HILLSIDE LEISURE CROMFORD

Words & photos by John Page

THE ALTERNATIVE CONCEPT – THE CROMFORD SHOWS US HOW

Our first ever test of a Camper from Hillside Leisure of Derby – first seen and admired by us at the NEC Show in October. Here we have a different approach to the classic VW concept where the emphasis is on seating and the kitchen and washrooms tend to be basic. This dynamic looking vehicle manages to include a Motorhome size galley, ingenious washroom and four seater/sleeper berths. Only Auto-Sleeper’s Topaz offers a comparable specification but it has a price tag in excess of £50,000 compared to £43,036 for a new Cromford. This pre-registered test vehicle however is ready to drive away for £35,995. Cold grey November was not ideal weather for photography but the ever cheerful folk at Milestone in Cromwell made us welcome once again and the perky moorhens skittered across the water to give us the onceover. Eight degrees outside suggested it was time to switch on the Eberspacher for a warmer 18C wafted quietly from the duct at the base of the driver’s seat. Diesel powered with a frugal appetite it is an ideal motor caravan heater.

Construction

Based on a long wheelbase T5 Transporter with its tinted windows, alloy wheels and ultra sleek elevating roof, this cloud white Camper is a handsome vehicle. Was beauty more than skin deep though? Read on to learn what we found. First off lift the bonnet to check all fluid levels – fine and all the pipes and stuff as new. Indoors, with the sliding door open it’s time to release the locking lever to allow the elevating roof to glide upwards and give headroom from cab to washroom. Swivel the cab seats and the lounge is in comfort mode. I’ve mixed feelings on tinted rear windows because we prefer a true picture of the countryside but I’m aware they are a la mode for the younger generation.

The configuration has the cab area extending rearwards to a mid-point in the interior. Following is the really first class galley in two parts where the oven with grill is to the nearside and sink plus fridge opposite. Further back using the full vehicle width is the neat washroom with compact wardrobes. To the steel body H/S have added fabric covered insulated walls, a timber floor with a tough vinyl surface and carpeted cab.

Lifting the rear offside passenger seat cushion and base gives straightforward access for the Eberspacher heater, water pump, trip switches and 105Ah leisure battery. Of the elevating roof the simplicity of operating is noteworthy and the way it locks in position is immediately obvious. The upstairs double bed base within the roof is also simple to lower in place and raise with a gentle push.

 

In Motion

Without question Volkswagen based campers are both the quietest and most car-like of feel compared to the Fiat/Peugeot, Ford and Mercedes competition. It is partly to do with the trailing link rear suspension, partly to do with their range of people carriers and maybe the 60 years of development. The non-commercial look of them also has something to do with it. Under way the body and its interior were noiseless and the airflow virtually so due to the close fit of the elevating roof moulding. Sixty mph was equivalent to 2,500 rpm, with acceleration from whatever speed always brisk from the torque band figure of 1,500 – 2,000rpm

Wall to wall the turning circle of 13.2m is useful and mpg of something between 36 and 40mpg is achievable unless you’re practising for the RAC rally. We had cab air-con, good radio and CD performance, central locking of course and a certain superiority of manner that comes free for VW Camper drivers.

The Hillside Formulae

Study this small wonder to realise that ingenuity really has achieved the ideal of airy lounge, a galley worthy of the title and the compleat washroom facility. Furthermore, the all-important need for planned stowage in compact Motor Caravans has been well and truly realised. On space approximately 50% of the available capacity is lounge/diner, 35% is the galley with washroom occupying the remaining 15%. Dedicated cupboards and lockers in each section take advantage of space that the designer’s imagination realised could exist. So you find lockers at angles you wouldn’t expect, under worktops, and against the washroom walls. You may well reflect why hasn’t anyone thought of this or that before. Utter simplicity for the roof to raise is one spring-loaded lever to be moved a few inches anti-clockwise for the roof to lift from the power of its gas struts. A push upwards to the bed base has it lifting and there is now excellent headroom complete.

Two panels in the roof sides give fly-screened ventilation and a third clear panel also gives light but without the loss of vehicle warmth. A special mention for the simplicity and effectiveness of the Eberspacher heater, which, via the control switch against the offside lounge wall, has simple on/off, temperature, and fan-only buttons. At once obvious it makes others we’ve known antediluvian.

