Bay Kombi\'s - Microbus or Camper?

I'm in the market for a bay window Kombi.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of going for a camper or microbus?

Anyone? 😉

First of all - welcome!

Now , down to buisness.

Work out what you want.
Campers are plentiful and great if you are camping. But are usually restricted to 5 seats.

Busses are not so common. Especially in full 8 seat capacity.

I (well the wife actually. I have a beetle) have an 82 air cooled bus. We have 3 kids.
I love the fact that they have so much room to sit in and we can easily bring friends along. Or my parents.
We go camping in the bus no problems.

You cant take 8 people in a camper.

Just work out what you want.

If you have no need for the seats and you dont go camping that much. Just by the best kombi you can find.

What about a twin cab???

I have heard that because the campers are heavier, it is better to get a bus. Does that sound right?

How many people can you carry in a camper? Some say 2 only.

hi I agree with blue74L, we have a microbus, converted to a camper! many campers have been going non stop except for patch up round & round Australia for 30 years or so & can have horificly expensive problems that are just been passed on, where as a good looking microbus has a good chance of just having been used as a staion wagon around the metro area, figure your priorities & choose carefully, there is always another good one just around the corner, go through the technical posts to see what to look for

I like the appeal of the camper, but i want to be practical as well.
I sound like an old fart eh?

I like the appeal of the camper, but i want to be practical as well.
I sound like an old fart eh?

one issue with the camper is you can not easily fit a lot of big things in it, with a microbus, you simply move/remove the appropriate seat

so....Can you fit a microbus middle seat into a camper? 🙂

not easily

That is where the sink and stove bolt to the wall/side
IMO that is the problem.

In my bus the middle seat just slides out.
But that is the benefit of a Vanagon. Bays the middle seat is clamped on. Just makes it a 20 min job. Not a 2 min.

IF you want "practicle" i would suggest a bus

OK, thank guys...
A bloke told me that I woul dbe better getting camper because of th resale...
I don't know.
I have about $8 K to spend and should think i would get a reasonable van for that much... :sandrine

then waht about a little more and get this!

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=15148

here is the pics

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=9133

Thanks but i would prefer an original set up. No offense to the owner (its awesome)
😉😀🙂

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=14788

here is a great bay bus and you have some $$$ left over

just letting you know what is out there!

Replace the back seat in that with a fold out bed and you've got the best of both worlds :thumb

We've got a kombi with the rear seat making it a 5 seater and use it to go camping....plenty of room for the 3 kids and camping gear

I was told that it was sold.
I'm keen though.
The problem is that most vans are 'backpacker' specials and have not been looked after. I have looked at approx 18 kombis over 12months but have not found one yet i am prepared to pay 8-9k for . Maybe im picky? 😉
I'm in no hurry.

KombiMan wrote:Maybe im picky? 😉

Not at all.

IF you can wait - then do so.

A good one will come along.
It will cost a lot more to fix one up.
A spray alone will cost $4k

There have been some real good ones about.

Microbusses are the best! They can carry 8 people, but if you take out the middle seat it can be used for camping😀

I saw a really nice green kombi with a forsale sign on the back parked near the city as I was driving through last night.

It was near the fiveways....could have a look for you if you want

If you are thinking about resale, then you are buying for the wrong reason.

We have an 8 seater Microbus.
The middle seat can be turned around to face the other way, or removed altogether. Takes 5 mins.

The back seat I replaced with one from a camper that has fold/ lift mechanisms on the side.
Yeah we have the best of both worlds. Even when we go to the drive-in it takes 1 min to fold the back seat and lay in the back looking out the open tailgate.

When we go camping/ touring, we remove the middle seat completely and there is tons of room to put our gear.
ok so there is no built in sink, fridge, stove or wardrobe, well that is something we just have to live without.

