Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (November 2011, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:52:13 -0800
Reply-To:     Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon? Really?
Comments: To: Hector Zapata <hlzapata@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAPDG_XLiX4L1BwO9+u=Qjx2sH+B4HGbcXjdZT26bxgoPyCir-A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Via the link to the ebay site one can go t a Quebec site for "5industries". I'm guessing this might be the shop that does the camper conversion. Lots of little pieces to design, manufacture and put in for the conversion.With prices around $45,000 it is probably not easy to turn a profit as a small scale producer. In Germany VW charges similar Euro figures for their current camper, and they have much larger numbers. The inside of this camper is also considerably smaller than our Westies.

Personally I would prefer something that closely follows the T3Westy interior if I ever get a new vehicle, but it looks like I would have to do the conversion myself. I had a T4 Westy for a few years, and while in Europe tried the VW T5 conversion, Reimo and several others. None match the cleverness and convenience of the T3 Westy. So end result is that I sold my T4 Westy in Canada, and instead of buying one of the newer European conversions I bought a US spec T3 in Germany.

Some unmatched features of the T3: It is relatively efficient to cook inside the T3: When cooking one can set the table in it's stored position, then just swing it out. In small vans w/o a swingout table like that, there is usually no place to put the cooked food if the table is stowed, and with the table up, there is too little room to get around inside the van if when the weather is bad outside. Not to mention that getting the table up from under the bench sear and installing it (T4 Westy and Reimo) is a much bigger chore than just swinging it out.

The T3 bed is the quickest to make. The T4 bed requires folding up the carpet, sliding the seat on rails (very heavy), then unfolding seat. In the Cartago German conversion the bed is assembled from several pieces with difficult to fit operations takes 10-15min!!

I've been curious if a clever camper conversion can be made in a more compact vehicle than the Vanagon, maybe even an overnighter in something as small as a Mazda 5 or Honda Fit. (I lived for a week in a Honda Fit in Japan, but with no other amenities than my thermarest across the back over the folded seats, and cooking with my backpacking stove out of the rear hatch.)

Martin

________________________________ From: Hector Zapata <hlzapata@GMAIL.COM> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2011 6:34:54 PM Subject: Vanagon? Really?

Might be the answer to some prayers...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volkswagen-Bus-Vanagon-IMAGINE-Volkswagen-IMAGINE-2011-/300626065272?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item45feb5b778#ht_1265wt_1165


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.