Looking to buy...suggestions and advice needed.

[DogWagen]

As per title, Wendy and I have started on the journey towards a camper. The requirement is for 2 adults and a medium size dog (Spaniel) for weekends, days away, touring holidays and for me to tow my dinghy to/from events; it also has to double as a mobile office and overnight accommodation for my company. We were looking at the usual VW suspects and found that the California is a bit small inside. The Transporter SWB/LWB conversions we've looked at are not that great inside with poor finish/attention to detail. Whether that's just poor luck on our part I don't know.

Then there's the MP. We looked at 2 year old one at an MB dealer and it's got us thinking that it could be a better option (albeit I need to find either a VAT qualifying used or to buy new. The plan is to rent a VW for a few days and then find somewhere that rents out an MP to see which works best for us and offers value for money. We're also off to the Motorhome/Camper show this weekend at Peterborough.

Any suggestions on companies that rent MPs would be appreciated plus your experiences of campers and dogs.

Thanks in advance, Mike

 

[Roy C]

The MP has worked well for us with our small/medium dog over the past 3 years. The MP is longer than the VW Cali so in theory there is a little extra space but I’m not sure how noticeable it is in practice. The Cali has two leisure batteries compared to one in the MP so if you plan to be off grid rather than using EHU this can be useful. Otherwise I like the more luxury feel of the MP as a daily driver.

I cannot comment on MP hire since I’ve never rented one.

One option I recommend is the auxilliary warm air heater. Not only does it make it practical to sleep outside of late spring to early autumn but resell values for vans with this heater are higher.

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Hi Dog, Welcome along.
As Roy mentions the electric night heater is a sought after option (be careful to do your homework here as some MB dealers confuse the diesel powered warm air night heater for an auxiliary engine heater which comes standard in MP's)
Regarding finding a Vat Q van you should be OK, quite a few of the vans you see out on the road are ex-dealer "demo" vehicles or ex PCP lease... both should be Vat Q when the dealers come to sell them along to the second owner.
My experience of campers is limited, this is our first year...but I can confirm that the Spaniel is a good choice having been owned by one for nearly 13 years

Happy trails & tails....

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Hi and to the forum.

Never owned a Cali, always thought they were a bit basic and plasticky but did have a LWB T5 conversion that I loved. The LWB feels more open and spacious inside compared with the SWB even if the difference is small, there is also a little more storage space and load capacity. Downside is some say it's slightly more difficult to park and ferry prices are higher. The MP sits in the middle, higher ferry price, not quite as much load capacity and storage but still has a more open feel when set up for living than a SWB Transporter.

All the above referenced to the standard kitchen one side R&R bed set up. The advantage of Transporter conversions is that you are not restricted to that layout. In the past I went to a couple of Vdub festivals where converters and proud owners show off their vans in their thousands and the quality and diversity was a sight to see. Personally If I were to get another Transporter it would be a Converted LWB van and not a Cali

There are many VW Converters, some produce cheap and cheerful vans, and there are some whose conversions are much superior to the Cali and one or two given the right spec of base van are up with the quality go the MP without some of it's short comings. Main short coming, but a big one is dire lack of support and knowledge from the dealers and in general, you'll have no problem with support for the Transporter, there are loads of converters/specialist who have years of experience and know them inside out. Downside of the Transporter is you automatically become a part of the Dub scene

I have a 3yr old Springer who travels with us camping, He loves it and is a good traveller. Prior to him we had another Springer who hated travelling but still enjoyed it when we eventually stopped I think you'll find more people in motor caravans travel with dogs than don't.

I've recently bought a MP, as mentioned the Cali was ruled out and a Transporter conversion to my spec meant a years wait. I don't regret it yet but you do need to go in with your eyes open.

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Edit: I should mention that if you find you need one you can successfully fit a night heater as an aftermarket accessory, budget circa £1500-£2000 for this.

