VW Campervan owners and ethusiasts are a sociable lot.  There are regional and local groups who meet up regualrly, clubs for each type of VW camper van and larger-scale events during the summer and autumn/fall.

There’s normally lines of each type of model for people to admire and and you can chat to the owners, competitions are serious, there’s always car spares and related VW camper stuff for sale, plus entertainment and a lot of socialising. 

its where like-minded people meet up and swap stories, share problems, discuss ways of improving their VW camper vans, plans to go travelling, what project to start on next.

If you’re new to VW campers it’s a great way to get started. Going to an event will help find your way round the different models, work out the pros and cons of each one, think about what kind of campervan you might buy, what you want it for, where to find a god VW camper van and how much the different models and different condition campers go for.  People are always willing to help a newbie so you get enough informatiojn to get started.

We’ll be collating events lists to include them on this site as the season gets started, so come back soon.

Technorati Tags: vw camper events, VW Camper Van, vw campervan, VW Campervans

If you’re interested in VW campers but confused about the different models, here’s a quick tour.

Type 2 Split Screen 1950 – 1967

This was the VW first camper van, which was adapted from the VW bus (known as the Samba) – which itself was adapted from the VW panel van. The campers were fitted out by Westfalia, a coachwork company who worked in partnership with VW for many years. There were a huge number of configurations of the furniture, and other conversions too. The campers had the same air-cooled engines as the panel vans and 6-volt electrics.

Type 2 Bay Window Camper 1967-1980

The taller and larger VW bay window camper van had 12-volt electrics, a sliding side door and larger engine. It still had the friendly, rounded shape but with better visibility and more space. Westfalia continued to do conversions, and a large number of other companies such as Devon, Danbury, Canterbury and Dormobile joined the market too.

There are also VW camper vans that have been converted by small companies and DIY conversions as well. Most were conversions from buses, but some companies (and amateurs) did the conversion from vans. Versions of the VW bay window were still in production in Mexico and Brazil long after VW had stopped production in Wolfsburg. The bay window campers are often known as Kombi’s - particularly in Australia and South Africa, and, confusingly the California was a VW Camper Van conversion which didn’t come from California!

Type 25 VW – the Vanagon 1980-1991

The VW t25 was larger again and provides substantial space. The shape is much more blocky with very 80’s square styling. It was known as the Vanagon in the USA and is often referred to now as the VW t3.

Type 4 1991-2003

This is known as the Eurovan in the US with camper versions by Westfalia and by Winnebago. This big difference is where the engine is - in the front! So it has a pronounced bonnet.

Type 5 2003-

This van is a direct successor to the T4 so it is a sizeable van . They are not avaiable in the US.

Technorati Tags: VW Camper, VW Camper Van, VW Campervans, VW Eurovan, VW T3, VW T5

There have been a number of campervan concepts developed recently, this one has some environmentally friendly additions, but remarkably keeps the old rock and roll bed!

Technorati Tags: VW, VW Camper, VW Camper Van, VW Campervans, VW concept camper van

You shouldn’t buy a VW camper if…

• You just have to have a VW camper and it becomes an emotional, not a rational decision

• It just looks cool or well restored (look underneath, check it thoroughly, think about it, compare several campers…)

• You haven’t thought about how much time you want to spend maintaining it

• You’re about to go on a trip and won’t have time to spend checking it over, doing some shorter runs etc

• It is old, has done a lot of miles or has a six volt system when you want reliability

• You think it will be fast and/or economical

Beware…the nostalgic appeal of old VW campers can override rational thinking:

http://www.vwcampersforever.com/category/buying-and-selling

Beware of seductive pictures of rustbuckets, next to beautifuly retored examples -unless you have time, money and high levels of skill and resourcefulness.

OK, so you’re still looking, take this checklist with you …

Look out for rust and poor repairs, checking for

• Rust on the bottom 6 inches all around…
• Rust on chassis box sections
• Rust on front and rear outriggers
• Rust on roof guttering, sills, wheel arches
• Rust on floors in front of the rear wheels
• Rust behind front seats
• Rust round the fuel tank
• Welded repair plates which can hide trapped moisture and rust

Take some old clothes and GET UNDERNEATH TO LOOK!

Engine/gearbox checks

• Oil leaks near the gearbox flange usually mean an ‘engine out’ job
• Listen for bearing whines in the gearbox
• Check all the gears work and don’t jump out of gear (VW Campers tend to have a floppy gear change –that’s normal)
• Pull and push the bottom pulley wheel: if you can feel a loud ‘clunk clunk’ the engine needs to be rebuilt. A very small movement is OK

Other things to look out for

• Check heaters and controls – if they don’t work they will require new heat exchangers
• A smell of petrol inside the vehicle can mean rubber pipes have perished and need replacing
• Check round the fuel tank - they can rust through where they come in contact with more rust
• Steering should be direct with little play. If not check the steering box

Checking the inside

• Look at the state of the interior
• Check level of equipment and what’s in working order
• Check working order of beds,
• If it’s a pop-top, check the state of the bellows, struts etc
• Check the state of the headlining, floor and inside cupboards for mildew, dirt and damage

Balance what you find against what you are prepared to pay, what work you are prepared to do and the time you have.

Technorati Tags: VW Camper Van, VW Campervans

Richard Wilson has been driving around Britain – in the driving seat of a nostalgic BBC4 documentary series, Britain’s Best Drives. Sitting behind the wheel of half a dozen classic cars (like a latterday Toad, minus the leather gauntlets), he’s journeyed back into “the golden age of motoring”.

A pea-green and crean VW campervan is one of the stars of the show although he too found the gear change problematic “I’ve gone into reverse,” he hisses, spitting out the words like tin tacks and sounding exactly like Victor Meldrew, that rasping wrinkly of One Foot in the Grave with whom the actor is fated to be for ever identified.

Read more in The Scotsman

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Interview-Richard-Wilson.4855667.jp

Perhaps Richard Wilson would have enjoyed his VW camper van experience more with some travelling companions

http://www.vwcampersforever.com/travels-with-vw-campers/vw-camper-travel-with-gertrude-and-molly

Technorati Tags: vw campervan, vw campervan travels, VW Campervans