Dormobile-Stuff.com

Toyota may not seem like the most obvious choice for a dormobile or camper conversion, but the early Toyota Hi- Ace vans were one of the last models to receive an official Dormobile conversion option from Martin Walter Limited – see the above picture.

More recently the trend has continued with several Toyota vans and also Toyota people carriers being used for camping, with cheap Japanese imports being favoured in the UK as they are right hand drive. The Hi Ace has been the most prolific, but the Hi Lux 4×4 and the Granvia were also popular options.

If you have ever fancied owning a Dormobile, and wonder what it may be like, one simple way to experience it is to hire a car from one of several UK based hire companies that will lease you one for anything from a weekend to a month. That way you can try out the benefits (and perils) of ownership without any of the risks as the realities of a classic Dormobile are very much like any classic car – there is a bit of a romantic image attached to it that can sometimes be at odds with real life.

Classic campers do need love and attention and you can’t expect levels of refinement or performance of a modern car, and a hire period would give any potential owner great experience of this, with the reassurance that if there are any problems, the hire company will be straight out to help you.

A quick search via google reveal several hire companies, for example South West Camper Hire on 01392 811631, they have this classic 1975 Volkswagen Camper dormobile conversion for hire:

Another candidate may be this dormobile, known as “Rooster” that is available from North Coast Campers, you can reach them on 01840 230232.

Here’s a fantastic video from a company called Verdier with a digitally rendered version of what a 21st century dormobile would look like, based on what looks like a futuristic VW Camper.

There are some great features in there such as the fold down shelves in the doors and the fold out cooker section – all in all a stunning piece of design that makes you wish for Volkswagen to make a true successor to the original Camper.

Here’s a few pictures for you:

There are plenty of current aftermarket companies offering to convert vans into campers, but very few car manufacturers offer a ready made solution.

Volkswagen however have recognised the huge following the initial VW campers built up, and happily offer their own official camper conversion based on their own transporter van, and very good it is too, if a little pricey – prices for the California start just below the £40,000 mark in the UK.

It’s called the Volkswagen California and is offered as one of the brands Lifestyle vehicles, which also include the Caravelle and the Transporter Combi, all based on the current Transporter van. The California has a full pop top roof, and pull out orning, and also includes a fold down bed, two ring gas hob for cooking and a kitchen sink.

You can take a look at the official VW Site here: VW California

There have been numerous other companies offering camper conversions over the years.

Some of the notable ones were Devon Conversions, (based as you would expect in Devon in England) who started back in 1956 and originally focused on VW Campers and had a big slice of the UK market. The company is still in existence and now focuses on full motor home conversions. They are the official manufacturer recognised converter in the UK for Toyota and Renault vans, and also have offerings for Volkswagen, Ford, Peugeot and Mercedes. you can reach their website here: Devon Conversions.

Another well known make in the UK still going strong are Danbury Motorcaravans, who still convert VW Type 2 and type 5 campers, and also convert Fiat Doblo, Fiat Scudo and Renault Master vans. Their website is here: Danbury Motor Caravans.

Other brands also included Holdsworth, Viking, Canterbury, Reimo, and Riviera .

Westfalia VW Camper conversions usually differ from the Martin Walter dormobile types by their fibreglass roof openings being either front hinged (early models) with an accompanying small metal roof rack on the non-opening back roof section, or later rear hinged models, with the roof rack fitted to the front roof section, as pictured above.

Westfalia models did not offer a side hinged conversion themselves. Also Westfalia concentrated very much on the VW camper and following VW models, whereas dormobile roof conversions were offered on a wider range of vehicles.

How do you recognise a “proper” dormobile?

Well, two ways spring to mind, the first being the type of roof fitted. Martin Walter usually fitted a side hinged roof that took up about 3/4 of the length of the vehicles overall roof, as pictured in the image above. Martin Walter conversions usually featured two glass windows and two opening vents in the fibreglass roof section.

The second and rather less obvious way would be to look for an official Martin Walter metal plate riveted to the vehicle, as seen in the picture above.

There’s a host of information on Land Rover dormobile conversions on the internet, and thankfully it’s all gathered in one place, or one great website to be exact.

Compiled originally by a fine fellow called John Hess, this was a stand alone website and has now been incorporated into a larger Land Rover site called Land Rover FAQ.

If you’ve ever wanted to know anything about converting Land Rovers, or what they are capable of, then please pay this site a visit. It is fair to say that being Land Rovers, the typical journey is a fair bit more epic than the usual camping holiday to the coast that your usual dormobile would experience, with some stunning adventures listed on this site.

Please follow this link for a great read: Land Rover FAQ.org.

Here’s a fantastic original advertisement from the Martin Walter company in conjunction with Bedford. It’s a great original photo used as an advert in the early 1960′s featuring the Bedford CA van with an official Dormobile conversion, in a 2 tone style that you just wouldn’t see on a van today.

Here’s a great little blog from someone called “Barspeed” who has recorded his travails with a 1965 Bedford CA camper van that was purchased in less than perfect condition.

He has had some of the typical highs and lows that the owner of any classic camper will recognise – trying to get the car through an MOT, replacing faulty electrics etc. The blog hasn’t been updated in a little while unfortunately, but it’s still a good read.

to have a look at the blog, just follow this link: Bijou The Bedford