Transporter of delight
I
Fyou’re looking for a small campervan with a typical side kitchen layout then you might already have decided on a VW Transporter, but the buying process is a great deal more complex than that…
T TIME
Let’s start with VWs. The latest generation of Transporter is the result of seven decades of van building and development, from the iconic splitscreen of the 1950s and 60s up to today’s T6.1. It shares its basic body design, however, with the T5 that dates back to 2003.
The first T6 was a gentle evolution of the T5, arriving in 2015 with more environmentally friendly power units (including, briefly, a petrolengined model).
Then, in autumn 2019, came the T6.1, which is easily recognised by its much deeper grille (see photo above). This latest update brought with it electric power steering, allowing the fitment of features such as Cross Wind Assist and Lane Assist. Inside, the cab got a new look, too, along with a fully digital dashboard display on the California Ocean campervan.
Of course, VW’s own built-in-house camper is a great place to start your research, but a price tag
of at least £68,099 for a top-of-the-range Ocean means that many buyers will have to consider other alternatives, including the popular route of a new conversion carried out on a two or threeyear-old T6 van.
Going down this route will enable you to choose your spec and décor and have all-new interior fittings but you may have to compromise on the base vehicle side, having a lower-powered engine, white paint, and barn doors at the back instead of a tailgate.
QUALITY STREET
The most important aspect to investigate, though, is the pedigree of the converter. With so many new conversion companies springing up to fill a
booming market, not all build to the same safety standards or use the same high-quality components. The best converters will also normally build on new vans and have them type approved, while Volkswagen UK has also now introduced its own Motorhome Qualification Scheme to push up standards. Correctly installed seat systems from RIB or Reimo and roofs from the top names of SCA
or, again, Reimo, are worth looking for as they show that high-quality fittings are being used.
A sliding seat system will add immense versatility to the typical side kitchen layout VW camper, but these are expensive items. Another factor to consider carefully is the width of the rear seat/bed. Most have two rear seatbelts and form a relatively narrow double bed (widths vary), but there are
models on the market with a wider bench seat with triple belts, which will also make into a far more comfortably sized bed.
With side kitchen layouts, always look at the rear boot area, too, as this is where you’ll keep all your bulky outdoor gear and bedding – some designs are woefully short of storage in this key department.
You don’t have to have a side galley floorplan in your VW, though. Many converters also offer a rear kitchen format, which will usually come with single beds at night, while the back end of the camper will then often also house a cassette toilet. Storage space is usually more compromised in these layouts, though, so you may prefer long-wheelbase or hightop derivatives to get around this.
IN TRANSIT OR IN TRAFIC
And don’t think that you have to have a VW. The German badge might be synonymous with campervans – and have rock solid residual values to match – but the Ford Transit Custom is a little roomier inside and the Renault Trafic is much better value. All three offer a choice of engines, automatic or manual gearboxes, and a wide range of options. And you may also come across less frequently used base vehicles in this category from Citroën, Nissan, Peugeot, Toyota and Vauxhall.