VW Crafter

Yvonne Hemmings, 60, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, sold her house in 2024 and moved into a VW Crafter campervan to live and work remotely while travelling across Europe. The self-employed virtual assistant estimates her living costs have roughly halved from more than £1,000 a month for her house. She has encountered electrical faults, a flat tyre and a damaged wing mirror cover. Hemmings has also bought a small olive farm in Portugal.

Swedish manufacturer Thule will launch the Capture in April 2027, a system of modular panels that complements a motorhome awning. A single panel combines a sunshade, rain protection and a privacy screen, each adjustable separately. The panel attaches to the side of the awning and can be moved to the front using a zip; Thule claims installation in under five minutes without veranda poles. Left, right and front panels are available: one protects a side, two form a corner and three fully enclose the space under the awning. The recycled polyester panels fit Thule Omnistor 5200 and 6300 awnings with mounting heights from 2.30 m to 2.74 m, with specific versions for Stellantis vans (Fiat, Citroën, Peugeot), Ford Transit and Volkswagen Crafter. Recommended prices are €464 for a side panel, €384 to €544 for a front panel depending on awning length and €59 for a storage bag; a full set for a 4 m awning costs €1,392 without the bag.

German manufacturer Knaus has presented its 2027 motorhome collection, expanding its partnership with Volkswagen. Two new ranges, Sky TI and Van TI, are built on the VW Crafter chassis. For the French market the line-up includes the Sky TI 700 DEG profile with twin beds and the Van TI 640 MEG with a front lounge facing the road. Four L!VE TI models and five L!VE Wave models in Platinium Selection trim are offered on the Fiat Ducato chassis. The L!ve I integrated models have been dropped from the French catalogue. The BoxTime 600 ME van, 5.99 m long with twin beds, is available from €70,992.

German manufacturer Carado has introduced the CV595 4x4 X-Edition camper van based on the Volkswagen Crafter. The model has a 2.0 TDI diesel engine producing 163 hp, an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. It measures 5.99 metres long, 2.04 metres wide and 2.72 metres high, with an interior height of 1.98 metres. Inside there is a two-burner hob, a compact bathroom with a folding door and a fold-away washbasin, a 200 by 136 centimetre transverse double bed, an 84-litre compressor fridge, a 90-litre fresh water tank and a 70-litre waste water tank. An optional off-road package adds 18-inch off-road tyres, a differential lock and hill-start and hill-descent assistants. Prices start at 93,890 euros.

A technical unit of Mar del Plata municipality has issued a report supporting a draft ordinance that would allow motorhomes weighing up to 3,500 kg to park during the day in coastal areas. The report was prepared by the Observatorio Vial department at the request of the city council's urban mobility committee; the draft was introduced by councillor Ricardo Liceaga Viñas. Covered vehicles include integrated, semi-integrated and alcove motorhomes and camper vans built on Mercedes Benz Sprinter, Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper, Renault Master, Ford Transit and Volkswagen Crafter chassis; converted lorries and buses are excluded. The report proposes defining parking as a daytime stop with the engine off, no external furniture and no overnight stay, and suggests rules for waste water, electrical connections and drinking water supply.

German manufacturer Knaus has renewed its motorhome and caravan range, focusing on Volkswagen Crafter chassis and technical solutions for all-season use. The semi-integrated Knaus Sky TI 650 MEG on a VW Crafter chassis with a 140 hp engine and automatic gearbox measures 7 metres and has rear twin beds. Standard equipment includes a double heated floor, a lithium battery and a Truma Combi 6 heater, with an Alde system available as an option. The starting price for this model exceeds 100,000 euros. The twin-axle Knaus Norwind 660 UDF caravan, 865 cm long overall, is designed for cold climates and has Alde liquid heating with underfloor heating. Its base price starts at 53,000 euros.

KEC Motors has shown the Mountaineer Grand Expedition off-road camper van at the Caravan Salon. It is based on a seven-metre Mercedes Sprinter and has an open lounge, a diesel ceramic hob and a space-saving bathroom.

Irene and Carlos have lived and travelled full-time for three years in a self-converted Volkswagen Crafter van of about 10 square metres. They previously travelled through more than 50 countries in a truck camper with their dog and cat at an estimated average cost of 1432 euros per month. The couple follows four rules to maintain their relationship: reserving personal time and space for each, making route decisions when rested, discussing minor issues before they escalate, and verbally acknowledging positive moments.

Carado has introduced the CV595 4×4 based on the Volkswagen Crafter, the brand's first all-wheel-drive camper van, priced at nearly €100,000. In the T series, the 335 profile debuts with a layout without a floor-level bed at just under €71,000, offered exclusively in the Edition 27 trim. The T457, T459 and T338 use a Ford Transit chassis (165 hp, automatic as standard), while the T135, T328, T447 and T448 are available on Citroën Jumper (140 hp). In the narrow V profiles, all models with the Pro+ pack now come with a factory lithium battery; the V339 with a central bed is discontinued, leaving the V132, V337 and V347.

