VW T4 Transporter SWB 888 Special
Located in Cooksbridge, 5 minutes drive from Lewes and 20 minutes from Brighton.
Our family of three have been the happy owners of “Nest” for the past 18 months. Since being blessed with a fourth family member we are now having to part with our lovely camper which only seats three.
With a king size bed in the back to sleep two people, we separately purchased a camping bed which lies across the two front seats to provide a child-sized bed (our 10 year old was very comfy there). We also purchased some secure deadlocks for all doors including the tailgate, which were fitted very well by LMC Security Ltd based in Brighton. This meant we could park up the van with added comfort that it wasn’t going to be broken into.
We have enjoyed some incredible trips, most notably our 4 weeks across the Hebrides last year.
The van was converted professionally by Nada Nook (@nadanook_workshop) and sold to a previous owner, who due to a change in circumstances sold it to us after only owning for a short while. So the conversion is now approximately 2 years old.
“Nest” is a cost, flexible little camper/day van that is packed with features. The use of Oak, Pine and Elm gives a homely cabin feel. Originally with multicoloured upholstery (see original advert), we went for a more natural look adding neutral coloured seat covers. If you are looking for a bit more colour these can just be unstitched to reveal the original covers beneath.
The T4 is very easy to manoeuvre and due to it’s size will park in regular parking bays. Registered in 2003 which was the T4’s last year of production, this van is now regarded as a classic with a bit of a cult status (we enjoyed a toot and a wave from van enthusiasts on our travels).
The van is a very reliable runner and we recently added a new battery and exhaust.
Mileage is just over 100k which is very low for these vehicles which are very comfortable running over 200k miles.
Full strip out and clean down, followed by dodo Mat Thermo Liner Pro 10mm on all floor, walls, doors and ceiling panels. This product gives incredible sound deadening and insulation, instantly transforming the van into a quiet and fully insulated living space. The entire van was covered, even the cab – making the van an absolute pleasure to drive.
A ribbed auto carpet in a retro chestnut colour – paired with an Osmo-stained lightweight timber cladding to give the classic ‘cabin in the woods’ vibe. The lower benches have been painted with 100% VOC free Little Knights paint in a cool ‘Almond Latte’ colour that compliments the wood tones. A hard-wearing LVT oak flooring, bespoke timber details and clever matt black touch/dim LED spotlights round off the living space.
The layout in Nest is a reverse L-shaped bench directly behind the driver & passenger seats – giving comfortable seating for up to four, with views out of the sliding door & rear tailgate. The lagun table mount offers plenty of positions for the beautiful elm tabletop, however you want to sit in the van that day! The space underneath the bench seats houses the Renogy electrical system, Alpicool coolbox & Thetford Porta Potti, with the remainder offering decent storage for such a compact camper.
The original upholstery is a multi-coloured line block print in a durable fabric, with a medium/firm memory foam bench cushion. This has been recovered with neutral upholstery, which can be unstitched to reveal the original if preferred. When bedtime comes around, a couple of extra bench tops fill in the galley + the foam backer cushions to make a generous King-sized bed (150cm wide x 190cm long) sleeping down the van with a new epic view from the foot of the bed every day! If you are travelling with a child who would like their own space, there is a cab bed which slots together and perfectly fits the space over the front seats.
The kitchen in Nest is built across the rear tailgate – cleverly offering access from both inside the van and from a standing position under the tailgate. This space is dominated by the stunning live-edge solid elm worktop – along with the unique hand-hammered copper sink & handmade copper tap. The control panel & storage nook house all of the essential systems controls & charging points for the van – along with little shelves, hooks and rails for more storage. Underneath the chunky elm there is another pull out chunk of oak to cook/prep on, a decent sized drawer, space for dry & fresh food storage and 2 x 13L cold water storage for the sink.
The flip top 35L Alpicool CF35 coolbox lives in its very own under-bench compartment just inside the sliding door for easy access. If needed, the coolbox can easily be lifted out and moved to the rear kitchen area if the chef desires, and being portable, you can even load it up with cold beers and take it to the beach for a sundowner session!
Cooking is taken care of with the excellent Vango Sizzle Twin Induction Hob. This unit can run very happily from the 2000W Renogy Inverter, coupled with the 200Ah Lithium Battery Bank – meaning all of your meals are now solar powered! No need for LPG!
Heating is via the MV Airo 2Kw Diesel Heater underneath the driver’s seat. This is connected to the main fuel tank to ensure there is effectively an unlimited amount of run time for the unit. Even on a freezing cold morning, the heater will bring the interior up to a toasty 20 degrees within 15 minutes!
The electricals in Nest are top knotch with Renogy components + 200Ah of lithium giving a fully off-grid system that will power everything in the van for at least 5 days without a charge. Even so, the 200W Flexi solar panel + DC-DC charger will ensure the battery bank is always topped up – with the mains hook up always there as a back up if needed. The 2000W inverter powers 2x 230V outlets – so you can cook on the Vango Sizzle, as well as charge laptops and even run a coffee machine on the road if you fancy yourself as a bit of a barista! Quick charge USB outlets are also provided, along with standard issue 12v outlets. The Renogy R1 touchscreen + Renogy App give you complete control over the system to monitor & tweak as you desire.
The cab in Nest is standard, with the original VW ‘Inca’ print captain’s seats with armrests. The head unit has been upgraded with the excellent Sony AX8150 unit featuring 9” touch screen, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, DAB radio and much more. The speakers have also had a revamp, with new Sony dash components and larger 6×9 speakers on the bulkhead. You now have Sat Nav, Spotify and WhatsApp/Facebook/SMS on the move!
With low miles, great mechanicals + a full Raptor respray on the outside – coupled with the beautiful handmade interior + high specification throughout, Nest is definitely a one-of-a-kind day-van/camper that will bring many happy adventures out on the road!
The reverse L-shaped bench converts into a King-size bed (190cm long x 150cm wide)
Optional cab bed to comfortably sleep a child (165cm long x 60cm wide)
Please note: Quirky Campers do not inspect the listings for accuracy or check campervans in person. We have asked sellers to provide evidence of certificates and paperwork however you MUST check yourself that the information provided is present and correct. You will need to exercise the normal due diligence when buying any vehicle.
Quirky loves this style means that Quirky Campers would potentially approve this vehicle for hiring. However, Quirky have not approved a Gas Safe certificate, a Weighbridge certificate, or the vehicle's electrics. Buyers must check these themselves. For some tips on what to look out for read this. If the listing has no Gas Safe certificate, no unladen weight and no electrical sign-off please proceed with caution!
Insurance options are available through our partner, Ripe Insurance.
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