Day’s Custom Conversions Transit Custom fixed roof campervan

A large motor sales group in Wales moves into campervans

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Day’s Custom Conversions Transit Custom

If you live in south Wales, you’re probably aware of Day’s Motor Group, a large retail outlet with franchises for Fiat, Ford and Peugeot cars as well as the new Ineos Grenadier off-roader. Then, it covers the commercial vehicle market  with the same brands, plus Iveco.

Days has outlets at Cardiff, Haverfordwest, Neath and Swansea. It already runs a motorhome hire business from Swansea, too, and now its own campervans (for retail rather than rental) are being added to the portfolio.

Unsurprisingly, with a Ford dealership already in the mix, Day’s Custom Conversions’ first, err, conversions are based on the Transit Custom. It is converting new (pre-registered) or used panel vans in short or long-wheelbase form, with or without a pop-top roof. However, it is also introducing VW Transporter T6.1 campers as the next logical step.

The spec

The camper you see here was based on a 2022 Transit Custom Active, the sporty-looking version of the van with 17in alloy wheels, a different grille, full-length side steps and a mechanical limited-slip differential to cope with slippery surfaces.

To go with that adventure look, Day’s had added a roll-out awning (a £1,200 option) and a rear ladder. Featuring a roof rack, rather than a rising roof, this one might appeal to the surfer market and a roof box could easily be added.

What’s included

Day’s, unlike many, actually promotes the availability of a fixed roof conversion for those on a budget – sans pop-top, it can convert your Ford van into a camper for just £11,880. 

That figure includes a full-length kitchen unit in a choice of colours and with under-worktop lighting, a combination gas hob and sink, metal gas storage locker for one Campingaz cylinder, and an Alpicool 50-litre compressor fridge in a choice of black or silver.

Then there’s 20-litre portable fresh and waste water containers, carpeted and insulated walls, one opening rear side window, a Vulcan rock ‘n’ roll bed with seatbelts, a Motorcraft swivel base for the passenger seat (double or single), LED lights in the ceiling and strip lights on the floor, a carbon monoxide alarm, leisure battery with split charge system and 230V hook-up, control panel with USB charger, vinyl or Altro flooring, a removable table and a fire extinguisher. 

A pop-top adds £3,240 to the price; a roof bed is a further £270. 

The kitchen

Day’s currently buys in the kitchen complete and installs it, either in a van from its stock or a customer’s vehicle. There’s a rail on the front of the galley for the table, which stores on one of the back doors for travel. 

The storage

Much of the lower galley storage is filled by the gas and water supplies but a front access panel under the bench seat will improve stowage space there.

Unfortunately, the design of the Vulcan seat also reduces the upper boot area to almost zilch, but there is reasonable floor-level space accessed through a drop-down door. You can also access the corner wardrobe through the campervan’s rear doors.

Summary

There are some obvious areas in which costs have been curtailed, such as the single window on each side behind the cab (graphics can be added to give a dummy glazed look, if required). Currently, there is no option for space heating, although Day’s is looking into this as a future add-on. 

We also found the Vulcan seat rather too short in the squab for comfort, although we liked the way it had been trimmed to match the Active cab seats and the method of folding it flat into a 1.81m by 1.13m bed is simple enough. 

Every conversion will be safety tested for its gas and electrics at Day’s Swansea site and each conversion will be backed by a 12-month warranty.

Where to buy

Day’s is a large motor group with a number of outlets in south Wales, so it’s no surprise that this is where you’ll find its campervans. They will be offered at the Haverfordwest and Swansea sites, although viewings could be arranged at other Day’s outlets.