Chapel Mars

Berths: 1 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Citroën Berlingo Gross weight: 2070kg Payload: 446kg

All the evidence suggests that there’s a demand for a single-berth camper.  

Chapel Motorhomes’ owner, Vince Webb, says he’s sold 30 such vehicles already this year.

Badged Mars, it’s a one-berth, but the two main furniture units are bolted in and can be fairly easily removed, to reinstate the original car’s rear seat for day-to-day use.

The brand-new price is £21,500 for the flagship Berlingo XTR. This example is under half that price, based on a pre-owned 2010, VTR version that’s covered 57,800 miles.

It’s the new shape of Berlingo, and you can expect up to 50mpg with a diesel engine.  A CNC machine cuts all Chapel’s furniture to absolute precision. Chapel reckons it can complete a Berlingo conversion in three to four days.

In camper mode, both sliding doors are retained and are usable for their original purpose. The interior layout is an L-shaped kitchen and storage unit in the rear offside corner and a settee/bed along the nearside, with a relatively generous amount of floor space. The elevating roof is from Drivelodge, and Chapel is working on roof bars for a top box to be added.

You can use the cooker whilst sitting down inside (or standing if you’re prepared to bend over a bit). There’s a single gas ring with combined sink, and Chapel offers a double-burner alternative. An end panel in the roof aids ventilation. You can have the table up inside. It’s on a tripod, for outside use, too. There's a removable kitchen worktop extension. A 12V socket is inset into the kitchen unit, so a small TV could easily sit here.

It's a simple matter of adding a board to make a bed that’s over 6ft long. Cushions are slightly thin, so you might want a mattress topper. As for furniture finish and upholstery styles, it’s almost limitless choice. Added lighting is all-LED, with some adjustment for angle of beam.

An awning is a consideration for a conversion such as this. Overall storage is really rather good.  The biggest criticism in this example is the curtains. They’re unlined and a bit too light, though this is an aspect Chapel is working on for the future.

 As for Type Approval, technically this isn’t a motorcaravan. However, as the company gets better known, Vince says he’s found more insurers willing to consider covering these vehicles on a motorhome policy. Otherwise, you’ll need to be clear that your vehicle is not a standard car and investigate whether the conversion elements are covered.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the October 2016 issue of What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome here.

Great value for money and a well-thought-out conversion for one.