Orange Campers Trouvaille MWB rising roof campervan

A longer van gives you more options…

Words and photos: Peter Vaughan

The Orange Campers Trouvaille MWB

Orange Campers was originally a one-model converter, building its Trouvaille Classique on the short-wheelbase (4.99m long) Fiat Ducato. 

The side kitchen layout was definitely ‘classique’ but using the wider, flatter-sided Fiat panel van created a lot more interior space than in a similar-length VW Transporter. 

The plan seemed to be working well, with a niche product that struck a chord with sufficient customers. Err, right up until 2022 when Fiat decided to cull numerous derivatives of the Ducato LCV, including the short-wheelbase panel van…

Richard Tomlin, the family man behind Orange Campers, immediately planned a medium-wheelbase version of the Trouvaille but the development of a new model, combined with chassis supply difficulties, has kept us waiting. 

Layout options

In the meantime, we’ve seen new models on the smaller Fiat Scudo and Ford Transit Custom, but now the wait for the longer Trouvaille is over and Richard hasn’t just stretched the side kitchen of the original, although that format is still available as the layout option 1 (from £70,999).

More interesting – and well worth the wait – is this layout option 2 derivative shown here.

The fact that the roof hinges from the front gives more than a hint to the layout inside, which has a pair of individual RIB seats up front and the kitchen and toilet at the rear – a complete change from the company’s previous designs.

The cab spec

At this point, we should explain a couple of details about the prototype in our images. Firstly, the Citroën chevrons on the grille rather than a Fiat badge. 

Chassis availability again, but production models will be on the Series 9 Ducato with a 10in screen including sat-nav, climate control, cornering/fog lights, full digital instrumentation, parking sensors, reversing camera and the 140hp motor – all included in the £72,999 price tag. 

Another change concerns the pop-top (Orange Campers’ own, with a choice of canvas colours) which will give more headroom at the front of the vehicle in future. 

Or, you can have your Trouvaille as a high-top, using Fiat’s factory high roof. 

The beds

Richard designs his campers with families in mind, so it’s no surprise to discover a 6ft-long bed in the pop-top and an even longer bed could be fitted, if required.

The rear seats also have Isofix and forward and sideways sliding mechanisms. The former allows the seats to recline, the latter means they can slide together to make a 6ft by 4ft double bed. 

Crucially, the beds (either as singles or a double) do not use the cab seats, with feet going under the furniture towards the rear.

The lounge

One issue with this style of floorplan in a Ducato is the much higher floor in the cab, compared with the main living area. Orange Campers minimises this issue by fitting approved, lowered cab seat bases, so when these seats are swivelled they are not too much higher than those in the back.

There’s a neat flip-up table on the offside wall, while an island leg table caters for meal times. Then, for relaxing, you can turn the offside seat into a settee. 

At the rear

It’s at the back where the benefits of this layout really shine through, both with a cassette loo in the offside corner (and a bifold screen to provide privacy) and the generous storage and worktop for the cook. 

A three-burner hob is standard, with an oven available as an option, while practical touches include a hose-style tap, two bins and lots of drawers. 

Storage also includes a 90-litre compressor fridge, a wardrobe with a shelf or hanging rail (customer choice), drawers under the back seats and even specific homes for four outdoor chairs and your levelling wedges.

You can just tell that Richard uses his own campervans (you can try one, too, as hire is available).

All the rest

The comprehensive spec also includes a 160W solar panel, an external barbecue point, two 95Ah leisure batteries (lithium optional), an underslung 25-litre gas tank, 90-litre fresh and 40-litre waste water tanks (underslung and insulated), while heating can be gas or diesel. But it’s the attention to sensible, practical details that really impresses with this latest Trouvaille.

Where to buy

Orange Campers is based in Rotherham but you can also see its vehicles at many of the Warners outdoor motorhome shows. If you want to try before you buy, it also offers campervan hire from £145 per night (for a minimum of three nights).