Volkswagen Camper – Five Gnatty Alternatives
August 9, 2019
When the term ‘campervan’ is bandied about it’s pretty much guaranteed that the majority of people will immediately think of the omnipresent VW bus. Whether it be the Split Screen or later Bay Window variant, most folks’ brains go straight to the German tourer. And rightly so you might think, the VW Camper in all guises is well made and the original Type 2 oozes cool, but it’s certainly not the only option out there when it comes to camper vans, even if it does overshadow most.
Derived from a sketch by Dutch businessman and VW importer Ben Pon, who basically drew a van body on a Beetle base, the Type 2 (the Beetle was designated Type 1) was cheap, sturdy and comfortable at a time when rival van manufacturers were struggling to develop a vehicle possessing any of these characteristics. A hard act to follow, it’s close association with the counterculture movement of the sixties and seventies only served to cement the vehicle in the hearts and minds of the public and increase its acclaim. Fast forward to today and it’s still all of those things. Apart from cheap. It’s definitely not cheap. The design has evolved however with production remaining consistent and the VW Camper, or ‘California’ as it is now known, is still enjoying impressive sales and world-wide popularity.
We found this typical example of a more modern VW Camper on Car and Classic. But, before you rush out to spend your hard-earned to fulfil that campervan dream, we’re going to show you some tasty alternatives to the ubiquitous Volkswagen Camper.
The first Japanese vehicle on our list, the curiously named Bongo Friendee (also badged as the Ford Freda), is one of the cheaper alternatives to the VW. Furthermore, it is both more reliable and spacious than it’s German counterpart. The 2.5 turbo diesel is the engine to go for and we recommend the all-wheel drive variant – getting stuck in muddy campsite fields will be a thing of the past. The ‘auto-free top’ electric elevating roof is a choice option which makes much more sense from a camping perspective as it will sleep an extra two people, and some earlier vehicles feature factory fitted kitchens too. Bongos benefit from great club and parts support and websites such as the excellent Bongofury, who offer a wealth of information and advice. Beware of bodged DIY conversions though.
Mostly thought of as a commercial vehicle, Ford Transits were never sold as camper vans but that doesn’t mean they can’t be damn good ones. Obviously, a conversion is necessary, but the ‘backbone of Britain’ is a great base to start and a full metamorphosis can cost as little as a few grand. Cheaper to buy, run and repair than a VW, they have a justifiably large and dedicated fan base – they’re Britain’s best-selling van for a reason. Although a great project for the DIY enthusiast, we think you’re better off buying one that’s already been modified, just make sure the conversion work has been carried out to a high standard. Prices will rise for a professional installation but a Transit is still potentially a lot of camper for your cash.
Another Japanese entry in the list. Like most Toyotas the HiAce is reliable and strong, if a tad unrefined. It lacks a little of the finesse of some of the other examples in our list but this is reflected in the price tag and you can pick one of these up remarkably cheaply. It’s a good, solid choice when it comes to campers and you’ll have a difficult time convincing yourself that you need to pay for anything more after spending some quality camping time with one. Like the Bongo, opt for four-wheel drive and the larger, turbocharged diesel engines. Fourth generation vehicles produced from 1989 to 2004 in good condition with professional conversions can easily be found for well under £10K.
If you grew up in the eighties, then you’ll instantly recognise the GMC Vandura as the A-Team van. A bit of a wild card in the list but in our opinion way cooler than anything you can buy from Volkswagen and yes, they were available in campervan form. There were many third party companies that used the GMC Vandura as the basis for camper van conversions and there was even a raised roof option. These are rare though and if you do manage to find one you’ll probably have to import it from the States. It would be easier to track down a standard vehicle in the UK that’s already been registered and complete a DIY conversion, but if you do succeed in locating one we can almost certainly guarantee its exclusivity at any campsite you visit. Extra kudos points if you paint it black with a red stripe. Similar US alternatives include the Ford Econoline and the Chevrolet G20.
Finally, and well deserving of a mention is the Commer FC, later badged and sold as the Dodge Spacevan. These cute little vans were popular as camper conversions but performance and handling left a lot to be desired. (In)famous for almost impossible engine access, it was actually easier to remove the windscreen and extract the motor through the passenger door than it was to drop the front suspension and subframe! But, we can gloss over all that, because just look at how absolutely adorable it is. Those tucked in wheels, the pastel colours, the bright and smiling face, it’s achingly cute. But do be warned, they’re also achingly delicious to the dreaded tinworm, so make sure that any repairs (and it will have had some) have been done to a good standard.
