Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i What Motorhome

LIKE a number of other firms, 8 Ball Camper Conversions is known for its VW Transporters but has moved into the ‘big league’ with its very appropriately named XL, based on the T6.1’s big brother, the Crafter. This is no ordinary Crafter, either. That was obvious as soon as it pulled onto the small campsite behind the Wishing Well pub in Dyke, Lincolnshire. With rugged-looking KMC alloy wheels and BF Goodrich All-Terrain tyres and a 60mm suspension uplift kit, plus a winch, Thule awning, roof rack, rear-mounted spare wheel and even an offside ladder and surfboard holder, this ’van looks set for adventure. It even has steps built into the wheel carrier, so that you can climb up to clear snow off the solar panels (350W) on the roof. And,…

HERE’S a name that you’re going to hear a lot more often, we reckon. It has already established itself as the only converter in Northern Ireland with both European Whole Vehicle Type Approval and approval for its conversions from the National Caravan Council (NCC). From its base in Belfast, it retails and rents its VW Transporter campervans, while it has bold plans to expand beyond Ireland. Rather than appointing dealers, Jans Lifestyle is intending to open its own sales sites, firstly in Dublin and Edinburgh, with five locations being the ultimate goal. In the meantime, though, it is not restricting itself to customers on its side of the Irish Sea, as its appearance at last October’s NEC show demonstrated. In advance of opening more premises, it is offering to deliver…

MOTO-TREK may be best known for its large motorhomes and the incorporation of American RV-style slide-outs but neither of those aspects apply here. Xplora is not only Moto-Trek’s newest coachbuilt motorhome range but also its most compact. Not only is it sub-six-metres in length but the Xplora is also barely wider than the Peugeot Boxer chassis-cab on which it is based. There are two models in this new range, the fixed bed FDB and this ELD layout, which is likely to prove more popular with UK customers. In each case, size is key – these ’vans are barely bigger than a van conversion but have the square sides of a coachbuilt for greater internal space. Externally, it’s a simple all-white look with flush, framed habitation windows and grey graphics. The…

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HERE’S a camper which is, perhaps, undersold by its rather prosaic name. Instead of hinting at a lifestyle with a title like Adventurer or a glamorous destination, such as Monte Carlo or Mont Blanc, it simply adopts a code that explains where it fits within the company portfolio. The first two letters (VF) are simply from the maker’s name, followed by another ‘F’ for fixed seat (‘R’ is for rail, when a sliding seat system, on rails, is fitted). The number that follows indicates the width of the seat/bed installed, so ‘1’ is a typical 1.12m seat, ‘2’ (as here) is the wider 1.30m bench and ‘3’ indicates a full-width 1.50m seat/bed unit. At least The Van Factory hasn’t adopted the seemingly random numbering of some motorhome ranges… It sticks…

KNIGHTS Custom Conversions has been building a reputation for producing some really top-notch VW campervans. Now, like many of its rivals, it has added a conversion of the similarly sized Ford to its portfolio. Called the Custom Tourer, the newcomer made its public debut at the Motorhome & Campervan Show Season Finale last September. Like Knights’ VWs, this is not your average conversion, although it does have a typical floorplan. That, perhaps, is where comparisons with other Transit Custom campervans ends. Typically, the spec starts with a high-end base vehicle. It’s an L1 (short-wheelbase) Ford but powered by the 170PS motor, linked to the six-speed automatic transmission. Then come the extras – sat-nav, heated cab seats, reversing camera and LED headlights, all factory fitted. To give it the Knights look,…

With over 400 exhibitor stands across almost 20 acres, it could easily be daunting to attend this show if you’ve never been before. Spread across halls 1 to 5, the show will be a great chance to see the latest motorhomes and campervans and, as well as the 2023-season models that appeared for the first time in October, there are some brand-new launches. A new Campervan Hall is promised, too, with exhibitors including Bilbo’s, Bodans, Danbury, Dirty Weekender, Dreamer, Ecowagon, Hillside, Jans Lifestyle, Malibu, Murvi, Rolling Homes, Swift, Vantage, Westfalia, WildAx and more, while outside there will be free campervan and motorhome manoeuvring test drives. Look out for ’vans boasting victory in the recent Campervan Awards and Motorhome Awards (announced in our December/January issue), while the models listed here should…

YOU couldn’t miss the pair of Bulldog Fords at last summer’s Norfolk Motorhome & Campervan Show. The local company was exhibiting a pair of its Transit Custom-based campers, each in vibrant Orange Glow metallic. It’s hard to stand out in this sector but the colour, along with a deep front spoiler, black 19in alloy wheels and extended rear bumper (incorporating the exhaust outlets) were definitely attracting attention. Bulldog’s bodykit, along with the side steps running between the wheelarches on either side, is standard spec. The basis of the camper is a short-wheelbase Transit Custom Trend with the 130PS engine. Going up from base Leader trim to the Trend gives you a range of extra kit, including power folding mirrors, static cornering lights, automatic lights and wipers, front and rear parking…

IT’S no longer surprising to see a VW camper with a price tag north of £80k, while switching to Ford’s Transit Custom doesn’t offer the sort of saving it once did. So, it’s good to find alternatives for those on more restricted budgets. Poplar Motors specialises in offering new conversions on used base vehicles, with prices starting at under £30k. There are three models in its range; the rear lounge Kiwi, the rear kitchen Osprey and the Kestrel, shown here, with a classic side kitchen layout. All three are based on the fifth-generation Toyota Hiace, usually with a 2-litre petrol motor. Alternatively, some models have four-wheel drive and a 3.4-litre V6, while a few are diesel-powered. These vans, which were never sold here by Toyota GB, are grey imports from…

THIS isn’t, perhaps, what you’d expect from a campervan based on Volkswagen’s big van, the Crafter, but then StandOut Campers specialises in bespoke builds. This particular conversion was designed for a family with three kids and a Weimaraner dog, so it was never going to be your typical, run-of-the-mill conversion. It started life as a medium-wheelbase 21-plate Crafter van, to which StandOut Campers added flush, single-glazed, glass windows (more minibus in style than the usual double-glazed plastic motorhome windows). These give a larger daylight opening but are also quite heavily tinted and only include one small opening (sliding) section on the offside. Also adding a dash of style are a set of black multi-spoke alloy wheels, while BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres should reduce the chances of getting stuck on campsite…

HERE is WildAx’s new flagship, launched with a rear lounge, but with further (fixed bed) Altair models planned, offering either high-level singles or a double bed – each based on the 6.84m MAN TGE panel van. In addition to being longer than your typical campervan, what sets the Altair apart is that it’s completely gas-free. WildAx has taken on board lessons learned from its Volt Pack option and created a model that, as standard, uses only diesel and electricity for its habitation services. With no gas, the Altair’s on-board resources include two 100Ah lithium batteries, 400W of solar power and a 3kW inverter. Switch on the latter and you have 230V at the sockets and the induction hob and microwave can be used off-grid. You’ll also find a very high…

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