Campervan expands into motorhome, of sorts

The Doubleback Van is a converted Volkswagen Transporter that not only pops up like a traditional campervan, it expands out the back too. Here is video of the electrical mechanism in action. The Doubleback is pretty slick and all, but it's $87,000. For my next Bigfoot expedition, I'd be happier hopping in our Jason's new old 1987 Westy. (More on that once the renovations commence.)

• [Bad Juju]

  And if you’re in the US, you can not has.  It would  be remarkable enough to get that most recent version of the Transporter here..but considering the Eurovan’s abysmal sales, I somewhat doubt it.

• [Spinkter]

  must…   have…    doubleback…    van…

• [Dan Hibiki]

  I like Jeremie’s better.

• [Marktech]

  From the site:

  When the legs have extended the weight it can hold is up to 600kgs.

  Presumably “up to” 600kgs, dead load; I couldn’t help wondering how those legs would perform under smaller cyclic loads.  If you see what I mean.

• [Flashman]

  The VW van by itself is already big enough to live inside comfortably, without all this extra cost and complexity. If you need more space, get a Sprinter.

• [Brad Zimmerman]

  The ride must be HIDEOUS with those wheels and the weight from the extra gear.

  • [jandrese]

    I don’t think anybody buying this van expects it to post a good time on the Nuremburg Ring.  Really, this just seems to be a step between a conversion van and an full on camper van.  The price tag looks a might high to my American eyes though.  I’m betting you can get yourself a real nice full size camper for $87k. 

    • [wrybread]

      > I’m betting you can get yourself a real nice
      > full size camper for $87k.  

      But then you couldn’t park in a regular parking space, or drive down dirt roads, or even drive into parking lots without worrying about getting stuck. Big RVs are great for interstates, but interstates are no fun.

      I think the American market is badly underserved by small RVs. I’m not saying I think the van in this article is a good option (I think its ridiculous), but I appreciate the attempt. I have a 1990 Ford Chinook camper, which at 20 feet is considered tiny by American RV standards, although I consider it a bit too big. But oddly there’s a cult market for them since they’re one of the only decent smaller RVs around.

      That said, I think Westys and all the VW conversions are too small. My first campervan was a 1980 Westphalia, and setting aside the fact that it broke down all the damn time, it was just a small step up from camping in the station wagon I had before it. I stand by the maxim that a camper without a furnace isn’t a camper. And if your camper doesn’t have a little diner nook where at least 4 people can sit comfortably and take in the scenery, you’re doing it wrong.

• [Paul (sometimes)]

  Take the skinheads bowling, take them bowling…

• [The Life Of Bryan]

  I’ve promised my wife I’d eventually renovate a Westie for her. Now I just have to make sure she never sees this photo.

• [musesum]

  Oil? MPG? Nature? Tread softly? Tent? 

  • [AlexG55]

    Biodiesel? High thirties.

    • [wrybread]

      May high thirties KPG (kilometers), but I think it would be more like mid twenties for MPG. Maybe high twenties, but with this add on, I doubt it.

• [Lemoutan]

  Who designed it? H R Giger?

• [falnfenix]

  $87k for a Class B is pretty average.

• [gnp]

  I dunno, does it have all the features of the Altra 1971 Camping Car?

• [putty]

  Clicked the link hoping for a Jacques Tati reference…  Leaving satisfied.

• [Listener43]

  Am I the only one hoping for a Beethoven reference?

• [Michael Rasmussen]

  Looking forward to the stories about the 87 Westy.  An 89 is my primary vehicle

• [Vincenzo Ravina]

  I thought it was a hearse.