Shire Phoenix FL Twin campervan

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Ford Transit Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: TBA

Faced with long delivery delays of Fiat Ducato panel vans for conversion, some of the UK’s specialist van conversion motorhome makers have turned their attentions to alternative base vehicles. Murvi now builds around half of its production on the Ford Transit, usually in front-wheel drive form, but also on 4x4 versions. IH has added the Volkswagen Crafter to its repertoire.

And now Shire has unveiled this Ford Transit, as well as planning to also convert the Renault Master. It will use the French van in long-wheelbase front-wheel drive and extra-long rear-wheel drive versions, while the ‘big’ Transit (as opposed to the smaller Custom) is seen here in its longest, tallest form (offered only with power going to the rear axle).

The FL Twin (shown) and XLR Twin models from the Fiat-based Shire range can be adapted to suit the Ford, while a rear lounge layout might also follow. The show model was based on a secondhand Ford base vehicle, but the £55k price tag – a little more than for a Fiat as the base van costs more – includes a brand-new Transit with the 168bhp (170PS) engine as standard.

The Tranny is longer, though – 6.70m as opposed to the 6.36m of the longest Ducato – the main recipient being the rear garage. Open the back doors here and you’ll see floor-to-ceiling storage with a wall between this area and the washroom (with a door in the centre, so you could enter the motorhome this way if you’re wet and mucky). As well as gas and toilet servicing, the garage comes with shelving and plenty of room for all your outdoor camping gear.

Inside the main living area, the latest Phoenix model majors on a spacious front lounge and plenty of space for two to tour in comfort – there are no rear travel seats. There’s a long settee on the offside, a shorter settee on the nearside and a swivel passenger cab seat (the driver’s chair doesn’t turn). It’s a format that allows you to take full advantage of light and fresh air streaming in through the tall sliding door (above which an awning is mounted) on those (hopefully) warm summer days. Or you could eat outside as the table (stored on the overcab shelf) comes with a tripod base.

The lounge can also be converted quite easily into either twin single beds or a huge double. The Transit isn’t wide enough to sleep across but, whichever bed type you choose, length is a generous 6ft 5in. You’ll probably choose to sleep with heads towards the rear, though, to take advantage of the drop-down TV in the cab ceiling.

At first sight the kitchen doesn’t look so expansive, but in reality it has everything you could need. The main galley section is on the offside, where you’ll discover the Triplex cooker (three gas burners, combined oven and grill) and the sink. A dearth of worktop space is quickly solved by a very generous folding panel that lifts up over the settee. Usefully, there are three drawers under the sink, too.

Opposite, the furniture goes full height and there’s plenty of shelved cupboard space here, as well as a bigger wardrobe than in the equivalent Fiat-based layout. Also included on this side of the kitchen area, there’s an 85-litre Dometic 8-Series fridge (with a removable freezer section) and, above that, a fitted microwave.

Beyond the galley, the bathroom has a bench cassette toilet, a very large moulded washbasin and shelved storage behind the toilet. It’s a decent-sized space but you will need to deploy the curtain for showering.

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