Need to re-think things, from motorhome to camper

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as an update on our search for a motorhome towards the end of 2019. we looked at a Bessacarr, and fell in love. it was just what we wanted, what we needed and after an hour of sitting in it outside the showroom we were ready to hand over our hard earned cash to buy. but as a last minute thought, I asked my wife to sit in the driver seat to see if it was comfortable for her...and here in lies the problem. she couldn't reach the clutch pedal. no matter where we positioned the seat, it didn't make any different. so we sate in a few more motorhomes of differing cab types and makes and the result was the same.

So we have spent the last three months considering options and have decided that we are going to buy a van and get it converted. we are looking at a vw transporter or a ford custom. we realise that we are going to have to condense everything down, but it seems like the most sensible option.

we are in the UK and are now searching for conversion companies and looking at different lay outs.

any advice would be most welcome.

Thanks
 
The motorhomes you went in MAY have had swivel seats, if they did then that would increase the seat height,
Also it is possible to buy "seat boxes" in order to lower the driving position.
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Thats thrown a spanner in the works. :xdoh::xrofl:

or..
alfredbekker.com

Pedal Extension - Alfred Bekker Wheelchair and Mobility Vehicles

Please note: Price shown includes one pedal, and excludes VAT Current lead time for this product is usually 3-5 working days, subject to the availability of components. Perfect for anyone with short legs who needs to drive either a manual or automatic car, our pedal extensions bolt on to the...
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You will probably find its down to the swivel under the seats which are easy to remove try sitting in an ordinary van and then see if she can reach the pedal
 
Have you thought about Pedal Extenders? The very best ones cost a couple of hundred quid but would safely solve the problem.
 
Have you thought about looking for an automatic? I’m vertically challenged (5ft 3) and find that I have to have the seat in its most forward position, tilted down and a cushion behind my back in order to comfortably drive our 8 metre automatic van. Only having 2 pedals to deal with might make all the difference.

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Charlie Drake ( who remembers him? ). Had a Jensen 541R, and he couldn't reach the pedals. He had wooden blocks screwed to the tops. :)
 
Thank you for your replies folks. we have looked at all the options. pedal extensions, change of seats, automatics. but we now find ourselves in the mindset, that a camper will probably work better for us. easier to park, easier to get around when negotiating the narrow roads of the Lake District and byways of Scotland. So camper world hear we come
 
My missus has the same problem, but these were cheaper than pedal extenders.......

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Hi, we had a good look at Rolling Home Campers, do beautiful oak finished cabinetry, founder used to build and install top end kitchens.
Build on both vw and ford, very flexible on layout and spec but as ever, quite expensive.

bill
 
For 10 happy years we had a VW T4 camper which effectively became a useable if minimalist home on wheels, with a portapotti for nightime urgencies.

As we grew older we realised we would prefer a fixed bed and a washroom with a loo. Ducato PVC time.

PS our camper had an autobox that removed the need for a clutch pedal. Why choose a manual one.

VWs seem expensive, but if looked after, when it comes to resale the depreciation is negligible and some actually fetch more. I have no idea if Ford Custom conversions hold their value or have a fanatical following, but if it were me I would buy another VW. There are also small specialist garages owned by VW nuts that service them at much lower cost (and superior expertise) than the franchised Stealerships.
 
Apart from the swivel mechanism raising the height of the driver’s set, sometimes the leisure battery is housed underneath. I had the passenger seat lowered in my Nuevo but not a lot can be done about the driver’s seat. The swivel mechanism can’t be removed as the seat forms part of the bed.
 
We started off thinking/believing we wanted a VW camper. In fact in my heart of hearts I still do. But, ultimately, we wanted a separate loo and a made up bed (downstairs!) and a full height van. So we bought. Globecar Campscout PVC and couldn’t be happier.

My only observation is this ... in a VW type camper you need to be super organised and pack and repack a lot. The collapsible crate boxes help. And they definitely are better in good weather - but isn’t all MHing?

Good luck, I hope you enjoy it ... you’ll certainly be part of the cool brigade....
 
I personally think the trade-off from getting a camper as opposed to a proper Motorhome is too high a price to pay... a fully featured with all the facilities panel van conversion will have all the manoeuvrability & parkability of a small VW type vehicle.
The lack of washing & toilet facilities, tying you to campsites, lack of interior space during typical Scottish & Lake District weather will soon become tiresome... as will getting out of the way when one or other of you wants to cook, make up the bed etc etc.

