Wingamm do that, head room isn’t great if you are tall (6ft+), think they stopped making one on VW chassis (rarer than a joker them).
Yes looked at the wingamm, but another must is campvan style, opening rear doors and sliding side door.
Hi, been reading the threads on here with interest regarding the Boxdrive 680me. My research has narrowed me down to a well spec'd Boxdrive, or to using a van conversion company. I think there are about 3 of you guys on here now that actually own and drive a Boxdrive, first of all are they still living up to your expectations? Any regrets? In your experiences which has been the best UK dealer for ease of ordering, communication and aftersales service? Also I can't see anything in the spec, or options about them having an inverter? Off grid living will be important to us, so we will have solar panels and lithium batteries, but what are their abilities like for off grid living? And can you use 230v appliances off grid? I've done 'a lot' of research online, but yet to see you a Boxdrive in the flesh, hoping to see one at the NEC show in February. Look forward to your responses.
Hi, been reading the threads on here with interest regarding the Boxdrive 680me. My research has narrowed me down to a well spec'd Boxdrive, or to using a van conversion company. I think there are about 3 of you guys on here now that actually own and drive a Boxdrive, first of all are they still living up to your expectations? Any regrets? In your experiences which has been the best UK dealer for ease of ordering, communication and aftersales service? Also I can't see anything in the spec, or options about them having an inverter? Off grid living will be important to us, so we will have solar panels and lithium batteries, but what are their abilities like for off grid living? And can you use 230v appliances off grid? I've done 'a lot' of research online, but yet to see you a Boxdrive in the flesh, hoping to see one at the NEC show in February. Look forward to your responses.
Hi @rod_vw , for us literally the only drawback we've found is that it's such a long wheelbase we kept grounding the step if we ever went over the wrong ratio of height/length speedbump, kerb etc. so now we watch out for the problem. May even consider removing the step.
Other than that have not found anything else we'd find fault with that I can think of - mind you, so long since we've had a chance to use it..........
Hi, been reading the threads on here with interest regarding the Boxdrive 680me. My research has narrowed me down to a well spec'd Boxdrive, or to using a van conversion company. I think there are about 3 of you guys on here now that actually own and drive a Boxdrive, first of all are they still living up to your expectations? Any regrets? In your experiences which has been the best UK dealer for ease of ordering, communication and aftersales service? Also I can't see anything in the spec, or options about them having an inverter? Off grid living will be important to us, so we will have solar panels and lithium batteries, but what are their abilities like for off grid living? And can you use 230v appliances off grid? I've done 'a lot' of research online, but yet to see you a Boxdrive in the flesh, hoping to see one at the NEC show in February. Look forward to your responses.
Sorry if you've recieved multiple messages, I think you are the only 4 Boxdrive owners on here. I've been reading the threads on here with interest regarding the Boxdrive 680me. My research has narrowed me down to a well spec'd Boxdrive, or to using a van conversion company. First of all are they still living up to your expectations? Any regrets? In your experiences which has been the best UK dealer for ease of ordering, communication and aftersales service? Also I can't see anything in the spec, or options about them having an inverter? Off grid living will be important to us, so we will have solar panels and lithium batteries, but what are their abilities like for off grid living? And can you use 230v appliances off grid? I've done 'a lot' of research online, but yet to see a Boxdrive in the flesh, hoping to see one at the NEC show in February. Look forward to your responses.@Judy @DNR @knwldgeseker How you guys getting on with the Vans? I'm guessing like mine they've been sat on the drive with nowhere to go? I've managed to stay a whole 2 nights (a weekend before lockdown) in mine in sunny Glasgow to watch my daughter play football; other than that its just been polished
Whilst its been laid up I've noticed my conversion batteries seem to go from fully charged to fully discharged in about 3 weeks. This seems a bit excessive to me. When testing with all fuses pulled I note there is a load of about 150milliamps which Im struggling to lock down. Anyone noticed anything similar?
@knwldgeseker did you ever resolve your warranty issues?
