The camper van market has seen a virtual explosion in demand in recent years, triggered initially by the pandemic when we all had to reconsider our options for holidays and breaks. In this article, Van Expert Tim Cattlin takes a look at what you can buy today, from some of the more luxurious models to those which are a little more budget friendly (prices correct as of August 2024).
A Reality Check
OK, let’s be frank – buying a new camper is never going to be cheap, even if you opt for one that is at the lower end of the price range. You’ve the base van, which have all seen big price rises in recent years and then the conversion aspect which involves many hours of labour and some pricy pieces of equipment to fit out the interior to make those long weekends away comfortable. On the upside, these converted vehicles retain their value – you’ve only to look at the price of 15 or 20 year old campers and you might be surprised how much you’d have to pay for one. The equivalent van will be a fraction of the cost (if it’s still on the road).
The Most Common Base Vehicles
Some vans lend themselves to a camper conversion better than others – this, combined with customer preference means that most conversions are carried out on the Ford Transit Custom, Volkswagen Transporter, Renault Trafic and, perhaps surprisingly for customers wanting a little more room, the Fiat Ducato.
The Most Popular Camper Conversions
Adria Active Duo
Adria is a well-established and respected camper converting company, and the Active Duo is an award winner, based on the Renault Trafic. With twin sliding side doors and a pop-up roof together with accommodation for four sleeping occupants (including two in the roof section), the swivelling front seats allow four people to face each other across a small table. There’s a 42-litre fridge, a single burner hob and sink in the kitchen but, no washroom.
It’s perhaps one of the more basic and less roomy campers on the market but, with a price from £52,990 it’s an attractive proposition to many.
Volkswagen California
A round up of camper conversions wouldn’t be complete without including the Transporter, with its heritage going back to the hippy era of the sixties, and, although there are a huge number of companies specialising in converting the van, we’re going to opt for the California, the official product from Volkswagen which is built totally in house.
In a bid to open up California to more budget conscious customers, recent years have seen the lower spec ‘Beach’ model being added to the higher spec ‘Ocean’ range. Ocean, like its competitors sleeps four utilising the pop-up roof section for perhaps the couple that have drawn the short straw. There are swivelling front seats, a well equipped kitchen and there are 240-volt sockets allowing the use of household items.
With the discontinuation of the Transporter 6.1 van range imminent at the time of writing, rather than moving California over to the Ford Transit Custom based replacement Transporter, it has been redesigned using the new Multivan platform.
Price (Beach range) from £61,462 OTR.
Ford Transit Custom Nugget
It was probably a foregone conclusion that Britain’s most popular van would also be a top choice as a camper. Recognising this, Ford now markets the Nugget as an official manufacturer product, although the vehicle is converted by a well-known external company called Westfalia. Now based on the all-new Custom launched earlier in 2024, the vehicle has 5 seats and is able to sleep up to 4 people. There’s an extendable roof, integrated hob and sink, and a hot water boiler which supplies an external shower unit with warm water.
There’s a lot to be said for buying a camper marketed by the manufacturer. It’s a one-stop-shop at the dealer, warranty is all under one roof as are finance arrangements. But, you’ve less control during the conversion process and the ability to make your own tweaks along the way is limited.
Price? £77,338 OTR
The Most Luxurious (and most expensive) Camper Conversions
Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo
Another ‘off-the-shelf’ offering, the Marco Polo is a premium product from a premium manufacturer, and, although built in-house, once again Westfalia has had more than a hand in the design and in supplying some components. The base van is essentially the Vito, masquerading as the V-Class people carrier, and it comes in a single trim level, called the Premium Plus.
You have the obligatory pop-up roof, providing a total of four ‘beds’, a kitchen with fridge, stove and sink, seating areas and an external shower but, perhaps what will draw many buyers to the Mercedes-Benz is the badge, the build quality and the effortless drive provided by the 233hp diesel engine and nine-speed automatic transmission. A plus point which will be welcomed by those exploring twisty, mountainous roads.
Price from £88,440 OTR
Le Voyageur Eterna 7.0 GJF
How can you tell if a camper is a camper and not a motorhome? I’ve not checked the definition but, although the Eterna has bodywork that bears little relation to the Fiat Ducato that has donated its cab (so therefore, it may well technically make it a motorhome) it’s got a GVM (Gross Vehicle Weight) of 3500kg, meaning that pretty much anyone with a car licence can drive it. Be aware though, it’s 7 metres long which could be challenging on some twisty country lanes.
That extra length means that you’re not reliant on a pop-up roof to accommodate guests 3 and 4, although the bed does drop down when required. The two sofas face each other with a decent-sized table inbetween, and all the necessary equipment is present including a kitchen, bathroom and a toilet to ensure a comfortable and lengthy break away from home.
Price £122,150
Auto-Sleeper M-Star
This one leaps out as being quite special. It’s based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van so there’s plenty of room inside. There’s a lounge in the rear with two leather sofas, and there’s even a central heating system with six radiators together with air conditioning. In the kitchen, there’s a full-sized oven and grill together with a dual fuel hob.
It’s not cheap, but, it’s much roomier than those based on medium-sized vans, and, you’ve got that Mercedes-Benz dealer backup, which is arguably the best and most comprehensive you can get.
Price from £125,250 OTR.
And finally – if you want to make it your own…
Sometimes though, a standard spec camper isn’t enough – you might want something to stand out from the crowd. This is where specialist companies come in, making your new investment really turn heads. For example, at the time of writing one specialist is enhancing a customer’s Volkswagen Transporter by adding colour-coded spoilers, sidebars, and a revised, self-levelling suspension to provide a smoother ride and including air conditioning to the vehicle rear. There’s a large but subtle solar panel on the roof, and Starlink internet connectivity is being incorporated.
A word of caution though, there are construction and use regulations that must be adhered to – make sure that your specialist keeps the vehicle legal!