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Campers are now Type 2 Campers

Dub Box USA

What we do mobile business trailers.

Dub Box Culinary Trailers

Dinky dub concession and retail trailers.

Our Dub Box F&B trailers are perfect for showcasing your brand and selling your culinary creations or retail items. Our dubs are aesthetically pleasing and a favorite on corporate and luxury hospitality venues.

The Dinky Dub retail is ideal for simple concession with a hand sink and smaller appliances, or as a retail “swag” wagon. 

Mobile Culinary Trailers & Pop-Up Retail

Offer your culinary creations out of a turn-key Dub Box mobile food or pop-up retail trailer.   

A Dub Box is a go-anywhere, year-round mobile food and retail solution.   Our trailers are lightweight and easy to move around campus, around town to farmers markets and special occasions.   

Want to go mobile with your retail business?   Go with a Dub Box Pop-Up Retail Shop!

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Dub Box USA Photo Gallery

Explore features, culinary food trailers, retail trailers, pop-up shops.

Nostalgic VW-Bus Styling Attracts Customers. Let us help you serve your customers in style! Financing Available. PRE-OWNED RETAIL TRAILER FOR SALE! Email [email protected] for info!

Mobile Food & Beverage - Turnkey

Includes 6-foot drop-down countertop on the side and a rear counter top. Weather curtains (choice of color). Will accommodate 2-3 sales people.

Available Options (Inquire for Pricing):  

3-Part Sink

Fiamma vinyl awning or Carefree Retractable fabric awning. 

Merchandise/Menu Boards

Retail/Office - Side Entry - Walk-in/Walk Out

Includes weather curtains (choice of color). Will accommodate 2-3 sales people.

Available Options (Inquire For Pricing) : 

Beverage Refrigerator 

Merchandising/Menu Boards

Dub Box Retail Cart

Includes 6-foot drop-down counter top on the side and a rear counter top. Weather curtains (choice of color).  Will accommodate 2-3 sales people.

Available Options (Inquire for Pricing):

Fiamma vinyl awning or Carefree Retractable fabric awning.

Dinky Retail Pop-Up

Mini-food or retail cart for one-person operator. 

Available Options (Inquire for Pricing) : 

Refrigerator

Fiamma Grey Vinyl Awning (only available)

8-gallon fresh water tank / 10-gallon grey water tank

Appliances (Limited - Please inquire)

Applicable Sales Tax and Delivery Not Included.

Built For You!

Dub Box has been building ultra-light campers, food and retail trailers for camping enthusiasts and entrepreneurs throughout the US  and Canada since 2012.

Every Dub Box Gets a Hug!

No Dub Box leaves the workshop without a farewell hug from our owner, Heather Gardella.  

Three Simple Steps to begin your Dub Box Adventures!!

Choose a model, pick your paint color, and get in touch! [email protected]

Why I Hug the Dubs

Saying goodbye to each Dub Box is very personal to me. I hug each Dub Box before it leaves. If I'm out of town, I do my hugs before I leave. A few times the shop guys will do it just to spoof me, and it looks super goofy and always very entertaining. LOL!! Why did I start hugging the Dubs? Because so much heart and soul goes into each Dub Box. Our customers put a lot of thought and passion into their designs. We put a lot of thought and passion into the build. 

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Dub Box USA, Inc.

13825 Southwest Galbreath Drive, Sherwood, Oregon 97140, United States

[email protected] (503) 776-9250

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Have Your Own ‘Summer Of Love’ In VW-Style Camper Trailer

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The VW Microbus was as much an icon of hippy culture as the peace sign, tie-died shirts and Jimi Hendrix. More than 6 million of the boxy, underpowered, barely-heated vans rolled off the assembly lines worldwide.

So it was with significant nostalgia that the final VW Bus was built on Dec. 31, 2013, at a factory in Brazil after an impressive 57-year run.

You can no longer get a new VW Bus anywhere in the world, but a small U.S. company is filling in the style-void.

(See page 2 for food truck photos)

Designed after VW’s boxy simplicity, Oregon-based Dub-Box builds pull-behind trailers with an obvious nod toward Woodstock, The Summer Of Love, and the Cheech of the 60s.

Dub Boxes are all new fiberglass bodies and offer tons of custom finishes. The standard model comes with a ten year body leak guarantee and is fitted with a two-ring gas burner, stainless steel sink, pump action tap, retro style fridge, CD player with personal MP3 player with charger and dock, stereo speakers, 110 volt hook up, 12-volt power distribution board, LED lighting, smoke alarm and internal double plug socket.

