Westfalia campers
- Thread starter slowtwitch
- Start date
I have a previous version of the James Cook, sold in the US for a short while under the Airstream label. Not quite as lavish as the current version, but every bit as thoughtful and useful. At only 18 feet long, she's nimble, and fuel efficient. The three of us use ours all the time, as once you get used to always having your own kitchen and bathroom wherever you go, well, it's hard to drive anything else. We've spent two weeks on the road at a time, and could easily go longer, but that's the most time off I get at a time...
We take it skiing in the winter; my wife escapes the lodge mob scene, and my kid can take a nap while I get some afternoon runs in, while they bask in the warmth of the diesel-fired space heater. When I come back, there's hot chocolate on the stove, waiting.
Westfalia really makes a nice product. You can tell major assemblies were jigged and cut on CAMs; joints are tight, and fit and finish are above most American products. Westfalia is not an outfit housed in a warehouse. They're more akin to a vehicle manufacturer, with actual engineering and R&D departments. I can't explain it in words, I guess, but you know when you look beneath the skin of a Westfalia, that more than a few people had a hand in refining the design. A look at the Westfalia lineup in Europe will confirm my impression.
I could go on and on, but the fact is, if you've considered a Sprinter for a camper, there is no layout that will beat a Westy Sprinter. The high top makes it all possible, by providing room for a REAL, no-kidding, bed. No seat cushions rearranged. Heck, it's even got a box spring system under it! It's really comfortable, and that makes a huge difference in a campervan, where every other kind of bed is a compromise. With the Westy, you can even leave the bed unfolded, and made up; it's sufficiently over your head to where you just duck a little...
Here's a page from a dealer in NJ with lots of pics...
http://www.colonialairstream.com/preowned-rvs/c084.html
Here's a pic of mine, heading out to Acadia NP for 10 days...
We take it skiing in the winter; my wife escapes the lodge mob scene, and my kid can take a nap while I get some afternoon runs in, while they bask in the warmth of the diesel-fired space heater. When I come back, there's hot chocolate on the stove, waiting.
Westfalia really makes a nice product. You can tell major assemblies were jigged and cut on CAMs; joints are tight, and fit and finish are above most American products. Westfalia is not an outfit housed in a warehouse. They're more akin to a vehicle manufacturer, with actual engineering and R&D departments. I can't explain it in words, I guess, but you know when you look beneath the skin of a Westfalia, that more than a few people had a hand in refining the design. A look at the Westfalia lineup in Europe will confirm my impression.
I could go on and on, but the fact is, if you've considered a Sprinter for a camper, there is no layout that will beat a Westy Sprinter. The high top makes it all possible, by providing room for a REAL, no-kidding, bed. No seat cushions rearranged. Heck, it's even got a box spring system under it! It's really comfortable, and that makes a huge difference in a campervan, where every other kind of bed is a compromise. With the Westy, you can even leave the bed unfolded, and made up; it's sufficiently over your head to where you just duck a little...
Here's a page from a dealer in NJ with lots of pics...
http://www.colonialairstream.com/preowned-rvs/c084.html
Here's a pic of mine, heading out to Acadia NP for 10 days...
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The answer is no, right now. With Mercedes taking over Sprinter sales here in the US, maybe something could change. Over in Europe, I think you can order a James Cook right from your Benz dealer, with full factory warranty, IIRC...
Would love to see it, and I could see us updating to the newer one. That would be my only choice in another Sprinter camper, over what we have now.
ersatzknarf
lost, but making time
Hi Riptide,
Thank you for posting about your camper and the link to the NJ dealer. These really are very nice. Hopefully, as you said, with Mercedes taking over Sprinter sales here, there might be a change...
Thank you for posting about your camper and the link to the NJ dealer. These really are very nice. Hopefully, as you said, with Mercedes taking over Sprinter sales here, there might be a change...
Brandon Libby
GeeK
I'll take the James Cook model please. :smiley_drive:
mogwildRW1
Adventurer
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Ummmmmmmm, Marco Polo? Sexy:
"Westfalia base price...about $96,000 USD"
That's in line with the prices charged by North American companies that offer the so-called Class B RVs, based on a Sprinter van conversion.
