Torbay Nimbus Volkswagen LWB Camper

IN THE BEST POSSIBLE TASTE RAPIDLY

Words and photos by John Page

Nimbus out of Torbay is the essence of what a modern dual purpose Camper is all about.  It looks a million dollars, rides like a Rolls and can fly like the wind if you’re mad enough to use the full performance it is capable of. As a people carrier it excels, gobbling up the miles with the absolute minimum of hassle and the driver unfazed no matter what. Our first drive – Shepton Mallet to Newark was that rare phenomenon today, 200 miles that felt like 100 miles. Also considering the melange of road types and conditions, 35 miles to each gallon of diesel was pretty fair. With this Nimbus ultra low elevating roof version Torbay have succeeded in creating a four-berth totally practical Camper to double as everyday family bus and leisure vehicle in one elegantly compact package. The floor plan is deceptively simple; up front the four seats are not only comfortable they’re superior to many cars seats by virtue of being more upright and natural of position. Across the rear ingenious kitchen and storage units are capable of stowing the food and tackle to prepare meals for four and all this within living space complete with generous headroom when the roof is raised. Beyond the basics however is a vehicle of sophisticated technology when mobile or stationary.

Construction

Take a look at the Nimbus with a critical eye and what you will see is a conversion utterly in harmony with the base vehicle. And this applies to the windows, the roof and the interior. She’s steel bodied with a GRP elevating roof following the normal roof line so closely that when lowered the overall height of 1995mm is a bare 26mm higher than the standard VW height for this type of vehicle. Low enough to squeeze under most height barriers therefore although it’s always best to check first. Roof walls and the floor are insulated with new tech materials of low bulk but a good thermal rating. Good technology is also at the heart of the mechanisms to raise and retract the roof, to swivel the cab seats and convert all four forward facing seats to a pair of single beds.

On the Road

Volkswagen factory options Torbay specified for this demonstrator included air conditioning, parking sensors, fog lights, and the 17-inch Solace alloy wheels; the latter giving that little bit better ride than the standard 16-inch type. For power we were spoiled with my favourite, five cylinder, 2.5-litre turbo diesel and the six-speed Tiptronic auto gearbox to deliver it so you won’t be surprised to hear that driving Nimbus was a real pleasure. I’m not sure just how it works but a heating characteristic that that kept us snugly warm in the parky mid-January weather is biased to quickly spread the warmth evenly within the seating area rather than belt it out at high pressure through the dashboard vents. Heated front seats quickly effective from cold were another welcome VW special in the seriously cold snap in late January. And airbags for both front seat occupants, not yet mandatory, are another. Music and news on the move always welcome of course, provided here by VDO and probably made in Germany – so far so good but why is it necessary to have eleven pages of instruction that would certainly confuse were you trying to recall them when driving. If written in plain English one page would surely suffice to give the music, news or CD without distraction.

So just why is driving this camper such a joy?  For a start the ride quality is akin to what you expect from a modern car – a lot to do with the trailing link independent rear suspension, still without equal, in spite of incredible improvements to contemporary leaf springing. Superb low noise levels stem from the aerodynamic shape of the body and its low roof, the flush VW windows all round and the insulation fitted by Torbay. Traction acquires its smooth delivery initially from the five-cylinder long stroke motor processed by the closeness of ratios in the six-speed Tiptronic auto gearbox. New technology in the shape of ultra high-pressure fuel injection and turbo charging but proven old-fashioned principles.  Enough already, what’s in it for the driver? Beautiful seats, adjustable every which way, instruments and controls of obvious operation, and the partly indefinable pleasure to be had in a Vee Dub cockpit as you settle down. Calming too, even when a moron in a Merc saloon overtook us on a blind left hand bend. I imagine the other driver coming towards us had kittens.

Sprawling or Eating

First raise the roof – a simple process of releasing front security straps before you leave the cab, then standing right at the back use the release lever to undo locking pins on both sides and push up the roof after opening the tailgate or a sliding door. It’s a touch heavy at first until the gas struts take over. Push the roof bed up easily on its struts and you’ve bags of headroom all round. Closing the roof again the canvas side panels needed just a little encouragement to do their automatic tucking away after lowering the bed and re-engaging the side locks. Rotating the cab seats is a smooth operation with the cab doors slightly opened momentarily and now up to four people have ample space to lean back, relax and enjoy the mountains. Soft grey is the restful theme for the fabrics and wall coverings with rather sombre black curtains for which no doubt Torbay could supply a brighter alternative. On the subject of dark tinted side windows I’m ambivalent but I will admit they have their uses in a Camper to frustrate the curious or the felonious from peering inside. In weather more clement than we experienced in January, sliding doors on both sides, tailgate open and windows in the roof sides unzipped, Nimbus would be the very tool in which to enjoy the halcyon days. Optional heating will be from gas or diesel fuelled blown air types, the latter preferable for its economy and convenience independent of the bottled gas supply.