Extras include heating, alloy wheels and safari windows. The company makes a body style with a four corner pop-top with weather curtain and awning.

The trailers are custom and made to order with a lot of options. They can even be built as food trucks or mercantile trailers. (Check out page 2 for more photos, including food and merchandise trailers).

Contact Dub-Box for more information and pricing. —Sean McCoy

Sean McCoy is the Editorial Director of GearJunkie, and 5+ other AllGear websites.

He has been writing about hunting, fishing, trail running, camping, skiing, and more for 15+ years.

Prior to GearJunkie, he was the chief photographer for the Virgin Islands Daily News and former editor-in-chief for GearJunkie. Based in Denver, Colo., McCoy is an avid trail runner, camper, hunter, angler, mountain biker, skier, and beer tester.

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These Retro RV Campers Look Just Like A Classic VW Bus

In the 1950s, the Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus, known informally as just "the Bus," was a symbol of intrepid adventurers of the world's roads. Whether you were cruising the sun-kissed highways or gazing up at the stars in the wilderness, these sturdy fellas could get you where you needed to go in style and comfort . They became particularly prominent thanks to the sheer number of them spotted at the famous 1969 Woodstock music festival, painted in bright, psychedelic colors. Volkswagen doesn't make this model anymore (though they have tinkered with some lookalikes in recent years), but its spirit lives on.

A small automotive company based out of Aurora, Oregon, has taken inspiration from the classic Bus to create its own line of compact RV campers called Dub Boxes. These cool cubes are ready to serve your road-roaming needs, whether you need a comfy spot to lay your head at night or a convenient home for your small business.

The Adventure Camper

The main model in the Dub Box line is the Adventure Camper, a 12x6 compact trailer. Unlike the VW Bus, Dub Boxes aren't standalone vehicles. They only have two wheels and aren't equipped with an engine, so they need to be towed by a car or truck. What you lose in locomotion, though, you get in return as amenities.

The interior of the Adventure Camper features a spacious dinette that folds out into a cushy bed, as well as a kitchenette with a two-burner stovetop, a small refridgerator, a water heater, and both fresh and gray water tanks. There's even a retractable outdoor shower attachment. Don't worry about storage space, either, as there are plenty of maple-paneled cabinets and drawers. If you feel the inside is too cramped, you can —literally — raise the roof with a simple hand-crank, revealing a pop-top with built-in weather and bug-resistant curtains. As long as you've got a car to lug it around, the Adventure Camper can serve as a cozy home away from home.

The Dinky-Lite Camper

If you're planning a trip by yourself and don't need as much space or as many amenities, the secondary Dub Box model, the Dinky-Lite Camper, is for you. This squared slugger features the same comfortable interior as the Adventure Camper, but in a slightly trimmed-down size. The Dinky-Lite comes in two versions with differing amenities.

The Dinky Sleeper features a simpler setup with a dinette that folds out into a bed, and a pop-top ceiling with curtains. If you don't do your own cooking and have a separate source for your water, this model will work fine. On the other hand, the Dinky Sleeper + Kitchenette features the same amenities, plus a compact kitchenette with a stove and water storage, as well as an outdoor shower attachment. Even with these extra features, the Dinky-Lite is still smaller and lighter than the Adventure Camper model, so it's a perfect fit for low-maintenance travelers or shorter trips.

Tailored to your preferences

Much like the VW Bus, one of the biggest appeals of the Dub Box line is its inherent customizability. Both Adventure Campers and Dinky-Lites can be decked out with additional features like a roof fan, a retractable awning, portable toilets and coolers, and curtain tracks.

More interestingly, though, Dub Boxes can also be fitted with business tools like countertops and appliances. Want to start your own food truck? Your Dub Box can pop out into a mobile diner at a moment's notice with the right attachments. You can even commission custom graphics for the sides of your Dub Box to really give it some creative, branded flair.

If you're interested in getting a Dub Box for yourself, the company's website has a list of options and attachments. Or, if you happen to live in Oregon, you can make a trip to the company's physical showroom in Aurora.

