Full review

If you think all campervans look the same, that they all follow a recipe of Volkswagen van and side kitchen layout, then think again. If you want a camper that’s genuinely like an MPV to drive but has a proper toilet on board, and even a rudimentary shower, then this French newcomer could be just the ticket.

Welcome to the new Dreamer Cap Land, now available in right-hand drive form as a 2019 model. It’s based on the long-wheelbase version of the latest Ford Transit Custom, recently facelifted and now even more of a challenger for the mighty VW T6. Standard spec includes cab air-conditioning, colour-coded bumpers, ESP, front foglamps and even heated cab seats. Even better, the automatic gearbox option is one of the best around. On a short drive the Ford really impressed.

There are plenty of conversions on the new Transit Custom, but you’ll not find another quite like this. With its rear-hinged pop-top, pullman dinette seating area, twin sliding doors and a rear toilet, the Cap Land does things differently. Both dinette benches have a degree of backrest rake and seem comfy, while a swivel driver’s seat can be added by your dealer, if required. There’s also a small jump seat by the offside door, at the forward end of the galley. And having those two side doors will be a boon when the camper is working as weekday hack, taking the kids to school or doing the shopping run.

Of course, the dinette also converts into a double bed, which measures 1.81m by 1.30m. To do this the cab seats slide forward and the table slots between the dinette benches, which have clever drawer-style extensions. A panel slots in between the table and the jump seat/gas locker and one infill cushion is required to complete the seven-cushion mattress.

The bed is completely flat, less complicated than it sounds and leaves room to get to the loo or make a cuppa. Drawers beneath the dinette should accommodate sleeping bags but storing a double duvet might be more of a problem. Night-time blackout is by silver screens in the cab and lined magnetic curtains for the rear windows (no conventional curtains here).

If you need four berths, or prefer a more instantaneous bed, there’s a 1.90m by 1.12m roof bed with a one-piece mattress on plastic springs for comfort. Flyscreened vents feature on each side of the roof and flexible wand reading lights provide good illumination for upstairs occupants. Better still are the strip lights along each side under the roof bed which give super general lighting for the living area – what a neat idea!

The galley impresses, too. As well as the usual two-burner hob with push-button ignition, it has a decent worktop area enhanced by a folding extension. Four drawers and a rack for five bottles make for practical stowage space, while, in the back corner, two large tambour-doored cupboards sit under the 51-litre Vitrifrigo compressor fridge.

A cushion hides the bench cassette loo in the opposite corner to the fridge and turns this into a useful cook’s seat. A shower curtain, affixed with press studs, provides privacy for the loo (but only to the height of the original base vehicle roof), while a shower tray means you could hose yourself down after time on the beach, if not take a full daily shower.

The Cap Land is potentially a very versatile camper that’s one of the best of its ilk. Storage space is a little light, so it’s better suited to a couple than a 2+2 family, but it has four berths and four seatbelts when needed. The price is keen, too.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.