TheSamba.com :: View topic - What is the difference between a camper and a Kombi?

Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:49 pm

Hey guys,
I have had beetles, but my wife and i go camping alot and were thinking of getting a trailer but then i said hell lets get a camper bus bay window! SOLD!!!!
So i found a friend of mine that has a 1968 Kombi bus that i can get for free it has no motor or trans, and SOME of the interior and very little rust (im in utah so little rust is awesome) I thought all the camper bay windows were popable tops and he informed me it does not have a pop top! SO does that mean the roof is solid???? i havent seen a solid roof full camper! So what im trying to figure out is What is KOMBI BUS???? what does that mean exactly? i have heard Kombi for a while but i guess i dont REALLY know what that means!
And i figured you fine Gents would be the best place to ask!!!!

Thanks!

AJ

Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:56 pm

Combination, camping equipment is taken out during the week, bus is then used as a work vehicle, and camping equipment re-installed on weekends/ holidays (it was a term used for split buses and you could recognize them because they had one less back side window on each side…)

also a term used by Australians to describe bay window buses…

Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:43 am

Kombi (or combination as Lionhart said) is a base level VW Type 2 or Transporter in general designed for carrying heavy loads. I don't think it has a clear definition. T2 Transporter's are known as Bullis, Microbuses, Buses, Vans, Stationwagons, Campers, Weekenders, Combis, Kombis, Pop tops, Tin tops, and lots of other names.

Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:12 am

So do kombis not come with a pop top then? And how hard would it be to cut the roof and install a pop top???

Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:24 am

weekender was a Westfalia without a poptop.

Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:39 am

A Kombi could be nearly anything, it's originally VW's name for a bare cargo van with windows, a commercial working vehicle. Westfalia used a variety of specially ordered Kombi's as the base for thier conversions, most other camper conversions used base model Kombi's or panel vans depending on what the local dealer had a surplus of that week.

Yes you can add certain model pop tops to solid roof buses but if it's indeed a hardtop Westfalia (or even a clean OTW) it's likely more valuable left alone as some are getting very rare and desireable.

Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:01 am

busdaddy wrote: A Kombi could be nearly anything, it's originally VW's name for a bare cargo van with windows, a commercial working vehicle. Westfalia used a variety of specially ordered Kombi's as the base for thier conversions, most other camper conversions used base model Kombi's or panel vans depending on what the local dealer had a surplus of that week.

Yes you can add certain model pop tops to solid roof buses but if it's indeed a hardtop Westfalia (or even a clean OTW) it's likely more valuable left alone as some are getting very rare and desireable.

Thank you sir! The guy said it has the sink cabinet and the back cabinet and the back seat rail that folds into the bed, and has a hanock up front! So im going to guess it is a hardtop westfalia, I guess my question would be how can i tell if it is a Hardtop westfalia when i get it, hopefully this weekend???
I dont mind it being a hard top i dont love all the extra stuff on the roof (the look of it) and would love if its fully functional and a hard top! im 6'1'' so i always just thought they has pop tops and that is nice for being tall! So how can i tell for sure? if its worth more money im GAME!

Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:04 am

FYI the Westfalia pop tops were built from sunroof buses and have some extra reinforcement in the roof and Westphalia added some on the frame. So just cutting a standard style bus... Take care.

Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:48 am

ajbuggin8 wrote: So how can i tell for sure? if its worth more money im GAME!
There's a stamped metal plate on the bulkhead behind the LF seat painted body color, it's called the M plate and tells you when and how the bus was built at VW and if it was destined for the Westfalia factory what they planned for it. Take a clear picture and post it so we can decode it.

As for the tall issue? that's what side tents are for, most of the time the bus is just for laying down in or reaching in the door to get something out of the fridge. If it's just a roadside sandwich stop in the rain sitting around the table doesn't require too much standing up and you'll likely want to kick the kids out to run around anyways.

Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:55 am

busdaddy wrote:
doesn't require too much standing up and you'll likely want to kick the kids out to run around anyways.

My kids are two dogs for now lol and they always wanna run around! Thanks again, your awesome! if i can get up there this weekend i will take a photo and post it! its at the guys cabin up in the sticks and is a couple hours each way! so i need some muscle to get it onto the trailer! WINCH here we come! but seriously! i appreciate the help!

Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:15 am

You could do as busdaddy said, and post a photo of your m-code plate here, or you could use the link below to decode it yourself. It will tell you your bus' original color, where it was shipped to from the factory when new, and if it was a Westfalia. And a few other interesting bits as well!

http://vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN

Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:19 am

Pop tops can always be added later. Get it up and running and enjoy it as is. If your family grows later then find a sportsmobile or riviera and upgrade.

Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:35 am

Mal evolent wrote: weekender was a Westfalia without a poptop.

I think of a weekender as a poptop without a stove, refrigerator, and sink.

Aloha
tp