Examples:
PleasureWay Plateau, $105K base
http://www.pleasureway.com/models_dodge_plateau.php
RoadTrek SS-Agile $105K base
http://www.roadtrek.com/models.aspx?ModelID=24&YearID=12&Country=USA
Leisure Travel Free Spirit $105K
http://www.leisurevans.com/freespirit/index.html
Great West Sprinter Legend $115K
http://www.greatwestvans.com/classbrv/sprinterclassbmotorhome/sprinter.php
Airstream Interstate $125K base
http://www.airstream.com/products/2010-fleet/touring-coaches/interstate/index.html
Because Sportsmobile sells factory direct without dealer commissions, their prices can be lower, starting around $70,000
http://www.sportsmobile.com/2_sr_cost_examples.html
None of these examples has AWD or 4x4.
That's in line with the prices charged by North American companies that offer the so-called Class B RVs, based on a Sprinter van conversion.
Examples:
PleasureWay Plateau, $105K base
http://www.pleasureway.com/models_dodge_plateau.php
RoadTrek SS-Agile $105K base
http://www.roadtrek.com/models.aspx?ModelID=24&YearID=12&Country=USA
Leisure Travel Free Spirit $105K
http://www.leisurevans.com/freespirit/index.html
Great West Sprinter Legend $115K
http://www.greatwestvans.com/classbrv/sprinterclassbmotorhome/sprinter.php
Airstream Interstate $125K base
http://www.airstream.com/products/2010-fleet/touring-coaches/interstate/index.html
Because Sportsmobile sells factory direct without dealer commissions, their prices can be lower, starting around $70,000
http://www.sportsmobile.com/2_sr_cost_examples.html
None of these examples has AWD or 4x4.
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
The draw of the Westy, in my humble opinion, is that it looks like a generic van. The pop top adds to the appeal, but being small like a van (able to fit in parking garages) is a strong draw to be able to have it double as a daily driver. A sprinter limits you by height. The ground clearance on the campervan is pretty high...I can't speak for the SPrinter as I do not know, but the campervan was designed to go mildly offroad (non-syncro versions) to get to campgrounds. Does the sprinter have the clearance straight from the factory? Obviously they can be lifted.
CSG
Explorer
If you can live with a Ford platform this is available now. Mine's a 2002 version and it's dang near perfect. It also has an a/c unit and flat plate hot water heater the new ones don't.
They list for under $60k new.
http://www.pleasureway.com/models_ford_traverse.php
And Van City in St. Louis has three 2011's for $55k each:
http://www.vancityrv.com/new_vehicle_inventory.asp
They list for under $60k new.
http://www.pleasureway.com/models_ford_traverse.php
And Van City in St. Louis has three 2011's for $55k each:
http://www.vancityrv.com/new_vehicle_inventory.asp
I have a VW Eurovan Camper
I have a VW Eurovan Camper, and while a little small is good for a couple for up to a week, or if you really are tolerate of one another two weeks.
Downsides:
Smaller than I would like
No shower
No toilet
Old - 1995
Frig sucks
Likes:
Small on the outside - can go anywhere, except for 4x4
Well thought out design
With one or two occupants, the top bunk becomes storage at night
Quite a following - so almost any question can be answered by searching on the web
Many VW and aftermarket parts and solutions
Cliff
The secret to enjoying camping is less talking and more camping
I have a VW Eurovan Camper, and while a little small is good for a couple for up to a week, or if you really are tolerate of one another two weeks.
Downsides:
Smaller than I would like
No shower
No toilet
Old - 1995
Frig sucks
Likes:
Small on the outside - can go anywhere, except for 4x4
Well thought out design
With one or two occupants, the top bunk becomes storage at night
Quite a following - so almost any question can be answered by searching on the web
Many VW and aftermarket parts and solutions
Cliff
The secret to enjoying camping is less talking and more camping
T.Low
Expedition Leader
Just get one of Both. Sportsmobile for the mountains and an old Westy for local trips
I have less than $5000.00 in the 1976 Westy and I've run her for 10 years with very few issues. Get an old one and fix it up they are a blast. Go to www.thesamba.com and check out the classifieds.
Yurtle :ylsmoke:
I have less than $5000.00 in the 1976 Westy and I've run her for 10 years with very few issues. Get an old one and fix it up they are a blast. Go to www.thesamba.com and check out the classifieds.
Yurtle :ylsmoke: