Choosing Your VW Campervan Specification: 5 Decisions to Make
Decided you want a VW campervan? Fantastic! You now need to start thinking about what it should include.
From the base vehicle to the bed and passenger seats, your choices affect how the camper feels on the road, how you use the living space and the overall cost. It helps to work through those decisions before you commit to a particular van or conversion.
Here are five questions that regularly come up when customers are planning their camper. You can use these to build a specification that suits your travels.
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1. What is your total campervan budget?
Start with a total budget for the finished camper, especially if you’re buying a base vehicle and arranging the conversion separately.
The vehicle’s age, mileage, specification and condition all affect what is available within your budget. Your conversion choices then shape the rest of the project, from the layout to upholstery and optional equipment.
Rather than drawing up a long wish list and hoping it fits, decide which features matter most to you. An automatic gearbox might be essential for one buyer, while another would prioritise a particular bed setup or more storage.
Divide your requirements into three groups:
Essential: features the camper must have to work for you.
Preferred: things you would like, but could compromise on.
Optional: extras to consider once the essentials are covered.
Share those priorities with your converter alongside your budget. It makes it easier to explore realistic combinations and understand where a compromise would have the least impact.
To help you do this, we’ve created Your VW Campervan Wish List which you can download for free and fill in. It’ll help you clearly set out your priorities and ensure you get all the information you need to be able to make a final decision.
Before agreeing a price, check what is included, which options cost extra and whether quoted figures include VAT. Keep room for ownership costs and any immediate work the vehicle needs.
2. Which base vehicle specification and colours will you consider?
It’s easy to become attached to a very specific van: one colour, one trim level, a particular gearbox and low mileage. But every additional requirement narrows your shortlist.
My advice is to identify the colours you definitely wouldn’t accept, then stay open to the others. If several colours appeal to you, that flexibility gives you more vehicles to consider.
Use the same approach with the specification. Think about the features you’ll actually use, such as air conditioning, parking assistance or cruise control, and check that they are fitted to the particular vehicle.
Trim names and equipment vary between Transporter generations and model years. A badge alone won’t tell you everything you need to know, and optional equipment can make individual vans different from one another.
Ask for the vehicle’s full specification and try the relevant features during your viewing. Focus on whether the van suits your driving needs as well as your conversion plans.
3. Would a RIB bed or a rock and roll bed suit you better?
Your lower bed is also part of the daytime seating and living space, so this decision deserves a hands-on comparison.
In the video above, I demonstrate the different setups available and talk through in more detail, but essentially the rock and roll bed uses the same cushion surfaces for sitting and sleeping. The RIB bed folds over to provide a separate sleeping surface.
Comfort is personal. Sit on each option, ask for a demonstration of the mechanism and, where possible, try the bed in its sleeping position. Check its dimensions and whether you would want a mattress topper.
The position of the bed matters too. In the layouts shown in the video, the rock and roll bed sits further back, leaving more room in the main living area. The RIB setup sits further forward, creating a storage area behind it.
Those differences relate to the installations shown; they aren’t a rule for every conversion. Compare the actual campers you’re considering.
What to compare | Questions to ask |
Sleeping comfort | Is the surface comfortable, and is the bed wide and long enough? |
Everyday use | Can you operate the mechanism easily yourself? |
Living space | How much room remains for moving around and using the kitchen? |
Storage | Where will bedding, luggage and outdoor equipment go? |
Installation | What documentation is available for the seat, bed and fitting? |
Cost | What is included, and which upholstery or mechanism options cost extra? |
Some installations offer a sliding rail system. If that appeals to you, ask which systems are compatible with the proposed conversion and request a current quote.
4. Do you need a single or double passenger seat?
The front passenger seat affects more than the number of people who can sit in the cab. It can also change access, comfort and how the seating works when you’re parked.
A double passenger seat may be useful if you need an additional travel seat. Some setups also provide storage beneath the cushion. In the video, I demonstrate a double-seat swivel mechanism that slides into the living area, bringing the seat closer to the table.
A single passenger seat can leave a gap between the front seats, making it easier to move between the cab and living area when parked. Depending on the seat and installation, it may also offer a different seating position, armrests and adjustment options.
Try both before deciding. Check headroom, legroom and how comfortable the passenger feels, particularly if you’re planning longer journeys. Ask for a demonstration of the swivel and any sliding mechanism fitted to the actual camper.
If you’re considering changing a double seat to a single, ask about compatibility, the installation and the full cost before buying the base vehicle.
Finally, confirm the number of suitable travel seats for your group separately from the number of sleeping berths. Both need to fit your plans.
5. Will you source the base van yourself or get help?
There are three routes to consider:
Buy a completed camper: view the finished vehicle and assess the whole package before purchasing.
Buy a base van and arrange a conversion: source the vehicle yourself, then work with a converter on the interior.
Use a sourcing and conversion service: get help finding a suitable vehicle alongside planning the conversion.
Sourcing your own van may appeal if you’re comfortable researching vehicles, dealing with sellers and coordinating the purchase. Speak to your converter before committing, so you know the van is suitable for the layout and equipment you want.
Getting help with sourcing may be useful if you’re unsure which vehicle to choose or would prefer support with the process. Ask exactly what the service includes, who you purchase the vehicle from and how responsibility is divided between the vehicle purchase and conversion work.
A completed camper is also worth considering if you find one that already matches your priorities. You can see how the specification works together rather than choosing each element separately.
Build your shortlist around how you’ll use the camper
The best specification starts with your plans: who will travel with you, how often you’ll go away, what you’ll carry and whether the camper will also be your everyday vehicle.
Once those questions are clear, it becomes easier to choose the bed, seating and base vehicle features that deserve your budget.
Talk to the Highlife team about your plans and budget, or explore our available campervans to see different specifications in practice.
Download our free VW Camper Buyers Guide
Practical advice on choosing the right van, finding a trusted converter and deciding whether to buy a completed camper or plan your own conversion.
