Innholdsfortegnelse for August - September 2023 i VWT Lifestyle

To stand out in the VW Transporter scene 20 years ago, a nice set of wheels and a lowered suspension would just about do it. Nowadays, it’s nigh on impossible to bring out something different – it feels as though everything has been done. But then again, we thought the same 20 years ago! One of the reasons most people are attracted to the VW scene is the endless opportunity of laying your own personal mark on the canvas that a VW Transporter provides. Some like full custom, some keep it stock and then there’s everybody else in the middle. Let’s call it the modified stock look, or as it’s more commonly known, OEM+ (Original Equipment Manufacturer Plus). It’s the Goldilocks zone. The perfect balance to suit the majority of…

Having an arsenal of one-pot recipes under your belt makes road-trip cooking so much easier. Not only does it make meal prep quicker, but it also saves on gas and reduces the amount of washing up too! And whilst this pasta dish is a quick and easy meal to throw together, it’s definitely tasty enough to share with friends. To make it a little more store-cupboard friendly you could swap out the fresh salmon fillet for a can of wild salmon. And rather than using fresh or frozen prawns, you could mash up three or four anchovy fillets to stir through at the end to add an extra depth of flavour. This recipe uses fresh pasta to make the meal ready even quicker, but I recently produced an ebook packed…

CONVERSION SPECIAL AND SO TO BED... Having rear seat which transforms into a bed at night with a flick of the wrist will add instant versatility to a Transporter and start you on your road to making it usable for overnight stays. There’s lots of different bed frames available, with prices starting at around £350, although full width beds are likely to be closer to £600, with crash-tested beds with seatbelts for the T5/T6 being £1074 from bed guru Rusty Lee (www.vwrustylee.com). Fitting a fold up bed frame is relatively straightforward – the main issue is where to drill holes in the floor whilst avoiding box sections and components, ensuring that there will be enough space around the drilled hole to fit the steel reinforcement plates. This will ensure your…

VWt Lifestyle: Hi Dan, great to meet you. Now, tell us what folk are prioritising in the way of VW Campers regarding style/image, practicality and price these days? Dan: “It’s a bit of everything. The styling side of the business is subtle OEM+. These days, most customers change the wheels and lower the Van as standard. A big part of having a Camper is the usability and having lots of storage, so that’s still a big priority. Prices have gone up and we are at the higher end of the market. We normally carry out builds on high spec vans which we all know have shot up in price from VW.” VWt Lifestyle: What’s the question you get asked the most during an initial enquiry? Dan: “It’s usually, ‘How soon…

Sometimes, it’s nice to have a hook-up, hot showers and maybe even an onsite restaurant where you can wine and dine at the end of a hard day relaxing on your sun lounger. However, there’s a growing trend towards solitude and the desire to embrace our wilder side by staying at more basic campsites instead. We’re not talking about ‘wild camping’ as such, more the isolated field camping experience where there’s no electricity, limited facilities and absolute peace and quiet. If you’re happy to sacrifice meticulously cut grass, numbered plots and shower blocks with piped music and air-fresheners in the cubicles, then here’s our top 10 essentials. 1. POWER TO THE PEOPLE While the idea of leaving your mobile at home might appeal, the practicalities of everyday life and staying…

If you want a snapshot of where the VW scene is right now, this could well be it. Long gone are the days of £50 Bay Windows Buses and Beetles that could be bought without exceeding the daily limit from the cash machine. It’s a different world we live in now in many ways, but my word how the standard of VW restoration has soared. I mean, just look at this thing. ‘Better than when it left the factory’ can be all too easily thrown around as a statement, but in this case, you better believe it’s true. The vast majority of enhancements this Bus has received were not even invented when it was new. The road that led to this point has been a long and winding one for…

Every now and then, fate deposits you at a junction. Two polarised options are presented to you, with the certain knowledge that life will be different either way, depending which one you choose – it may be a wedding proposal, or casting a vote in a two-party system, or a mysterious character in retro-futurist sunglasses brandishing a red pill and a blue pill, the outcome of each spiriting you along a totally different trajectory. For Dave Bones, it was this campervan; specifically, it was being told by experts that it ‘wasn’t worth restoring’. For some people, that would be a disappointing but simple state of affairs: OK, if it’s not worth it, don’t do it. But Dave is made of sterner stuff. Being of the mindset that there are no…

WONDERFOLD VW WAGON If you’re a Bus lover, chances are you love festivals, hanging out with friends and family, an all things Volkswagen! And if you happen to have a baby in tow, the limited edition WonderFold camper van style folding stroller will be the perfect accessory. It features headlights that work, all terrain wheels, a five-point safety harness, removable canopy and a one-foot brake. We love it. £1999www.wonderFoldwagon.co.uk NIGHT OWL SHERPA A night in a campervan can be made oh so much more cosy with this soft and comfortable duvet. The fluffy Sherpa fleece lining will keep you nice and warm, while Teflon EcoElite tech provides an outer layer that’s water-repellent and stain-resistant. £70finebedding.co.uk OAKLEY ACTUATOR SUNGLASSES If you’re in a cool Camper, you’ll need some cool sunnies –…