Hi, been reading the threads on here with interest regarding the Boxdrive 680me. My research has narrowed me down to a well spec'd Boxdrive, or to using a van conversion company. I think there are about 4 of you guys on here now that actually own and drive a Boxdrive, first of all are they still living up to your expectations? Any regrets? In your experiences which has been the best UK dealer for ease of ordering, communication and aftersales service? Also I can't see anything in the spec, or options about them having an inverter? Off grid living will be important to us, so we will have solar panels and lithium batteries, but what are their abilities like for off grid living? And can you use 230v appliances off grid? I've done 'a lot' of research online, but yet to see a Boxdrive in the flesh, hoping to see one at the NEC show in February. Look forward to your responses.
DNR. if you see this, can i ask did you consider a conversion prior to making your purchase?
I’ve fitted an aftermarket inverter, (so has @DNR) I’ve also fitted 370w of solar and stayed off grid for 2 month.
Thank you for reply @itscalledbob I'm in Eastbourne but see one person with one on here is only in Brighton. How much off grid do you think you'd get with 100w solar and 2 lithium batteries? Are inverters easy to fit, what power one did you get? What UK dealer did you order from and were/are you still happy with them and your Boxdrive? Sorry for all questions, but serious amount of money to life our dream
1) that depends on how much energy you use, how sunny it is and when you use it. For example the heater initially draws 6.5amps. Given you can run lithium to almost zero between charges you should be able to get 5-7 days without solar. Personally I suspect with 100w solar you’ll need to hook up occasionally.
Thank you, that's such great info, we probably wouldn't do more than a week at a time off grid at any one time, so I guess we might be ok? Fitting a converter sounds a bit of a mine field, I found one online that showed a video clip and it looked just a case of fitting one end to a leisure battery, plug something 230v in and off you go, I'd be worried I'd blow fuses, or burn something out! I've been in email contact with Premium in Doncaster asking few questions, a lady called Debbie and she was very helpful, so your recommendation is good to hear, I've also emailed Webbs in Reading, again very helpful, and would be closer, but its worrying without recommendations, do you know who the other guys on here ordered from? I would think you will sell it easily, if I had the cash now I might be tempted. It's going to be at least 2 years until we can juggle some funds and take out our work pensions. Being two women of a certain age, we want to make driving, touring and living in our van as easy and comfortable as possible.
We visited Premium but were very disappointed with the sales person's lack of detailed knowledge of the base vehicle. They don't seem to understand that some purchasers are 'drivers' not just 'campers' and want the best driving experience.
Excuse my ignorance, but don't the leisure batteries charge as you drive? @rod_vw @itscalledbob so if we were on the move from place to place, we wouldn't need to hook up very often? I think I would like an inverter, but would have it fitted professionally. We've been caravanners for many years but have have only ever run off EHC
Hi guys, first of all good luck with your plans. We bought a LHD and you'll have found our comments back along this thread I think, but feel free to ask us anything in particular. We have both wild camped and used sites in the UK (couple of times) but mainly in Spain and Portugal. We have the standard leisure battery but 200w of solar and have only once run out of power - in the UK no surprise. We've never used EHU. Unfortunately we've moved to Ireland since Sept otherwise you would have been very welcome to view it too your hearts content. Still are if you travel to Ireland!
Are you the man who lived in Brighton? Guessing you ordered direct from knaus. Have you found the boxdrive has lived up to you expectations? Have you had and inverter fitted?
Yes, we lived in Brighton. The Boxdrive has been good, the 'driveability' of it is superb and the bed is very comfortable. we also really like the shower/toilet arrangement, it gives us far more room then one could normally expect I think. The extra long wheelbase gives it a smaller turning circle then i would have liked but conversely it means very little tail-swipe when turning, and there is that reduced ground clearance coming into place when going over a particular ratio of length/height raised bumps etc.
