Habitation Check

[Revd Andy]

Hi Guys,

Before Christmas I bought my first VW Camper, a C (1985/6) reg T25 Westy Joker High Top. It was converted some time ago and I have some of the paper work. However, it has battery and hook up electrics and a three way fridge, a hob and a central heating system, as well as a fresh water and waste water system. The gas cylinder is located outside and under the van. Obviously I felt I wanted to get all this checked out. I took it to a local camper dealer who having taken it off my hands for 5 hours to do a habitation check condemned most of the electrics and gas works. However I got the feeling that part of the problem was that they didn't deal with older vehicles and conversions, and that perhaps someone more familiar may have been more helpful. Is this kind of thing others have come across. I notice that there is a place listed in the discounts section that deals with VW specifically. Is it worth getting a second opinion. I don't necessarily feel I need the whole certification, just want someone to give it the once over. Suggestions?

Andy

[Ralf85]

If it is a home conversion over here and not a real factory built van from the Westfalia werks, it's not a westie joker and the electrics and gas set ups may well be dodgy. Get a second opinion.

[Revd Andy]

I am pretty sure it is a genuine westy conversion. But I guess I could be mistaken. Where is a good place to get a opinion on the fact?

[kevtherev]

Here with pictures for opinions and proof of validity.

was this westy sold you with nothing working then?

[kevtherev]

Hi Guys,

Before Christmas I bought my first VW Camper, a C (1985/6) reg T25 Westy Joker High Top. It was converted some time ago and I have some of the paper work.

what is this paperwork?
They were converted at birth... VW converted it.

[Ralf85]

Well one way to tell is, is it right hand drive? If it is then a 1985 van is not a westie conversion. There were some fakes made over here using westie furniture. Also you should find a metal Westfalia werks tag on the inside on the van furniture, although if the furniture has been lifted from another van that doesn't prove anything. Also do you mean central heating, or a webasto etc which are heaters but not central heating?
Anyway the main point is you have a camper, so that's a good starting point. Get somebody who knows these vans to check it over for you. Somebody on here who lives nearby may be able to assist.

In the meantime why not become a club member via the membership tab at the top of the page.

Have fun with your new purchase!

[clift_d]

Take a look on the WestfaliaT3 site they have lots of info which should help you identify which version you have - see here.

I think you're right in that a general camper dealers won't necessarily understand the systems in these vans and it's easier for them to condemn them rather than stick their neck out. Best thing would be to post some pictures here showing the condition etc and then you'll get some feedback from people about what exactly you've got and the state it looks to be in. Then if you need to get specific things checked like the gas or electrics go to a specialist for those systems.

[Revd Andy]

Thanks for all your help guys. My van is LHD. I took it to a local guy who restores the shells of T25's and he seemed pretty certain it was a genuine westfalia Joker. However I will have a look inside the cabinets as suggested. 'Lola' is gorgeous anyway. One of the problems was that I bought it from a landy dealer and not a camper dealer. So whilst the body work and engine are excellent they didn't check anything else, and wouldn't have been qualified to do so. My mistake really. The hob works but I just feel that I need someone who knows electrics and gas in a T25 to have a look. The 'central heating is under the bent seat in the back and I have the instructions, wiring diagrams and everything for that. I am pretty sure that this is a later addition, not part of the original conversion. It's all such an adventure discovering it all and I am having a lot of fun, just need some advice as very inexperienced. I will take some pics and copy some docs and see if anyone recognizes things. But if anyone has a contact of somewhere I can take it and have them have a look I would be grateful. I applied for membership before Christmas but Steve has been busy with Christmas and a new baby girl and so it has not been processed yet.
Thanks everyone
Looking forward to becoming a member so I can come and meet some of you at a get together
Andy

[CJH]

My mistake really.

Not at all. If you've really got one with excellent body and engine then your priorities were right. Anything else will be cheaper and easier to fix.

Welcome to the club.

[jason k]

Spannerboy from here is in surry and a top chap, perhaps you can arrange a once over at his garage

[AdrianC]

The 'central heating is under the bent seat in the back and I have the instructions, wiring diagrams and everything for that. I am pretty sure that this is a later addition, not part of the original conversion.

The original conversion/build (is it a "conversion", if it was done before the original sale through a VW dealer...?) would certainly have had a heater (Eberspacher) under the sliding door outside.

Some pics might be useful. There's a whole stack of fairly easy clues as to what's an original Westy and what isn't. On a hightop, is there a gutter above the windscreen, below where the hightop fits? Are the ceilings in cab and under the upstairs bed flat? If so, then it's almost certainly original.

[Revd Andy]

There are a lot of papers and bills from 'TUV Nord' early on. Does that firm mean anything to anyone?

[AdrianC]

There are a lot of papers and bills from 'TUV Nord' early on. Does that firm mean anything to anyone?

TuV is a certification and inspection outfit. Photograph 'em or scan 'em, and post 'em.

[discipleofsketch]

So you took it to a local camper dealer who's not interested in vintage campers, and would maybe like to sell you a £30k gin palace, and they condemned most of the electric and gas work. Were they working to any particular guidelines like in an MOT - for example "is the rubber gas hose visibly perished", " are the seals on the gas fittings perished", "can gas leaks be detected", "is the rubber insulation on the wiring perished" (i'm just making these up), or did he just take a look at it and work out how to sell you something?

If it was any of the former, then you should just go ahead and get those things sorted out and take it back for a re-test, 29 year-old gas and electrics may well need some attention, however good the original work and components were. There's also probably been stricter guidelines added to habitation checks that didn't exist in 1985.

[keith]

The 'central heating is under the bent seat in the back and I have the instructions, wiring diagrams and everything for that. I am pretty sure that this is a later addition, not part of the original conversion.

The original conversion/build (is it a "conversion", if it was done before the original sale through a VW dealer...?) would certainly have had a heater (Eberspacher) under the sliding door outside.

Some pics might be useful. There's a whole stack of fairly easy clues as to what's an original Westy and what isn't. On a hightop, is there a gutter above the windscreen, below where the hightop fits? Are the ceilings in cab and under the upstairs bed flat? If so, then it's almost certainly original.

not all Westies had an eber from birth