Welcome to Motorhomefacts, we are a thriving motorhome community (Largest in Europe). Why Not JOIN NOW and get instant access to more of the website. It costs nothing to join and only takes a few minutes. We have 200,000 different people visiting our site monthly and this amount of motorhomers in one place guarantees a fast response to any questions you may have. We also have unique facilities not found elsewhere such as our Online Logbook, stopover tracker, Motorhome directory with Ebay type feedback and the largest repository of motorhome campsites reviews found anywhere
Whenever I see the VW Crafter, it always strikes me as a great potential base for a van conversion. And yet hardly any manufacturers, and few self-builds, use the chassis. I know some say it is ugly, but it comes across as no worse than the new Transit. In fact, they look very similar. To me, the Crafter looks to have decent width (which the Master can lack), VW reliability and good load carrying capacity.
So why doesn't anyone see this vehicle as a good MH base?
I stand to be corrected but I think its the same bodyshell as the sprinter but with a different nose. Haven't a clue why they aren't as popular here, perhaps its to do with price?
Obviously its quite popular in Germany but again, I don't think its as common as the Sprinter.
Schwabenmobil do some nice conversions, probably at eyewatering prices.....
Funny this, I'm also an Adria Twin owner and have eyed up the Crafter as a potential replacement in a self build.
I think the main reasons are
a) The motorhome industry loves Fiat (Peugeot/Citroen) and therefore all the inspiration for layout, where to cut holes, swivel seat bases and so forth are all easily obtainable.
b) The crafter is more expensive and while a better 'van' converters can knock several thousand off the price of a conversion by using a cheaper Fiat. For all intents and purposes the Fiat is fine for most applications, most motorhomes don't ever do the miles a panel van does in a year.
c) If your going to do it, you might as well go whole hog and get a Sprinter. Better reputation, engine (?) and identical van.
It's also very high and doesn't make for a nice lowline coachbuilt:
If you're looking for inspiration or a van on either a new Sprinter or Crafter pop over to mobile.de (German Autotrader) where there are lots of vans:
The Crafter is the same as the sprinter - just different headlights
...and different engines and gearboxes.
The auto is a sequential shifting robotised manual, not the full torque converter auto of the Merc.
Murvi do a Crafter and a Sprinter Morello.
But on a 6m panel van both the VW and Merc have a LOT less - maybe 30% - interior space (Higher floor, narrower with very tapering sides, longer bonnet).
Fours years ago and after 30 years of VW vans, the Crafter was of interest for my "next" van, that was until I started comparing what else was on offer, the Fiat X250 won hands down on interior dimensions and more importantly on price. My 3 litre X250 with alloys, swivel seats, reverse sensors and mud flaps was a tad under £7000 cheaper than a same spec Crafter, ex factory, this before conversion.
The Fiat is by far the best driver motor I have ever had*. A wee problem with scuttle leak, soon fixed, so after three and a half trouble free years and 17500 miles and no bodywork deterioration**, I am very pleased.
*Engine, steering, brakes, lock etc.,
**I had a new VW T3 1986, sills rust at 2 years old, a new VWTopaz year 2000, showed sills and pinhead body panel rust at 18 months.
My next van would definitely be a Fiat, this from someone who when owning my VDubs was known to say "If you see me looking at a Fiat, have me shot"
There is one good reason why most MH are fiat/citroen/peugeot. This cab is available with a variety of different and very low Alko chassis bolted to it where as VW Mercedes ford etc do not have this facility which means the floor is higher in the rear of the van. The cabs arrive from the factory bolted together in pairs, back to back, ready to have the alko rear chassis fitted.
Also the Crafter has a design fault in the emission control system which means that the particulate filter become blocked if the van is not warmed up and driven a reasonable distance regularly. This is mentioned in the owners handbook so if the system fails VW will not repair it under warranty
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
UK
