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Original poster

VW campervans. anyone got one can give me some info?

18 replies

gigglinggoblin · 14/11/2005 21:17

when we get a new car we want either a people carrier or one of these (pref one of these). but we want something reliable so was just wondering if anyone has one what they think of them?

we also need something with at least 3 seatbelts in the back (4 would be better). if anyone can tell us anything about how easy and expensive it is to have these fitted i would be very grateful

tia

OP posts:
starlover · 14/11/2005 21:19

you mean an old one?
depends how old i think but you wouldn't really have useable seats/seatbelts in the back... because it's just living space

cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:38

we have a 1973 VW camper van. It has 2 bench seats in the back (seats 6 in total) and we had seat belts added to the rear seats. Because of the layout of the seats we have just one three-point harness in the back and three lap belts (if your seats were positioned differently you might be able to get more 3 point ones). I think they cost about £20 each plus the cost of fitting. Look at the Just Kampers catalogue to get an idea of the cost of parts.
Ds (5) sits with the 3 point belt and he doesn't need his booster in the camper. Dd is in her baby seat still which goes on a lap belt. It's not ideal and I wish they could all be the 3 point ones but it's not possible in our one.

Original poster
gigglinggoblin · 14/11/2005 21:42

thanks cupcakes, thats great. how reliable is yours? i know it wont cover all of them but if i could get a few opinions that would help

yes starlover, it would have to be an old one! i know most dont have seatbelts but we would be happy to pay to have them installed as a campervan would be a fair bit cheaper than a people carrier so we would spend the extra on stuff like that

OP posts:
starlover · 14/11/2005 21:43

i want one too. but i am not allowed

i had a beetle but had to sell it as couldn't fit baby in

starlover · 14/11/2005 21:43

my beetles were the most reliable cars i have EVER had!
and so cheap to repair if things went wrong

sallyhollyberry · 14/11/2005 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:44

And to answer your first question it is pretty reliable. Especially considering it's age. We took it to Dorset (from Norfolk) in the summer and it climbed up several very steep hills (including a nightmarish one in Bath and another whilst taking an ill advised short cut to the Cerne Abbas Giant) very slowly but succesfully nontheless.
We rarely use it in the winter as it has no heating. It could be fixed but apparently it would still be tempremental and not really worth it.
I do think that any of these negatives are outweighed by the character. And people in other camper vans always wave at you as you drive along which is lovely!

starlover · 14/11/2005 21:46

haha yes the heating is AWFUL in all old vw's/

my first beetle did have working heating but it blasted out onto my right foot and made it so hot i had to keep turning it off! lol

plus, if you get one 1972 or earlier it'll be tax expempt

cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:46

yes, the parts are cheap!
Sallyhollyberry - our camper is dark green. We have green and red striped curtains at the window and the tablecloth fixed to the table is a strawberry pattern!

cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:47

Ooh - our 1973 one is tax exempt! Dh argued the case that it was manufactured in 1972 and registered at the start of 1973 and they let him have it exempt! We were very pleased that day!

Original poster
gigglinggoblin · 14/11/2005 21:48

we had a beetle as a hire car once, i loved the waving!

starlover, you need to trade in your dh for a hippy one like mine so you can have a campervan too

when we get one it will be purple and silver, possibly with black bats on. you have to have priorities when allocating money to things like this, re-spray will almost certainly be next on list after seatbelts. its not like you need heating, we all have coats

OP posts:
cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:50

Dh did have to spend quite a bit on things to make it go when we first got it - things like the starter whatsit etc. But it had been sitting in a field for several years as a static plaything for the owner's grandchildren.

starlover · 14/11/2005 21:50

i think my dp would like one too... or at least, tolerate it!

he wasn't overly keen on my beetle... but then it was bright pink! lol

cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:51

Dh wants a respray. Ours is Hammerite green, not the original camper van green.

sallyhollyberry · 14/11/2005 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
gigglinggoblin · 14/11/2005 21:53

can see his point then starlover!

am now trying to convince dp we could have 2 cars, otherwise have to wait for the current one to die

OP posts:
cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:54

We almost had a fridge with a giant strawberry on once...
We have several strawberry tablecloths and brooms with painted strawberries on too. Plus dd has it on her dresses, t-shirts, hair bands...
I have the wrong name!

cupcakes · 14/11/2005 21:55

We have a 'normal' car as well. Much as I love the camper it is dh's project and I don't drive it (it's got a really scary gear stick!).

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