Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Taylored Campervans Eco Drifter 2.0

Sustainability is a key message from this converter, based in Barnstaple, and it goes a lot further than simply adding ‘Eco’ to the name of its latest, flagship conversion, which we spotted at the Southwest Motorhome & Campervan Show at Shepton Mallet. 

Maybe it was the £63,999 price tag that caught our attention first, or the fact that this VW was sporting the ‘swamper look’ with side bars and 18in Wolfrace Explorer wheels wearing General Grabber off-road tyres, but there’s more to this campervan than first meets the eye.

‘Eco’ isn’t just in the moniker of this conversion, Taylored Campervans even has an ‘Eco’ tab at the top of its website. The company is actively redesigning its conversions to use less materials, especially seeking a reduction of metal and plastic components. 

It says that it is always looking to use more sustainable replacements for the usual materials and, recognising that manufacturing always has a carbon footprint, also offsets this via north Devon tree-planting business, Trees For Good Causes. 

“Part of the Taylored pledge is to continue looking at every part of our business and challenging ourselves to do things differently in the pursuit of sustainability”, it says.

The spec

Of course, the VW is the part that doesn’t really change. It’s the ever-popular T6.1; a Highline with the 110hp engine and five-speed manual gearbox. 

It’s a 23-plate pre-registered van, effectively all but brand-new with just 300 miles on the clock, while the Candy White base vehicle also features a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, a glazed tailgate, multifunction steering wheel and App Connect.

More familiar features are the Westdubs M1-tested rear-hinged pop-top and the RIB seat/bed unit (both standard items from Taylored, although others can be installed), as well as the classic side kitchen layout. 

All the furniture is CNC-cut and everything bar the upholstery is done in-house. Soon, you’ll spot little differences like the finger holes to open cupboards, rather than plastic catches, and the elegant folding wooden leg for the table which attaches to the front of the galley without the usual metal rail.

Even screw caps are made in-house from wood, rather using plastic fittings.

The kitchen

An extra-cost option seen here is the Sterling Power induction hob, which is mated to a Clayton power unit with inverter. The company says a kettle can be boiled in less than two minutes and this gas-free option is ideal for those doing only a limited amount of cooking in their campervan.

 Alternatively, a two-burner gas hob is standard and a small oven or microwave are available as options.

With the flush cooker here, it’s nice to see a cover for the sink that matches the bamboo worktop (the rest of the cabinetwork here is in a birch finish with exposed edging). 

Behind the galley, you’ll find a Green Moss splashback and Vanshades blinds, while the end of the galley includes a top-loading cupboard. 

New, larger top lockers sit over the worktop there’s an unusual (and quite capacious) open ‘cubby corner’ alongside the rear seat. There’s just a single drawer above a 50-litre Sanjo fridge, while the main kitchen cupboards hide the portable 12-litre water carrier. 

The storage

Under the RIB seat, Taylored has integrated a step light, while storage here has been improved on this new model, with doors that are secured magnetically and room to stow a portable loo.

Summary

Other optional features on this show model included a Planar diesel heater and a long, thin 115W solar panel running the length of the pop-top. Another detail we liked was the company logo routed out of the base of the roof bed!

Where to buy

Taylored Campervans are supplied from the factory in Barnstaple, Devon, but we met up with the company at the Southwest Motorhome & Campervan Show at Shepton Mallet.