to say if you are considering one, drive it back to with a cali the difference is enormous.
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree with your opinion if the Startline. That is why we went for the Highline plus options plus additional, low cost, soundproofing.
 
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