Spotlight on... RoofBunk

I started the business mobile window fitting part time. I got so busy I had to make the choice of giving it up or giving it a go. I made the best choice ever. From the window fitting, I got asked to do more and more.

With my background working in car bodyshops, I knew a lot of what I needed to do, so it all seemed to piece together quite nicely; I took on a small unit and the business has continued to grow. There are now six of us all with a background of skills that have easily been transferable.

Q2: What sets you apart from the crowd?

I think we are a below-the-radar company. We concentrate on giving the customers the best cost-effective conversion we can and not trying to become the next big thing.

We enjoy the size we are and, as I still like to work on the shop fl oor, we’re able to give the customer the personal touch and they appreciate that.

We are a very honest and humble company. We believe that quality and attention to detail along with the correct attitude will give us what we need to keep our business alive for many years to come.

Q4: What do you think makes a great campervan conversion?

Quality and cost-effective products. It also has to be a great use of space – we get a lot of people say we use the space very well and there is no wastage. Sometimes, the most expensive products are not always the best and it's easy to forget that.

Q5: What kinds of bespoke options do you offer?

We try not to do too much bespoke stuff, as it really messes with the timings of the workshop. What you think will take an hour can take three, then you can be waiting for a part to finish one bit to start the next, which then blocks the workshop up, so we do try to avoid bespoke if we can, preferring to offer a tried and tested range of conversions.

Of course, we offer plenty of colour choices and options, so you can personalise your ’van.

Q6: What’s your best seller?

Ours is larger than most of our competitors’ at 140cm wide and 210cm long. We also use very high-quality materials like the 280gsm polycotton material on the tent walls, which should keep you warm, and the strong structural design of our roof tent should last for years without any problems.

Q7: Have you got any exciting new developments in the pipeline?

We brought out the Breeze at the start of the year and it has been very successful. We have looked into doing a VW Crafter conversion, but we are not 100% sure on that one just yet. But, as the motor industry moves away from fossil fuel in the coming years, we have a very keen eye on what’s going on and what the best base vehicle will be to convert to a camper, as it may not be a VW

Q8: What advice would you give to someone thinking about buying a campervan?

In my book, there are a lot of dos and don’ts when buying a campervan, so here are a few:Don’t panic buy, as it’s a big decision to make. Don’t buy a home build, as we have seen some dangerous stuff over the years. Remember, you and your family are likely to be travelling at speed on motorways, so think about how everything will hold together in the event of an accident.

Do your research on the company that did the conversion – are they gas and electric registered? Look at the Google reviews – how long have they been trading? Don’t be afraid to ask questions about how the ’van is put together – can you look at one mid build? It might look nice with its big wheels and shiny side bars, but what lurks underneath?

Q9: What’s the most unusual question you’ve ever been asked by a customer?

Can the pop-top be see-through, as we want to lay in bed and stargaze... They didn’t mean just the canvas to be scenic, either! We also got asked if we could make the sides of a VW Transporter extend out like a motorhome, as they wanted to sleep sideways in the ’van.

They even did a detailed drawing of how they wanted it to look and work! Unfortunately, they needed a bus to fit everything in that they wanted, so a T6 was never going to work. Most of the questions we are asked are sensible, though, and we’re always happy to answer them.

Q10: What’s the best campervan trip you’ve personally undertaken?

I have owned campervans for 25 years and have been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places – Australia, France, Austria, Belgium, Spain. I’ve had some great snowboarding trips and I used to go out to all the European VW shows in my old VW bay window campervan. Australia was amazing, and it’s where I proposed to my wife, so that will always be special.

Nowadays, I love my summer holidays with my wife and daughter. Our place of choice is the west coast of France – we pack our camper with surfboards, paddleboards and bikes and then head off to enjoy the beach life, along with wine, cheese and croissants, obviously!

The Custom Camper Solutions range...

The company builds on VW Transporter and Ford Transit Custom vans, and o ers a range of layouts to suit all tastes.

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