Leaving the VW behind!

Tim McLoughlin

Tim McLoughlin

0
Hi

I have been driving VW Bay windows and more recently a split screen camper for the past few years which I've used essentially as a family camper and once or twice for work. I've enjoyed driving the vans but recently have become abit dissolutioned with aspects of the air-cooled scene and also would like to do something abit different and more British. To this end I've been researching getting my first Commer and would really like a bit of help/opinions from those who may have trod this path before me. Another reason is the shear cost of tying up so much of the family lucre in cars which are not used enough really.

I have listed my main issues out below but I'm sure there are many more. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to reply!:)

1. I have three young kiddies, is their a Commer that could squeeze five in?!
2. How do they drive compared to a VW?
3. Is it generally best to take a project vehicle and create it around your needs or buy the best you can afford and hope for the best?

Many thanks,

Tim

Tim McLoughlin
 
Hi mate I had vws all my life but I had to have a change the Vw scene is all the same stuff all the time but I really do love the commers now they drive really good plus plenty of room inside for camping ..

n.gatt
 
Hi Tim and welcome to the madhouse.

It's a little quiet on the forum at the moment as most of the members are on Commerfest for the weekend.
I'm sure when they are all back you will receive alot of replies.
Plenty of the vans would squeeze 2 adults and 3 kids, there are so many varients and styles to choose from.
Couldn't tell you how they drive compared to VW's as i have never driven a VW :I
Buying, again would be preference, some have bought ready made and others have restored, and some customised.
Anything goes with this group and no one will turn away in disgust with anything you do with your Commer.
Plenty of panels, parts and advice available through this site.
Hope your search goes well and as i say when everyone else gets back you will have alot more replies to this thread.

:D
 
Hi Tim and welcome.

You may have to wait for a more informed reply as the majority of forum members are meeting this weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Commer. You can check out Commerfest at http://66.129.69.181/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4750

I cannot advise you in respect of a driving comparison, but in terms of space, you will find more in a Commer and although potentially cramped, you can fit five in certain conversions of the standard van. When I was young, my family toured Europe in a Commer. There were five of us and we had a tent as well for longer stops, but for short stays we all used the van.

Having the engine at the proper end ;) gives many more options for layouts. In addition, there are a number of coachbuilt variants which offer even more space.

It is entirely up to you whether you wish to take on a project, but you will find all the support and advice you need on this forum. They can rust like any other vehicle of the era, but you will find a good supply of mechanical spares and body parts from the likes of Martin Maltas (Commer Van Spares), Woolfy (Coventry Commer Panels) and Commerjules (Ratsport). However, the very best Commer will only cost as much as a tatty VW. Have a look in Readers' Rides to get an idea of the variety available.

Good luck in your search. [^]



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'I intend to live forever - so far, so good'
 
Thanks very much for the replies! Really encouraged, I'm enjoying it already and haven't yet got a van.:D Hopefully I'll be ready for the 100th year celebrations.

Tim

Tim McLoughlin
 
Hi Tim - Welcome.

You certainly get more attention driving a Commer... I live in Cornwall, the home of the VW and they are so common around here no one gives them a second look, unless an early splitty.

The autosleeper is the most common conversion and pulls alot better than a standard VW of the same age. I recently took ours to North Wales with a full trailer and loaded bike rack, 60-65 all the way, superb. Overtook numerous baywindow VW's... easy! We get four of us in ours ok, but have an awning also for longer camping stops.

Hope you take the plunge and get a Commer soon as the prices are steadily on the rise since we got ours 7 years ago.

Best Wishes, Ray
 
Hello Tim :) yes you will certainly get more attention in a commer than a v-dub, and you'll enjoy alot more internal space too. If you want comfort for 5 then i would suggest a Highwayman...there is one on e-bay now. I've had one of these and even though it was an auto it drove fantastically. Around town you would never know you were driving a 40+ year old van. Not much of a top speed though but engine swaps are very common. My PB has a XR4 engine going in as we speak. If your kids are nippers you could get away with hammocks which come with all manor of conversions..PB's and Highwaymans too.
Sometimes the hammocks go over the seats in the front or in the pop-tops so even a PB will take 5.
I read your gripes with the vw scene with intrest.I agree that it's all the same stuff year after year.If you'll forgive me for saying this the vw camper strikes me as being a bit of a cliche these days.
I am not part of it myself but just from reading the mags there seems to be alot of snobbery and groups within groups...BWA, early bay etc etc. You won't find any of that with commers. All commers are appriciated by everyone and of course there are far fewer commers left.So each van is special whether it's a PA or a spacevan.
Good luck with your search and i hope you find a beauty...(it's gonna be cheaper to start with a good 'un)
 
Thanks 'Headless' I'm really encouraged by your comments. My family is very young and adaptable so that gives me plenty of scope, they're kind of glad to leaving the VW's behind too!

