Out And About Campers

S

southernsteve

New Member
Hi all, I'm starting to look for my first camper to purchase in the new year and was wondering if anybody had any dealings with Out And About Campers in Henfield, West Sussex? I can't find any reviews for them, other than their own, and as they are local to me I'd rather deal with a local company, but obviously, only if they are any good. My only other local company, I'm in Crawley, is Bilbo's and although their products look really good, and they have a good history, I want to try and keep my options open. Many thanks.
 
There is VW-T converters as well in Henfield. Bilbos do good conversions but only their specific range and no options on the finish of the cabinetry, they also don’t insulate or sound deaden anywhere. Appreciate its subjective regarding the insulation and sound deadening as they aren’t unique in not doing this but worth knowing.
 
airhoguk said:
There is VW-T converters as well in Henfield. Bilbos do good conversions but only their specific range and no options on the finish of the cabinetry, they also don’t insulate or sound deaden anywhere. Appreciate its subjective regarding the insulation and sound deadening as they aren’t unique in not doing this but worth knowing.
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I had heard this re Bilbo's insulation etc, but have been told otherwise too. It's something I'll need to check with them, we have been to see them, and I thought they said they did it. There's a lot I like about them but I'm not sure about the rear seats and bed, they just look like foam and little thought going into any style. I'm starting to lean towards a RIB bed, don't want a R&R, but it's finding somewhere fairly local to go. Out And About Campers are converters, based in Henfield, probably the same as you're thinking, but I just can't find anything independent on them and through my investigations I'm coming across a few horror stories about other, normally unnamed convertors, and I don't want to be spending a large amount of money on something that's potentially going to have issues, and possibly be unsafe.
 
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VW-T are in another part of the same estate Volkswagen Campervans, Specialist Dealer & T5 T6 Conversion Expert
Regarding Bilbos we’ve had a couple for various reasons but none were insulated, a komba and a nexa. The side pop top was great as long as the roof bed was removed as it only suits one person and can make securing the roof a bit of a pain. The nexa uses Rib single seats for the beds, the komba uses a seat of bilbos own design and works fairly similar in that the seat base flips overs to sleep on.
 
They don't appear to have either NCC or VCA approval and there's no mention of any BS/ISO 9001 accreditation on their website. They never made my shortlist for those reasons.

On the plus side their prices seem keen and their Trustpilot rating is decent so customers do seem to have a generally very positive experience. That being the case then provided you're happy with the spec of the finished product then they're probably a reasonably safe bet.
 
airhoguk said:
VW-T are in another part of the same estate Volkswagen Campervans, Specialist Dealer & T5 T6 Conversion Expert
Regarding Bilbos we’ve had a couple for various reasons but none were insulated, a komba and a nexa. The side pop top was great as long as the roof bed was removed as it only suits one person and can make securing the roof a bit of a pain. The nexa uses Rib single seats for the beds, the komba uses a seat of bilbos own design and works fairly similar in that the seat base flips overs to sleep on.
Click to expand...
Found them thanks, for some reason they didn't come up on a search originally. I do like the Bilbo's pop top, wouldn't use the bed anyway as there would only be the two of us, and I can't imagine for one moment either of us would get up there anyway. Still early days, will pop up again to see them at some point, and going to the NEC so I'm sure they will be there too.
 
Sasquatch said:
They don't appear to have either NCC or VCA approval and there's no mention of any BS/ISO 9001 accreditation on their website. They never made my shortlist for those reasons.

On the plus side their prices seem keen and their Trustpilot rating is decent so customers do seem to have a generally very positive experience. That being the case then provided you're happy with the spec of the finished product then they're probably a reasonably safe
Click to expand...
The lack of any accreditation does worry me, I don't think many convertors are NCC approved from what I've seen, but what concerns me more is although they show a good Trustpilot rating, they only show the 5 star reviews on their site, and I couldn't find them in a search on Trustpilot. This is why I was looking for independent reviews, or better still, personal experience.
 
As there are only 2 of you have you considered a u-shaped or L-shaped layout?
If you don’t need to carry belted rear passengers then it’s a very flexible, useable layout with lots of underseat storage space.
We’ve had the U-shape for 4 years and the next van will be the same.
 
southernsteve said:
The lack of any accreditation does worry me, I don't think many convertors are NCC approved from what I've seen,
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I think they go under the formal business name on TP, I cant remember what it was and Im not home at the moment.

Being a newbie and relatively inexperienced I stuck to NCC accredited converters (of which there are only 6 or 7) and also VCA approved (only 3). I wasn't on the lookout for BS/ISO accreditation, but it happened the firm I bought from had that anyway, which was all to the good.

It did limit my choices, but I still found plenty of vans to go look at, albeit at the juicier end of the market price wise. If i'd had greater knowledge or experience of the topic i'd have widened my net, but I don't so played it very safe.
 
Bigsidavies said:
As there are only 2 of you have you considered a u-shaped or L-shaped layout?
If you don’t need to carry belted rear passengers then it’s a very flexible, useable layout with lots of underseat storage space.
We’ve had the U-shape for 4 years and the next van will be the same.
Click to expand...
We have, but my wife doesn't like it, plus, although there would be only 2 of us using it for trips, it will be my daily drive too and my daughter would probably be with us at times.
 
Sasquatch said:
I think they go under the formal business name on TP, I cant remember what it was and Im not home at the moment.

Being a newbie and relatively inexperienced I stuck to NCC accredited converters (of which there are only 6 or 7) and also VCA approved (only 3). I wasn't on the lookout for BS/ISO accreditation, but it happened the firm I bought from had that anyway, which was all to the good.

It did limit my choices, but I still found plenty of vans to go look at, albeit at the juicier end of the market price wise. If i'd had greater knowledge or experience of the topic i'd have widened my net, but I don't so played it very safe.
Click to expand...
Yep, very few NCC convertors. I've been doing a lot of homework on it, though sometimes I think this may not be such a good idea as it keeps throwing up all sorts of questions. I don't want to have to travel miles to look at one, I don't mind Red Line, and they are now NCC I believe, as they have a place in Hitchin which would be easy to get to by train, but they all seem to be the higher end. Even going down the second hand market road seems a bit of a nightmare. I am lucky, I will be in a position to buy new, but like anything, if I don't have to I'd rather not.
 
Sasquatch said:
I think they go under the formal business name on TP, I cant remember what it was and Im not home at the moment.

Being a newbie and relatively inexperienced I stuck to NCC accredited converters (of which there are only 6 or 7) and also VCA approved (only 3). I wasn't on the lookout for BS/ISO accreditation, but it happened the firm I bought from had that anyway, which was all to the good.

It did limit my choices, but I still found plenty of vans to go look at, albeit at the juicier end of the market price wise. If i'd had greater knowledge or experience of the topic i'd have widened my net, but I don't so played it very safe.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Bigsidavies said:
As there are only 2 of you have you considered a u-shaped or L-shaped layout?
If you don’t need to carry belted rear passengers then it’s a very flexible, useable layout with lots of underseat storage space.
We’ve had the U-shape for 4 years and the next van will be the same.
Click to expand...
I want an L shaped layout behind driver seat in a master and lived it. Sitting on the couch looking out the sliding door at the beach is pure gold.

I can't find many examples of this in transporters. Am I missing something?
 
I think the front seats are too close to the door opening. Once you put a seat there you won’t be able to get in and out.
We try to reverse towards the view, open the tailgate an sit facing outwards with our feet on the bumper to get the same effect.
However, if you did the u-shape or l-shape and made the long side so it goes part way across the door opening then you could sit on the end and enjoy the view.
 
Last edited:
Bigsidavies said:
As there are only 2 of you have you considered a u-shaped or L-shaped layout?
If you don’t need to carry belted rear passengers then it’s a very flexible, useable layout with lots of underseat storage space.
We’ve had the U-shape for 4 years and the next van will be the same.
Click to expand...
May I ask which conversion you have? Would you get the same again?
 
Sorry @Blurty , been away.
My conversion isa self-build but the interior units were supplied ready assembled by Northern Rose Campervan kitchen units designed by Northern Rose
The layout and storage suits us perfectly. We have a cupboard with a porta potti and plenty of seating space.
I'm currently planning a new van and the layout will be the same except the seating will be longer so that it comes partially into the door opening to make a slightly longer bed/sofa.
 
Always fancied a U shaped layout but couldnt get my head around what usable storage space we'd end up with .
How does the bed work ? Is there a table top which drops in the gap and then a quick reshuffle of cushions?
Does the gap in between the cushions leave you laying in a rut ?
 
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