Our Vans
The RG 500 and 540 - The Long Read
Some of the benefits of our RG design are clear compared to the average side galley with rock and roll bed layout, such as the easily accessible loo - on a side galley van this is often buried under the rock and roll bed when you need it! All storage cupboards are still accessible on our van with the bed set up, definately not the case with a rock and roll bed - in some poorly designed conversions you can't even access the fridge to get a cold beer! Also the whole of the kitchen area is usable without the need to pack the bed away - pull a rock and roll bed out and the only free space you'll have is a foot or so between the end of it and the cab seats. When needed, the gas bottle is easy to change - just open the rear door of the van to access the locker, On certain side galley vans we've seen this tucked under the rock and roll bed base and buried behind your luggage!
The Lounge Area
Using a SWB van means we have to get smart with the design! Judging by the positive response we get when we display the RG500 at motorhome shows we're sure we have risen to the challenge. A significant element in the layout is our own design of seat, these are much more compact than other types on the market and allow us to have both a good size lounge and a well equipped galley area. When travelling there are 4 forward facing seats with 3 point seatbelts, these meet Type Approval standards which include under floor reinforcements to the required standards (builds based on new vans can undergo Individual Type Approval - the IVA test, prior to registration). In the travelling position, the rear seats have a slight rake to the seat cushion to give greater comfort than a flat seat and the angle of the backrest is also adjustable. To give maximum space when entering via the side door or when carrying objects, the seat cushion can be pushed back so it is almost flush with the front of the base. To ease entry into the lounge through the side door, the Renault Trafic has a part of the floor that is lowered by a couple of inches to form a step and if your build is on a new Trafic van a neat factory fitted grab handle is provided, we can also provide a grab handle on the Transit Custom.
Once parked, one of the travelling seats can easily be laid flat and along with a backrest cushion forms a side facing sofa so you can enjoy the view through the side door. If you are not travelling with a passenger on this seat then it can be left down as a sofa while the vehicle is driven.
The table is of the pole mounted type, this mounts in a central position between all four seats and can be swung around to suit whether the rear seats are forward facing or side facing. The table is stored securely in the lounge when travelling and is readily accessible for ease of set up once parked.
The Transit Custom is a slightly wider van (by 3") than the Trafic and this is noticeable in the lounge area. the lounge is an identical size in both the SWB and LWB vans, the extra length is used in the galley area. A huge benefit in the Renault Trafic are its straight sides and the position of the body shell framework at the sides of the roof which allow the original roof to be cut out very close to the side of the van on our elevating roof models, this allows for the comfortable use of the side facing sofa. Perhaps surprisingly, the VW T5/6 is the same overall width as the Trafic but due to its sloping sides and position of the permissible roof cut out, the roof opening is 12" narrower than on the Trafic. You may notice that not all converters take advantage of this feature of the Trafic and make a narrower opening so a roof bed can be made from a 4' wide plywood sheet!
Introducing the Sky Lounge
We have recently introduced our Sky Lounge on the high roof Renault Trafic (unfortunately we cannot fit this to the Transit Custom). This features a larger roof light and forward facing double glazed window to flood the lounge area with light. The over cab cross-member is removed to give easy access in and out of the cab seats and integrate the cab area more fully into the lounge. Although the large standard over cab storage area is removed, we provide a pull out shelf to help replace this which is suitable for less weighty items such as bedding. The Sky Lounge gives a remarkably light, airy and spacious feel to the lounge which is unmatched by any other compact van.
Beds, Singles and Double
The folding mechanism to turn the rear seats to beds has been designed to be easy to access and use. The cab seats are swivelled to form part of the bed but unlike earlier vans of this design which were uncomfortable due to the cab seats forming half the length of the bed, they only make up the part of the bed that supports the feet. The cushions lock into place and do not move around underneath you. The result is a flat and comfortable bed!
The cushion sizes of the single beds themselves measure in total 6' by 2' (drivers side) and 6'2" by 2' (passenger side) but we can offer solutions to accommodate persons up to 6'4" tall. Although 2' may at first not seem like a generous width for a bed, it is the standard width for a single bed in a camper. The actual cushion width is only part of the story as the positioning of the bed in the van allows for 'wing room' between the bed and the side of the van making the bed feel more spacious, if the beds were made wider, access between them to the galley would be impeded. The big benefit of the two single bed arrangement is that night time trips to the loo can be made without disturbing your partner, this is helped still further as the loo can be left in position ready for use.
