What Motorhome July 2022

There’s been a lot of talk about motorhome and campervan prices lately. Consider, for example, that when we first tested a VW California soon after its UK debut in 2006, it was priced from £34,000. Today, a new California Ocean starts at £72,980 – a rise of over 114%. In the same period, average salaries have increased by just 34%. Of course, the 2022 Cali is a more sophisticated campervan, with more kit, more power, and it’s kinder to the planet, too. And I’m not picking on VW; wherever you look, prices are up by substantial amounts, especially over the last 18 months. The good news is that, if you already own a campervan, it is probably keeping (maybe even increasing!) its value better than anything else you own, except…

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PERHAPS the easiest answer to buying a top-quality Volkswagen campervan is to buy VW’s own excellent in-house design, the California Ocean. Hundreds of conversion companies are now screaming out loud and sticking pins in pictures of the Editor, so let’s also add that, with a starting price of £72,980, there are cheaper options. The Cali, fine machine though it is, also has its faults, not least that the sliding door is on the offside. And many customers prefer something more bespoke, in which they can choose far more aspects of the spec than with VW’s off-the-shelf offering. So, if you’re one of the thousands of buyers who think there are better alternatives, how do you find a camper that is a safe place to put your money – and, more…

YOU think you’ve seen every slight variation on the VW campervan theme and then along comes something that’s genuinely different. Peer in through the sliding side door of this Adventure Competition conversion by CJL Leisure and you might spot the sliding seat and the high-quality finish but it’s not immediately obvious what sets this conversion apart. For the USP, you need to lift the T6.1’s tailgate… We always say that the storage back here is what makes or breaks a good Transporter camper but CJL has taken things to a whole new level. Not only is there the familiar deckchair pod on the inside of the hatch, but inside there’s a full-height garage for your bikes. Designed to take up to four road bikes or two mountain bikes, your top-end…

IN a typical side kitchen campervan you have a two-person rear bench seat, which makes into a double bed that’s rather slimmer than you might be used to at home (always try for size!). Alternatively, you can have a wider seat/bed (potentially with triple rear seatbelts) but, of course, the depth of the galley then has to be reduced. The HemBil Escape is well established and one of this converter’s most popular models. It already offers either Renault or VW base vehicles but, now, CMC is offering even greater choice with the introduction of the Escape-SL. This has a kitchen that’s 80mm narrower, thus increasing rear passenger comfort and giving you a wider bed at night. Not only that, but the SL version is also offered on the Ford Transit…

THE Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show in February marked something of a relaunch for the famous Danbury brand. It had already unveiled its Surf and the show saw the debut for the top-of-the-range Heritage. With this historied marque’s near 60 years of association with VW, it’s no surprise that these latest conversions are based on the T6.1 Transporter. Under new owner, Vanworx, it is slowly building up the model range and expanding production. Currently, it has a team of six working at new premises in Somerset and hopes to build 60 campers this year. Its new Heritage won’t be difficult to spot as this high-spec model comes with a two-tone exterior (painted, not a wrap), as well as a Sports Pack that adds 18in BBS alloy wheels, chromed side bars…