Dub-Box Camper – VW Bus-inspired Tow-behind Camper

we have seen a fair amount of camper trailers here, ranging from the ridiculously high-tech (and expensive) to the super rugged to some retro- licious examples. well, here is another one to add the list and this one goes straight into our must-have if you really need a camper trailer list. dubbed Dub-Box Camper, this made in USA tow-behind caravan is as retro as a camper can get. styled after the iconic Volkswagen Type 2, or more affectionately known as the Kombi or simply the Bus, each camper is fabricated from the ground up using new fiberglass shells over a steel frame, combining the concept of American vintage trailer with retro styling of the Bus, while providing modern amenities for a comfortable outdoor camping adventure. so in this way, you get to travel in nostalgic style with modern amenities, while not harming any real vintage VW buses. it is a win-win situation, except that you will have fork out at least $19,500 to start with. still, as far as uber cool factor is concerned, the Dub-Box Camper has it all. 100 percent.

it has a matching retro-inspired interior and comes fitted with premium quality fixtures and finish, insulated walls and floors, wall outlets, stainless steel sink, pump action tap, double bed and more. those are standards, but Dub-Box is more than happy to further customize the camper trailer to suit your needs and wants. some of the options include pop-up roof, awning, heating system, two-ring gas burner, retro-style fridge, Bluetooth stereo system, cassette toilet, outdoor shower et cetera, and you can even choose the color and finish that goes into the seating fabric, flooring, work surface, cabinets, just to name a few. a typical Dub-Box Camper measures 16 feet long from end-to-end and is 5 feet and 8 inches wide. it has an approximate weight of just 1,800 lbs (816 kg), which means it can be towed with ease by a variety of vehicles.

U.S. residents can order their Dub-Box from Dub-Box USA . as for those who resides in the U.K., you can head over to Dub-Box UK (which is where it all started). there’s even an Food and Event Trailer ($22,000 and up) too – if you aspire to be a food vendor on wheels. in any case if a ready-built camper is beyond your budget and you have the knack with tools, you can choose to go the DIY route with the DIY package ($8,500 and up) which includes everything you need to put together a basic rolling trailer. check out a couple of videos below to learn more about Dub-Box Camper.

Dub-Box USA via Autoblog

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This Volkswagen Camper Bus Is Now a Camping Trailer

Now on BaT: This 1974 VW Type 2 build loses the bus part but keeps the camper.

• The camper versions of Volkswagen's iconic Microbus may be great to camp in, but they're not so great to drive. This build solves that problem.
• Created (mostly) from a 1974 VW Type 2, this VW is sure to be the only one of its kind at Burning Man.

UPDATE: The Microbus camper was listed at no reserve, and it sold on for $15,250 on October 5, 2023.

Volkswagen Microbus campers are undeniably cool. They're also undeniably slow. Attaching a cart to a team of sloths is probably a faster way to get around. And maybe it isn't the greatest idea to drive around in modern traffic in a vehicle where the front crash protection is basically just your legs. But what if you could have all the fun of a pop-top vintage VW, without the downsides? Have we got the camper for you.

Today's pick at auction site Bring A Trailer (or in this case, maybe Bring a Trailer Hitch?)—which, like Car and Driver , is part of Hearst Autos—is a 1974 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia... trailer. It's a wacky but well-executed idea that gets rid of the slow vintage-vehicle part of Westfalia ownership but lets you keep the quirky camper fun.

The builder took a 1974 VW Type 2, repaired all the rust, then welded up the front doors and wheel wells and jettisoned the front axle and steering gear. A new tube-frame chassis underneath provides structural strength, and the removal of the engine creates more storage than you'd get in a powered Westy. The interior is finished in nicely contrasting bamboo and tweed, and foam insulation keeps the cold at bay. A pop-top camper top from a 1972 Wesfalia completes the makeover.

With a stated total weight of 2360 pounds and a tongue weight of 250 pounds, this Westfalia trailer can be towed by a broad range of vehicles. Embrace an environmentally friendly attitude, as befits a 1970s Westfalia, and hook it up behind your EV and go enjoy nature. Or strap this thing behind a Ram TRX and beat everyone else to the psychedelic rock festival.

Of course, the real power move would be to tow this trailer with another Westfalia, although it would have to be one of those resto-modded ones done up with a Subaru engine and upgraded brakes. Imagine the double-takes you'd get when cruising down the highway.

In any event, this fun little VW bus-trailer is going to be headed out on new adventures soon. The no-reserve auction ends October 5.

