Why I decided NOT to wait for the GC

[DNR]

To add to my mini review.

One thing that bugs me about the Boxdrive is the gas bottle. It uses the 907, which is the same as the Cali. I would have been happier if they’d have fitted a larger cylinder. The 907 costs about £50 for an initial purchase then about £30 for a refill. Given the volume of gas it works out at about £6 a litre, which in my view is extortion. I typically get about 30 days on a fill.

When I picked up the Captain I also purchased 2 gaslow 2.7kg refillable cylinders. They cost about £250 inc gas for the pair. Today I put in my 7th refill at the cost of €3.62 and to my calculation I’ve hit the breakeven point between my initial outlay and the costs if I’d gone with a 907. Ive also got two assets should I wish to cash in the gaslow cylinders.

I’ve used one cylinder as the van gas supply and the second as supply for the cadac (and spare should I need it).

In my view the refillable cylinders are a no brainer and well worth the investment.

Would you believe I am only on my second 907. I cant believe how long they last! And we use it for the Cadac too. We haven't done anywhere near as much camping as you though. As you know, we mainly use it for motor racing, so just long weekends mainly. Lack of a guage is not helpful though...

 

[DNR]

Looking into the possibilities of fitting a Pop Top to it now (possible winter project). Could do with 4 berth.

 

[itscalledbob]

Looking into the possibilities of fitting a Pop Top to it now (possible winter project). Could do with 4 berth.

I’ll be interested to see how you get on. The only problem I can see is the shower vent. But I do wonder how useful it is anyway.
Keep us informed

 

[DNR]

I’ll be interested to see how you get on. The only problem I can see is the shower vent. But I do wonder how useful it is anyway.
Keep us informed

Yes, that's my concern. But like you say, maybe not too much of an issue to cover it up. Keep you posted on this. I might not have the courage for it in the end

 

[DNR]

Episode 2 of 'Pimp my Boxdrive'... I have just received my new rear spoiler, again probably not to everyones taste. Just plonked it on last night to get a visual. I'm pondering, black or white? Made my mind up so its off to the bodyshop to get it done white.

 

[DNR]

Trailer doesn't sit on the Boxdrive all the time. We are loaded up ready for racing at Knockhill this weekend.

 

[itscalledbob]

I've just had that discussion with the dealer, it seems there is no option for an underslung gas tank. Their reasoning was that it is only for the hob and that wouldn't use much gas.
Neither is there the three year warranty that VW or MAN offer purchaser's of their vehicles in the UK.
Did you get the Pan-european roadside assistance with your warranty?

I can’t see what’s preventing you replacing the spare wheel with a tank then mounting the spare on the back door?

 

[itscalledbob]

@DNR thought this might be your area of knowledge?

Wife and I are in the early planning stages for a 3 month trip to the Artic Circle next year.

I’m considering raising the height of the van and adding some BFG type tyres.

Have you any experience of riser kits and off road tyre, particularly stability and road noise?

Any comments welcome.

 

[DNR]

@DNR thought this might be your area of knowledge?

Wife and I are in the early planning stages for a 3 month trip to the Artic Circle next year.

I’m considering raising the height of the van and adding some BFG type tyres.

Have you any experience of riser kits and off road tyre, particularly stability and road noise?

Any comments welcome.

Sorry I don't, plenty of experience going the other way and dropping cars down. I would think you will get a bit more noise and depending how high you take it, you will lose some stability.

Go on this Face Book Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2017CrafterTGE . Loads of Crafter Experts on there. Its a great group. Just pop the question on there, someone will know. I've seen a few lifted Crafter Camper images on there.

 

[StirlingSteve]

Hi all, I stumbled across this thread while idly dreaming about if I had the money, what the perfect campervan would be, having just hired one for the first time ever and fallen in love with the idea. I had already settled upon the BoxDrive before finding this thread but having now read it in full, you've definitely confirmed all my previous research - this does indeed seem to be a cracker of a van!

For info, I think the jumbo pull-out sink gimmick might just possibly be handy for washing a wee dog, or maybe doing a bit of emergency laundry when you run out of smalls in the middle of nowhere - maybe that's what they had in mind!

