Van choice narrowed down

Well after deliberating over a number of van options available to us in the UK,over the last few evenings and many more glasses of wine, we have whittled our thoughts down to the following options.

It wasn't an easy process as Louise and I struggled to agree on what was important and what could we manage without, but we now have a number of T25 configurations which I have shown here.

Why did we choose the T25 over other VW variants, or even a panel van conversion. Well we wanted a classic design in the end, that has stood the test of time and had been cleverly thought out by the manufacturer, optimizing all those tight corners and small space found in conversions. The T25 also appealed compared with a T2 or split as they are still plentiful, reasonable priced and have a more modern engine which in theory should be a little more reliable. We did deliberate about the size of the van, but felt the three of us with the high/pop top roof, would fit in OK with all our roaming requirements.

So here they are!.

This variant we liked as a more robust option that would fair a little better on winter trips. Insulation could be applied to the roof to boost thermal properties and it would stand up to the punishing UK weather if required. Found this picture below showing the internal layout, which I thought was quite cool.

The pop-top version was another option. Readily available and simple to erect when needed. We did have some concern on heat retention whilst winter roaming. We need to look into this more. Thoughts or comments on this would be appreciated.

The third option also appealed due to the larger volume inside the van and the manufacturers ability to add more features including dedicated toilet and shower. We also like the cool retro look of this van, but the Karmann Gipsy's as they are known, are particularly rare in the UK so we may struggle. One concern we have with this body type is damp. Old caravan bodies are notorious for damp due to leaks at the panel and window joins. Odds are and old van like this will have some issues. Can we be bothered with the hassle of repairs. Further discussions needed.