Full review

Back in December 2013, the Rolling Homes Livingstone won the What Motorhome magazine's group test of 11 Volkswagen campers with ‘alternative’ layouts (anything but the ubiquitous side kitchen floorplan).

Now, here it is in new long-wheelbase form. It’s not radically different but the extra 398mm of bodywork actually adds quite a bit of practicality, not least in terms of storage space. All for an additional £2,300 over its short-wheelbase sister.

Up front, the long Livingstone has the same swivel cab seats and a pair of rear RIB travel seats, each with adjustable head restraints. Here, on this demo model, they’re trimmed in luxurious red leather, giving the interior an almost Bentley-esque feel. Well worth the extra £1,900.

Of course, the way the seats fold down to make single beds means that you sleep on the flat, reverse side of both squab and backrest and these are not leather covered. The beds can also slide together to make a double, if you prefer.

It’s not just the plush upholstery that gives the Livingstone an upmarket look, but also the timber window surrounds (with blackout curtains on tracking top and bottom), which are a typical Rolling Homes touch. Then, as you head into the rear galley area, the handmade real wood furniture becomes far more obvious.

The lightweight oak units here also get Corian worktops, just as you’ll find in many a high-class domestic kitchen. The new longer Livingstone also gets a slimmer (by 50mm) galley unit for a feeling of extra interior space. Opposite, the swivel cassette toilet is completely hidden in a low-level locker that opens up when required – just swing the bi-fold cupboard door across the aisle to create some privacy.

The kitchen itself features a stainless-steel combined sink and hob unit with separate glass lids. Placed centrally, it allows useful preparation space to either end, while below the worktop is a Smev grill. Opposite, between the shelved wardrobe and the offside rear passenger seat is a Waeco 50-litre compressor fridge.

The Livingstone also impresses with the details that you won’t see straight away. Things like the 120Ah leisure battery and the full sheep’s wool insulation. Even the three-year warranty on the conversion.

A rear-hinged elevating roof from German specialist, SCA, is standard, giving massive headroom in the kitchen area. A roof bed is optional, while a folding ladder makes access easy. Diesel-fired heating is another popular option – at £1,200.

Rolling Homes conversions start on the short-wheelbase 84PS BlueMotion version of the T6, but a full range of Volkswagen options is available. Long-wheelbase models can be specified on a T30 (3-tonne gross weight) or T32 (3.2-tonne) van.

Most buyers will surely also pay the additional £3,200 for a Highline base vehicle, thus adding Climatic air-conditioning, cruise control, body-coloured bumpers, a leather multi-function steering wheel, and much more.

The vehicle shown here is in Indium Grey metallic, but Rolling Homes has also made quite a stir with its duo-tone paint finishes.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the July 2017 issue of What Motorhome magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.