monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I have to advise two club members to go compact a slogan of adria. The first is Sonja who has a mobilvetta Mh 85 about 7.45L K yacht. She lost her mate due to cancer. She managed to drive whit it. But she is low in lenght and find the mobile too wide. ? I said the spread is about 10 cm it is just option look. And a wheel base is the turning circle. I advise her to drive test Vw T6 transporter westfalia, And stay away from a fiat or a ford transit. MAX 5.4 mtr long. We do dog festivals mostly. I have burtsner I 728g full option and do the same because of my partner eye sight problems. Both are for sale.My partner hans who dictated most of the comments in red or white likes the site very much. He is born in the war of 1944. And likes the UK very much inside and out side. Next friday he had operation on his retina mascular hole and his pre operative tests on blood and hearth beat and Thorax Rx are whit comments, But not panic. Any Welcome comments to deal whit this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Thanks to harbour creek Uk i find out what westfalia parts are fitted in a kepler one Vw T6. T tank,location, ion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I am so sorry to hear of your partner's health problems Monique, we had to give up the nomadic life altogether because of health issues and if you are used to the luxury of space and comfort of a bigger van do be very cautious about downsizing too far. I see nothing in Ford or Sevel vans to deter me from buying one and the mere facts that they are larger than the VW offering and parts and servicing is considerably less expensive (in the uk anyway) for me seals it. I have yet to see any evidence that VWs are more reliable or better made or significantly better to drive or travel in than other vans of comparable age and whilst it is of course your choice I fail to see what is so attractive about VWs/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 The converted vans (fourgons aménagés) are quite a bit different to coachbuilt motorhomes, and their smaller sizes mean greater compromises. Whether the compromises will be acceptable for you will be entirely personal, but they generally affect the fridge, which will be smaller, and may be a compressor type (all of which will make some noise, unlike the almost silent three way type fridges), the cooker, which will probably have only two burners (I'll assume that you are not expecting/wanting ovens! :-)), and the washroom, which will be noticeably more compact, and may well have a less satisfactory showering arrangement. It is also worth mentioning that few of the gas lockers will take 13kg cylinders, and of those that will, very few will take two. Water tanks are likely to be smaller, ditto waste tanks. If your travel is mainly for a few days, none of this may matter, but if you expect to be able to travel for several weeks at a time, or even months, you will probably find storage space limiting. You will need to evaluate the practicalities for your chosen method of travel very carefully, and take your time in choosing. Don't just look at toilets, go in and sit on them and see whether there is sufficient room. Stand in the shower tray and close all the screens/curtains, and consider whether you could, actually, wash in the space available. Sit on all the seats and see if there is enough legroom. Sit at the table and consider whether two people can, actually, eat in comfort. Lie on the beds to see if they have sufficient length and width. Is the compressor fridge beside the bed, where it will be most likely to disturb sleep? You may see "clever" storage lockers under the bed - consider whether they can be accessed when the under-bed load space is packed. You may find that there is no dedicated storage space for the basic tool kit - but it will still have to be carried. Look for any notices that require the main table to be carried in the rear load space when driving, and then look to see if there is a dedicated space for it at the rear. There is one really good van conversion to be achieved, if one manufacturer would just take the best features of all the vans on the market, and combine them into one, single, van. From what I have seen, no manufacturer has yet achieved that, and they all have weaknesses in some areas. Getting your choice right is a matter of choosing which weaknesses you can live with, or adapt to work better. Good luck Monique - it won't be easy! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Hi Monique. Downsizing from a 7m+ to a VW T5/6 is a very big step, especially travelling with dogs. You say you don't want Fiat or Ford based vans. Have you considered Mercedes Sprinter or VW Crafter models ? Either would give considerably more internal space than the VW T6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyExsis Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 Hello Monique, sorry to hear of the health situation that you are experiencing- they say that age doesn't come alone. I own an original Hymer Exsis SG (2006 model) with a dinette that allows for seat belts to carry passengers and also makes up into a 54" wide double bed. The main bed is in the roof and is longitudinal and huge. Problem is that it is non electric and fairly heavy to raise & lower, but it does have gas struts to assist. Many of us Uk owners have had our vans from new and found it quite impossible to update the base vehicle and compromise all that we have in a 5.45m van that is only marginally wider than the Ducato base vehicle. There is an SK version that has side facing bench seats or a very rare Vario version with two single passenger seats that make up into beds. Problem is that the vans are old.... But reliable. There is a large wardrobe in the shower room / toilet that goes right across the back of the vehicle and storage space that you would not believe- all water tanks are inside and you can use bench seats for storage. A fairly rare Hymer model, but easily available in mainland Europe. I don't see why this layout can't be incorporated into a 5.4m van without the roof bed and using some expensive single passenger seats that make up into two folding single beds . A layout like this in a new van would answer all of Brian's compromise points - and I could also get a modern base vehicle for my remaining touring years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 Exactly Brian. All these points , my partner checked. But the main thing was that it was fit for purpose in the weekend dog festivals Only. But still can be used as a daily car at low taxing. and parked in a normal size garage. you can sleep in comfort for two, and four small dogs. and a spacy cosy front saloon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Looking at the VW campers I come across on sites, the floor of these vans are strewn with personal belongings that have to be moved about to create living spaces. We have looked at a few because we are tempted to give up motorhoming and use a camper style, or something like the Hymer van, as a suitable vehicle for days out [toilet is a must]. VW campers are just too far a compromise for us. Our current Hymer 504 is a 3 berth and 6m long and 2.35m wide. Floor space is at a premium and this leads to greater knocks and marks on the furniture. Air flow seems less than on a larger van and this can cause headaches/condensation more than we experienced in larger vans. It also ensures bodily contact on a regular basis as the inhabitants move about. Lack of space reduces mobility within the van. On the upside, it is highly manoeuvrable, works as a day van - with some compromises on parking, and works for us. One change we did make is to carry a shower curtain which we hang up between the bathroom and the wardrobe to provide a private changing room outside the small shower area. I'm a firm believer in accepting necessary compromises and working hard to make what is left suitable for your needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 It's always a compromise, a VW is good for everyday driving, and many find them fine for use as campers (we had a T25 for 13 years), how any individual reacts to using one, who can predict? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 monique.hubrechts@gm - 2018-04-18 5:24 PM Exactly Brian. All these points , my partner checked. But the main thing was that it was fit for purpose in the weekend dog festivals Only. But still can be used as a daily car at low taxing. and parked in a normal size garage. you can sleep in comfort for two, and four small dogs. and a spacy cosy front saloon. Then you might also look at the Mercedes "Marco Polo" conversions. It sounds as though what you are looking for is what we generally call a "Day Van". Small hob, small compressor fridge, convertible bed/seat and table, with a "Porta Potty" type toilet. Here's a well established British converter that specialises in this type of van, based on the VW: http://tinyurl.com/yb35duw5 Have a look at their range and see if any seem to suit your requirements. There is also the VW California range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Brock - 2018-04-19 11:07 AM Looking at the VW campers I come across on sites, the floor of these vans are strewn with personal belongings that have to be moved about to create living spaces. I'm inclined to agree... Whenever we're pitching at a festival, and perhaps longingly looking at the cool'n'groovy and shiney VW Ts that are pulling up next to us, when they slide the side door open, their interiors are usually just as rammed with clobber as our DIY "camping-van".. Which is fine, if like us you're okay with having to disgorge the van's contents when you arrive...but not so good if you want to access the on-board facilities of your 50-60K "campervan", on-route.. :-S When folk view VW sized vehicles on forecourts, rather than just sitting in them and basking in their "coolness", they should perhaps take their duvet, pillows, jackets, muddy boots, camping chairs/table,maybe a couple of holdalls and a *driveaway awning(*which the vast majority are used with)..and see how "cool" they appear with all that crammed in them.. (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCC Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 As someone with a VW I mainly agree with this. We use crates to store things and move them around inside depending on what we are doing. We use the drivers seat to dump coats etc when we're on site. Likewise all bedding is kept on the back section of the boot and there is a bit of a process to set up the bed. We do manage to put a lot in the boot under the rear section of the bed including when necessary a couple of folding bikes. It's a compromise that we're happy to live with. The Kepler is very different and comes with a new set of compromises. As far as I can see the main bed is in the roof and you have to clamber up to it and accept that you are sleeping in a sort of tent. The other bed is made up from various seat cushions, spare cushions, bits of wood, etc. It doesn't look very flat once it's all assembled. Other conversions have two single beds with the option to fit a central section but you have to use the front seats so you lose some of the space where we would dump things. You were given a link to Bilbos but you could also look at Reimo. With the Kepler or the single bed layout you lose the rear boot which we find very useful. I'm not sure about the VW at present. I understand there have been a lot of problems with some of the engines and the automatic gearbox. VW have had to increase the length of the warranty in some markets. Also there are problems meeting emissions targets. I know they stopped production of Californias for a while because of emissions. Having said that, there's something about the VW T6 which I think makes it the nicest base for conversion to a camper. Buying a camper which also acts as a car is a long term proposition and with low emission zones springing up all over the place I'd be tempted at present to wait to see what the Hybrid version of the Ford Transit Custom is like when it is released next year, and whether other manufacturers launch equivalent models. I wish Toyota would release a Hybrid version of the Proace with a Toyota drivetrain but as it comes out of a PSA factory that's unlikely to happen. Also the Proace is a bit narrower than the T6 which eats into room for conversion. It's all about compromise, but I find it a bit of a challenge to imagine how I would use the Kepler. There's a lot I like but I wouldn't want to rely on the roof bed, it's a bit restricted on storage, and I'm not sure the interior shower is very practical (but used outside it would be good for hosing down dogs, people, bikes, etc). I'm sure other people would be fine with it. Good luck. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 Thank you all. And yes Peter It wiil be a challenge. What was not used the last three years on the large one at the dog festivals.The 180 kg front bascule bed, the showercabin because it was used as a ward robe.Only the two single beds on the rear above a big huge garage which will be missed. Causing a long rear overhang which is not welcome at some sloping sites and hitting my sub rear chassis. alko chassis. Goodby ALKO it was nice to talk about it. It will be now a vwt6 transporter a famous looking police car in Antwerp city. converted by westfalia into the kepler one. Not to confuse what vw makes themselves as former by westfalia. Like the california or the Ocean. One just particular on this model only you step in the top up from the rear, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 First down size done, not me yet. Sonja ordered a Font- Vendome Leader Camp Van on fiat ducato NEW. 2018. it has a combi truma D4 on diesel for heating the van interior and making hot water at the same time. And place for two 6 kg gasbottles to cook The Van has two cabin doors, and two sliding doors, and two-split back doors. which can be opened apart. I am unfamilar whit the truma d4 about noise and fumes in the year 2018 . Delivery In june. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazdog6007 Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Font- Vendome.We have stayed at there small camperstop at the rear of the factory. honesty box for small payment FRANCE don't you just love France!. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 monique.hubrechts@gm - 2018-04-25 6:08 PM First down size done, not me yet. Sonja ordered a Font- Vendome Leader Camp Van on fiat ducato NEW. 2018. it has a combi truma D4 on diesel for heating the van interior and making hot water at the same time. And place for two 6 kg gasbottles to cook The Van has two cabin doors, and two sliding doors, and two-split back doors. which can be opened apart. I am unfamilar whit the truma d4 about noise and fumes in the year 2018 . Delivery In june. An interesting design making good use of available space, but I don’t think it has two sliding doors. https://www.font-vendome.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/LeaderCamp_Fiche2018.pdf Truma Combi D units use an Eberspacher diesel-fuelled burner instead of a gas burner and there’s a more powerful D6(E) version that has integrated 230V heating elements. I don’t know if Combi D heaters are noisier or smellier than equivalent gas-fuelled Combis, but it would not surprise me if that proved to be the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 27, 2018 Author Share Posted April 27, 2018 Derek about the two sliding doors L/R I was in doubt too, but the pdf shows a similar hinge on both sides as the cabin doors looking forward giving different window sizes both sides. Ebersphacher claims that a Marter animal likes the heat and the smell on the exhaust in case of a underbody exhaust, Anyway they claim perfect combustion on diesel. Today a new diesel, from old baking oil but expensive will hit the market. Much cleaner on euro 6 now. They use more current than a gas burner. But having two house batts 100 Ah. And A quite large AES firidge.On the Westfalia Kepler One On Vw T6 it looks like this: 50/36 ltr watertanks,truma BG 10ltr waterboiler on gas only,51ltr compressor fridge on current webasto 2000 airtop 2000 stc on diesel only JUst one camping gas bottle 2.75 kg or spare one in a locker. It will hold for a weekend. Font vendome also makes a pop-up but on renault ,cheaper than westfalia. Decision will be made when the gas bubble in my partner one eye disappear afther his macular hole treatment a week ago. The mobilvetta could be traded in at 45000 euro at the dealer,or sell private. I suggested a ask price, what do you think, MH- 85 4 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 The “Leader Camp” layout on this webpage shows just a single sliding door on the right. https://www.font-vendome.fr/van/leader-camp/ and the first two attached photos below show a table attached to the wall. There is also “une Visite Virtuelle” that certainly suggests that there is no sliding door on the left, as does the third attached photo below of a Leader Camp’s left side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowie Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 A friend of mine has recently converted a V-class Mercedes into what Brian would call a day-van. I have considered this as the basis of a van that would be suitable for our usual 6 week, 2000+ mile trips. Unfortunately the economics don’t work. I would add an awning at the side, and a tailgate awning as well, and use the van for sleeping and a nighttime toilet, but not a portapoty! It could be done, and a significant benefit would be that my wife would be able to share the driving. We are not keen on cold weather camping, so an awning based camper would be feasible. Trouble is that weather is the biggest variable. Maybe a T@b would be a possibility? Regards, Snowie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted April 29, 2018 Author Share Posted April 29, 2018 A Portaboly does not form part of a WestfaliaKepler one, but a thetford casette toilet of top quality and F It is notlush knob better than the side gate of a dometic toilette. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted May 3, 2018 Author Share Posted May 3, 2018 Meet today on a four day dog seminar a two female couple from spain in belgium.. having a VW california in the ocean version made by Vw, not westfalia.they are very happy whit it. for city trips ETC. They came from the bask region near Santander. And they excused themseves officially now to Madrid of their autonomy policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 And their is a huge difference in the california versions what VW makes, And what westfalia makes out of the T 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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