Our holidays aren't exactly 2 weeks into the desert 1200 miles from the nearest cattle station. 😀

what about doing one to your specs 71 bays are way cooler and i have a camper or a deluxe 8 seater microbus, i can get very good work done here in albury to your liking and you can just come pick it up, these are country non rusty buses the deluxe a one owner
food for thought dave:o:o

look at the potential

I have a camper and it is licenced to seat 5, I have a factory front centre seat, and two in the back. we use it as a daily driver, no problems, but I am building a Beetle to use around town as well.
Rob...

ours seats five as we hunted for one with a full width bed for just that reason, there is only 6" leg room between the drivers side passenger & the fridge, but they can sit with their feet angled towards the centre, some campers can only sit 2 most sit 4, we are very happy with our choice, as it is great to have a fridge, water, stove & heaps of out of sight storage, but you would be lucky to get one that is good over all , it would be better to get one with an excellent body & the layout you want, but clagged motor - at the right price, & then get a good motor done up & put in

I'd personally go for one with a poptop if you wanna go camping as i've owned both & i love being able to stand up properly in it.Mine seats 5 & although i don't have it totally decked out i have my vw annexe which we can put the gas stove/bbq in & it works well.:thumb

I'm with kim on the condition issue; even when you buy a kombi with a supposedly good motor, there's never any guarantee, as I found out the hard way. Having the motor done yourself by a reputable builder gives added peace of mind, especially when you're a long way from home. :thumb

My current kombi is a transporter, and the previous one was a microbus. There really isn't a lot of difference between the two other than interior trim.

I've run them with a bed only and storage underneath, bed and middle seat with under-bed storage, 5-seater with space in the middle, no rear seats, etc.

I tend to run most of the time with all the seats in, but the middle seat comes out at least twice a month to make room for either camping gear or audio/band gear.

I've recently installed a double LH front seat, giving me a full 9-seater. If I can get my hands on one, I'll be installing a full-width seat that pulls out into a bed (a la westy camper). I've also got a 3-way fridge that goes in when the middle seat comes out for camping.

It has taken me ten years to work out what works for me, and my needs change constantly. If you go with a camper, you will be stuck with the cupboards, sink, etc. whereas a kombi/microbus is much more adaptable. I personally don't see the point in driving round with the full load of camping gear for 12 months of the year, at least, not with the amount of kms I do.

As for the pop-top, I have a roofrack which for me, is a necessity. Sure I don't have headroom inside the van, but it makes a nice place to tie the 16' x 24' tarp so I can rig it up as a 'loungeroom' outside the sliding door, with plenty of headroom to boot. :thumb

Take in people's opinions, but more importantly, have a look at various set-ups and really think about what it is you want from a kombi, before making your decision. 🙂

The beauty of a kombi is, they are the most versatile thing on the planet.
Mine started out with 2 seats & as the family got bigger, so did the seating capacity. 2,3,5, 8 take your pick.
Nowdays I tend to lean towards the microbus, but then I got 5 kids........😎

Hey that's a real nice looking bus there KruizinKol!

Question for Spook or KruizinKombi: did you need to get an engineers cert. every time you put more seats in? As I currently understand it, (at least here in Vic) you need to get a certificate to say that the vehicle is safe to carry more people than it's plated for. Did you start out with an eight-seater-plated microbus that just had two seats?

Also (sorry!): "recently installed a double LH front seat"... does that go over the walkway, perhaps touching the drivers seat, without being a full width bench seat?

Thanks all,
Aurel

Oh... I love dredging up these old posts, and no-one's interested... 🙁

For what it's worth, in answer to the original question, I'd say get a microbus. I have a kombi (empty two seater). Some of the campers (ie - pop-tops) I've seen at wreckers have convinced me to never get a pop-top if I value a rust-free roof. Sure, they're not all like that, but still... And, I'd love to legally seat more than two people (I have got the seats)!

I have questions stilll in the above post (straight above this one).

I wonder if he's already bought one? KombiMan that is, the thread originator. Hmmm.