Fitted-out vans.....WHY?

Post by **syncroand101** » 08 May 2007, 17:09

I know where you are coming from. I started off doing everything in an empty caravelle (inc. sleeping on the floor!) you could throw whatever you want in it, mud, rubbish, 8 people, engines, gearboxes, kites, buggys etc etc. It was SO versatile.

When that met its demise, I upgraded to a Westfalia (partly due to pressure from Girlfriend. I don't think I could go back now, yeah I miss not being able to throw stuff in. But can carry boards, kayaks, kites on top with a buggy and Mountain Board on the back. AND sleep inside in comfort for weeks on end with the knowledge of a cold fridge not have to drive into a town every morning for the missus to, er, go to the little girls room.

Like you say, horses for courses.

Post by **maximus** » 08 May 2007, 18:42

Well there ya go, yours is used for work i guess as well as camping???

Post by **matt** » 08 May 2007, 20:13

I've met Brooky and his bed "Rocked"

heheheheheh

owlets ----Brooky, have you ever spent time in a purpose built van? By the tone of your post not

have you Owen ?????????

seems you spend all ya time in SA, the States or in a airport hehehehehhehe

Post by **Brooky** » 09 May 2007, 07:30

Yo Matt!
Steady now.... people might get the wrong idea! Matt was not at any point ON my bed. He only saw it, and lo, he saw that it was good (and big) and he did declare that it "rocked" and so it does. It doth also "roll" thereby creating.....a sofa, which also "rocks".

Anyway, yes I suppose my van is a compromise of workability and comfort. But compromise suggests that it's not ideal. For me, it is. Just as other peoples fitted-out vans are ideal for them.

Each to their own I think.
Brooky.

Post by **matt** » 09 May 2007, 07:39

oh, Turned Toms Skate board into a "pendulum" board after our brief chat
loads better for both me n the kids !!!

Post by **shepster** » 09 May 2007, 11:34

I think the whole point of these vans is to make them into what suits you best, my van didn't have much in it when i first got it but over the years i have added heating, running water leisure battery and all manner of things so it fits exactly what i use it for, other people probably think it's cr4p but thats the beauty of the whole thing for me.

Post by **jed the spread** » 09 May 2007, 22:30

i started off with a caravelle and thought the same thing but after a couple of years of, 'god thats handy' and,'that looks good' i ended up turning it into something that suits us. look in my signiture.

jed

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 10 May 2007, 08:28

matt wrote:have you Owen ?????????

seems you spend all ya time in SA, the States or in a airport hehehehehhehe

You are only jealous

Spent many a holiday in my of 83 Westy, off to Cornwall for a week in the Brownstar soon too

Post by **Brooky** » 10 May 2007, 11:30

Wait a minute... that's what I mean. Start with an empty van or a Caravelle with the seats removed and put in just what you need. I'm sure over time, that changes & the van changes to suit.
I think it's just the ready-made campers I'm unsure about. They just seem to be (have to be I suppose) built with everything that's available already in, whether you need it or not. It just seems wrong to me to have to learn to live with what's already there rather than starting from the point where you know what you want the van to do & then fitting it out to suit.
Brooky.

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 10 May 2007, 12:13

Ok so these successful, in the majority, of companies that survive by desiging and making camper interiors for VW's have got it all wrong and give the stuff you don't need?

How strange and there's me thinking that they are professional and us the space in the most advantageous way possible? My Westy has two beds, lots and lots of cubby holes to put things. A huge fresh water and separate waste water tank. Sink, Hob, Fridge, etc etc etc.

I too cook outside the van when its nice weather but when its sh*tty I cook inside.

Are you suggesting that a panel van with a mdf R'N'R bed is a better option?

Post by **Brooky** » 10 May 2007, 12:27

Well, for me, yes it is a better option because it's what I want, not what I got when I bought it as a straight Caravelle.
It's just that personally modified vans are IMO, more interesting. They tell you much more about how the owner uses the van. They enable you to see the thought process that's gone into producing something genuinely different, unique even.
Surely the whole VW scene is about individuality, even if it is within the context of like-minded people forming clubs such as this one.
Brooky.

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 10 May 2007, 12:32

Agree that the VW scene can be about individuality, been around VW's and the scene since the late 80's. BUt it also depends on what you want too. My Westy is primarily for holidays, weekends away, days out at the beach, with the odd weekly use. Its perfectly usable as a daily driver, I just choose not too. Its also perfectly capable of carting sh*te down the tip.

But in terms of layout and best use of space for a camping interior, I'm quite happy to let the professionals do there bit and for me there is none better than Westfalia. There is not one cupboard or cubby hole that I could say..........."You know what, thats useless that is, why is that there I have no need for it."

Post by **Brooky** » 10 May 2007, 12:43

Agreed, Westfalia are probably the very best company at what they do, but have you looked at the storage question from the other way round? i.e. if they hadn't put all those extra little cubby boxes & cupboards in there and it still had the appearance of a well constructed conversion, albeit with more open space, would you be saying "I wish there was a cubby box here or a cupboard there, I could really do with extra storage?"
My belief is that you would be fine with what they gave you, and still think it was brilliant.
Brooky.

Post by **matt** » 10 May 2007, 12:44

Brooky,
mine like yours is a home brew
devon roof, cos I liked em best and sleep up to 4 kids
cupbored outa a breaker
erverything else "invented" or some one elses idea"nicked" by me n torz

Dont get me wrong , Torz Westy was great, but no room from making it "individual" apart from the obvious lowering and alloys.....

even a change of coluor would have been odd, as californias came in boring white or dodgy red

Post by **matt** » 10 May 2007, 12:46

"You know what, thats useless that is, why is that there I have no need for it."

that supid table that when stored prevent's access to the cupboreds underneath
now thats a "pooh" idea