VW campervan conversion

[familyguy1]

I'm seriously thinking about getting a T6 TDI VW transporter and converting into a campervan.

However, I am aware of the change away from Diesel (and Petrol), currently the T5/T6's seem to hold there value, but in the future who knows and I can't help think that long term any resale will be harder.

Saying that due to their small form factor and need to potentially travel long distances campervans strike me as one of the last vehicle types to move across to EV/Hybrid and the short to medium term focus is cars, lorries, taxis, buses etc.

Thoughts ?

(It would be a second vehicle so wouldn't do too many short journeys, its a shame VW don't do a petrol.)

[anonymous-user]

It's not like you really need to take a T6 into the city centre, so i suspect being a derv in that sort of vehicle will be quite acceptable for a long while yet. Whilst city and commuters will move rapidly to pure electric, more utilitarian stuff will stick with dinojuice for at least 10 years i reckon.

[HKP]

If you took the engine and ICE bits out, I'd imagine it'd have a decent amount of space to stuff batteries. If you're looking for an Electric Motor to drop in, I'd be looking for a written off e-Golf to take the drivetrain out of. I'd imagine you'd have a decent chance of making it match the mountings.

[Spunagain]

One of these kits?

Ok its for a beetle based camper, but they sell adapter plates for other VW gearboxes, and you would need to add motor mounts, battery boxes and batteries, I would go for ex Tesla model S 5.3kwh slabs....

Edited by Spunagain on Thursday 14th September 23:08

[TSCfree]

I think this really does have some merit. Touring round the country site to site on free lecy hookup. Win for the site owners and the tourists.

Let me know when there is a conversion kit so I can swap out a ratty T4/5 engine please!

[Z3MCJez]

I had a T5 camper. I have a deposit on an iPace. I can't see that I can use an EV camper at current tech. I have days when I drive 400 miles towing a trailer. With current tech I guess that I'd get no more than 2miles/KW. And probably less. The battery won't be more than 100KW and that will already make the van very expensive. And I now need to put 120KW of charge in (so I don't arrive to a far away remote place with no charge).

If I can find 30KW chargers I need 4hrs stationary. And then I have to search them out. In 10 years stuff might be different. But are you making today's purchase decision on residual in 10 years time?

Jez

[finlo]

TSCfree said:

I think this really does have some merit. Touring round the country site to site on free lecy hookup. Win for the site owners and the tourists.

Let me know when there is a conversion kit so I can swap out a ratty T4/5 engine please!

Site hookups are fused at a really low ampage to stop pisstakers.

[TSCfree]

finlo said:

TSCfree said:

I think this really does have some merit. Touring round the country site to site on free lecy hookup. Win for the site owners and the tourists.

Let me know when there is a conversion kit so I can swap out a ratty T4/5 engine please!

Site hookups are fused at a really low ampage to stop pisstakers.

16a usually. 10a for the car, 6a for the services would do.

FWIW I'd give them the £2.50....

[jamie w]

familyguy1 said:

I'm seriously thinking about getting a T6 TDI VW transporter and converting into a campervan.

However, I am aware of the change away from Diesel (and Petrol), currently the T5/T6's seem to hold there value, but in the future who knows and I can't help think that long term any resale will be harder.

Saying that due to their small form factor and need to potentially travel long distances campervans strike me as one of the last vehicle types to move across to EV/Hybrid and the short to medium term focus is cars, lorries, taxis, buses etc.

Thoughts ?

(It would be a second vehicle so wouldn't do too many short journeys, its a shame VW don't do a petrol.)

Petrol T6 Transporters are now available, take a look at the VW site.

[sjg]

There's at least one converted Nissan e-NV200 van, as well as the electrifying of classic VWs. Seems to be plenty of the bigger japanese MPVs getting converted too (Alphard, Elgrand, etc) which are petrol to start with.

Campervans will always reflect the commercials available at the time - as VW vans in the distant past went from petrol to diesel, the campers did too. Will be interesting to see what happens in the commercial space - plenty of PHEV vans coming in the next couple of years. At the very least it'd save putting leisure batteries in the things.

A newish Euro6-compliant van wouldn't worry me too much for the next 10 years or so, and that's assuming you might be stopping into various European cities and not want too many issues. As a 20+ year prospect (like the old couple neighbouring us who've owned the same T25 camper for 30+ years), god knows what will happen.

[finlo]

TSCfree said:

16a usually. 10a for the car, 6a for the services would do.

FWIW I'd give them the £2.50....

It's a 16A socket usually fed by a much smaller mcb to prevent people from having 3kw heaters on in their campers all night

[TSCfree]

finlo said:

TSCfree said:

16a usually. 10a for the car, 6a for the services would do.

FWIW I'd give them the £2.50....

It's a 16A socket usually fed by a much smaller mcb to prevent people from having 3kw heaters on in their campers all night

As with all these things it pays to do your research. I know of 20 sites in the local area that are happy to hookup an EV. A farmers field in the arse end of nowhere with a few commandos connected by a piece of string and yes you could end up cold and stranded.

As an aside the Leaf and Ampera also have the option to draw minimal currents down to 6A which would recharge ~12 hrs