I'm now looking to try and rent one next year so I can try-before-I-buy although it'll likely be a few more years before I can scrape up the dough for my own anyway. One can always dream...

All this came about after Mrs. B got me camping tickets for this year's Knockhill BTCC weekend as an early 50th birthday pressie and I decided I was far too old for a tent. Of course, finding any campervan free at a couple of week's notice was always going to be a tall order and after missing out on a DIY Crafter conversion that didn't quite get finished in time, we ended up in a shonky old 2005 Citroen Relay that smelled, leaked and had no proper bed. It took a couple of weeks for my back to recover afterwards but it was still enough - we're definitely hooked!

Sorry, there's no real point to this message other than wanting to say thanks to itscalledbob, DNR and all you other lucky UK-based BoxDrive owners on here, I'm "well jel" as I believe the kids say these days.

Oh - one more thing... being a BTCC fan, I can't help but join up the dots here... are we actually in the presence of real-life actual BTCC royalty in this thread? You know who you are! If so, how ironic is it that your lovely van was most likely sitting a few hundred metres away in the competitor's paddock at the very same time I was catching the campervan bug in a draughty, smelly, painfully cramped but somehow wonderful old rustbucket

Cheers all and enjoy your vans!

 

[itscalledbob]

Hi all, I stumbled across this thread while idly dreaming about if I had the money, what the perfect campervan would be, having just hired one for the first time ever and fallen in love with the idea. I had already settled upon the BoxDrive before finding this thread but having now read it in full, you've definitely confirmed all my previous research - this does indeed seem to be a cracker of a van!

For info, I think the jumbo pull-out sink gimmick might just possibly be handy for washing a wee dog, or maybe doing a bit of emergency laundry when you run out of smalls in the middle of nowhere - maybe that's what they had in mind!

I'm now looking to try and rent one next year so I can try-before-I-buy although it'll likely be a few more years before I can scrape up the dough for my own anyway. One can always dream...

All this came about after Mrs. B got me camping tickets for this year's Knockhill BTCC weekend as an early 50th birthday pressie and I decided I was far too old for a tent. Of course, finding any campervan free at a couple of week's notice was always going to be a tall order and after missing out on a DIY Crafter conversion that didn't quite get finished in time, we ended up in a shonky old 2005 Citroen Relay that smelled, leaked and had no proper bed. It took a couple of weeks for my back to recover afterwards but it was still enough - we're definitely hooked!

Sorry, there's no real point to this message other than wanting to say thanks to itscalledbob, DNR and all you other lucky UK-based BoxDrive owners on here, I'm "well jel" as I believe the kids say these days.

Oh - one more thing... being a BTCC fan, I can't help but join up the dots here... are we actually in the presence of real-life actual BTCC royalty in this thread? You know who you are! If so, how ironic is it that your lovely van was most likely sitting a few hundred metres away in the competitor's paddock at the very same time I was catching the campervan bug in a draughty, smelly, painfully cramped but somehow wonderful old rustbucket

Cheers all and enjoy your vans!

Hi,

You’re very welcome @StirlingSteve . I started this thread with people like you in mind, however with the help of @DNR and others it’s taken on a life of its own.

If there’s one further bit of advice I can offer, my only regret is not buying one earlier.

All the best…

 

[StirlingSteve]

Ha! Well, that's definitely great to hear after having just read the whole saga of how it all panned out for you at the beginning - I was starting to worry for a while!

I do actually have a couple of quick questions - firstly, the shower base. Am I right in assuming the floored circle is removable and there's a proper shower tray underneath? Haven't seen anything online to confirm but I assume it must be.

Secondly a quick one about the bed. Having seen the new 2022 MAN-based model on YouTube, I noticed the bed lifting mechanism has changed from hydraulics to some sort of multi-position belt-based affair instead. Is there anything about the original beds that would suggest why they decided to change it? I noticed the Crafter-based owner's manual states a bed weight limit of 100kg per person which seems a bit low to me and was wondering if maybe they changed it to increase that limit - after all, I imagine that's 200kg minus bedding and not everyone's under 15 stone (I know I'm not!). The new method looks less sturdy to me though so am a bit confused. Has anyone felt their hydraulic version might not be as sturdy as it could be or does it feel OK? I assume it sits on top of the garage units when all the way down and that takes a lot of any potential stress from us pie-lovers off the hydraulics anyway.

