The popularity of converting Volkswagen commercial vehicles into great looking campervans means
there are literally hundreds of converters to choose from.
But when you approach one with your van, you have got to make some fundamental decisions
about the layout of your vehicle.
This video is a big converter's advice on making those choices.
People often have the choice of short wheelbase or long wheelbase with Volkswagen vehicles
for conversion.
What impact does that choice have \endash which one of those you choose?
A lot of people if they are going to use a vehicle day to day will go for a short wheelbase
because it is easier for getting into car parks and things like that.
And people who are using them for mostly weekend use or holidays will go for a longer wheelbase
unless they have another requirement from a long wheelbase vehicle such as extra space
on the inside and that is a must have for them.
Presumably with a long wheelbase you get more space, but it does not make any particular
difference to what can be achieved with the conversion.
No that is right.
You can have a big triple seat rib bed in the long wheelbase and you can have it in
a short wheelbase.
However, if you do have that size of bed in the short wheelbase, you do then lose out
on having a grill and one of the burners.
So it goes from having two burners to a one burner.
People will talk about the difference in the length is only 40cm so often people think
that a short wheelbase is not that much difference from a long wheelbase and 40cm does not sound
that much \endash until you try and put it into a car parking spot and then if it sticks
out that can be a crucial feature for you.
People can also chose, when they are buying a donor vehicle, between a normal roof that
is going to have a pop top added to it or they can also get one that has got a kind
of high roof.
Again, what sort of impact does that have on the conversion and what you can have?
From the conversion, if you have got a bit more space to work with you have the facilities
of maybe having a toilet block in there.
An actual toilet in there with a shower \endash in a high roof \endash but then the downside
with that is you might not fit into car parks with height restrictions.
So again it comes down to how much flexibility you want with each vehicle.
So each have their merits and benefits.
This sounds is if it is boiling down to decisions about your lifestyle and how you want to use
them.
Exactly that.
Obviously the front seating is an issue because depending on what donor vehicle you have that
can be different?
You can always have it changed.
Just because it comes with a double front seat as most vans do, that does not mean you
cannot change it to a single passenger seat.
Both can be swiveling.
The advantage of a single passenger seat is that you can get through to the back as a
driver without having to get out and go round the vehicle.
Whereas with a double seat it is more difficult and you really have to get out.
However, the double seat has storage underneath it and is wider so it can become more of a
lounge area which can be practical as well.
Many converters out there, although the sky can be the limit with what you choose, a lot
of them offer a couple of options \endash or a couple of main options \endash in terms
of the layout of the vehicle.
Why does that happen?
I think it is because it is a tried and trusted method.
They have worked out over the years what does work.
So there is various things that people require and ask for time and time again.
And rather than say you could have this, they tend to say well this is a layout that has
those features.
And they know it works.
Definitely yes.
And on top of that then you do get the choice of all the colours and the finishes and the
surfaces and all of that kind of thing.
It really is never ending.
You have choices from the exterior graphics and detailing.
Whether you have sidebars and spoilers and different coloured handles, to the interior
where you have a black worktop, white worktop, and coloured edging to the worktops.
The choice is endless.
It is always nice to have choice.
And what kind of bizarre requests have you had over the years.
We have had various different things but we had one campervan that had yellow detailing
on the outside, yellow detailing on the handles.
Yellow detailing on the cupboard edging and black gloss cupboard edging.
And that was because they were a bee-keeper.
These are very modern, smart vans \endash but you can have quite a retro look these
days.
The retro look is a popular look and we do the two-tone detailing on the outside, so
it is basically the bottom half of the camper is in one camper and the top half is in another.
So we have one that is in sage green at the bottom with the white at the top.
That seems to be very popular.
But likewise we have had more sporty versions with blue and the bottom and silver at the
top.
And equally that works for some customers too.
And I know the whole point of campers is everybody does something different with them, but if
someone is coming to a converter with a van, and an idea, what are in your opinion the
key things they need to get in their mind first?
Certainly they need to think about having a pop top roof.
We sometimes get people saying they don\rquote t need a poptop roof, but I think that is
what identifies it as a camper, plus it gives you a lot of room.
I think that is definitely something they should consider.
And the seating options.
Like you said with the front seats, whether they have two seats or three across the front.
The bench seat across the back\'85 what type of seat that is.
We do three types of seat.
There is a rock and roll bed which basically goes from vertical to flat.
Then we do the rib bed that folds out and Reimo bed on rails that slides forwards.
And that just gives various different options.
So if you wanted more space for a van, for example, you can have the Reimo bed.
It can be right the way forward during the day- and using it as a van at the back \endash
loads of space \endash but then when you want it as a campervan and you shift it back, it
makes your seat and your lounge area.
I guess it is worth asking your converter to suggest something when you tell them what
you are wanting to use the van for.
Yes, I think that is right.
Different people may be into activities such as mountain biking.
So they might have really expensive mountain bikes and they want them inside.
They might have other requirement, maybe they have a disabled scooter that they want to
accommodate on the inside.
Obviously you have the sliding door at the side so you can put things in the centre but
a lot of people want the storage at the back rather than in the middle.
And are there things that in your experience customers really should not worry about but
they do?
I think a lot of the time people start at the wrong end.
So they will chose something based on the look without thinking about how it would work
practically for them.
So they might say this is lovely because it has alloy wheels and it has got coloured handles
in the colour we wanted.
Things like that are great, but they might not have things like air conditioning and
reversing sensors which although the reversing sensors can be added, it is things to think
about when you are buying and looking for a van.
So it does boil down to how you are planning to use the vehicle ? Definitely.
We are making many more videos on everything to do with all types of VW campervans.
From classic splitties and Bay Windows to the latest T6 s.
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