The Auto-Sleepers Kingham is a mid-sized van conversion using the mini-bus chassis of a Peugeot Boxer. The Kingham, known for being more affordable and compact than many other motorhomes on the market, is the dedicated two-person camper from Auto-Sleepers, a UK-based coachbuilders and campervan fitment company straight out of the Cotswolds.
Longer than an Auto-Sleepers Duetto but shorter than the Auto-Sleepers Amethyst, the Auto-Sleepers Kingham is a camping couple’s dream—particularly if you’re not the tent-kind of camping couple. The Kingham comes with all sorts of mod cons to make any road-based expedition a memorable adventure cushioned by creature comforts.
How long is an Auto Sleeper Kingham?
The Kingham is six and a half metres long and just over two and half metres wide. The unique selling point of the Kingham is the fixed French bed located to the right corner at the back of the van. In many other campers, the bed, often island-style with access on both sides, needs to be stowed each morning, to create living space. But in the Kingham, the Auto-Sleepers team has saved you the hassle of tidying away each morning. Instead, the bed pushes back into a lounger position to give a bit of extra living space.
Each evening, the bed can be drawn forward to a fully flat position. The interior layout has been executed well to maximise use of space and make the accommodation as versatile as possible.
Though a fixed bed won’t appeal to every taste, plenty of thought has gone into ensuring there’s a decent amount of storage space under the bed. The washroom, featuring a toilet, over-toilet shower, sink, towel rail and mirror, is functional, but extremely cosy, meaning broader built humans might feel a bit cramped.
Nevertheless, the standing headroom of the Kingham is comfortable, even for taller folk.
What should I look out for mechanically?
As said, the base vehicle is a Peugeot Boxer. The Kingham’s manual 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine pushes 165bhp, yet meets Euro 6 regulations for travelling in ULEZ around the UK. If you’re wanting an automatic transmission, you’ll need to opt for the Fiat Ducato, which uses a nine-speed gearbox to deliver 140bho or 160bhp. There’s a £1,500 price difference for more power, but the latter could well be worth it. Cruise control is an optional extra, but there’s more than one way to manage fuel economy and AT will likely be more attractive for resale.
Either option comes with a veritable swathe of comfort and safety features, including ESP, ABS and power-assisted steering—reducing the work required for those longer drives.
Top Tips:
1. Swivel the driver and passenger seats to ensure they turn and click into place.
2. Ask about water ingress, particularly in relation to electrical circuits—if possible, have an auto electrician look it over for discoloration or signs of corrosion. Alternatively, connect an OBD scanner and see if it flags anything of note.
3. While out on the test drive, banish all ideas of P1 from a Traffic Light Grand Prix. The auto gearbox is especially sluggish—great for the dog and the dinnerware, less appealing for keener drivers.
4. Check both water tanks empty and then run water through to test pump. Pumps can be tricky and you don’t want a dud.
What should I be aware of inside the van?
The Auto-Sleepers interior fit and finish has a build quality reflected in its price tag.
Robust click-to-release overhead storage compartments, a mini-coffee table AND a larger dining table, which store tidily in the cab above the driver’s head, demonstrate great use of space. While two TV points, the three gas-ring hob with glass splash guard, oven, grill, microwave, carpeted floor and a retractable power tower for plugging in devices offer a camping experience, complete with home comforts.
The Auto-Sleepers Kingham’s skylights enable plenty of daylight to fill the interior. By using a van with standard window cut-outs, the Auto Sleeper Kingham’s windows are arguably more secure. This does mean ventilation (particularly when cooking) comes from the extractor and opening the roof lights—which could be an issue in the rain.
The windows aren’t double-glazed plastic, but athermic glass. That means a thin reflective coating has been applied to give privacy and heat resistant properties.