 

[Steve B]

Hello and welcome from me; there is a hire company that do both MP's and VW's, campervantastic. I remember them as they supplied a couple who do Youtube reviews (when I was looking). I think having a go is useful as they are not overly spacious, it all depends on what you want. Good luck.

 

[DogWagen]

Thanks for your responses GT and Roy - I'd ruled out a couple because they didn't have the heater but didn't realise it could be retro-fitted/aftermarket.

I've spotted the Auxiliary heater in the specs of one of the MPs - best part of £2k including the remote control!! That said, it's listed as standard for a new-build.

 

[DogWagen]

Hi and to the forum.

Never owned a Cali, always thought they were a bit basic and plasticky but did have a LWB T5 conversion that I loved. The LWB feels more open and spacious inside compared with the SWB even if the difference is small, there is also a little more storage space and load capacity. Downside is some say it's slightly more difficult to park and ferry prices are higher. The MP sits in the middle, higher ferry price, not quite as much load capacity and storage but still has a more open feel when set up for living than a SWB Transporter.

All the above referenced to the standard kitchen one side R&R bed set up. The advantage of Transporter conversions is that you are not restricted to that layout. In the past I went to a couple of Vdub festivals where converters and proud owners show off their vans in their thousands and the quality and diversity was a sight to see. Personally If I were to get another Transporter it would be a Converted LWB van and not a Cali

There are many VW Converters, some produce cheap and cheerful vans, and there are some whose conversions are much superior to the Cali and one or two given the right spec of base van are up with the quality go the MP without some of it's short comings. Main short coming, but a big one is dire lack of support and knowledge from the dealers and in general, you'll have no problem with support for the Transporter, there are loads of converters/specialist who have years of experience and know them inside out. Downside of the Transporter is you automatically become a part of the Dub scene

I have a 3yr old Springer who travels with us camping, He loves it and is a good traveller. Prior to him we had another Springer who hated travelling but still enjoyed it when we eventually stopped I think you'll find more people in motor caravans travel with dogs than don't.

I've recently bought a MP, as mentioned the Cali was ruled out and a Transporter conversion to my spec meant a years wait. I don't regret it yet but you do need to go in with your eyes open.

Many thanks for this insight - it really helps. It sounds like we've not yet found the quality converters - the ones we looked at were from Revolution campers in Oundle but sold through a camper/caravan specialist. Have fond memories of our Springer (rehomed from work) and now have a Sussex.

 

[DogWagen]

Hello and welcome from me; there is a hire company that do both MP's and VW's, campervantastic. I remember them as they supplied a couple who do Youtube reviews (when I was looking). I think having a go is useful as they are not overly spacious, it all depends on what you want. Good luck.

for that - just had a look at their website - could be just the job!

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Many thanks for this insight - it really helps. It sounds like we've not yet found the quality converters - the ones we looked at were from Revolution campers in Oundle but sold through a camper/caravan specialist. Have fond memories of our Springer (rehomed from work) and now have a Sussex.

I live not far from Revolution and had a good chat with them when trying to make my decision...I liked that they externally mounted a gas tank and could build roughly any design/colour I wanted onto a new base van.
In the end I was a sucker for the Glampervan finish of the cab on the MP and have not looked back...but I've also not tried a T6.1 or Cali (it was a close call with between the T6.1 & California Coast though)

 

[DogWagen]

I live not far from Revolution and had a good chat with them when trying to make my decision...I liked that they externally mounted a gas tank and could build roughly any design/colour I wanted onto a new base van.
In the end I was a sucker for the Glampervan finish of the cab on the MP and have not looked back...but I've also not tried a T6.1 or Cali (it was a close call with between the T6.1 & California Coast though)

Small world - we're 15 mins away from Oundle. Really ought to visit Revolution

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Small world - we're 15 mins away from Oundle. Really ought to visit Revolution

We are not far away either, but to talk about small world, there are two MP's in my village, both black, both with awning, solar panel & Westfalia bike racks...I haven't seen another MP at all since owning ours apart from the one I drive past into and out of our village everyday