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Have a look at the Wildax conversions, so far about the only panel van conversion that I have seen that I would consider.

Ali

Or,as delboy has already said,look into converting something for yourselves...!

A tidy mini bus,with the rearmost seats removed and replaced with a fixed/dropdown bed and a basic cupboard to house a stove etc,would be a cheap way to find out if campervans are for you!

Quote: Originally posted by paulkentuk on 07/8/2009

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Suspension is shockingly underdamped allowing a really unnerving rolling motion when overtaking trucks on the motorway at 70MPH or driving down narrow Devon Lanes. This vehicle would fail the legendry Moose Test ! The kids fought like cat & dog in the fold out upper sleeping area, the rear seats fold back to an uncomfortable double bed & with that seat up or down - the settup is poor for storage if you are planning on stopping in laybys for a cup of tea on the way down.

Honestly we are now considering taking out a VW T5 instead.

Regards

Paul

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I would suggest if you want to drive at 70mph a type 2 VW is not the van for you.  We pootle around at 50/60mph, although the van can do 70mph it wouldn't be happy.

As you say a type 5 would be a better choice with more comfort and refinement.

I'd also recommend you hired one for the weekend to get a feel of whether it's right for you.

We hired 2 different T5s (Bilbo & a California) and also drove a T4 California before we decided to go for it.

In the end we preferred the T4 because it all seemed a lot more robust than the T5's inside, was a bit smaller for parking etc and generally a lot cooler!  Cheaper too!

Initially it was really slow to drive which was a nightmare around town, but it turns out the timing was out & now it goes fine, although it does still roll around corners a bit.

If you're looking for a caravan with an engine, though, it's not for you!

Well done mate!

I sometimes wish that we'd gone for a simple self-build instead of spending a major slice of our savings/inheritance on a coachbuilt..

Although having got used to the 'van we've got,I can't see my OH being to happy if I turned up one day with an ex-council mobility bus...(..although that hasn't stopped me from looking tho'!)

Enjoy your travels!

Thanks for the suggestions.  We're off to the motorhome show at Malvern tomorrow and there are a few panel van converters due to go so hopefully we will get some ideas.  For the money we have I'm tempted by the bongo but my husband would ideally like a T5 (anything worth having is out of our price range) but will settle for something like a Regius.
Tomorrow may change that all again.

I honestly think the likes of a Regius and Bongo are way too small for 4 people to have any degree of comfort or storage.  You need to get into one, shut the door and imagine a rainy evening all sat in there together.  Also the sleeping arrangements, getting up for the loo or if one of the littlies is sick.

You would have to have a tent/freestanding annexe and then you might as well camp tbh!

Ali