[Bryans69]

So it looks like we are going to be adding a T5/T6 camper to the family fleet. Early days, but currently looking at this crew as an option http://vanworx.co.uk/

Anyone else own / owned something similar, with any thoughts / comments?

Looked at a few last week, and the Mrs immediately fell in love with the most expensive one on the pitch, an almost new VW California Ocean at £69k. Not quite the budget I was aiming at, although obviously good ones aren't cheap. Once again, I feel budget creep coming on.

[JustChris]

£69k wowswers that's a lot of nice hotel stays!

[Watsey]

My sister and BiL have a California Ocean, red & cream, and they love it. Get's used (properly, not just as a DD) quite a bit.

As you've seen they're not cheap, but they do hold their value. They paid £65k as a 6 month old manager's car.

[flashollie]

I have a T6 LWB 150BHP fully converted 4 birth camper.
Ive had it nearly 12 months now and it is very very good.
Ive used it a lot.
Its fantastic. I used a company in Cornwall called Ecowagon.
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/




This is mine.
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp-conten...Specialist.jpg

http://https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp...s-Cornwall.jpg

http://https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp...-Interiors.jpg

I looked at lots of companies and like most things there are good quality and poor quality and you get what you pay for. I wanted a very good personal service and bespoke vehicle. This was an important vehicle. I lost both my parents within a few months of each other and it was funded by money they left me and it had to be right for me and them.

I got a very good feel for Kenny and John at Ecowagon. Genuine nice blokes and very good craftsmen.

To start with my advice is to hire one to see if you like it.
Then go to a camper van exhibition. You will get see and talk to the suppliers and its much easier to compare one supplier to another.

Join a forum there lots of advice on the T6 forum.
You need to drive this often a long way so getting a decent spec base van is important. The VW Highline spec I think gives you what you need.

Think how you will use it, weekends away or longer to say 2 weeks. How many will you take in it? Will you go away in winter if so get a heater.
When your inside the van its often in bad weather and at night so get light coloured interior. The dark stuff looks good but they are not as big as youd like inside to make sure it feel light and airy. Take you time do your research. If you want this quickly you not going to end up with a decent firm, in my experience all the good companies have a 3 + month order book and building time of easliy 6 to 8 weeks.

I went for the T6 to get the euro 6 engine and 150 bhp as fully load and with a built-in kitchen and bed theres fair bit of weight. I also choose the DSG auto box.

Budget creep is mandatory. Did I need 19" wheels, a front splitter, Bilstein B14 shocks and new anti roll bars.....You bet your life I did.

PM if you want more info or if your near Bristol happy to meet up and show it you and talk through what I got and why.

[Bryans69]

Originally Posted by flashollie

I have a T6 LWB 150BHP fully converted 4 birth camper.
Ive had it nearly 12 months now and it is very very good.
Ive used it a lot.
Its fantastic. I used a company in Cornwall called Ecowagon.
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/




This is mine.
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp-conten...Specialist.jpg

http://https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp...s-Cornwall.jpg

http://https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp...-Interiors.jpg

I looked at lots of companies and like most things there are good quality and poor quality and you get what you pay for. I wanted a very good personal service and bespoke vehicle. This was an important vehicle. I lost both my parents within a few months of each other and it was funded by money they left me and it had to be right for me and them.

I got a very good feel for Kenny and John at Ecowagon. Genuine nice blokes and very good craftsmen.

To start with my advice is to hire one to see if you like it.
Then go to a camper van exhibition. You will get see and talk to the suppliers and its much easier to compare one supplier to another.

Join a forum there lots of advice on the T6 forum.
You need to drive this often a long way so getting a decent spec base van is important. The VW Highline spec I think gives you what you need.

Think how you will use it, weekends away or longer to say 2 weeks. How many will you take in it? Will you go away in winter if so get a heater.
When your inside the van its often in bad weather and at night so get light coloured interior. The dark stuff looks good but they are not as big as youd like inside to make sure it feel light and airy. Take you time do your research. If you want this quickly you not going to end up with a decent firm, in my experience all the good companies have a 3 + month order book and building time of easliy 6 to 8 weeks.

