Volkwagen has created a ‘mobile home in a box’, taking its heritage of being the ‘people’s wagon’ very seriously indeed. In a bid to capitalise on the boom in campervan popularity and rising UK ‘staycation’ holidays, the Caravelle, California Beach Tour and Caddy now have a funky new accessory; a box of camping toys.
In the mini camping unit, which isn’t much bigger than three large suitcases, there’s a kitchen area, bed, water supply and storage space, enabling van owners to play house while away from home. The modular set has been created in such a way as to fit into existing storage spaces and be somewhat interchangeable. Each component lends itself to the most convenient ease-of-use.
In response to some 52% of Brits saying they were expecting to take their holidays at home this year, these new accessories also caters to the increased number of camping enthusiasts embarking on self-build campervan projects, which has risen over the course of the pandemic.
For a Caravelle owner, the top-of-the-range ‘BusBox’ includes a bed, mattress, extendable storage area, water supply and two-burner kitchen unit for £3,340.
From there, the prices drop, omitting various components as required. The Caddy can house the ‘Kombibox’, which integrates a bed, kitchen area, water supply and cargo area, for £2,760. The folding comfort mattress is available as a standalone product for £495.
With a kitchen that can be set up in a matter of seconds and a bed that unfolds with one single manoeuvre, the new camping accessories from Volkswagen enable van owners to upgrade their existing van interiors, or have the comfort of home, without the heartache or inconvenience of a full self-build effort.
Head of aftersales at Volkswagen commercial vehicles, James Allitt, said, ‘Developing accessories that make our customers’ lives easier is a high priority at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, which is why our one-stop-shop mobile home in a box is a great solution for those planning a camping holiday.’
How much does a campervan conversion cost?
Campervan conversions can range from £500 to an eye-watering £40,000. Of course, much of that depends on how detailed you make the conversion and what price you put on your time too. Parker’s ultimate guide to campervan conversion can help you evaluate if it’s a project you really have the time, money and energy to embark on. It’s not a choice for the faint-hearted!
A lot of people prefer to hire campervans. Although recent increases in demand have pushed prices up, it can be an easier way of managing children, pets, weather and budgets, since you have the freedom to travel towards drier, brighter regions and can shop around for great local deals and discounts.
Where can you park a campervan overnight?
Although there’s no specific law that states you can’t park a motorhome or campervan up at the roadside overnight and sleep in it, ‘wild camping’ with a tent is prohibited in England and Wales—Scotland permits this. Generally, camping in a van with home comforts like electricity, access to fresh water and a toilet/shower block make licensed campsites more appealing for the fairweather camper.
That said, broadly speaking, you can get away with a brief overnight stay in some public car parks, supermarket car parks with allocated bays and on quieter streets or roads. Unless the parking area you’re in expressly forbids overnight stays (plenty of coastal car parks state this), or has closing hours—meaning you’ll be interrupted by security and shuffled on—you should be ok. That is, provided you’re conforming to all the other stipulations of the car park i.e. paying for parking during the hours of operation, have proper insurance and a full MOT on the vehicle.
Local authorities can be really funny about you just parking up anywhere for days or weeks on end though, so best to keep on moving if you want to avoid hassle. On the continent, specifically in France, here are ‘aires’, free-of-charge parking place, which also have hook ups to electricity and water.
With Mercedes offering something similar on the Citan, all we can say is ‘Roll on, summer’
Also read:
>> View all Volkwagen van listings
>> Read our review of the VW California vs. Ford Transit Custom Nugget
