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Hello Fellow Adventurers !!!
By way of introduction we are Emma & Andrew, Reuben and our whippet Hunter (picture below of the pooch - non-allergenic!). We enjoy Cycling, Hiking, Dog-Walking and general fresh-air outings with our Indy.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our well-travelled and dependable Indy - the 4x4 VW Poptop Campervan - who has sheltered and kept us toasty throughout.
Regular stops for DIY onboard espressos are highly recommended too!
He was converted by CamperKing to a high standard - with a modern Poptop sleep area, full kitchenette, certified safe rear seating/ bed, storage, Dometic awning, Dometic fridge/freezer and Victron solar panel charge system.
@@@ Indy can be driven by anyone with a standard UK driving license (manual) @@@
We have enjoyed many great planned and unplanned weekends (and weeks!) travelling solo or with friends around the UK and Europe - meeting all manner of interesting folk along the way and some truly amazing sights and places.
@ DRIVING / PARKING 🚥 🅿️
Any concerns around driving a large van are quickly dispelled by the very light steering, car-like handling and confident direct braking. This is the T32 model with superior suspension and brakes to other lower-weight capacity models.
Indy is also 4x4 which also adds confidence to the drive and feel.
For illustration - Indy is only as long as the average estate car - easily parking in standard supermarket bays and the like.
There are both forward and rear cameras with video footage storage - also allowing good visibility (with curtains open!) and a reversing camera on the rear window to aid further.
The left hand sliding door really comes in useful when parking is tight though and becomes the main entrance/exit while parked up (and it is away from the road-side unlike on the California vans!).
@BERTHS🌜🌛
Indy can sleep four adults comfortably - the poptop bed is factory weight rated up to 200Kg for peace of mind and surprisingly easy to deploy / retract by one adult.
The upper bed (lounge#2!) is also a great bolthole if you would just like to enjoy a chill out too - and the view is even better!
There is also a safety barrier for the upper bed for peace of mind with youngsters too.
@SEATING / TABLES🍪 🍽
The Passenger seat can rotate 180 to join the party - great for a leg stretch too.
Rear seats can be partially reclined for comfort while stationery - allowing a more relaxed position for relaxing.
There is also a matching removable indoor table for mealtimes and entertaining.
@AWNING🏖
The side awning is easy to operate - super for summer days and inclement weather as a rain/sun shelter for the van side entrance and surrounding exterior living area.
@ TWIN SLIDING DOORS🏞
The right hand sliding door is a rare extra - ideal for extra airflow and as a minibar serving area. This door also has its own sliding window too.
The left sliding door interior panel has been converted to extend usable storage space too - really useful for the rear passengers whilst on the move.
@LUGGAGE STORAGE 🎒👜
We find there is plenty of storage space for luggage / kit with all the built-in cupboards to help control the chaos! As we normally use a separate large rugged plastic bin for the kitchen / cooking equipment, this frees up the van storage bins for luggage and other general kit - keeping the van more comfortable, tidy and much quicker to pack / clean when moving off again. The same idea extends to preferring outdoor cooking - as this cuts down on cleaning time and van odours - and more time to enjoy eating and relaxing putdoors instead!
@POWER ⚡️⚡️
The solar panel charger system and huge off-grid leisure battery can provide enough juice to keep you comfortable and all your devices charged - whether hooked up at a campsite or freewheeling in the countryside.
While connected to a campsite power supply then AC mains electricity is available from the dual 3-pin sockets onboard.
A 20 metre camping power cable will be provided to allow use of campsite electricity (AKA shore power).
@HEATER ♨️
We have an Autoterm Diesel Heater installed which is indispensable in the colder months - and runs from the main fuel tank.
@RUG / SEATING
The rug is designed for pets and is both water and drinks absorbent- perfectly fine for inclement weather and social gatherings- and can be dried and cleaned easily as necessary.
There are also seat covers to protect Indy's seats if the weather turns and clothing is damp and muddy.
@INSULATION ♨️
Indy has been thermally and acoustically insulated to improve the driving and camping experience equally.
A set of blackout curtains have been fitted for extra privacy along with the sliding blackouts on every window in the main living area.
For the upstairs guests there is also a Khayam poptop cover to improve the insulation, sound dampening and light/heat blocking. Especially good in winter or for keeping the younger kids slumbering to allow the grownups a good lie-in!!
There are also handmade (by Emma!) wraparound front window covers and set of sun blinds.
@WATER🥤🧊
Indy has a 20 litre water supply with tap and sink - plenty for a hot week in summer.
@COOKING 🍽
For cooking there is a twinring gas stove in addition to an outdoor camping stove when the weather allows. For example a small coffee pot will be ready in around three minutes..
We find that outdoor cooking is much more enjoyable - and more importantly fresh-air calories don't count !
Cutlery and crockery will be provided, including cleaning materials for any accidental spills along the way.
There is also a Dometic fridge and freezer which is more than enough to keep your drinks and dairy and vegetables chilled.
For outdoor cooking and drinks we have provided a gas burner stove and camping kettle.
@@@Please note strong cooking smells or aage will incur a further damage charge.
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@MECHANICAL ⚙️⚙️
Indy has a 6 speed manual gearbox (clutch and gearbox are not at all heavy to operate) with 4x4 which is great for muddy campsites and wintery / slippery conditions.
He is shod with 18 inch XL-rated offroad and all-weather tyres - which offer a more comfortable ride than the fashionable larger boneshaking 20 inch wheels and low-profile tyres!!
@SERVICING 🛠🛠
We keep Indy fed, watered and in tiptop all-round mechanical condition - he has recently benefitted from all the fluids being changed- even those that VW do not mention on the official service schedule.
@BIKE-RACK 🚲🚲🚲🚲
We have an Atera 3/4 bike rack available as an option - which has the advantage of sliding rearward to allow access to the rear doors as needed - this really is a game changer when needed to access the rear of the vehicle on long journeys - ensuring the bicycles stay safe and secure at all times. It has full electrics and lights including reverse/ turn signal alert tone.
This rack really is the only custom-designed bikerack for these barn-door vans - having tried other solutions we can confirm they are indeed much less hassle to live with - and straightforward to attach / detach as needed.
Available as an extra hire charge.
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Our view on vehicle safety and maintenance is that our Fellow Adventurers will have the same peace of mind that we enjoy on each and every trip.
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A big thank-you for reading all about our adventures with the intrepid Indy - we do hope you found it useful for your own future memories!
Happy Travels!
Emma, Andrew, Reuben and Hunter --
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