I went for the T6 to get the euro 6 engine and 150 bhp as fully load and with a built-in kitchen and bed theres fair bit of weight. I also choose the DSG auto box.

Budget creep is mandatory. Did I need 19" wheels, a front splitter, Bilstein B14 shocks and new anti roll bars.....You bet your life I did.

PM if you want more info or if your near Bristol happy to meet up and show it you and talk through what I got and why.

Thanks for the feedback. Hadn't heard of these guys, so will take a look. We are not in a rush, and getting it right is more important than cheap or quick.

Not near Bristol unfortunately, but thanks for the offer, and may well be in touch

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by flashollie

I have a T6 LWB 150BHP fully converted 4 birth camper.
Ive had it nearly 12 months now and it is very very good.
Ive used it a lot.
Its fantastic. I used a company in Cornwall called Ecowagon.
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/




This is mine.
https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/VW-Transporter-Specialist.jpg

http://https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Custom-VW-Transporters-Cornwall.jpg

http://https://www.ecowagon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/VW-Transporter-Specialist-Interiors.jpg

I looked at lots of companies and like most things there are good quality and poor quality and you get what you pay for. I wanted a very good personal service and bespoke vehicle. This was an important vehicle. I lost both my parents within a few months of each other and it was funded by money they left me and it had to be right for me and them.

I got a very good feel for Kenny and John at Ecowagon. Genuine nice blokes and very good craftsmen.

To start with my advice is to hire one to see if you like it.
Then go to a camper van exhibition. You will get see and talk to the suppliers and its much easier to compare one supplier to another.

Join a forum there lots of advice on the T6 forum.
You need to drive this often a long way so getting a decent spec base van is important. The VW Highline spec I think gives you what you need.

Think how you will use it, weekends away or longer to say 2 weeks. How many will you take in it? Will you go away in winter if so get a heater.
When your inside the van its often in bad weather and at night so get light coloured interior. The dark stuff looks good but they are not as big as youd like inside to make sure it feel light and airy. Take you time do your research. If you want this quickly you not going to end up with a decent firm, in my experience all the good companies have a 3 + month order book and building time of easliy 6 to 8 weeks.

I went for the T6 to get the euro 6 engine and 150 bhp as fully load and with a built-in kitchen and bed theres fair bit of weight. I also choose the DSG auto box.

Budget creep is mandatory. Did I need 19" wheels, a front splitter, Bilstein B14 shocks and new anti roll bars.....You bet your life I did.

PM if you want more info or if your near Bristol happy to meet up and show it you and talk through what I got and why.

Awesome.

Did you need 19" wheels? I didn't even know I needed a camper until opening this thread

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by RichMB

Awesome.

Did you need 19" wheels? I didn't even know I needed a camper until opening this thread

Funnily enough I also decided it would be perfect for me and the dog to do weekends away visiting various parts of the country..

Then I realised that I caravaned before and packed up for a reason!

[flashollie]

Caravans aren't as cool as campers! Caravans only come in beige?
But each to their own.

I have F31 335d. Having fitted ACS springs and dampers there is no way I was having another vehicle on stilts so Bilsteins and 19" wheels were essential.

I am mountain biker and surfer so having something I can jump in a disappear in quickly and easily for a day, a weekend or week without have to pack and unpack the car with wet kit and tents makes life a lot easier.
Just going for a walk with the van makes it easier.


I can feel the weeks stress melt away as I stick my bike on the back and head off in the evening once the traffic has died down. If I get tired me and the missus pull in and go to bed...... And you never know who you can meet in a lay by these days

Bryans69 One thing I wanted that not all companies can offer is a rear seat on rails. This adds lots of flexibility. You can push it right forward to be next to the front seats giving much more load area and the kids can be nearer you while travelling or if teenagers you can shove them right to the back! Or you can lift it out.
The genuine VW California's come with this and some companies fit it. I didn't want a genuine VW as you can't really have the wider range of options than if you go for an independent converter. But the calis are very well made and will hold their value the best. But are top top money.

I am sure there are lots of things I will remember about what I did and why. I will try to update this but do please get in touch with any questions. I do like talking about my van!

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

Funnily enough I also decided it would be perfect for me and the dog to do weekends away visiting various parts of the country..

