Is it 30, 40 or even more?

Even VW itself has no answer to the question of how many bodybuilders and builders in Germany alone turn the Bulli into a camper.

In addition, there are our own interpretations of the leisure vehicle, the number of which has grown to three different series: Caddy California with minimal living equipment, Grand California based on the VW Crafter and of course the T6.1 California, the classic Bulli as a camping version in different variants.

The prices of their own products are steep.

For the small Caddy, in which people sleep inside and cook outside, 50,000 euros are quickly due with a powerful engine, automatic transmission and a few small, nice extras, and the price of a T6.1 California is close to the 100,000 euros limit bring, it does not require much effort.

The external VW camper makers do not offer their products much cheaper.

But the small traditional hobbyists or start-ups show an amazing variety of ideas and successfully refine the standard equipment with a sleeping bench in the rear, the kitchenette on the driver's side, a lifting roof for standing height and two additional sleeping places or turn to completely different interior designs.

A lifting or high roof even makes toilet rooms possible.

The kitchen then moves next to the locus in the rear, for sleeping the front seats and a folding bench in the middle of the car are converted.

Knaus Tabbert gets involved

While many of the small conversion specialists manage with little more than double-digit production volume in one year, a volume manufacturer is now entering the motorhome stage again.

Knaus Tabbert takes the T6.1 and turns it into a semi-integrated vehicle with two different layouts.

The Knaus Tourer CUV (Caravanning Utility Vehicle) is 5.88 meters long, and two layouts, the 500 MQ and the 500 LT, are on offer.

Both have a kitchen block with a 90 liter compressor fridge, sink and two-burner stove.

Heating and water heating work with diesel fuel.

A variable shower cubicle is the core of the hygiene compartment in the MQ. It is located on the driver's side between the front seating group and the double bed installed transversely at the rear.

When the shower is used, the dividing wall to the bed protrudes quite a bit into the lying area.

For sleeping, the height-adjustable shower is pushed down, then a gas spring with webbing folds the partition and positions it at the level of the bed base.

A square mattress is fitted, and the lying area is around 1.60 meters wide, easily enough for two people looking for peace and quiet.

The toilet can also be used without restriction in this configuration.

As an option, Knaus offers a sliding bed with two additional sleeping places above the driver's seats, the bicycle garage in the rear is always included.

The interior of the 500 LT is accessed through an entrance door at the rear. There is no folding shower here, but thanks to the swivel washbasin there is also an easily usable shower and toilet area.

Up to six dinner guests can be seated further forward in the face-to-face group, including the rotating seats for driver and front passenger.

Both layouts are also offered by the Weinsberg subsidiary for around 1,500 euros less. The price for the Knaus basic model with a 110 hp, 2.0-liter diesel is around 66,000 euros, for the largely fully equipped Vansation special model it is 79,500 euros due.