Jack's Shack VW T6.1 campervan

Base vehicle: VW Transporter Price from: £74,495 Berths: 4 Travel seats: 4 Length: 4.90m Width: 1.90m Height: 1.95m Gross weight: 2,800kg Payload: 700kg

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Jack’s Shack VW T6.1

Back in January, at the Motorhome & Campervan Sale, Peterborough, this campervan stood out. Partly, perhaps, that was down to the unusual pale colour, a non-metallic hue called Flannel Grey. Even more striking were the wheels, a set of on-trend smooth 20in alloys with a plain, dark graphite finish. Appropriately, they’re called Navis Schmoov.

Described by its converter as “a bit of a show pony”, this nameless camper – priced at £74,495 – is, we’re told, the most expensive conversion yet from Leicestershire-based Jack’s Shack. The exterior design goes beyond just a set of eye-catching rims, though. The suspension has been lowered and there are side bars and a deep front splitter – street cred is ensured, just watch out for ground clearance on a camping field.

What’s included

Befitting its top-of-the-range status, this camper is based on a 150PS Transporter T6.1 SWB with DSG gearbox. And it has all the toys. The spec includes VW’s 6.5in touchscreen with App-Connect, Bluetooth and DAB radio, as well as Nav Pro sat-nav and a rear view camera.

Also featured here on the VW are cruise control with speed limiter, an automatic post-collision braking system, automatic headlights with coming home function, front fog lamps, electric tailgate release, electric folding mirrors, rear parking sensors and a detachable towbar.

The conversion then starts with a Skyline Scenic elevating roof that can be fully opened up at the front for the sort of maximum ventilation you might need when your summer tour takes in the Costa del Sol. There’s a roof bed, too, and a solar panel mounted on the lid.

The interior

Inside, Jack’s Shack says it has moved the design on a little with this latest model. There’s a different look for the cabinets and more storage than before, too. Jack’s Shack seems to have hit the mark with its target of offering more storage, while also getting a tad more adventurous in the design, using bolder colours, etc. Here, the two-tone white/blue furniture gives the conversion a fresh look that isn’t just a copy of every other VW T6.

Much less revolutionary is the rear bench seat as, here, Jack’s Shack has stayed loyal to the popular RIB unit. It folds down easily enough to make a 1.84m by 1.12m double bed, while privacy is provided by concertina blinds from Vanshades – they match the blue interior theme, so perhaps the seat fabric should also have been something a bit more inspiring than VW’s drab grey cloth. There’s a lot of grey carpet trim on the walls, too, where others have moved on to more modern finishes.

The kitchen

Looking at the galley in more detail reveals a combination hob and sink unit in stainless steel with split glass lids from Lavanda RVmate, a Chinese company. The fridge is a more familiar 50-litre compressor model from Dometic.

There’s a cutlery drawer above the fridge, while in the cupboard alongside is a simple 12-litre water carrier supplying cold H­O to the sink. Cupboard doors have soft-closing mechanisms. Alongside the sink is a reasonable area of worktop for meal preparation with two 230V power points, two USBs and a 12V socket behind, but you’ll have to move your kettle and lift the lid here to access the deep top-loading cupboard. In here, there’s even a false floor, revealing an even deeper ‘hidden’ locker beneath. More storage is provided by the top mini-cupboards above the kitchen window.

Finally, the tall rear corner unit has a black tambour door that opens to reveal shelved space rather than a hanging wardrobe. There’s a decent-sized boot area, too.