Frequently Asked Questions about Greenline

How long would it take for you to build our van?

This used to be a straight forward answer of 6 to 8 weeks! However, the big issue here can be finding a suitable base van. The SWB high roof vans, both Transit Custom and especially Renault Trafic/Nissan Primastar can be difficult to source as a used van in an acceptable specification/condition/mileage. They can be found but the longer time we have, the better chance of finding one. When it comes to new vans then the new Ford is not available with a high roof and although Renault still list the high roof version of the Trafic, ordering one results in an open ended wait...

Can you convert a VW T5/6 with your rear galley conversion?

Unfortunately the answer to this is no. We have done so in the past but we had to make so many compromises to the layout it simply was not as successful as it is in the Renault or Ford. This is due to the markedly sloping sides and back of the VW (the tumblehome) and the position where the original roof can be cut away.

Can you carry out partial conversions, fit an elevating roof or rock and roll bed or heater etc?

As a general rule our workshop is usually busy carrying out our full conversions. It would be worth enquiring to see if we can fit an elevating roof but this must be to an empty van - no converter would welcome this job if the van is already full of cabinetwork! Spare time allowing, we may also be able to fit a Webasto or MV Airo heater or carry out other work.

Do you offer other types of conversions or conversions to other makes of van?

Not at the moment. We used to offer a side galley conversion with a rock and roll bed but we found this to be a well trodden path and we couldn't bring much innovation to this layout. There are very many businesses offering side galley conversions so if that is what you want, you will be well catered for. In addition to the SWB and LWB elevating roof and SWB High Roof layouts, we are working on a LWB High Roof version of the rear galley which will have a washroom area separate to the galley. Details of this will appear on this website in due course but please feel free to enquire!

We like the design of your seats, can we buy these from you as a separate item?

Sorry, we cannot sell individual parts from our design. Most of the individual parts of the conversion have been designed to work hand in hand with their neighbouring parts. The seats, for instance are designed to fit with the floor panel, floor re-enforcements and the cabinet work directly behind them which support the head restraints. Another example is the cabinet work which, on the elevating roof vans, will only fit with our own design of roof strengthening frame. It is a condition of our liability insurance that we fit the seats ourselves.

Can an electric van be used as base vehicle?

We are of course happy to build on a base vehicle whatever its power source! There are fully electric versions of the Trafic and Transit Custom, although they are on the horizon. The main question is over the potential range of these vehicles, would a van with a range of 150 miles be suitable as a camper? There is also the question of by how much the increased weight of the batteries would reduce the payload of the converted vehicle. Are campsites upgrading their electricity supplies to allow vehicle charging? Although vans fuelled solely by diesel cannot be sold in Britain after 2035, there is no suggestion that diesel itself will disappear on or shortly after this date, diesel lorries can be sold until 2040 for example, It is generally accepted that vehicles have a life of up to 15 years which will maintain a demand for fossil fuels and looking much further ahead there will still be an increasingly large classic vehicle sector that will require fuel.

Although it may seem a contradictory position for company called Greenline to hold, at the present time we can't see there is a realistic alternative to a diesel van and therefore recommend this in the knowledge that diesel will be readily available beyond the expected 20 year life of the average campervan. Although the situation is improving with sucessive new models, we feel unable to recommend current electric van solutions which are developed primarily for short journeys to address the immediate problem of urban pollution and not for the longer ranges required for leisure vehicles. We have very great concerns over the decommissioning of lithium batteries which does not seem to be being addressed. Currently we would recommend a diesel van (assuming a relatively low annual mileage and that its use would mostly be outside of urban areas), at least until the time there is a breakthrough in EV technology or perhaps Hydrogen powered vehicles are developed.

What's Green about Greenline?

The reason for chosing the name Greenline originates from the first conversions we built. These were based on the Renault Trafic and featured a slide-out pod in place of the rear doors. The theory being that our conversion could provide the space and features of a larger conversion in a smaller and therefore more fuel efficient van. Although this was a successful design it became clear that our more conventional rear galley design was more popular and our manufacturing has focused on this for the last few years, we may return to the slide out van in the future! We still pride ourselves that with thoughtful design we can get more clever features in our vans than other manufacturers but we strive to be green in other areas, these include:

• The electricity supply to our workshop is entirely from renewables.
• We drive fuel efficient vehicles
• We use a carbon offset scheme for our vehicle fuel consumption and heating.
• We work from modern, well insulated premises.
• We use modern production methods such as CNC cutting of our cabinetwork and laser cutting of metal parts to optimise material use and reduce waste.
• We recycle as much of our waste as possible, re-use packaging, and encourage our suppliers to reduce their plastic packaging.

This philosophy translates into our conversions themselves, we realise that to justify the not inconsiderable cost of a motorhome then it must have a lifespan of at least 20 years. To help achieve this, it is essential that we take care with the build and therefore only fit quality components that will go the distance and that can be serviced and repaired if necessary. When purchasing items, primarily we consider the quality of the item, also if it has been manufactured in a region where environmental and health and safety legislation is in place. Cost, of course, is a factor but does not supplant the above.

Many of the parts we use are made or assembled in Britain. Parts such as the electrical control system, the hob/cooker, the cabinetwork and the upholstery. Most of the other parts are sourced from within the EU, with a few items from Turkey. Unavoidably, one or two minor items are manufactured in China, this is very much a last resort and we continue to seek alternatives where this is the case. Renault and Nissan vans are built in France. Ford Transits are now built in Turkey.