Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The CMC HemBil GoCamper

For most campervan conversion companies, small means a Ford Transit Custom or VW Transporter, maybe a Renault Trafic. But, if you’ve never driven anything bigger than a Fiesta or Clio, even these vans might seem anything but small. 

It’s not so much about the size, perhaps, as the height of the driving position and the lack of as much reassuring bonnet in front of you. 

There are, of course, a number of conversion pods on the market that can slide into the boot of something like a Citroën Berlingo – or even an ID Buzz if you want an EV with street cred – and turn it into a makeshift camper. 

But, if you want a proper conversion with a pop-top for standing room, then your options are very limited.

It’s no surprise then that Concept Multi-Car had quite a bit of success with its conversion of the previous  generation Volkswagen Caddy – a van that feels more like a Golf. 

At the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, at the NEC, it launched the successor – called GoCamper and based on either the latest (fifth generation) Caddy or its sister vehicle from Ford, the Grand Tourneo Connect. In each case, it’s the passenger car derivative, not the panel van, that’s converted by CMC.

The engine

It’s worth noting at this point that the VW and Ford are virtually the same vehicle and these were the first models developed under the two companies’ commercial vehicle alliance, which has since seen new Amarok/Ranger pick-ups and which will sire a T7 Transporter based on the latest Transit Custom. 

Unlike the bigger vans, it’s Volkswagen power units under the bonnet here – a 122hp 2-litre diesel or 114hp 1.5-litre petrol, while transmissions are six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic. 

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version is due to follow, mating the petrol engine with an electric motor for 150hp and a claimed zero emissions range of 68 miles.

The dimensions

Whichever badge is on the front, the conversion is the same and in day to day use it retains the versatility of the donor car with a sliding door on each side and five belted seats. 

With its car-park-friendly height (just 1.92m), you could even keep your GoCamper in a domestic garage, although it’s worth noting that the overall length is only fractionally less than a short-wheelbase VW T6.1.

The kitchen

The key part of the conversion is at the rear offside, where you can reach the galley via the lift-up tailgate. Here, the smart white units with contrasting wood worktop incorporate a 20-litre Vitrifrigo top-loading fridge, a small stainless-steel sink (as used in the Urban and Urban-S conversions on the Transporter) and a Carbest single-burner hob. 

In a significant change over CMC’s previous Caddy conversion, both of the rear side windows are unobstructed by furniture, so the camper feels much lighter inside.

The pop-top

There’s still a front-hinged Reimo pop-top to give up to 2m standing room in the rear and flyscreened vents on either side ensure plenty of roof-level ventilation. 

An optional roof bed (1.90m by 0.90m) can also be added for an extra £695.

The interior

Down below, a bench is revealed when the car’s back seat is folded forward and a further forward-facing seat folds down from the nearside wall. There’s even room to store a Porta Potti.

Then, at night, the camper’s seats convert into a 2.00m by 0.97m bed – a bit tight for two maybe, but generous for one. If you prefer to keep an aisle between the bed and the galley, that’s possible with a 65cm-wide berth.

The spec and options

This is a truly compact campervan but a rear tailgate awning adds extra living space (£240) and blown-air heating is offered on diesel models (£1,850). 

Standard spec includes a 12-litre fresh water carrier, storage for one Campingaz 907 cylinder, mains hook-up and a 60Ah lithium battery, and the conversion is to CMC’s usual high standards.

Where to buy

HemBil campers (the Scandinavian name loosely translates as ‘home car’) are only available direct from Concept Multi-Car, based in Hythe, Kent, although you will see these campers at both NEC motorhome shows (February and October) as well as some other exhibitions.