Though you won’t get the extra insulation of double glazing in colder weather, in warmer weather, the interior will stay cooler than a regular van, or one with simply laminated glass. While some Kingham enthusiasts will brave all weathers, it’s a van that tends to suit spring, summer and autumn sojourns. If you run hot or intend going abroad to hotter climes, you might wish to consider air-con, which doesn’t come as standard.
Top tips:
1. When viewing for purchase, check each and every closing mechanism, including the overhead ones, fly screen and skylight blackouts.
2. Ensure you can pull the bed flat and push it back.
3. Count the crystal glasses in the drinks cabinet (!) above the vanity mirror—they’re a cute quirk of buying an Auto Sleeper and have their own clips for secure transit.
4. Ensure the coffee table leg is present and functioning
5. Check the fridge door aligns and closes to seal.
What’s the story on maintenance?
Maintaining a Kingham is pretty straightforward. The design makes it really easy to park up on a site and plug in—there’s even a socket for satellite TV, if your destination or stopover offers it (though note.
There’s a number of electronic controls for things like the retractable footstep (“auto retracts on engine start” Excellent), audio system and the control panel is located above the side door.
The two water tanks are accessed on the right side panel (sitting under the sofa). The fresh water tank holds 69 litres, the waste holds 40 litres. The on-site hook up is straightforward enough, though some who like to go off the beaten track for longer periods may find these numbers a bit low.
The LPG tank is a 25-litre floor mounted space saver too.
Top tips:
1. When viewing for purchase, check the rear door opening mechanisms, lock and toilet cassette.
2. Aim for as comprehensive an education as possible with the electronic control panel, or at least ensure there’s a manual. It’s got loads of functions, so you want
3. If you’re having difficulty with toll road vignettes being recognised, it could be the athermic glass windscreen.
4. Consider making your own wind-breaking fly screen for the sliding door opening.
5. Joining the Caravan Club or Motorhomefun.co.uk will give you a like-minded group of mentors, who are happy to help with experiences and advice, should your garage, dealer or Peugeot be unable to assist (especially at short notice, in a bind).
Pricing
At the time of writing, prices started at £68,700 new, though used Kinghams could be found for less than £45,000 if you’re eagle eyed and quick off the mark.
The Premium Pack definitively ups the ante on the luxury front. For an additional £2,500, alloy wheels, cruise control and a more comprehensive infotainment system with steering wheel controls, Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration are worth having to protect residual values. Optional extras include air con in the cab, Thule awning for al fresco dining when parked, an 80W solar panel and a reversing camera, which can be very helpful.
The Winter Pack will set you back almost £300, so you’ll need to consider if you really need the water tanks to have heater blankets and the wheel arches to be insulated.
What else should I know?
If you do want to use the Kingham in the winter, it’s possible to have a winter pack fitted, which includes fresh and waste water tank heaters. These work well with an EHU (electric hook-up) but won’t last long purely on battery.
Wifi equipment is integrated, but you’ll need to bring your own SIM card. Nonetheless, a healthy volume of security tech has been integrated into the vehicle to protect your precious cargo when out and about for the day.
Frustratingly, the satnav system hasn’t been configured for motorhome usage and can direct you down some lanes, arguably too narrow for comfort.
Verdict
The Auto Sleeper Kingham is a Tardis-like campervan offering up to two occupants a decent amount of storage and infinite possibilities of a motorhome adventure. Ideally for those downsizing from a bigger vehicle, the lower running costs will also be hugely appealing.
The reputations of Auto Sleeper and the Peugeot Boxer are generally reliable. However, should any issues occur, there’s always a small risk—depending on the issue—that a Wimbledon final is started between the two brands and/or the dealer, with you, the customer, as the tennis ball.
Many Kingham enthusiasts do upwards of 30,000 miles out of their vehicles in just a couple of years. Though there’s a lot to the Kingham for a price more affordable than many motorhome alternatives, it’s still not a ‘cheap’ buy. What’s more, the fact that four can be accommodated for dinner only will be a dealbreaker for some.