.css-190qir1:before{background-color:#000000;color:#fff;left:0;width:50%;border:0 solid transparent;bottom:48%;height:0.125rem;content:'';position:absolute;z-index:-10;} Auctions .css-188buow:after{background-color:#000000;color:#fff;right:0;width:50%;border:0 solid transparent;bottom:48%;height:0.125rem;content:'';position:absolute;z-index:-10;}

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Curbside Outtake: VW Bus (T1) With Popup Camping Trailer

We had a new neighbor move in a block away who is an air-cooled VW aficionado. One of his cars is this VW bus, from around 1965-1967, and here it is with their popup camping trailer. If you don’t have a popup Westfalia, I guess this is one alternative.

As to the ability of the old VW buses to pull trailers, I used to see them do that not uncommonly back in the day. One memory clearly stands out: we were on vacation in the Colorado Rockies in a cabin (on of several on the property) that we rented from friends, and one of them chugged up the very steep and rocky “driveway” (we parked down below) in his VW bus with a long trailer behind it that housed his glider airplane. He had just driven it from the Chicago area. The bus, with its reduction gearing hubs, had a very low first gear, and it clambered up to the cabin and parked. I was impressed. But then these T1 buses essentially had the same underpinnings as the VW Kübelwagen.

As long as it still runs reduction hubs it will tow that just fine, a lot of early Kombis have had Beetle transaxles fitted to improve road cruising speed rpms by removing the geared hubs and their load carrying/towing ability.

Here in the States we did just the opposite. We seeked out the early bus transaxles to swap into our Baja bugs

Seems like that kind of VW transaxle swap would be a win-win for both individuals.

If those bumpers are original, it’s a ’65. Through ’64 and part way through ’65 the bumpers were slash end. Part way through ’65 the rear bumper got the pointed end and ’66-67 both bumpers were pointed end.

Reduction hubs or not….that bus must be incredibly slow as a tow vehicle….

Pulling a trlr?? H’mm, picturing a speed of about 20 at the top of a long hill climb.

C’mon, they weren’t that bad. I had a ’62 I put a 1600 engine into, single port, little carb, no big deal, but I did tow with it. I towed another VW bus, ~500 miles, I could do 60 on the flats, but I got the tranny so hot it started leaking and the clutch started slipping. After a brief detour and clutch replacement in a rest area I continued on, a bit slower. I went up the infamous Grapevine Grade in Calif at part throttle doing 30, not wanting to tax the new clutch since I presumably still had a tranny leaking oil onto it. I probably could have done 40 if I’d pushed it.

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VW Camper Conversions? 17 Helpful Tips (For Beginners)

VW campers were the quintessential van camper for many years.  These campers are beautiful to look at and offer a more unique campervan conversion than many of the newer models on the market.

They are spacious, retro, fun and perfect for the new age of living wild and free! Just be sure you do plenty of research on them first, as they’re not always a dream come true.

Are you considering getting a VW campervan?

If so, here are some things to consider before you choose.

Table of Contents

VW Campers Have Different Roof Styles

Volkswagen camper vans have been around for over 50 years, and they’ve gone through a lot of changes over this time period.  Different models have been made, and different roof styles have come and gone.

The two most popular roof styles come in the form of Westfalia-style popup roofs and flat VW bus roofs.  Westfalia roofs extend up like a tent and offer an additional standing room and sleeping room while parked.  These roofs can then be closed for travel, which makes them easier to both drive and park.

VW bus roofs were relatively flat and did not offer a lot of headroom.  With a standard VW bus, you wouldn’t be able to stand inside your camper.

These days, you’ll also find hard-side high-top VW camper vans.  A hard-side VW top is essentially a tiny RV, and newer models will even offer separate kitchens, bathrooms, and dinette areas that don’t compete with the bed for space.

If you’re interested in different camper conversion ideas, Here are 16 things to consider before you decide to convert an SUV into a Campervan Conversion!

VW Offers Unique Slideouts

VW campervans are now offered in a model known as the Doubleback.  This van camper has a rear slideout that dramatically increases the cubic volume of the camper and gives owners the option to have a seating and sleeping area away from their standing and cooking areas.

The Doubleback also has a popup roof over the central area, as well. This is great because the combination of the slideout and the poptop quickly turns the small van into a large camper.

Other unique slideouts are also now available in many of the newer VW campers.  The Galeria ForFour Function VW camper has a slideout that comes down from the roof to add additional square footage to the sliding door area.  The additional slideout and roof module creates a van camper with two queen-size beds.