Finally, the mattress looks a bit thin - is it supportive enough? I'm from the pocket-sprung old school of mattresses so not really had any experience of any modern foam jobs before.

Incidentally, I saw in one video there was a way of filling in that semi-circle now too, using a board and a bit more foam - no doubt they charge through the nose for it though!

Ta,

 

[itscalledbob]

Ha! Well, that's definitely great to hear after having just read the whole saga of how it all panned out for you at the beginning - I was starting to worry for a while!

I do actually have a couple of quick questions - firstly, the shower base. Am I right in assuming the floored circle is removable and there's a proper shower tray underneath? Haven't seen anything online to confirm but I assume it must be.

Secondly a quick one about the bed. Having seen the new 2022 MAN-based model on YouTube, I noticed the bed lifting mechanism has changed from hydraulics to some sort of multi-position belt-based affair instead. Is there anything about the original beds that would suggest why they decided to change it? I noticed the Crafter-based owner's manual states a bed weight limit of 100kg per person which seems a bit low to me and was wondering if maybe they changed it to increase that limit - after all, I imagine that's 200kg minus bedding and not everyone's under 15 stone (I know I'm not!). The new method looks less sturdy to me though so am a bit confused. Has anyone felt their hydraulic version might not be as sturdy as it could be or does it feel OK? I assume it sits on top of the garage units when all the way down and that takes a lot of any potential stress from us pie-lovers off the hydraulics anyway.

Finally, the mattress looks a bit thin - is it supportive enough? I'm from the pocket-sprung old school of mattresses so not really had any experience of any modern foam jobs before.

Incidentally, I saw in one video there was a way of filling in that semi-circle now too, using a board and a bit more foam - no doubt they charge through the nose for it though!

Ta,

 

[itscalledbob]

Yes, the shower has a removable duckboard. See picture.

The bed raising mechanism is a pair of cantilever hinges with the frame held with draw bolt at one end and straps at the other. I’m not aware if that has changed. I am however at the caravan salon next week and will check them out.

ive slept in the bed for 7 out of the last 8 weeks and haven’t had any problems. It does have additional lat-springs for support.

HTH

 

[StirlingSteve]

Ah cool yeah I thought as much - you could say it's a very impressive design all round... (pun intended!) I hope you already had that photo on file by the way, I'd feel bad if you had just run out and snapped it for me right now

As for the bed, I noticed the new system at 1:20 in this video which is also where I saw the semi-circle fill-in too (at 5:32). I suspect it merely provides more flexibility rather than any gain in weight limits but an interesting tweak, nonetheless.

Ta again for all the help!

 

[itscalledbob]

Ah cool yeah I thought as much - you could say it's a very impressive design all round... (pun intended!) I hope you already had that photo on file by the way, I'd feel bad if you had just run out and snapped it for me right now

As for the bed, I noticed the new system at 1:20 in this video which is also where I saw the semi-circle fill-in too (at 5:32). I suspect it merely provides more flexibility rather than any gain in weight limits but an interesting tweak, nonetheless.

Ta again for all the help!

Ha, no, we’re away in the van atm… sitting at our overnight stay about 30 minutes from Larvik Norway. Getting ready for the ferry trip back to Denmark tomorrow morning.

the bed does look different, I’ll check it out next week and let you know.

 

[StirlingSteve]

Oh and something else I noticed, they now offer an "Innovative folding bed function in rear incl. bunk bed use" option. I can't find any pictures of it but if you google "BoxDrive Bunk" you get pictures of the BoxLife with a second double bed fitted underneath the moving one when it's in a raised position. It looks a bit claustrophobic to me and I doubt it would leave much in the way of headroom for anyone regardless of size and probably wouldn't easily retrofit to your Crafters anyway but I thought I'd mention it just in case it's a viable option for going proper 4-berth without having to add a pop up roof...

