Open layout / No rear tabours - how much would you miss them?

[danclarke]

Hi all,

Does anyone have an open layout without rear tabour cupboards?

We sat in a campervan without them the other day and it was amazing how light and spacious it felt. I'm sorely tempted to go this route, but interested to know if anyone else has a campervan with this setup? And how much you might miss them, I think my main concern is that this is likely the food cupboard for a lot of people?

A little more context, the camper in this config has a fair bit of storage elsewhere, including:

1. a hatch with storage below worktop height next to rear seats, in place of the tabours so you only lose tabour space between worktop and top hatch cupboards.
2. rib bed with large drawers underneath (likely where food would end up) and a good amount of internal storage within the bed (where i'm assuming clothes etc. would end up)
3. decent storage under front double seat
4. is quoted at 880 litres kitchen storage in this configuration

Here is an example...


Thanks
Dan

 

[@KC1]

Hi @danclarke
Yeah, I have no high level cupboards, never had them so don’t miss them but do feel they close the van in a lot.
I think it’s safe to say that there is never enough storage either way… See attached photos, they’re not great but might give you an idea…

 

[TeeCeeJay]

We went with a U shape layout because we don't need extra rear seatbelts, but a major factor in the decision was also the panoramic view available without side cupboards. Wife felt very claustrophobic when sitting in test vans. If we needed rear seats then a RIB seat and low level units like these would have been the way went. Good luck with your build.

 

[danclarke]

Thanks for the advice and for taking the time to share pictures. Think we've persuaded ourselves it's worth losing the storage for the spacious feel

 

[TeeCeeJay]

Before we went U shape we were looking at these.

T6 T5 Short Wheel Base ( .3 rears) – EVO Design

www.evomotiondesign.co.uk

And this

The RO | Conversions | Taylored Campervan Conversions

www.tayloredcampervanconversions.co.uk

 

[Salty Spuds]

Personally I think this is completely a matter of preference based on how you use your van. We are a couple and use our van for extended trips, including skiing. We can be away for 2months+. The van is a tool to achieve our aims, we need the storage, so we have cupboards/tambour doors. Mrs Spuds hates tambour doors, but they come with the territory. If we used our van as a daily/day van for a family, we would choose a different layout. It's purely horses for courses.

 

[Linoleum Bonypart]

There isn’t that much storage space under a rib bed …. And because to have a topper on the rib bed they aren’t comfortable

 

[t0mb0]

No chance we’d do without high level storage as a family with kids, the absolute essentials of food and kit live in there. If you were just one/two people maybe you’d get away with it?

 

[Drive Wayne]

Even with just the Mrs and I, that rear high level tambourine cupboard (as my wife calls it) is essential for her to put important things in, which I then can't find when I need them. Using her Tetris super powers she will make me feel inadequate by finding the 'important thing' within seconds, using her eyes, not mine.
Without that cupboard we could well replicate our teenage daughters bedroom 'floordrobe' approach.
Perhaps with a LWB it wouldn't be so important?

 

[meza]

I much prefer the sans-wardrobe look. Check out Knights Prestige Tourer for a great example of this layout.

Bespoke Camper conversions with Custom made Kitchens

Our Most Popular Camper Conversion - Prestige Tourer The Presitge Tourer is the most popular of our range, highly customisable and lots of extras to consider adding to your camper conversion. Conversion Package Prestige Tourer 2-Berth Conversion From£27,3404-Berth Conversion from£34,990With Pop...

knightscustomconversions.co.uk

mine has the same idea for the kitchen; worktop all the way to the back and windows at the rear.

Since these photos were taken I’ve cut a trapdoor flap into the worktop at the rear to access a cavernous cupboard next to the rear seats.

 

[JumpShip]

We dont have a tall cupboard and much prefer the extra space and vision through the rear window .
Just the 2 of us plus the dog and manage storage of enough 'stuff' for 90 day tours without too much stress .