At mealtimes the table is by Volkswagen, to be retrieved from its recess in the offside sliding door. It’s very ingenious but awkward only just squeezing into the available floor space. The sensible alternative by Torbay is a simple, practical table supported by a removable island leg slotting into the floor.

Sleeping

With four beds comfortably exceeding 1.82m (six feet) in length Nimbus can properly claim to be a true four-berth Camper. Accessibility and ease of make-up present no problems although climbing into the upper double bed calls for a degree of athleticism. Single beds downstairs are remarkable for their simple preparation. With both cab seats in situ facing to the rear, it is only necessary to fold each rear seat squab up and over to meet the front ones and fold down the rear seat backrests. An easy to grasp lever for each adjustable cushion releases or locks each cushion securely in place. Without hassle and retaining the gangway through to the flushing toilet or the cab, these are indeed comfy single beds. It is of course possible to create a doubled bed alternative by sliding the pair of rear seats inward and filling the cab between the cab seats with cushions shaped for that purpose.

Kitchen

Galleys for Campers come in all shapes and sizes yet it’s not too difficult to categorize them. One, there is the minimalist type with a sink hardly big enough to wash a couple of toy plates and a single hob burner to support a small kettle or tiny pan. Two, more common are those with a fair size sink and drainer, two burners and a grill, plus 40/50 –litre fridge. With that sort you could expect sufficient locker space for the cooking machinery and enough food for at least a weekend away. Then we have three for the current breed of LWB high-top Campers of around 5.9m length, cookers, fridges sinks and a layout to challenge some of the Motorhomes. So where does Nimbus fit in? It doesn’t but the nearest is somewhere between 2 and 3, by virtue of good worktop space, decent size sink with drainer, two burner hob and grill with spark ignition and, one of the highly efficient compressor fridges at 40-litres capacity. Lots of spare locker capacity for all the food machinery, and in this instance, 38-litres of fresh water capacity, one of the optional microwave ovens, plus the separately housed gas cylinder locker. Good lighting and a view in two directions for the galley slave.

Stowage

Let’s be candid, in a camper of this dimension you’ve got to be tidy or a slomick. Tidy is less stressful and all it really takes is firstly to list only that which is going to be used. Then to pack it away with care and remembrance. Nimbus has an apology for a wardrobe but some space to spare in the galley, fair capacity beneath the rear seats and more behind them if you leave  the double bed cushions at home. There are picnic chairs stashed inside the tailgate and if you are prepared for a bit of extra weight when raising the roof an awning perhaps lashed onto roof rails. It’s also surprising how many maps; books and drink containers can be crammed into the door pockets.

Summary

Nimbus is a specific slant on the town carriage, fast tourer, and short-term Camper idea. The only camper that will begin to match it for ride quality and low noise will be another VW. I reiterate it is a super drive. It is not an all-weather Camper unless you have the diesel heater option and leave it on most of the time when the temperature hits bottom. However, around the Riviera Mediterranean or English, you will have all the fresh air and light you need and an awning would gild the Lilly. You can take it shopping without hassle or cruise to two or three hundred miles in a day and not believe you’ve done it. For me, its high-top sibling would be the one to expand its potential in all directions.

Vehicle Data

Vehicle specification: Torbay Camper Conversions Ltd, Nimbus 4-berth elevating roof camper. Price of vehicle tested: £42,340. Basic price with the 2.5-litre, 130bhp engine £35,896 Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Torbay camper Conversions Ltd, Lummaton Quarry Industrial Estate, Happaway Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 8ES

Conversion

Overall length: 5.29m

Overall width: 2.05m (mirrors folded)

Overall height: 1.99m

MTPLM: 3,200kg

Payload: 800kg

Construction: Steel body with GRP roof, insulated walls, floor and roof.

Fresh water capacity: 38-litres

Gas storage: One 907 Camping Gaz cylinder

Auxiliary battery: 110ah

Refrigerator: Waeco 40-litre compressor fridge for 12v and 2400v

Space heating: Optional diesel blown air installation

Lighting: mix of halogen strip lights and flexible tungsten fittings

Upholstery: automotive quality, Volkswagen Box fabric

Other equipment fitted: 17” Solace alloys, Tiptronic AT, pearl paint finish, privacy glass, parking sensors, AC, marine blinds, Chrome styling pack, microwave oven, front fog lights

Base Vehicle

Type: Volkswagen LWB Camper Specification T5

Power unit: five cylinder. 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel

Maximum power: 130bhp @ 3,500rpm

Maximum torque: 340Nm @ 2,000

Transmission: six-speed Tiptronic automatic

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking system: servo assisted system with ventilated discs and ABS

Performance

Fuel consumption: 35mpg

Maximum speed: Volkswagen quote 98mph

Comfortable cruising speed: 60-70mph