VW T5/6 Day Van

[RosscoPCole]

My wife is going to sell her Ford Grand C Max and our Pennine Pathfinder folding camper and buy a VW T5/6 van and get it converted into a day van/camper. This is so we can go on holidays further away without being limited to 60mph. She wants 6 seats including a full width seat/bed, a pop top, and a removable kitchen pod. What have people done already? Can you get a full width seat/bed on floor rails? What suggestions do have? Things you wish you had done? What awning do you have?
We live in Dorset and there are all sorts of companies that do conversions and work on VW vans and it is very confusing as prices vary greatly.

Edited by RosscoPCole on Monday 18th February 22:24

[troika]

My suggestion would be to buy a California Beach and a removable slidepods kitchen pod. Job done.

[RosscoPCole]

troika said:

My suggestion would be to buy a California Beach and a removable slidepods kitchen pod. Job done.

Great idea, but too expensive and only two seats in the front. Would ideally like two rows of three seats.

[bucks]

Have a google, this shouldn't be too much of an ask.

You can keep all three seats up front and add a full width rock and roll bed to the rear. Just make sure it's M1 pull tested

Just about anywhere that converts T5/6's will do a pop top

And http://slidepods.co.uk/ for a removable kitchen.

There are loads of companies out there doing all sorts of custom van to camper conversions. Go visit a few and tell them your ideas, most will be more than happy to shell out some advice and a quote.

I follow a few companies on Instagram, I have no links to Newwave Conversions but they are turning out some really tasty vans.

https://www.instagram.com/newwaveconversions/

Good luck and keep us posted with plenty of pictures please!

[sjg]

I like the look of the Amdro units for the Kombi. Attaches to the back of the standard seats and folds out to a bed when the the seats are down. Can have a seat/table/storage pod too.

[RosscoPCole]

Have found a company in Bournemouth that convert basic Surf/Day vans with six seats and a Reimo pop top at an excellent price and another place down the road that manufacture kitchen pods. So when the funds come in we will be going down this route.

[bucks]

Build thread please when it does happen

[robwilk]

One thought if you start with a van and convert to a day van will it qualify to be recatagorised as a motor caravan if not you will be stuck with the 60 speed limit. I would start off with a shuttle as it’s classed as a car. Or a caravelle and your almost there just at a multi board and kitchen pod.
Only problem maybe pop top as both the shuttle and caravelle have ducting and wiring in the rear roof. I’m sure this can be over come.
Ps I have a shuttle converted to caravelle interior that we have as a seven seater and camping day van.
Another thought is the three seats in the front we found them uncomfortable for any distance so converted mine to captains seats.

Rob

[RosscoPCole]

robwilk said:

One thought if you start with a van and convert to a day van will it qualify to be recatagorised as a motor caravan if not you will be stuck with the 60 speed limit. I would start off with a shuttle as it’s classed as a car. Or a caravelle and your almost there just at a multi board and kitchen pod.
Only problem maybe pop top as both the shuttle and caravelle have ducting and wiring in the rear roof. I’m sure this can be over come.
Ps I have a shuttle converted to caravelle interior that we have as a seven seater and camping day van.
Another thought is the three seats in the front we found them uncomfortable for any distance so converted mine to captains seats.

Rob

Thanks for the advice Rob. The company we are dealing with register all their conversions as camper vans. Regarding the seating we like there is only 4 of us so the front double won't be used as a double much when driven, only when swivelled around. It also means the kitchen pod can live behind the driver's seat and we can seat all of us around a table and still have plenty boot space. Also the seat bed is meant to be larger and more comfortable than the Caravelle bed. Finally this is what SWMBO wants!