Before you leap - why not take a brief trot around the commercial van sellers, have your lady sit in the cabs of an unconverted Ducato, Relay or Boxer...
And then perhaps consider again one of the afore mentioned solutions.

My own story is that I had lowered seat boxes fitted in my PVC, although only a couple of inches, transformed the driving position.

...but if you're still convinced a camper is the way to go [remember statistically owners have three vans before they get it right] then can I point you to adding the WildAx Triton into your shortlist... they somehow manage to shoehorn a shower & loo into their layout!
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Mate of mine who is vertically challenged bought a MH last year with an auto box. I asked him why and he replied it was a no-brainer as his foot didn't reach the clutch pedal. Gets on fine and believe me, he's really short.
 
Before I bought my autocruise motor home I used a friend's vwcamper, the week I had it rained most of the time and I found it cramped with very little room to store wet clothes and using the portapotti. Decided it was no good for me and I am solo, I like à bit of room and found I can take my Motorhome to almost all the places I want to.. Does have its limits with some towns car park barriers but it's never been a big problem.. For me a camping car is not an option. . So may I humbly suggest before you spend your hard earned cash you hire a camping car for a week. Then decide.. Good luck whichever way you decide. Its a great lifestyle..

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Friends of ours changed from a T4 to a new T5/6 . There was no toilet in the old one & nothing in the new one either.& they wild camp & don't use sites.
 
I have a Volkswagen T5 Camper and love it to bits and couldn't bring myself to advertise it when we bought another motorhome, as nice as the T5 is there's just no comparison, too small and cramped if you want to go away for long periods of time, I'd get a pedal extender and get the motorhome personally, they are home from home. Our very first motorhome was a Bessacarr, we loved it to bits, it never gave us any problems in the 2 years we had it and even made 3k profit when we sold it.
 
Langtoftlad said:
Before you leap - why not take a brief trot around the commercial van sellers, have your lady sit in the cabs of an unconverted Ducato, Relay or Boxer...
And then perhaps consider again one of the afore mentioned solutions.

My own story is that I had lowered seat boxes fitted in my PVC, although only a couple of inches, transformed the driving position.
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We hired a WildAx Solaris XL to try out in April. Loved it, but having seen your previous posts about this, asked if it were possible to have lowered seat boxes fitted. Duncan Wildman said that they now buy in vans in 'camper' form with swivels already fitted. This would make it very expensive to lower them as the seat boxes would be an additional cost. Something in the order of £500 in total including fitting. So we accepted that our van would come with the seat boxes at a height that was only just acceptable.
Well we took delivery of our new Solaris XL this week, and the weird thing is that when I tried out the seats the range of adjustment is now fine and they go much lower than before. I'm wondering if Fiat have realised that because of the swivel fitted to the camper version the lower seat boxes are now standard? It's certainly worth checking on this because I noticed the difference straight away.
 
Buying a small van because legs aren't long enough is the wrong way to solve the problem. There are so many other things that need to be got right first. Ilived with a bongo for 6 years and they are big enough if you adapt them and adapt to the small space lifestyle. Those that say they are too small didnt adapt. I had different equipment and methods for different periods we were away. Look at disposa john for a different toilet experience. You are not coming to small is beautiful from the right direction
The solution to your needs could be sorted with seat modification autobox and hand throttle if required. You need to think how do i get that perfect ( for you) bessicar layout work for you. .looking at a vw is only a short step to your next van after this. Try a std van to see if a non swivel would be acceptable. Dont jump to a small van. Ps our 6m rapido is huge.

Edit
£500 is small beer when it comes to buying the wrong van for the wrong reasons

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Mikeco said:
Seems a bit drastic to go to something so small, have you thought about changing your wife for one with longer legs, you could then have a decent sized van.
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I suggested this to her. She bought me a suitcase for Xmas ?
 
Thank you for all your replies folks

Well we finally decided on a VW T6 camper. By a company called Rock and Roll Campers in Consett County Durham

I realise that we are going to have to condense everything down to live in a much smaller space, but we have also purchased a Vango Cruz 111 drive away awning. We lick the van up next Friday and look forward to reporting back on our progress
 
i doubt the ergonomics of the cab will be any different as they will all be designed to fit the average driver what ever size the van is. As previously mentioned it usually the seat swivels that increase distance to pedals if the set boxes havent been lowered to compensate

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