Three decades ago, Kent’s coastal towns were looking decidedly frayed around the edges. The fishing industry had shrunk and despite the proximity to London, investment was hard to come by. However, food, drink and Kent’s unspoilt charms and the county’s countless attractions have made it one of the south east’s most popular visitor destinations. And an ideal place to visit in your campervan. Take the fascinating Kent town of Whitstable on the north coast. Its narrow streets are crammed with independent shops, temptingly good restaurants and high end boutiques. Meanwhile, its shingle shores overlooking the Thames Estuary are a great place to blow off the cobwebs, get your socks wet and work up an apetite for the town’s famous oysters and a pint of Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, brewed by…

How did Dubcraft come about? It was around 15 years ago, when I went into business converting T4s. I then moved on to T5s and T6s and have been building bespoke, luxury Campers ever since. What Buses have you owned? My first Bus was a VW T5.1 in orange with a full ABT body kit. I also fitted an air suspension kit to it and carried out a full luxury camper conversion so it became my demonstrator. And forever my pride and joy! Where’s the weirdest place you’ve camped? We camped at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year parked in a stubble field in 30c heat with fire appliances cruising up and down the rows. We were on tenterhooks in case anyone started a fire! Have you got any…

The VW T25, also known as the VW Vanagon in the US market, was introduced in 1979 as the successor to the iconic VW Type 2. It was produced until 1992, with the majority of them being manufactured in Germany. Over the years, the T25 has gained a cult following among campers and #vanlife enthusiasts due to its compact size, reliability, and versatility. They are great vans, perhaps only let down by the factory engine options and their ability to rot, with complicated panel structure being an issue for restorers. When it comes to values and popularity, T25s languished in low values for what seems like three decades; they were never as popular on the used market as the Split Window and Bay or the subsequent front-engined vans. They were…

JULY Camper Jam 22 Date: 7-9 JulyLocation: Weston Park, Shropshire TF11 8LEContact: www.camperjam.com Dorset Volksfest Date: 7-9 JulyLocation: The Showground, Worgret Rd, Wareham BH20 6ABContact: www.dorsetvolksfest.co.uk Volks Weald Date: 14-16 JulyLocation: Penshurst Place, KentContact: volksweald.co.uk Bug Jam 36 Date: 21-23 JulyLocation: Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XAContact: www.bugjam.co.uk Dubbed out VW Festival Date: 27-30 JulyLocation: Ashley Hall, Ashley, Altrincham WA14 3QAContact: www.dubbedoutfestival.co.uk Dubtoberfest Date: 27-30 JulyLocation: Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SHContact: dubtoberfest.co.uk AUGUST Kent VW Festival Date: 4-6 AugLocation: Dover, Kent CT15 5AHContact: www.kentvwfestival.com Tatton Park Date: 6 AugLocation: Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6QNContact: www.tattonparkvwshow.com VW Festival Date: 11-13 AugLocation: Harewood House, LeedsContact: www.vwfestival.co.uk Le Bug Show Date: 19-20 AugLocation: Spa Francorchamps, BelgiumContact: www.vwbugshow.be Camper Calling Date: 25-27 AugLocation: Ragley Hall, WarwickshireContact: www.campercalling.com SEPTEMBER VW Action Date: 1-3…

The beauty of a VW Bus is that it can be all manner of things to different people. As a whole bunch of folk are discovering right now, they’re potentially one of the most versatile vehicles you can buy. In fact, you can do just about anything in them – and not just camping. Some will want theirs as a day van, the ultimate leisure vehicle where only the basics are required; a portable coolbox and stove, some folding chairs and maybe a rock ‘n’ roll folding bed for the occasional overnight stay. Sweet and simple. Others will want to go the whole hog with all the creature comforts such as a full kitchen that’s as posh as the one at home, a heater, fridge, pop-top roof and electric hook…

DODO MAT THERMO LINER V3 One of the first things you’ll need to do when carrying out a Camper conversion to a Panel Van is to insulate the interior. Here you’ll need this industry leading Dodo Mat liner, which is now available in a new V3 version. It features flexible, closed cell elastomeric foam which has improved thermal performance and now has a combination of low thermal conductivity and high-water vapour diffusion resistance. Oh, and the self-adhesive surface has been made rougher to improve its grip on the inside panels and the release paper made stronger and easier to remove. It’s available in 6mm thickness and 3m and 10m roll lengths. £130 (10m) www.dodomat.com EAZY 240V PLUG & PLAY Want power inside your Camper? Then Just Kampers has the solution…

Undoubtedly one of the best of the traditional VW events, the Stanford Hall VW Show is also one of the longest running, celebrating its 45th year in 2023. Staged in the grounds of the 17th century country house in rural Leicestershire, it is organised by the Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Club. Characterised by its relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, the event typically attracts over 10,000 day visitors as well as many hundreds of display vehicles in the concours field and club line-ups. While still very true to its historic air-cooled origins, originally established as a meeting for the Split Screen Beetle fraternity, it’s now truly eclectic in its content, the event catering for literally all types of Volkswagen Group models. You’ll find Beetles from the late ’40s in the Historic VW Club…