Dreamer D43 Up Addict high-top rising roof campervan

Four berths in under five-and-a-half metres

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Dreamer D43 Up Addict

There’s a huge choice in the market when it comes to fixed bed campervans. Dreamer, the van conversion specialist brand based at Rapido’s factory in Mayenne, offers eight models in the coming season, only one of which (the popular Living Van) doesn’t have a permanent bed or beds. 

But, if you want to keep things compact and still have full washroom facilities, then the choices are fewer. And the models on your list reduce further still if you want four berths.

It’s into this niche that Dreamer has slotted the D43 Up, not a new model but one that sees significant revision for 2024. It’s one of the three-model Fun range (the company’s more affordable line), with the ‘Up’ suffix indicating that, like the longer D55 Up, it has a pop-top. 

The spec

In the coming season, the Fun models are offered in three finishes – Fun, Fun+ and Addict (as shown here). In its most basic form, the D43 Up gets gas heating and an unpainted front bumper. Fun+ is a bit better equipped, with diesel heating, a flyscreen for the sliding door, a radio with Bluetooth, cab blinds, a second leisure battery, etc. But if you want all the toys, it’s the Addict that you need. This is the only version that can be specified with metallic paint or an automatic gearbox (with a switch to a Fiat Ducato chassis, instead of the standard Peugeot Boxer).

Addict might be a rather odd name but this spec comes fully appointed, with a Pioneer 6.8in multimedia unit, reversing camera, leather steering wheel with radio controls, an outside shower, 16in alloy wheels, Isofix and a Skyview overcab sunroof. There are further optional extras available exclusively on this trim level, too.

Framed windows feature on the outside, while the all-black scheme of this Addict was relieved only by some red graphics and a silver surround to the grille. The manually raised pop-top runs the full length of the campervan and provides a 2.04m by 1.31m bed with a Bultex mattress on a slatted base. It’s accessed by a folding ladder that you’ll have to store on or under the rear bed.

The bed

This being a medium-wheelbase campervan, there’s a compromise in the rear bed in that it narrows towards the nearside (its width of 1.30m reduces to 1.07m). As Dreamer trims right into the sides of the Ducato panel van, usable bed length is a generous 1.93m. 

There are opening windows in the back doors for ventilation and reading lights are fitted over the head of the bed but the upper cupboards prevent you from sitting up.

The under-bed locker measures 0.95m wide, 1.02m deep and 67cm high, with the centre section of the bed base simply hinging up to the offside if you need full-height storage. The 110- litre fresh water tank (offside) and gas locker (nearside) are also built in under the bed. 

The kitchen

The kitchen in this compact camper is rather small, but it doesn’t want for worktop (thanks to a flap at the forward end) or features (including an 85-litre compressor fridge). 

The three drawers are locked for travel at the flick of a switch and there’s useful extra storage for bottles, tins, etc, at the end of the galley, complete with elasticated straps to keep everything in place.

The lounge

Even the dinette belies the fact that this isn’t a larger, six-metre campervan, for which you can thank the daylight flooding in through the Skyview sunroof. 

Spotlights over the cab seats and smart plastic trim around the side window are further pluses.

The washroom

It’s the washroom that really uses its space to the full. There’s enough room on the swivel loo and around the stylish round basin, but the easy-to-use swing-wall shower is the winning feature (especially as, unlike some, it doesn’t feel flimsy).

Where to buy

Dreamer is represented by Thompson Leisure in Northern Ireland as well as four dealers on the UK mainland. 

These are – from north to south – Oakwell Motorhomes in Barnsley, Wokingham Motorhomes (the original Rapido dealer in Britain) in Berkshire, Highbridge Caravan Centre in Somerset and Harbour Creek Motorhomes on Hayling Island.