The ingenuity doesn't stop there! by simply placing the sofa backrest cushion between the two single beds, a partial double bed is made. We say partial as this central cushion does not extend between the cab seats. However, you are unlikely to find this is too much of an issue but you will appreciate a double bed that is the entire width of the van. Compare this to the typical width of the 'double' bed in a side galley VW layout, this is about 3'8" and prevents access to the majority of the storage, galley and porta potti!
Roof Beds
As you would expect, we can fit a roof bed in the elevating roof versions of our conversion. This is most suitable for children or smaller adults, we advise a maximum weight limit of 80kg but the limiting factor is more to do with the ease of access which becomes more of a challenge with taller persons. To allow space at the rear for access to the roof bed, its length is approx 5'6" on SWB and 6' on LWB vans. An access ladder and special mattress is included with the roof bed.
We can provide roof beds in the High top version of the Trafic these are of a roll away taut canvas hammock design and are suitable for smaller children being approx 5' in length.
The Galley Area
We fit a compact British made 2 burner hob unit which also incorporates a grill. We have chosen this over the Smev type combined hob and sink unit usually found in side galley conversions, the Smev unit requires a separate grill unit which is quite wasteful of space. Optionally, our hob and grill unit can be fitted with a small gas oven, or a Microwave oven can be fitted for use with the mains hook up. The hob is under a lift up section of worktop, there is also an additional worktop section that clips in adjacent to the sink to increase the amount of worktop surface area. A separate sink is fitted next to the hob. On LWB vans the galley unit is 400mm longer which gives a worktop area to the right of the hob with two extra drawers and a cupboard underneath.
The fridge is an efficient 50 litre Vitrifrigo compressor unit which incorporates a small freezing compartment, this is made in Europe. It is mounted higher up in the van for easy access, there is no need to bend your back with a fridge at ground level! The fridge runs from 12v only (although when on mains hook up the Sargent charging unit is effectively powering the fridge from mains power). As mentioned above, if you are likely to be relying on the leisure battery without re-charging for more than two nights, a solar charging system will help power the fridge - in full sun, exactly when the fridge will be working at its hardest, a 100w panel will provide more power than the fridge consumes. Sadly, a gas powered absorption fridge is not available in an equivalent size, one that would fit has only a 30 litre capacity, a larger fridge would reduce the width of the wardrobe considerably.
Sanitation
Perhaps the standout feature of our design is the slide out cassette toilet. While most vans of this size make do with a 'porta potti' a few do have a cassette loo but this is fixed in a corner ruling out use of the space directly above it. With our arrangement, the loo slides out from its storage cupboard into the aisle for use, this frees up the space above it for increased storage. As a further refinement, the wardrobe door opens and meets the cabinet work opposite and with the addition of a canvas screen for the area above the door, a private washroom area can be made. The toilet has a self contained flush water tank so does not take water from the main tank and is clean and easy to service - the cassette is quickly removed via the back door of the van. In short, you get all the benefits of a cassette toilet yet requiring little more space than a porta potti! As with all good ideas, we have noticed that our innovation is now being adapted by other converters, please remember where you saw it first!
Cabinetwork
Our cabinetwork has been optimised to fit either the Transit Custom or Trafic. Great care has been taken to maximise storage so you will find useful features such as adjustable shelves and cubby storage pockets. The panels are cut from lightweight plywood sheet and are CNC machined for accuracy. We use a robust edging to the panels wherever possible which is bonded in place, unlike the knock in type of edging that can start to fall out after a few seasons of use! The type of construction used in our cabinets allows our doors and drawer fronts to be the full width of their cupboard, rather than the cheaper method of construction commonly found in side galley layouts which uses a single sheet of wood with the doors cut 'porthole' style, this leads to smaller doors and restricted access!
The light oak veneer we use on the cabinetwork is always popular, it lightens the van's interior giving a feeling of space, the subtle grey and wood tones work well with a wide range of upholstery and lining choices. It is possible to specify a different finish for the cabinetwork but because we have the sets machined in batches there may be a wait for this. When it comes to door and drawer fronts we offer either the light oak finish or a gloss cream, the later also works well with a good range of upholstery colours but we can also offer other door finishes such as a vibrant lime green or a calming pastel blue.
Other little touches you will appreciate include the footrests we provide for use when the cab seats are swivelled. The lids of these open to provide further storage. Another neat feature on the elevating roof vans is the top of the right hand storage unit is an open shallow 'tray', this allows it to be over packed with bedding which is then compressed when the roof is closed.