People looking for a VW Bus with a little more width will be pleased to know that you can also buy newer models with more traditional slideouts built into the sides.  These side slides can make the van feel more like a conventional RV inside.

You’re Going to Have to Talk to People

VW campers have a unique look to them, and they’re instantly recognizable to anyone who sees them.  This is especially true of the older VW campervans.  As a result, you’re going to get a lot of looks when you drive through town.  When you stop and park, you’re probably going to have people come up to you to talk about your campervan as well.

This fact can be really great for people who like to meet new people or who simply enjoy talking.  On the other hand, it can be a real disadvantage for people who do not like to socialize quite as much.

Stealth Camping Probably Won’t Be Possible

Another disadvantage of having a camper that draws attention is the fact that you probably won’t be able to stealth camp inside of your VW.  While a Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter may look like just another work van from outside, a VW Westfalia will not.  Also, just having the top popped open is going to alert everyone nearby that someone is indeed inside of the campervan.

This being said, you may not have to worry about the van not being very stealthy.  VW campers tend to be a little more well-respected than their cargo van counterparts.  As a result, people are less likely to want to call the police when you park on their street.  You may end up getting a knock on your window, but it may just be from someone who wants to talk with you about your campervan.

Here are 14 things to consider before you decide to convert a Sprinter into a Campervan Conversion, as well!

VW Campers Aren’t Very Big

VW campers were built so that people could navigate the narrow roads of Europe.  This can be great for people traveling in Europe, in older cities in the States, or through tight parking lots.  In fact, many people prefer small VW campers for this very reason.

However, this can be a real drawback for someone who is used to more space.  A typical camper built here in the United States is usually much larger than a VW camper.  This might make it harder to drive on narrow streets, but it makes it much easier to live in.  If you’re planning on full-timing in your campervan, this might be something you want to consider before buying a small campervan like a VW Bus or Vanagon.

Older Campers Could Be Underpowered

Older VW campers were built with four-cylinder engines, and they didn’t get a whole lot of horsepower.  In fact, according to jalpnik.com (see reference below), a Vanagon from the 90s only put out about 90 HP.  These vehicles weigh over 4,000 pounds, which means a 90 HP engine isn’t going to be able to get the vehicle moving very quickly.  This means you may have trouble getting onto highways.

Once on the highway, you might find lane changes to be difficult, as you probably won’t be able to overtake other drivers on the road very well.  On top of this, you won’t be able to reach high speeds, so don’t expect to be able to drive faster than 60 miles an hour.

On the plus side, you’ll get decent gas mileage for an older van.  Also, most people aren’t going to expect you to be able to drive quickly, so at least you won’t have to deal with tailgaters for long as they’ll probably just opt to go around you.

Related Article: Converting Cars Into Campers: 16 Important Tips Before You Start

Older VWs Don’t Handle Well

In addition to a lack of power, you’ll also find that older VWs don’t handle very well.  While it might seem fun on the surface to drive a vintage vehicle, it’s often much more difficult than people think.  This is especially true for younger drivers who have never had the pleasure of driving a vehicle that doesn’t have power steering or power brakes.  Vehicle technology has advanced significantly over the years, so when you hop behind the wheel of an older van, you’ll instantly notice how clumsy they are to drive.

On the flip side, newer VW campers are often technological marvels.  These vehicles will have stability control, traction control, and every other modern convenience you can think of to make driving across the country easier than it has ever been before.

Pricing Can Be Prohibitive

Whether you’re buying an older VW camper or a newer VW camper, expect to pay a lot of money.

Hop on eBay, and you’ll notice that restored VW Buses from the 70s can easily sell for over $70,000.00.  Even beat up VW Buses from the 80s will still sell for almost $20,000.00.

Buy one of these, and you may have to shell out another $10,000.00 or $20,000.00 just to get it back into shape.

Newer VW campers are even costlier.  More recent campervan models will sell anywhere from $70,000.00 to over six figures.

Additionally, you may have to have one shipped from overseas, which could drive the price up much further.

Comparatively, you can get a brand new Class C motorhome in the United States for around $50,000.00.  Used ones can go for less than $10,000.00, and they won’t be nearly as old.

Related Article: Ford Transit Camper Conversions: 12 Crucial Things to Consider

Resale Values Remain High

The advantage of the high cost of the VW camper is that resale values tend to remain very high.  In fact, you may find that your old VW camper actually appreciates in value each year.  This is especially true if you maintain it well.