Thanks again, Tim.:)

Tim McLoughlin
 
Hi Tim!

Yhe one thing you will appreciate in the Commer is the extra space that you get - they are 6' wide, and with no engine at the back, you can use all of it. Which model you choose depends on what you plan to be doing - touring, weekends away etc, and how flexible you want to be with tents and awnings. We have stripped down the interior of ours, and in the process of rebuilding it to suit us, and its a very easy van to work with - apart from the wheel arches, the whole of the rear is a blank canvas. Try and have a look through the photos in the readers rides section, of the different vans that are available, and if you can, go and have a look at a few.

I have nothing against VW's, in fact, I really like them, but the Commer is more practical and far, far cheaper. In the last year or so, I think there has been much more interest in Commers. People tend to decide that they fancy a classic camper, and automatically go for a VW, only to find that they can't afford much. As Commers are relatively "undiscovered" you get much more for your money, and to be honest, a far more practical van.

Good Luck in your search!

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I posted a link to the commerfest mini convoy video on facebook - I received a comment of " you can paint em yellow over white - but it'll never be a VW " - my reply ==== "thank god for that"

If you really want the most room have you considered the coachbuilts with the luton over the cab - like "dog" and i think young kids would love the idea of having to climb up a ladder to go to bed in a tree house styleee

The Dog is on its way....
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Apart from the seat covers and curtains (which would have been stripey brown and orange respectively), this Highwayman looks very original and sleeps five with ease.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COMMER-HIGHWAYMAN-CLASSIC-CAMPER-VAN-/110567905404?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item19be5c587c

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'I intend to live forever - so far, so good'
 
Hello and welcome to the madhouse from all at camp charlie commer, i am in the good position of having driven veedubs and have a wife who owns a commer, the commer is a much more relaxed and comfortable drive than a veedub where you feel like your stood leaning over a pub bar. the pedal positions are better too. the commer to go for with a few kids has to be the CI autohome like we have, for many reasons, the first being bed arrangements with a good size double overcab bed,(can be made up and left made up, secondly another good size double behind cab seats,(easy to make up and not in cold draughty cab) thirdly only one hammock bed to the drivers side,(hammocks not as comfortable as the real thing) fourthly the actual living area is a good size too, ie; floor space, wardrobe, storage and eating area.fifth and final is the roof is fibreglass so not suffering the damp probs that some highwaymen have suffered, ours is 39 yrs young and the fibreglass is still supple and strong. hope that helps.

The early bird catches the worm... but the early worm gets eaten first!
 
Hi Tim,

I've recently got back from Commerfest with Peggy, my Highwayman. If it's space you're after I can recommend the Highwayman. I brought back one of the marquees which added to the weight she had to carry but she still sat happily at 60-65mph on the M1 and made nearly 26mpg.

If the kids at Commerfest are anything to go by yours will love camping in a Commer. I have to say I haven't seen a better behaved group of kids.

Get a Commer and come along to the next meet.

Baz

BazRockscropped.jpg

Peggy drinks too much!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
 
We've just got back from Commerfest too. I went down with our two kids and our autosleeper is kitted out to sleep 5 (two bunks in the roof, one over the cab and to in the "double" bed in the middle.

The adult sleeping is a bit tight - especially as me and the wife are quite big, but its doable. We have an awning too which really makes long stays very comfy.

I have no idea what its like to drive in comparison to a VW but they have steering boxes so the steering can be "vague",

Personally I'd say get the best one you can afford, basically because they can rust quite badly, saying that, they are a lot cheaper than a VW and a lot of the panels are available in steel (from Coventry Commer Panels) or fibreglass (from Commer Van Spares)

the other big plus is that there is a very wide range of converters so you can always find something a bit interesting.

hope that helps

Rupert

"Atheism is a non-prophet organisation"

www.littleyellowcar.co.uk
 
That's brilliant guys, I'm really keen to get started now. Hopefully off to see some vans this week and see you all next year!:D

Tim McLoughlin
 
You mean in October at Woolfy's don't you?

BazRockscropped.jpg

Peggy drinks too much!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
 
Hi

I saw a 'Snowbird' conversion in New Zealand, has anyone heard of this conversion. I'm assuming it wouldn't have involved a plough?

:D

Tim McLoughlin
 
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