Another itch to scratch

Yea, although sometimes helpful, it can be a nuisance too.

I've never had it create all these full stops though...

 

Ha been called a lot worse in my life, believe me!

The one thing I’m finding, to buy from one of the many places is £x, to self build is £x
Give or take a few pounds both appear similar pricing........

Discussing with the wife, with my sincerity,

Thanks very useful information, irrespective of approach, whether build of buy, I’m ending up at near the same price.......
I’ve registered on Camperbug, shall be taking one on hire for a week, see how the family enjoy...
I’ve also got plan B which involves approaches a local (50 miles away) conversion company, that also hire out
The wife has turned the tables so many times, now she’s playing devil advocate with reverse psychology thrown in, not sure if she’s now seeing the reality or knows me too well, so ultimately the test will be on the fields / road.

 

Thanks Duncan
I’ve read your posts on Pistonheads and appreciate your input allbeit, all sounding positive on the Kepler One
Not sure the budget will stretch, though thoughts and seeds are planted, can’t spoil the crop!

 

I used to work for VWCV dealer and also dealt with California’s a lot as well as we sponsored the owners club for a few years.

Great vehicles.

I would be looking for a 130bhp 2.5 pd engine or a 140cr engines van to be honest. Out of all of them these are the most reliable with decent performance and not horrific repair costs.

Beware of offside front driveshaft and gearbox stub shaft wearing and failing leaving you stranded. Will happen when you go to pull away. Around 200,000 miles camshaft loves will be worn out and cause a popping noise back through the air box. Gearboxes are good for high mileage. Autos are a little fragile in comparison.

Buy a California, run it for a year and sell it for what you paid for it if you don’t like it.

Cheers


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Rentals booked and paid - 13th August
One small step for ......... etc, small trip planned to Stirling then onto Dumfries for two days, so hopefully a purpose spent test drive allowing the X5 to rest!
Days have past and many many campers looked at, now plotting to rob a bank to get an Aurora

 

@snrbrtsn Looking forward to your report, Sean.

 

I have no experience of these but I've always had a soft spot for them and would love one in the future. I had a look at some of the kitted out ones from VW and they are outrageously expensive so I personally would get a used one and modify it myself.

Just as a thought, there's a place that hires these out so maybe worth trying one out with certain options to see how you get on with it? I'm a sucker for options that I never use or need so a try before you buy option might be worth it.

 

Saw a lot of these heading south on the M5 yesterday, some real nice examples. I assume they were heading for the VW Mecca that is Cornwall.

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Well that itch has broken out to a sore!

Took rental of a T6, 140ps 4 berth camper and off we set.....
Pick up was good, and certainly left a lasting impression, 60 mile drive home and very impressed, loaded up with wife and child we set off 150miles,
Ordinarily we pack for short hotel stays, quickly realising there’s an art to campervan living that we never appreciated, so it was very much a fumbled shakedown for bedtime when we arrived at Falkirk wheel caravan site, then disappeared in the forests for a long walk (we got lost)
Finally we found our route and retuned in darkness, Roof up and settled it’s cramp and intimate, we’re used to space and minalist living, though now having a destinct lack of space & shoehorned in, lacking orderliness (our fault)

Never the less after the first night we woke with back ache from the Rib bed, not quite offering the comforts, much moaning from wife, we thought we’d shower and freshen up for the day ahead, wife has a non starter as the shower block doesn’t have water, blocked pipes......not good, we’re going to have to endure the day with a stinky illnatured mummy!
So we set off for breakfast in the reluctance to cook over the onboard facilities,

Day 2 was fun packed, spent at Falkirk wheel, an amazing facility for family fun, definately a place we shall revisit, moreso as I was amazed at the cycle routes through the waterways and intend to explore further.

Onto a drive from Falkirk to Solway Firth some 120miles, this was hard, and took much effort, a journey we have done countless times by car, though this time we felt tired and sore.

Day three Spent in Southerness, yet another family fun filled day with pool and arcades and excellent entertainment, met with friends and a good get together, though not quite thinking of the logistics of belly full of drink and setting up for the night....

Woke the next day very much a broken man, she looked at me and I looked at her, both with the knowing glances,

“Dear let’s take the scenic route home”
So the final day of camper hire and the camper is parked on the drive!

The short trip made realisation of the placebo effect. the T6 is after all a commercial vehicle, having read multiple pages on forums and reviews, all the statements of owners gripes came to light, allbeit unprompted.
A real shame as I’d found two definitive vans of potential purchase! just barely containing my impulsive buying decision

Driving position is cramped, bolt upright and restricted due to the furniture in the rear behind drivers seat.
Passenger seat is too upright with insufficient leg room, hindered by the gear turret so whilst a 2+1 configuration, the middle seat is unusable,
Though this does allow for adequate seating for child in the double rear Rib seat, though conscious of the elevated height with a booster seat (child is 10) and restricted head room with the roof down.... regardless he was more than happy with plenty of space and endless power supply to peruse you tube or watch movies on long drive home.
Engine coupled with a manual box is hard work, I’m too used to 6 pot automatics that effortless drive and reward

Overall, I had intended to replace the X5 with a camper to allow distance touring and easy stop overs, accepting the fact we’d come down to a single car, I think the plans have had a slight upheaval........
I’m guessing it’s time to replace our overnight baggage and spend much time perusing the pages of Autotrader

Just goes to show, there great merit in thorough road testing and try before buying......