Water system
Fresh water is supplied from an inboard tank which is positioned so as not to take up usable storage space. The inboard tank is far less likely to suffer from winter freezing problems than an under slung tank. The tank is easily filled via an external filler point and an external tap is provided for draining down. The system is cold water only, we reason that as there is no shower and the hob is next to the sink the most convenient solution for hot water is to simply boil a kettle! Having said that, we are often asked whether a boiler can be fitted to provide hot water, the answer is yes but an amount of storage space would be sacrificed to accommodate this. An under floor boiler is available but this is slightly too large to fit under the Trafic. An outdoor shower attachment can be fitted to enable cold water washing of dogs, boots and equipment etc. it is possible to fit an auxiliary fresh water tank of 25 litres underneath the Transit Custom to increase the total capacity, this can be isolated in winter to avoid freezing.
The standard arrangement for waste water is to place a container under the sink drain pipe which exits under the floor at the rear of the van, this is most suitable if you are likely to be staying on a pitch for two or more days as the container can be carried away for emptying at the campsites drain point. An optional waste water tank can be fitted underneath the van, this has a capacity of 20 litres on the Trafic and 25 litres on the Transit Custom. The tank has a manual drain valve which is accessed underneath the side of the van, near the passenger cab door. To ease the draining of the waste tank it is also available with an electrically operated drain valve, simply drive over the campsite's drain point and press the switch located within reach of the driver's seat.
On the subject of water, we are sometimes asked if a shower could be fitted inside the LWB Trafic or Transit Custom. Although with a bit of careful design a shower area could be squeezed in, this is only part of the problem. A shower would require space to be found for a fresh water tank three times the size of the one we fit, a similar sized waste water tank, space for a boiler and likely a larger gas storage capacity as consumption would increase dramatically. The under floor area of the compact class of vans (Trafic, Custom, VW Transporter) is now very full with the complex Euro 6 exhaust system, fuel and Ad-blue tanks, spare wheel, etc that it is virtually impossible to mount anything other than a small tank underneath them. If a shower is essential, then a larger class of van such as the Ducato or Master would be a better base as these have the space underneath to mount large tanks.
Electrical systems
Conversions to the Trafic include as standard the fitting of towing electrics, and not just in case you wish to tow a trailer in the future. You may decide to fit a cycle rack which will obscure the rear lights and making the use of a lighting bar necessary. Fitting towing electrics is no longer the simple task of splicing into half a dozen cables near the rear lights, nowadays a dedicated wiring loom is connected to sockets provided in the vans original wiring. In the case of the Trafic these sockets would be extremely difficult to access after conversion. In the case of the Transit Custom, the connection is made underneath the van so the electrics on this van can easily be fitted, if needed, after conversion.
At the heart of our habitation electrical system is the Sargent control and distribution unit. This is a well proven system that allows safe and reliable functioning of the mains hook up and 240v sockets, charging of leisure and vehicle batteries, and distribution of 12v power and lighting circuits around the conversion. Sargent systems are used widely in the UK motorhome industry including by major manufacturers and their operation is widely understood by technicians should repairs or additions be needed in the future. As you would expect, the Sargent system and our installation of it complies with safety standards.
Our conversions have 1 x 12v socket, 2 x USB sockets and 2 x mains 240v sockets. additional sockets can be fitted if required. High top conversions have an additional 12v and USB sockets and the option of a roof mounted TV aerial and internal aerial point and TV mounting bracket. The 240v sockets work only when using the mains hook up, although an inverter can be used to provide low current mains voltage from the leisure battery for short periods of time. One 240v socket is placed at floor level, handy for a fan heater or oil filled radiator. The other is placed near the galley for a low wattage kettle etc. It should be kept in mind that the mains supply available at the campsite is the limiting factor here, modern sites should have a 16 amp supply available to each pitch but older or smaller sites might supply less than this.
We fit a high quality flooded lead acid leisure battery of 110Ah capacity as standard. We can offer alternatives and higher capacities depending on your needs. If you are likely to be wild camping with more than 2 nights away from a mains hook up we would recommend a solar charging system. This comprises of a solar panel (circa 100w output) and a MPPT regulator, this is more efficient than the cheaper RMS type and will harness more of the sun's energy. We discuss with the customer how they are likely to be camping to assess their power needs and recommend the most suitable solar and battery solution.
