Hi all, we've recently set up a company ( http://www.veedubexperience.com.au ) based on a couple of key themes.
1) keeping classic vee dub kombis touring around Australia and
2) keeping classic vee dub kombis in Australia!

We've currently got about 8 kombis on the books, but across the summer we could probably hire out a few more.

Just wondered if anyone would consider hiring out their campers for a bit of extra cash across the summer period? Not for the whole summer, just for a few weeks here and there.

Would welcome any feedback.

Cheers
vee dub experience.

I have a T3 transporter that I would sell to boost your fleet,It has a rebuilt motor,new clutch,good brakes,etc reg'd till December Contact me if you are interested. Cheers Les

thanks les, if you could send me a few pics and a phone number to frainster@live.com.au that would be awesome and I'll give you a buzz. cheers.

This sounds like a great idea, as no one has done it in Australia for a while. But you would want to do it properly.

Lanock Motors, the former giant NSW VW dealer/distributor, set up a VW Campmobile rental business in 1971, based from their Camperdown premises. Later you could also rent VW Campers from Lanock Motors Wollongong, and also the House of David at North Ryde. At the peak, around 1976, they had a fleet of over 30 of them. They upgraded to T3 Wasserboxer campers in the 1980s, and the business survived until Lanocks were closed down in 1991. The fleet was down to 6 by then, and was sold off. Today you can only hire new VW T5 and Crafter campers from rental companies like Britz and Kia Campers.

There are a number of places in the UK that hire out air-cooled Kombi campers, and it might be a good idea to contact them for advice and ideas:

http://www.vwcamper-hire.com/ 
http://www.eastcoastcampers.co.uk/ 
http://www.vw-camper-van-hire.co.uk/index.htm 
http://www.camper4hire.co.uk/ 

Remember that Australia is much, much bigger, harsher and more remote than the UK, and these vehicles are now at least 30 years of age. Reliability could be a problem unless you take complete control of your fleet's mechanical condition. They should all have new (or recently reconditioned) engines, gearboxes, suspension and brakes. The interiors should be fresh, and in complete working condition. You don't want clapped-out ex-backpacker Kombis that will break down the other side of Oodnadatta.

Consider getting a few modern VW T5 campers for your fleet as well, in case customers still want a VW camper but with the modern road behavior and comforts.

it is a great idea but i agree with every thing phil says above , you would have to be on your guard at all times
& not run a hire business like this one "link below" which
is building a bad name for kombi hire in aust.
five pages & not just one complaint but heaps,for you good luck & hope it pans out well there is a healthy market for kombi hire if done right.

http://forums.kombiclub.com/showthread.php?t=12337 

Rent a Bug in Tassie use to do a similar thing.

Good luck with you endeavor.

If you manage to get a splitty or 2 in your fleet, you'd have my business .

Hi VDE.

Well done. I hope that this venture succeeds.

There is one problem that I see immediately, from where I am now, sitting at my computer.

Where are you?

You have not filled in the Location part of your entry on AVD and I cannot find name, address or phone numbers on the web site.

I can't even work out what state you are in.

In my understanding of advertising a business, an essential part is instant contactability.

I think that you need to do something about that.

Otherwise. Way to go.

.. there's en enquiry page and phone number on the site

i met a fella once who used to have the same type of business, he said he would never do it again, as you can imagine people thrash the vans and take them out west where they cook, he had to pay heaps of money to get kombis towed back from alice springs etc and also pay for the flights and hire to get the people back that hired his van