 

Similar experience here. Just returned from doing the NC500 in a hired camper. My back got so bad we had to book into a hotel for the last night. Don't think i'll be buying one anytime soon!

Overall it was a great experience, location wise, with reasonable weather

 

I told you it wasn’t a bmw....!!



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Oh!
So it’s not just me (us!)
Hopefully the scenery gave the reward for your pains

 

Too true
I really can see the benefits and having it out today with bike I see how it would work for couples
I’d favour single front seats on a lwb van, that would work better for us, it was quite painful looking over at the wife slumped over like a painter after a full day’s shift.....

 

Glad it’s working for you Duncan (and not just on the van side), your posts reads very positive between the lines
Well done you!

I can see the lure with the T5/T6 vans, when driving, you never have to go far before seeing another, I was amazed during my search for the perfect van at the volume of companies kitting out and the endless possibilities of modifying and tweaking, an end result of shear extravagance! Some are very well done!

I’d never say they were bad, just not as rewarding as arriving in any of my previous cars, moreso on a relatively short journey that we’ve done many times, so a lot of the blame lies with us placing expectation too high and wanting comfort levels equal to that of a typical saloon.

The seating is cramped, perhaps down to the Kiravan swivel and SWB combination,
I had found a LWB pimped out van that had single seats with space behind the drivers seat, really was a lovely van though some distance away (down in Yorkshire) and not wanting to risk family war, in reality the wife wasn’t enamelled

I did immediately think about going bigger, however it detracts from the intention of serving as an everyday mode of transport and a getaway for overnighting, so back to the drawing board.

In reality and possibly laughable, more enjoyment is had with tenting, possibly as prior to setting up, we know what it entails and know it will be for a short stay, we had planned four nights and never made it!
Though possibly there’s the unknown reality of arriving and departing in comfort, where I should be looking at caravans, I don’t want the hassle of storing so I’ll keep an eye out for a trailer tent, should be a good time of year for a bargain....

It does leave a stay of execution for the X5, so not a total loss, I can’t find a suitable replacement other than a newer X5, though no immediate need to rush out just yet, I’ll let the T6 wounds heal first!

 

Reading this reminds me of the time I got really enthusiastic about motorcycle camping. I bought a Saunders one man tent - barely any bigger than a bivvy bag and very claustrophobic, together with a lightweight sleeping bag and mat. Three days of extreme discomfort in scenic Wales was enough for me to decide to sell the tent and stick to B&B's. Riding the motorcycle in some stunning countryside was a plus though, and very enjoyable.

Obviously a camper van would be far more luxurious in comparison, but it's still very basic as far as accommodation goes, and nothing compensates for a rock hard, uncomfortable bed.

 

Oh my that tent looks small....
This has been our trusted steed for a couple of years, spacious with two bedroom pods a main sitting area and a toilet room out the back (though used for bag storage) bit and clumbersome as it’s a pole tent, though the putting up is refined and takes circa 15-20mins, don’t think I’ve ever used that many pegs though



Nevertheless
The camper went back today, drove the first mile thinking, oh ¥¥¥¥! This is going to kill my back, it certainly did not disappoint, 70mile journey was like being flogged through a torture chamber and being kicked in the stones on the way out!
Finally arrived and dropped off, with full qoudos to Dr Custom Campers in Elgin,
really nice down to earth people who are very open and welcoming with a thriving “niche” business converting campers - Full respect!
Their products are excellent with a defined business etiquette, nothing but the highest of praise!

Eventually taking the X5 down the road, immense feeling of comfort and connection, seat memory 2 found (defined for cruising position) and felt “just wow,” on the journey home, admittedly drove home like a ar5e and taking advantage of the power, presence and road holding certainly enough to settle my itching for a time!

 

Sense has prevailed.

 

@snrbrtsn Here you go Sean, saw this linked over on another forum......

http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=188378

 

NO No No & no!
Campervans are off the cards,
In a very different method or logical sense to many, the preference is hotel or tent and the auld X5 will furnish either!

Perhaps if I find a suitable trailer tent that will accommodate bikes I’ll go that route!

I’ve looked & driven the F15, with it being the only “other” car I like it will more than likely be the next car buying move.

For sure the Campervan shall play no further thought in my mind! some are nice though for us they’ll be visual memories best admired from afar, such a shame as they’re hugely popular,
We’ve already dumped the thoughts and memories from our time away, (lost time that did not exist)
It was a learning curve of small expense that did make for huge savings, so monies well spent!