The Sargent control unit display allows you to easily check the voltage level in both the leisure and vehicle batteries as well as the level of the fresh water tank along with a warning light that illuminates when the waste tank is near capacity.
Lighting
Despite the ready availability of LED lighting which has greatly reduced the demand on the battery, many smaller vans continue to be poorly lit. This is not the case with our vans! To achieve our very well lit interiors we manufacture our own LED strip lights which emit more than double the light of standard LED strips for a given length. This is the case in particular on the high roof vans where we provide fixed lighting at ceiling level - this is neatly placed to frame the top of the cabinetwork. We ensure that each seat has a light over it and the roof bed has a flexible light with USB port. Like many of the items we manufacture ourselves for our vans, the lighting is made from parts that are standard and readily available should they need replacing in the years to come, whether by ourselves or others.
Gas system
The gas locker is easily accessible inside the back door of the van making bottle changeover easy, this is helped by the connecting hose (pigtail) being tightened by a hand wheel so there is no more fumbling with spanners! The locker is large enough to hold a 6kg Calor Propane bottle, larger and much more cost effective than the Campingas bottle typically found in this size of van. However, an adapter is available to allow Campingas to be used should longer trips to the continent be undertaken. With just the cooking facilities fuelled by gas, a 6kg bottle is likely to last all season.
Due to the space constraints noted above, it is not possible to fit a bulk LPG tank underneath the SWB Trafic, it is possible to fit a small tank under the Transit Custom and the LWB Trafic, this has a similar capacity to the 6kg Propane bottle so the cost of installing the system would take a very long time to re-coup in cheaper bulk LPG prices, although storage space inside the van is increased if the gas locker is absent.
Heating and Insulation
All our conversions can be fitted with blown air heating. We don't fit this as a standard item because owners that only stay on pitches with electric hook up on colder nights may prefer to carry a small (and silent) oil filled radiator or a fan heater. We can fit either a Webasto or MV Airo 2kW diesel fuelled blown air heater. Diesel is an ideal fuel source in a smaller van as the heater uses a small amount of fuel drawn from the vehicles fuel tank. A gas fuelled heater would drastically increase gas consumption, requiring very frequent bottle changes or storage for a larger gas bottle. The drawback of the diesel heater can be a faster drain on the leisure battery - although steps can be taken to minimise this. Of the two heaters, the Webasto is slightly quieter in operation whereas the MV can be set to a constant output which reduces battery drain and can also blow cold air only, useful on warmer days. Both units are compact - we install them unobtrusively under the passenger seat; reliable; can be used with the vehicle in motion; and meet approved standards for safety.
WARNING: Over the past couple of years, some very cheap and poor quality heaters have appeared for sale on the internet. These are supplied from anonymous sources in China and it is equally unclear who their manufacturer is, of most concern is the lack of any safety homologation information. We would call into question the responsibility of a converter who installs these units given the absence of any independently derived safety standards, particularly when it is considered that these units are will be burning fuel inside the van while the occupants are asleep. We do not fit these units.
Our conversions are insulated with a combination of materials, this is one area where we can demonstrate our green credentials - the insulating blanket we use is made from re-cycled plastic bottles. It should be borne in mind that an elevating roof van will lose heat through the canvas with the roof up, so it is better to close this in the winter months if possible. it should also be noted that the doors on a modern van contain a number of electric wires, control cables and linkages which need to move freely and make full insulation of the doors difficult. Our high top conversions are better suited to year round use as we can provide excellent insulation of the fixed roof. The internal thermal cab screens we provide do a good job of insulating the cab glazing but are less good at preventing condensation, alternatively we can supply an external screen which is better in this respect but takes up more storage space.
Windows, Curtains and Roof lights
We specify new vans to be supplied ready glazed with the windows we require, this has the additional benefit of heated rear windows with wash/wipe. Glazing can be supplied in either standard (green) tint or the much darker privacy glass which does stop onlookers seeing in but doesn't stop light transmission to the extent of making the interior dark or prevent a good view from the inside of the van. Our conversions to used vans include glazing, again with the choice of standard or privacy tints. We always fit opening windows to the sides of the van. We can fit 'dummy' windows to the rear side panels of the van, these are placed directly on to the body without cutting an aperture (they are covered by cabinet work on the inside of the van!) and are for aesthetic reasons. However, we can make this into a genuine window on the left hand side to give more light in the galley area.
