Full review

Look at the main photo of this vehicle. Not your average white Ford Transit, is it? Nor even a typical campervan?

Not only is this Rolling Homes conversion based on the latest Ford Transit Custom, this is the MS-RT version. Those initials signify collaboration between vehicle specialists, Van-Sport, and motor sport legend, Malcolm Wilson. All of its vehicles are bespoke creations, which have Ford approval, with remodelled exteriors and upgraded interiors created in south Wales by skilled craftsmen.

The MS-RT customisation includes a special front bumper with daytime running lights, 18in OZ Racing alloy wheels and a bespoke sports exhaust system with twin pipes, one exiting on either side of the campervan. Inside, there’s the luxury of full Nappa leather and a fatter-rimmed sports steering wheel. To show that it’s the real McCoy it even comes with a numbered plaque.

In Orange Glow metallic you won’t exactly blend into the background on a Caravan and Motorhome Club site but, even in a subtler shade, you won’t miss the wide wheelarch mouldings, the deep side skirts, the ground-hugging front splitter or the graphite-coloured, multi-spoke wheels.

MS-RT vehicles are only available through selected Ford dealers, of which Furrows is one. And this Shrewsbury-based Transit Centre has worked in association not only with MS-RT but also top-quality campervan manufacturer, Rolling Homes, to create the Explorer Sport, a very high-spec campervan designed to appeal to people looking for something special.

This isn’t a cheap option, especially for a Ford, but the £69,995 price tag does include the 2-litre EcoBlue 168bhp (170PS) Euro 6 engine and the excellent six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. It also comes with Trend spec, HID headlights, adaptive cruise control and sat-nav (on the new tablet-style central display).

The camping side of the Explorer Sport takes inspiration from Rolling Homes’ recently introduced Kingsley conversion. It’s a typical side kitchen layout with rear-hinged elevating roof and RIB seat/bed system.

Fans of the Shrewsbury-based converter will, perhaps, miss the usual handcrafted oak furniture, but the silver-grey cabinets here are more in keeping with the bold exterior. They are mated to a contrasting black Corian worktop and superbly finished grey leather upholstery (with orange stitching, of course!).

Open the wide sliding door and there’s an electric step to ease your entry (something that’s often overlooked on this size of camper). Facing you, the galley incorporates a Dometic 50-litre compressor fridge with cutlery drawer above.

Dometic also supplies the two-burner hob and sink combination unit, while down below there’s a large cupboard alongside the cooler and a useful second drawer next to the bench seat. Between the sink and wardrobe is extra-shelved storage above the countertop.

The RIB seat makes a flat bed in the usual easy-to-operate style and you can create a chaise longue arrangement by tilting the head of the bed. Mattress measurements are 1.86m long by 1.12m wide. There’s a decent amount of floor space left with the bed made up – plenty of room to get changed, or to use the Porta Potti which can be stored conveniently under the back seats.

Or you might prefer to sleep in the roof bed, which comes as standard and offers a one-piece mattress on plastic springs for added comfort. The roof is a top-notch SCA Deluxe item.

But not everyone will want all the bling seen here, so, at the opposite end of the market, Furrows will also offer a standard Explorer from £41,995. It has the same conversion but without all the MS-RT bits, the leather trim or the diesel heating – and with the more modest 104bhp (105PS) engine and manual gearbox.

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