There are no instructions on how to sprawl so you will just have to decide whether to sit on a well shaped cab seat or the wider but somewhat flatter although softer dimension of one of the forward facing multi-function seats. Heaven forbid the thought of a laptop on a camping excursion but were you so maladjusted then the mains socket close by at floor level will allow relief to the addiction. There are also two more mains sockets well positioned in the galley.

 

Sleeping

Downstairs a simple but initially fussy procedure transforms all four seats into twin single beds with a provision to modify them into a ‘U’ shaped double should you be feeling energetic at bedtime. Comfortable? Yes after the cushion sort out and the drawing around of the elegantly sliding curtains on three sides of what is now a bedroom. For the intrepid upstairs sleepers a certain athleticism is helpful though roomy enough and with light and ventilation via the zipped apertures on both sides. LED lighting for the lounge cum bedroom and galley is well placed.

 

Galley

Brighter than your average Camper galley by a long chalk. On two sides of the Cromford bodywork is devised a well researched Camper galley that boasts good worktop space, a decent size oven with grill and three hob burners. Opposite a second kitchen unit has a rectangular sink with modern faucet, a 60-litre Waeco motor fridge and monitor control panel conveniently to hand.  Slide-out stowage below both units is ample for all manner of kitchenware and the pair of LED strip lights puts the illumination directly above where it’s needed in this feel-good Camper kitchen.

 

Washroom

Folding doors conceal the neat washroom cum toilet compartment facility. The loo is the bang up to date Dometic type with cassette neatly accessible and neat triangulated wash-basin in one corner. Here again stowage has been well addressed with wall lockers on both side of the area. For night time when one may well be not at peak awareness the switch for the LED striplight is easy to locate.

 

Stowage

Hillside deserves real credit for their total approach to the position, the capacity and the design of storage units throughout the Cromford. This is imagination applied to a vital part of Camper construction that can make all the difference to one’s enjoyment of the vehicle. Given WV Campers relative compact dimension the subject should be considered crucial yet all too often it’s an afterthought.

 

Summary

As the third successive Volkswagen Camper submitted to our tender mercies, all three of which are from independent family companies, they make a positive statement about inspiration, imagination and hard work. Each vehicle had something original to show but Hillside moved even further along with their superb operating German SCA elevating roof, inspired kitchen and washroom. The virtual absence of airflow or vehicle interior noise on the move was also something of a revelation and a quality to keep the pilot calm among today’s sometimes stressful road conditions. The VW two-section driver’s rear view mirror is a very positive piece of kit that eliminates the blind spot that can hide overtaking vehicles.

Exterior graphics were modest and neat, complete with some rather special alloy wheels, plus that inconspicuous roof moulding that hugs the VW shape. Inside, the simplicity and effectiveness of the Eberspacher heater was appreciated, as was its neat and quiet location under the offside rear passenger seat. The leisure battery, water pump and trip switches shared this position. For the clever kitchen and washroom take a glance at our pics to gain a partial impression of the real thing. And finally should you wonder at the names, alongside Cromford the Hillside line-up also includes the Ashover, Birchover, Thulston and Doveridge Campers, all named after Derbyshire villages.

 

TECHNICAL DATA

Vehicle specification: Hillside Leisure Cromford four-berth elevating roof Camper

Price of vehicle tested: £35,995

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Hillside Leisure, 2 Dunton Close, Derby, DE21 6XB. Tel: 01332 207 976

 

CONVERSION

Overall length: 5.29m

Overall width: 1.90m

Overall height: 2.00m

MPTLM: 3,000kg

Payload: 570kg

Construction:  Steel body with GRP elevating roof

Fresh water capacity: 64-litres

Waste water capacity: 30-litres

Gas storage capacity: 4.5kg

Auxiliary battery: 105 Ah

Refrigerator: 50 litres

Water heater: 6 litres

Space heater: Eberspacher diesel fuelled heater

Lighting: LED

Upholstery: Kadlle fabric

Other equipment fitted:

 

BASE VEHICLE

Type: VW T5 LWB

Power unit: Euro 5 2.0 TDI turbo diesel

Maximum power: 102 bhp @ 3500rpm

Maximum torque: 250 Nm @ 1,500 – 2.000 rpm

Transmission: 5 – speed manual to front wheels

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking: servo assisted system to all wheel discs with ABS

 

PERFORMANCE

Fuel consumption: 38.7 MPG VW figures

Maximum speed: 94 MPH VW figures

Comfortable cruising speed 65-70 mph