We fit elasticated black out curtains - although it may sound romantic, we know how important it is not to be woken at 4am on a summer morning by the light of daybreak! This type of curtain has been developed specifically for vans and fits well to the window apertures (which are not rectangular on either Ford or Renault) and have a rail at both top and bottom to hold them in place if windows or doors are open.
Condensation can be expected to form overnight on the inside of the standard factory type glazing, we can offer motorhome type double glazed window units on the Renault Trafic (unfortunately the sides of the Ford Transit Custom are too sharply curved to allow their fitment). As well as reducing condensation and giving improved insulation, these units have integral fly screens and reflective blinds.
We fit a roof light over the lounge area of the high top vans. This is the standard 400 x400 mm size on the Trafic and the larger 'Midi Heki' 700 x 500mm size on the Transit Custom which also serves to give increased headroom under its dome! The larger roof light can also be fitted to the high roof Trafic but it can only be positioned well forward on the roof and wind noise is increased. There is also the option of a second roof light over the galley area to provide light and increased headroom, although fitting this will reduce the area available on the roof to fit a solar panel.
Choice of base van
All modern vans are quiet, refined and easy to drive, there is little to choose between them in this respect. When it comes to a choice between the Ford and the Renault, then the Ford has a slightly better ride quality but the Renault has slightly better fuel economy and offers better value for money both new and used. In recent years, Ford have had a policy of steadily increasing their prices to 're-position' their perceived place in the market, the current manifestation of this is a used Transit Custom could cost up to £8k more than an equivalent Trafic! We make no comment as to whether this differential is worthwhile. The additional width of the Transit Custom is noticeable in the lounge area of the conversion but makes little difference in the galley.
The version of the Trafic we convert was introduced in 2014 with a 1.6 litre Euro 5 engine with power outputs ranging from 90 - 140 hp, the vans are noticeably high geared, this is a benefit for high speed cruising where the engine is turning at lower revs giving less noise and better fuel economy but the downside is that you do find yourself changing gear frequently in an urban setting or if towing a heavier trailer. Euro 6 spec vans were introduced in 2017 with marginally increased power outputs. The engine was enlarged to 2.0 litres with outputs up to 170hp in 2019 and this has improved the gear changing situation and is a much better prospect for towing, an automatic gearbox became an option on low roof vans. A further update has been applied for 2022 with a new dashboard layout and mildly revised styling forward of the windscreen. A large amount of driver assistance aids are now available on the options list. Otherwise, the rest of the van is much as before. The towing limit has increased from 2000kg to 2500kg. We have found 90hp to be adequate for a SWB van.
The Transit Custom was introduced in 2012. Built at Ford's van factory in Turkey it replaced the British built Transit. Initially powered by a 2.2 litre engine which was replaced with a 2.0 litre unit with the change to Euro 6 standards, power outputs of up to 180hp are available. Unsurprisingly, both engines are more flexible than the Renault's 1.6 unit, so less gear changing is involved. An automatic option has been available from early on. 2018 saw an update which included a revised dashboard, new lights and front bumper/grille. Towing weights vary depending on the exact model with a limit of 2800 kg on some models. However, on Automatic models this is reduced to 1500 or 1700kg. An interesting feature of the Custom is that much of its structural framework is made from a very high strength boron alloy steel, so if you are concerned about crashworthyness, perhaps this is the van for you! The current Transit Custom is due to be replaced with a new model in 2023. Interestingly, the new model will also be the base for the next VW Transporter which is also to be built at Ford's Turkish plant.
Both vans have proved reliable if driven and serviced correctly. We are happy to say that corrosion is now a thing of the past on vans as all the main manufacturers now use zinc coated steel for their van bodies. Renault were one of the first to adopt this when the previous Trafic was introduced back in 2002. Ford waited until the introduction of the Custom, the previous Transit being a notable rotter! We wager that you will not see a rusty example of either Trafic or Custom unless major damage has been badly repaired. Last of the major manufacturers to switch to galvanised steel was Mercedes Benz, whose vans prior to 2012 can be seen to rust. The improvements in corrosion protection are very important in the leisure vehicle industry, the design expectation for a van is for it to work hard and cover a high mileage but only for a period of 6 - 8 years, however a camper or motorhome must have a life of at least 20 years. To preserve the corrosion protection of the van, when we cut a hole in the bodyshell, the cut is filed smooth and the exposed metal is treated with a zinc rich paint. Any attachments that have to be made in vulnerable areas under the vehicle such as in the line of spray from the road wheels are also treated with grease or wax.