Many people often buy campers just to go on a year-long adventure.  When their adventure is over, they end up having to sell their camper at a loss.

I’ve often added the number up on these kinds of endeavors and come to the realization that these people could have saved money by simply renting hotel rooms all year.

With an older VW, you wouldn’t have this problem.  You could buy a VW Bus, live in it for a year, and then sell it for just as much as you paid for it the year before.

VWs Can Be Difficult to Maintain

Unfortunately, VW is often difficult to maintain.  This tends to be true whether the VW is a camper or just a small sedan.

The main reason for this is that Volkswagon tends to over-engineer their vehicles.  This makes them run much better when they’re in top form, but it can make them very difficult to work on outside of a factory or dealership.

Even experienced mechanics will often send VW users to a dealership rather than work on them themselves.

Additionally, you may find it hard to find replacement parts for your VW.  This is true for newer VWs being driven in the United States, and it’s especially true for older VWs.

What this all means is that you should be prepared to have to change your travel plans at a moment’s notice.  One small breakdown and you could end up stuck somewhere for weeks while you wait for a replacement part to arrive in the mail.

Older VWs Won’t Be As Safe

While many people dream of cruising around the country in a vintage VW camper, they often fail to see the real downsides of doing so.

In addition to the handling issues and maintenance issues we talked about earlier, there will also be many safety issues to consider as well.

An older VW camper isn’t going to have airbags, engineered seats, and modern seatbelts.  These devices all work extremely well in newer vehicles, and they’ve saved a lot of lives in recent years. 

When you’re in your vintage camper, you won’t get to experience any of these life-saving vehicle improvements.

Also, older VWs tend to rust very easily.  A rusty frame is not going to protect you from collisions the way a solid vehicle will.  In fact, even a small fender bender could end up destroying what’s left of your old rusted out VW body.

Related Article: Ram Promaster Camper Conversion: 11 Important Things To Consider

VWs Can Be Purchased New But Are Harder to Get in The States

In most cases, you’ll be better off buying a new VW versus an older VW.  Unfortunately, people in the U.S. might have trouble doing so.

VW camper vans are tough to find here in the states.  This is partly due to punitive taxes on foreign vehicles, and partly due to the low demand for smaller campers here in the U.S.  Ironically, VW produces a great small VW camper named the Grand California, which isn’t for sale in this country.

If you want to get a VW camper that isn’t over 20 years old here in the United States, you might want to go with a Eurovan that was built in the early 2000s.

These vans are still new enough to have modern drivetrains, but they’re old enough that you won’t too much for them.  You can usually find these vans selling for between $20,000.00 and $30,000.00. 

They might not have the classic look of an old Vanagon, but they’re still unique compared to typical U.S. campers, and you’ll have the option of picking up one with a stock pop-top roof.

You Can Build Your Own Van Out

If you can’t find a new VW campervan and you can’t find an older VW campervan in good condition, you might want to consider building one out yourself.

Some people buy old VW campers that don’t run any longer, and they switch the motors out with Subaru engines.  These engines are easier to find parts for and easier to maintain, and they tend to offer up a lot more horsepower.

Ideally, you’ll find one that needs work inside as well.  This way, you could completely redo the interior to look like new.  Canvas can easily be replaced on the pop-top, and a simple set of gas struts should get the lift system working again.

If you’re interested in doing something like this, you might want to put up an ad on Craigslist.  Some people have old campervans that they just don’t know what to do with anymore.  These people might be willing to let you tow their old van away for just a few hundred dollars.

In the end, you’ll still end up spending a lot of time and money making the van run like new again, but at least you’ll have a modern engine and a brand new interior to go with the retro look the exterior has to offer.

Bathroom Options Are Limited

One thought to keep in mind is that older VW campervans did not have bathrooms in them.

In fact, many of the newer campervans do not have bathrooms either.  You may be able to get one with a portable toilet inside of it, but it’s doubtful you’ll find one with a shower.

This means that even if you do go traveling with a VW camper, you may still end up spending money on hotels or on truck stop showers.

VW Camper Communities Abound

One fantastic advantage that VW campers have over all of the rest is the VW campervan community.

You’ll find that this community consists of many enthusiast websites, many traveling groups, and even yearly rallies.