Then I realised that I caravaned before and packed up for a reason!

Ooh I think my D5 will be good for towing a caravan

[TE11WAY]

Www.tent-box.com

[M40CCA]

just bought a new caravelle to get all the gang around. We love it mate for a big thing it drives really nice loads of space, 204bhp dsg not bad on fuel either we are getting around 40mpg
Really well built and I'm sure we will be keeping it for a while till the kids get older
Not the cheapest things as you know mate ours was 58k with options but we love it

[M40CCA]

also have you checked at VW I'm sure they are doing the California on 0% finance

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by M40CCA

just bought a new caravelle to get all the gang around. We love it mate for a big thing it drives really nice loads of space, 204bhp dsg not bad on fuel either we are getting around 40mpg
Really well built and I'm sure we will be keeping it for a while till the kids get older
Not the cheapest things as you know mate ours was 58k with options but we love it

Nice, proper van that mate

Do you think you'd get away with an A team red stripe?

Might have just shown my age, oh dear...

[M40CCA]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Nice, proper van that mate

Do you think you'd get away with an A team red stripe?

Might have just shown my age, oh dear...

it is mate it's perfect for what we need 5 kids with 3 in isofix carseats , a double pushchair and all the kit you need for kids on a day out. nothing else could fit the bill, also it's got some nice extras on, nappa leather, active cruise electric twin sliding doors, electric boot, all the 5 seats in the rear can move forward and back and twist 360deg on a rail system.

just miss having a toy to play in which is my next move when the wife's Honda goes back in August

[Bryans69]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Bryans69 One thing I wanted that not all companies can offer is a rear seat on rails. This adds lots of flexibility. You can push it right forward to be next to the front seats giving much more load area and the kids can be nearer you while travelling or if teenagers you can shove them right to the back! Or you can lift it out.
The genuine VW California's come with this and some companies fit it. I didn't want a genuine VW as you can't really have the wider range of options than if you go for an independent converter. But the calis are very well made and will hold their value the best. But are top top money.

I am sure there are lots of things I will remember about what I did and why. I will try to update this but do please get in touch with any questions. I do like talking about my van!

That's worth thinking about. The Vanworx one we are currently thinking about has the option of a sixth seat, which could make the van a lot more usable when not camping. Maybe I didn't need the 540 touring after all....

One thing that is becoming clear is you really need to visit a few suppliers to work out what you want. Not like spending half an hour on the BMW configurator

Originally Posted by M40CCA

also have you checked at VW I'm sure they are doing the California on 0% finance

Thanks, I'll have to take a look, although I have a feeling even my man maths won't stretch to a new California Beach. Pretty certain we are already going to at least double our initial (un-realistic) budget

[flashollie]

Originally Posted by Bryans69

That's worth thinking about. The Vanworx one we are currently thinking about has the option of a sixth seat, which could make the van a lot more usable when not camping. Maybe I didn't need the 540 touring after all....

One thing that is becoming clear is you really need to visit a few suppliers to work out what you want. Not like spending half an hour on the BMW configurator



Thanks, I'll have to take a look, although I have a feeling even my man maths won't stretch to a new California Beach. Pretty certain we are already going to at least double our initial (un-realistic) budget

With the california rail system fitted by VW or a couple of after market converters you can have a second set of rails put in for additional seats.
I just went for the standard 2 captains seats up front and 2 seats in rear that converts to bed.

Yes you need to look at lots of suppliers they all do similar things but the way they nuance them makes them right or very wrong fro your needs.
Start out knowing exactly what your going to do with it. Its always going to be a compromise but make sure it does the stuff you do most the best.

I'll be at Busfest with mine on the ecowagon stand in in September. Try to get to and exhibition.
https://www.busfest.org/busfest/

[Bryans69]

So VW do have 0% at the moment, but looking at it the Beach can only have a two person bench seat, plus a possible single in between.

Going for something that has a three person back seat, plus a single centre seat probably makes more sense for us (and of course we'll want two knobby looking, but less practical captains seats )

May have had a lucky escape there

[moonshine]

We bought a globecar Fiat ducato panel can conversion & imported from Germany in 2017. We mountain bike & take it to the Alps every summer. Off next week.