If you would like us to build your conversion on a new van then we can order your van exactly to your specification. We are happy to build on used vans to help you save on costs a little, but there are a few points that shouldn't be overlooked. It is important to realise that vans, much more so than cars, can suffer from unsympathetic owners! We have some useful notes that we can give to those sourcing their own van, although we can source a van for you if you prefer. You will be very lucky if you can find a used van with a passenger airbag (only Transit Customs in the highest 'Limited' specification come with one as standard).
Our conversion price includes replacing the double passenger cab seat with the single seat that is necessary for the conversion and also the glazing of an unglazed panel van. The SWB high roof vans can be an issue. Although they can't be described as plentiful, there is usually a choice of used Transit Custom SWB high tops available at any one time and the Drivelodge roof we can fit allows us to turn a low roof Custom into a high top thus widening the selection greatly. Sadly this is not an option for the Trafic which is rarely seen in SWB high roof form on the used market and when it is, it is usually in a basic specification.
For the sake of clarity, any reference here to the Renault Trafic also applies to the Nissan NV 300 and Fiat Talento which are identical and built on Renault's production line in France, there are minor differences to front lighting/grille and the equipment included within trim levels. The Fiat is not available as a High Roof, the Nissan and some models of the Fiat have a five year warranty when new which is something to look out for if sourcing a used van. The Vauxhall Vivaro from 2014 to 2019 is the Trafic built under licence in Luton and is also identical. High Roof Vivaros were actually built by Renault in France due to height constraints at the Luton plant! Since the Peugeot takeover of Vauxhall, the Vivaro from 2019 onwards is now the rebadged Peugeot Expert van which is smaller and our conversion will not fit.
Elevating roof or Fixed High Roof
This is of course a personal choice and you may know which you favour. Many prefer the aesthetics of the 'pop top' campervan, some cite issues with height barriers - although there is no standard height for these and most vans fitted with an elevating roof will be slightly over the 2.0m some assume a height barrier to be! The elevating roof van does give better sleeping accommodation for a family of four if fitted with a roof bed but a high top has more storage space which would allow a drive away awning to be more easily carried to give the same result plus the bonus of storage for the folding chairs etc when pitched. The high top will increase fuel consumption by 3 - 5 mpg and can be more of a handful in strong side winds. High winds of course can be a disadvantage with the elevating roof when pitched and this may need to be pulled down if they are very strong. High winds and height barriers aside, there is no difference in the driving experience and manoeuvrability of the low or high roof van. As noted in the heating and insulation section, the high roof vans are better insulated for year round camping, storage is greater and the rear doors are full height (except where the Drivelodge roof is fitted) to give stoop free access!
Short or Long Wheelbase?
We're extremely proud of the layout we've achieved in the 5m long SWB vans but we can see why there has been a trend towards elevating roof conversions on the LWB compact vans (typically 5.3 - 5.4m in length) in recent years. The increased storage makes longer jaunts easier for couples and families especially. Our LWB pop top has storage space on a par with the SWB High top with the bonus of increased worktop area. The lounge area is identical on the short and long wheelbase vans (although special requests will be considered!) The extra length is used to give additional storage in the galley area. The left hand side gains two drawers and an additional cupboard and worktop forward of the hob. On the right side, forward of the wardrobe is an additional tall cupboard with a storage locker on top, this top locker has a tambour door which can be rolled right back to the wall to give the locker an alternative use as an extra worktop/flat surface.
That extra length may be a factor when parking though, the SWB Renault Trafic will fit on a typical supermarket parking space. It's width, which is 6" narrower than the Fiat Ducato used as a base for larger van conversions, is an advantage when negotiating the narrow country lanes typically found in Cornwall, Scotland and the Lake District. The width of the Ford Transit Custom is midway between these two vans.
Later in 2022 we will be launching a LWB version of the High Roof Renault Trafic and Ford Transit Custom. Many of you have asked us at the shows about the possibility of a separate wash room area, this design will feature a full width area at the rear of the van to give a toilet/washroom separate from the from the galley (and we thought we were doing well just to relieve you of the porta potti - pun intended!) If you do value the narrower width of the Trafic over the Fiat Ducato we could incorporate a shower cubicle but this is likely to require the use of Caravan style portable water containers due to the limitations highlighted in the 'Water System' section above. The LWB high roof will give additional space for transporting larger folding chairs, etc.