When you buy a VW campervan, you’re also buying into a lifestyle that you just won’t find anywhere else.

You Can Easily Rent Vintage VWs

You can also rent a vintage VW out for a week or two.

Many people spend tens of thousands of dollars on their campers, only to find that they only use them once or twice a year.

If you think you might be one of these people, why not save yourself the time, money, and frustration, and just rent a camper out each year?  This way, you’ll get a unique experience each year, and you won’t have to worry about maintaining or storing a camper when you’re not using it.

During the winter, some of these companies will let you rent out an old Vanagon with a high top for as little as $1,000.00 for the entire week.  If the van breaks down during this time, roadside assistance will come to your rescue.

What I like about this strategy is that you could rent a different vintage VW campervan out each year. 

This would give you the chance to see whether or not you’d enjoy owning one and if you did decide to buy one eventually, you’d know just what to look for.

Vintage VW Bugs Offer Up A Unique VW Camper Conversion

One other option that many people might not know about is the VW Beetle camper.  This camper was known as the Volkswagen Super Bugger.

It is by far the smallest camper I’ve ever seen, and it is definitely a rarity.  However, if you’re looking for a micro camper, it might be a great option to pursue.

This camper does not have a bathroom, but surprisingly, they managed to fit a kitchen and a dinette that turns into a bed inside the back of the Super Bugger.

These campers will have many of the same pros and cons of the larger Vanagon but in a much smaller package.

Final Thoughts

VW campers are great small campers with both plusses and minuses to consider.

Take your time before you make your purchase, and you’re sure to make the right decision for you!

References:

Why the Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Lives up to the Hype – Jalopnik.com

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Volkswagen’s New EV Van Is, Like, Wow. Roomy and Groovy.

The Volkswagen bus, firmly ensconced in American pop culture history, is coming back. Barron’s rode in one, and it was a trip.

The vehicle Americans tend to think of when they hear ”VW Bus” is the T2 model built in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Those are the stub-nosed versions shaped like, well, a VW Bus. Choice versions are classics, selling for more than $100,000.

Volkswagen’s new all-electric bus, called the ID Buzz, won’t cost that. U.S. pricing isn’t available, but should be soon: The Buzz is due to be delivered to American buyers in 2024.

The European version of the Buzz starts at about $70,000, before incentives. It has a smaller battery and is a little shorter than the U.S. version. The U.S. version could be a little more expensive, but it likely won’t qualify for the U.S. purchase tax credit. How that impacts VW’s pricing decisions isn’t known.

The average price of a new EV in the U.S. is $52,300, while a luxury EV has an average price tag of $61,400, according to Kelley Blue Book’s latest estimates.

So the Buzz will be on the expensive side to start, but it’s a completely different EV that Americans can buy now. And while it’s a callback to VW’s past, the Buzz is anything but dated.

“Look at the shape, the iconic value of this vehicle, we’re not going to compete with anybody,” says Pablo Di Si, Volkswagen Group of America CEO.

For starters, it’s a true seven-seater. It’s roomy and comfortable with all the bells and whistles car buyers expect—and with the build quality expected from VW.

One cool feature is an electrochromic glass roof which can be adjusted to be opaque, blocking out the sun, or fully transparent. Groovy, right?

The best feature, however, is the shape. The bus was photographed many times on our—very slow—ride across Midtown Manhattan. We were stopped a few times too, by onlookers who wanted to know what the vehicle was—and when it goes on sale.

For the industry, the ID Buzz is an important launch. U.S. EV sales growth has decelerated over the past few months, partly because there are simply too many high-price, five-seat crossover-sized vehicles that serve a limited portion of the overall car market.

The recent slowdown has some questioning EV technology overall. Di Si says VW is committed to EVs.

”The pushback is not on the electric vehicle itself…it’s on charging.” Cost is a factor, too, but he points out that with tax credits, many EVs will run a car buyer about $30,000.

VW is going to join the Tesla charging standard—meaning Volkswagen EV owners can charge at Tesla stations. Tesla runs the largest network of fast-charging stations in North America. That helps address some charging anxiety, and the industry continues to install more chargers.

The Buzz will likely be too expensive to be considered a mass-market minivan. A Toyota Sienna hybrid, which seats seven comfortably, typically costs car buyers $40,000 to $50,000. Still, the Buzz addresses the need for something new—and cool. It will surely turn more heads than a Sienna.

Write to Al Root at [email protected]