Opinions needed please

[JAT69]

2017(17) vw transporter t6 Highline SWB 150ps camper van, air con and tailgate
Hello,
I recently posted regarding my quest for a campervan, has anyone had any dealings with this chap as he seems to have a few lovely campers for sale?
This is the sort of spec I had in mind, although it seems my budget of £35K is not sufficient, I had been warned already after my first post. It seems to have everything I require apart from a heater and does anyone have any details regarding the pop top quality. Can't wait for Busfest! Cheers.

 

[drew_greenday]

Pop top looks like a UKPopTops roof, no real dealings with them apart from seeing them. Fittings for the gas struts and hinges are visible on top of the roof. The price as far as I was aware was close to SCA so I'm my opinion was too expensive. I also couldn't sit on the bed in the back and sit up straight as my head fouled the roof. The bed board is within the original dimensions of the van so you lose that space.

He has a lot of 'extras' on that you don't need but obviously look nice. For £35k you can buy a van and convert it yourself if you're skilled and patient enough. Mine will be around that mark and I have a lwb.

 

[Lord Mfwic]

The advert states 2017 (17) but its on a 16 plate. Am I missing something ?

 

[JAT69]

Somewhere in the ad it states this is pictures of a previous conversion but the spec of the 2017 one will be similar.... I think.
I agree with the nice extras that are not needed but I'm spoilt and I want them...
I'm going to have a good look around at Busfest but this is more of less the spec I would like. Cheers.

 

[LordGozer]

Agree it looks nice. Good colour but then I am bias Indium gray is the best

Based on the experience of buying my van I would say that unless you need all the seats, only have 2 at the front as you don't have squeeze through a small gap or get out if you need to get to the back of the van.

The other thing is the R&R bed, I think that with this design there is very little or no storage space behind it. I have a RIB bed which is mounted slightly further forward which gives you some storage in the back acting like a 'boot' and the rear of the bed can be used a parcel shelf to hide what is in the boot.

Can't recommend enough an SCA roof also, it sticks out on the top of the van but you get to keep the interior space, especially important with a RIB bed as they are slightly higher than the rest.

 

[GeordieVanJam]

I like a lot of what is on this van, but I think the roof is the cheapest available to the trade. I've been worrying over roofs for some time, and all of the sensible advice is, why spend £20-25k on a van, then put the cheapest piece of 'kit' you can find on top of it? It's like taking a dump on a diamond...

I've got a budget of around £34k and I'm getting a Reimo roof and Smart Beds 2 rails seat - admittedly, I'm only getting a 102 highline. If you want it all fitted, you need to budget around £12k for most places, although a lot of them will charge extra for the roof.

Depends what you want though. A ready fitted van is going to be £35-40k and some are better than others. I'd seriously think about the roof though. Not sure what others think... ask Pauly, or search the roofs thread for advice.

Good luck shopping though!

 

[DPS]

I like a lot of what is on this van, but I think the roof is the cheapest available to the trade. I've been worrying over roofs for some time, and all of the sensible advice is, why spend £20-25k on a van, then put the cheapest piece of 'kit' you can find on top of it? It's like taking a dump on a diamond...

I've got a budget of around £34k and I'm getting a Reimo roof and Smart Beds 2 rails seat - admittedly, I'm only getting a 102 highline. If you want it all fitted, you need to budget around £12k for most places, although a lot of them will charge extra for the roof.

Depends what you want though. A ready fitted van is going to be £35-40k and some are better than others. I'd seriously think about the roof though. Not sure what others think... ask Pauly, or search the roofs thread for advice.

Good luck shopping though!

Totally agree.

 

[JAT69]

Thanks for all your comments, you've given me a lot to think about.

 

[MikeB]

The UK Pop Tops roof was the subject of discussion on a kayaking f/book page recently, with the consensus being that it only had an (untested) load rating in the region of 35kgs and was regarded as being too lightweight and flimsy to carry a pair of sea kayaks on rails. I appreciate you're not wanting to carry sea kayaks, but if you were planning on a roof box or similar - - -

 

[JAT69]

I'm off to look at a 2017 Indium Grey 150 Highline on Tuesday, currently unconverted but it is having the Reimo open sky roof fitted and if I like what I see then I can specify what options to go for. I'm hoping to trade my T5 in as a part exchange which will soften the financial blow a bit. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[GeordieVanJam]

The UK Pop Tops roof was the subject of discussion on a kayaking f/book page recently, with the consensus being that it only had an (untested) load rating in the region of 35kgs and was regarded as being too lightweight and flimsy to carry a pair of sea kayaks on rails. I appreciate you're not wanting to carry sea kayaks, but if you were planning on a roof box or similar - - -

I live close to the uk pop top company and I very recently turned up to take a look and arrange a quote. They didn't want to let me have a look at the vans they were working on and told me to go to their showroom about 45 minutes away. I asked for a quote from both places and they wouldn't give me one in either. It was the weirdest experience I've had so far in trying to buy anything for my van.

I've haven't got an axe to grind about the company, because they haven't done any work for me, but it made me wonder why they weren't completely transparent.

After that experience, I went to a few other companies and it was the opposite situation... I was shown vans that were finished and show ready, vans in progress and given complete quotes, broken down depending on the options I wanted.

The best one I visited was T4 Transformations in Wakefield, which is handy as it isn't too far from me (a few hours).

Honestly, I'd do the groundwork and really look at what you're getting. Don't take my word for it, go and see for yourself.

 

[GeordieVanJam]

I'm off to look at a 2017 Indium Grey 150 Highline on Tuesday, currently unconverted but it is having the Reimo open sky roof fitted and if I like what I see then I can specify what options to go for. I'm hoping to trade my T5 in as a part exchange which will soften the financial blow a bit. I'll let you know how it goes.

Brilliant. That sounds great - let me know - I've yet to specify the options for my Reimo roof yet (not getting it fitted until January for next year's camping season). Looking forward to hearing how yours goes!