 

[StirlingSteve]

Norway eh? Ah you're making me all jealous again!

 

[StirlingSteve]

Oh and something else I noticed, they now offer an "Innovative folding bed function in rear incl. bunk bed use" option. I can't find any pictures of it but if you google "BoxDrive Bunk" you get pictures of the BoxLife with a second double bed fitted underneath the moving one when it's in a raised position. It looks a bit claustrophobic to me and I doubt it would leave much in the way of headroom for anyone regardless of size and probably wouldn't easily retrofit to your Crafters anyway but I thought I'd mention it just in case it's a viable option for going proper 4-berth without having to add a pop up roof...

...sorry, I meant google "knaus boxdrive bunk" and check out the images that come back.

 

[DNR]

Hi Stirling Steve

We were indeed camped in the competitors camping at Knockhill. You should have come and found me, id have given you a tour of the van.

I've just watched the video, really like the new bed mechanism! I had to make a higher parking point for my bed as I need to carry more stuff in the back and be able to sleep there, when away racing.

Not sure about the box step. My slide out step is much better in my opinion and a nice storage area for bottles of water / beers etc.

The bed cutaway doesn't really bother me and just makes getting dressed after shower easier and in private (if you have son and girlfriend sitting in the 'lounge').

Bed is comfy, no issue there.

Still exploring Pop up roof. There is someone local who can fit a Sky Line Roof. Need to get the van to him for a discussion.

I would place your order a year in advance to be safe...

 

[StirlingSteve]

Ah there's plenty of stuff for us to sort out before we commit to anything anyway, not least finding a new house with a big enough driveway to park it in so I'm very much getting ahead of myself!

Good luck this weekend by the way, I'll be watching out for your lad on Sunday now!

 

[DNR]

Ah there's plenty of stuff for us to sort out before we commit to anything anyway, not least finding a new house with a big enough driveway to park it in so I'm very much getting ahead of myself!

Good luck this weekend by the way, I'll be watching out for your lad on Sunday now!

We aren’t out this weekend, it’s the Mini Coopers at Thruxton. We are Mini JCW. Our next round is Croft in 3 weeks time.
Cheers

 

[StirlingSteve]

We aren’t out this weekend, it’s the Mini Coopers at Thruxton. We are Mini JCW. Our next round is Croft in 3 weeks time.
Cheers

Ahh oops... sorry! O well, good luck for Croft instead then It shows how unobservant I am sometimes, as does the fact I hadn't noticed the lack of steps in that video too. I'm with you, the slide out secret beer-stash steps are much cooler IMO. Wonder why they changed that...

 

[DNR]

Ahh oops... sorry! O well, good luck for Croft instead then It shows how unobservant I am sometimes, as does the fact I hadn't noticed the lack of steps in that video too. I'm with you, the slide out secret beer-stash steps are much cooler IMO. Wonder why they changed that...

Happens all the time, confusing with two different mini championships running with Btcc. We do all but three, so the proper one Our gearing couldn’t cope with Thruxton, engines would be blowing up…

Yeah not sure what the thinking is with that step. Looks fixed in place. That would get in the way for me. Also not keen on the new exterior graphics. Looks like every other camper van now, windows stand out more which I’m not keen on… I’ve had a few people commenting on the graphics of mine, mostly very positive. Some mentioning Starsky and Hutch

 

[StirlingSteve]

Haha! Yeah I see it now - sort of like S&H in negative I guess

I can see why you prefer your graphics, it really matches your trailer - is that a happy coincidence or was it intentional? Nice Wallace Monument logo on it too BTW but then again I would say that!

I'd like to see one in Starlight Blue or maybe the Deep Black Pearl although I'm not sure how DBP would look on such a big van, might be a bit too much. Not that I need to worry about the colour anytime soon - it'll all be hover-vans by the time I scrape up the moolah!

Having seen your avatar, I've updated mine now to more accurately reflect my first and so far only Knockhill campervan (or more accurately crampervan) experience...