The Sunlight IBEX 604D has been awarded the Camper of the Year 2027 title, becoming the first motorhome to win the top distinction since its establishment in 2008. Built on a Volkswagen Crafter chassis, the four-wheel-drive model features a 163 hp engine and automatic transmission; its length is just under 6 metres, maximum permissible weight is below 3.5 tonnes, allowing driving with a category B licence. The concept was unveiled in summer 2025 and series production began in May 2026, with prices starting at 111,990 euros. The IBEX 604D beat the Knaus Sky TI, Westfalia Nansen, Dethleffs Just Van and Pilote Galaxy in the final.

Dethleffs has introduced a front-wheel-drive version of its Globebus Performance motorhome based on the Volkswagen Crafter with a 2.0 TDI diesel engine. The model is available in two layouts: the T16 at 6.25 m long and the T46 at 6.86 m, both with a gross weight of up to 3,500 kg, allowing them to be driven with a category B licence. The T16 starts at €87,190 and the T46 at €92,490. The non-4x4 version is intended to lower the price compared with the already available 4×4 variants.

Pablo Tovar converted an automatic Volkswagen Crafter 4x4 for hand controls and independent wheelchair use. The hand controls were installed by a specialist workshop, and the conversion was homologated and recorded in the vehicle's technical documentation after an ITV inspection. The main challenge was designing an interior that allows movement in a wheelchair and installing a compact side crane to lift and load the wheelchair. In late June, Tovar spent about a month travelling through the Alps across France, Switzerland and Italy with his partner and dog.

British company CamperKing has presented two campervan models based on the Volkswagen Crafter: Pioneer and Frontier. Frontier is certified for four people, Pioneer for two. Prices start at £94,950, with sales planned for March-April 2027.

British workshop VannyCampers from Bristol has converted a 2025 Volkswagen Crafter into the Newt camper with a full-width rear bathroom. This is the workshop's first fully self-built vehicle, and it is being raffled: tickets cost £6.97, with 39,999 tickets issued and the draw scheduled for 20 October 2026.

Slovenian manufacturer Mega Mobil has introduced the Re-Aktiv 680 S H4 camper based on the MAN TGE or VW Crafter. It measures 6.83 m long and 2.90 m high, with a gross vehicle weight of 4,100 kg. An electric lift bed at the rear (200×170 cm) raises to free space for a motorcycle or bicycles. The base price starts at 91,717 euros; at the Caravan Salon, a similarly equipped show vehicle was priced at over 157,000 euros. Options include four-wheel drive, differential lock and off-road accessories.

The Carado CV595 X-Edition camper van made its public debut at the Caravan Salon 2026. Based on a Volkswagen Crafter with a 163 hp engine, automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, it measures 5.98 metres long and offers 1.98 metres of standing height, with a rear bed measuring 200 by 136 centimetres. An optional off-road package adds 18-inch Loder off-road wheels and a locking differential, costing 6,100 euros extra in the Netherlands and adding 33.5 kilograms. The base price is 112,790 euros, rising to 122,533 euros with the off-road package and other options.

JuiceParts has introduced JuiceTray, an underfloor carrier system that relocates batteries, inverter, solar charger and charge booster beneath the vehicle. It is available for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter from six metres to long wheelbase, MAN TGE and VW Crafter; for Stellantis models (Fiat, Citroën, Peugeot) it is announced for next year. The empty housing with vehicle-specific base carrier costs 2,999 euros gross at Frankana Freiko, inverters range from 1,400 to 1,800 euros. Installation is only performed by trained specialists; the system frees up around 100 litres of interior space and reduces noise in the living area.

German publication Promobil has published an overview of five narrow semi-integrated motorhomes (TI vans) for couples. The Giottiline CX 64 and CX 69, Dethleffs Just Van T5, Weinsberg Pepper 580 MEG, Etrusco V 6.8 SCF and Knaus Van TI Plus measure between 2.14 and 2.20 m in width, 6.38 to 7.47 m in length, and have a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 t. Prices: Giottiline from 58,700 euros, Dethleffs 64,999 euros, Weinsberg from 66,990 euros, Etrusco from 59,499 euros, Knaus from 89,900 euros. They are based on Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit or VW Crafter. The Knaus Van TI Plus gets a new interior and swivel bathroom for the 2027 season.

Irene and Carlos bought a used Volkswagen Crafter for €8,000 in 2023 and converted it. After three years, total costs reached €28,500, with monthly expenses around €1,432.

The Sunlight IBEX, presented in 2025 as a concept based on the Volkswagen Crafter, has won the ANWB Camper van het Jaar 2027 title. This is the first time a four-wheel-drive camper has won this competition.