Certainly gaining in popularity, the VW Crafter / MAN TGE is becoming the most prevalent vehicle in our Milton Keynes based workshop of late.

When combined with the Trek RV Grand Tourer conversion it is easy to see why! In the 6.8m variant this allows for a a massive step up in living space vs the previous Volkswagen Transporter platform.

The added space allows for a dedicated bathroom and toilet, rear garage, hanging clothes storage, fixed rear bed and a vast array of cupboards, drawers and cubby holes.

Our latest of the Grand Tourer conversions have been produced for brothers Brendon and Sam. The brief was simple, storage of long travel downhill mountain bikes was a must have! To facilitate this we have created a ‘wrap round’ worktop solution, extending the garage space by an additional 200mm.

The specification of both vans was identical, Power is provided from our Victron based system, 3KW of 230V fed from 460AH of Roamer LiFePo4 battery, topped up via 360W of solar all supplying the double induction hob, multiple socket points and Miele microwave grille This setup gives you almost indefinite off grid living, without the need to carry onboard gas.

Additional sleeping space is provided by the Atek elevating roof, this is specifically designed for the Crafter / TGE and produced in Spain directly by Atek, it is the ultimate roof for this platform! We have also developed an electric open/close function to simplify the operation.

Both vans feature diesel heating and hot water in the form of a Truma D6e setup, this provides heating to the living area, and also hot water on demand feeding the bathroom sink and shower, kitchen, and external shower point.

A Maxxfan situated in the rear bedroom, for cooling / airflow, these are a brilliant solution for air movement in a van of this size, and multiples of them can be fitted if you do not have the elevating roof, which can help to create a constant stream of fresh air. Brendon opted for a rear bulkhead window/blind setup, for the surf views!

Both vans feature a Thule 5200 electrically assisted awning, with additional sides to create some extra living space for longer stays.

Whilst identical in spec, the colour and finish choices couldn’t be more different, along some some bespoke touches such as the herringbone ceiling design really sets them apart!

We look forwards to seeing the vans in action over the coming months!