Thank you so much for your honest review. I have been the driver while towing our caravans for many years and have even become quite accomplished with the reversing of it! I think that has made he very aware of larger turning circles and pulling out from side roads and access etc, we would go for parking sensors front and rear, rear view camera and even possibly park assist. A comfortable and easy to get on and off bed, for those in the dark, barefoot toilet trips in the night (2 women of a certain age!!) is also very important. And a raising bed for bike and our worldly goods.
Yes, we bought from a Berlin dealer (would not recommend them!) and self-imported, it was one of the 100 'First Editions' so came with some extras.Thank you so much for your honest review. I have been the driver while towing our caravans for many years and have even become quite accomplished with the reversing of it! I think that has made he very aware of larger turning circles and pulling out from side roads and access etc, we would go for parking sensors front and rear, rear view camera and even possibly park assist. A comfortable and easy to get on and off bed, for those in the dark, barefoot toilet trips in the night (2 women of a certain age!!) is also very important. And a raising bed for bike and our worldly goods.
The bathroom set up is the thing that always has me coming back to the Boxdrive everytime, we have narrowed our choice down to a UK van Conversion, or a Boxdrive, in a conversion we would get a better kitchen, oven and microwave, but a much smaller and very basic bathroom and would also lose the cupboard/draw space they would take up and the small wardrobe, the conversion would also come with an inverter, and as we will be touring/living full time would we miss oven/microwave when off grid?? Especially given that the Boxdrive holds such little gas. The Boxdrive also looks very well winterised, with no bare metal showing in habitation area, something bespoke van conversions seen to have partly showing, on inner rear doors and inner sliding door. Also I like the idea of ordering direct from a dealer, as the conversion companies want you to buy the van yourself and then book a build slot with them.
We are going to see a Boxdrive in the flesh at the NEC in February and I'm sure we'll fall in love with it even more.
A UK dealer i emailed had Knaus send me over the link for their latest UK configurator, I've built what I think would be our perfect van and added the link below, if you wouldn't mind taking a look and giving your opinion if you think it looks ok...things we won't need? ...things we've missed off!
How do you use wifi/4g for your laptops in your van? My partner will crumble if she can't get her daily fix of YouTube and Candy Crush on her tablet!
If we were to go for no inverter, could you send the links for any 12v and USB and wifi appliances/acessories/leads/chargers etc, that you have found invaluable please.
So, as far as compromise goes for us on the Boxdrive, it would be the small gas bottle, lack of oven, microwave and inverter. In your experience have you found not having any of those a problem? And how do you find the cooking experience on a rainy UK day, when no outside BBQ available?
Below is the configuration link, that should take you to how I've spec'd our dream van/home.
Konfigurator
konfigurator.knaustabbert.de
We will definitely start touring the UK, so many places we still haven't seen, so cold, wet, dark days are sure to follow us, would probably spend the 1st year, or 2 doing that. I don't know what a Cadac is?Yes, we bought from a Berlin dealer (would not recommend them!) and self-imported, it was one of the 100 'First Editions' so came with some extras.
We used a MiFi supplied by https://www.motorhomewifi.com/ (definite recommendation) and installed by https://www.sunstore.co.uk/ (also would recommend) when they were doing our solar panels.
I will have to dig out the info/suppliers on the chargers etc so I'll have to get back to you on that, and on your spec list. Most importantly, where do you expect the majority of your time to be spent, the UK or abroad?
Our time is almost 100% in Europe so no need/desire for an oven and worked quite happily without any microwave, fresh foods being so much cheaper and more available (in our experience). We have a Cadac etc. but have never had occasion to use them. Longest uninterrupted spell in the van so far has been about 8 weeks and it worked fine - but everything seems to work better in the sunshine...............................
Also, for what it's worth we had to get some recall work done before we left the UK and it was set up by Knaus with what they told us was their new dealer in Portsmouth, https://www.harbourcreek.co.uk/. Obviously we have no idea what their sales service would be like but the service and courtesy provided to us (remember we had not bought from them, when we bought nobody had them in the UK) was superb.
I'm thinking you made the right choice. Enjoy!
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