Which camper would you buy? Winnebago or Westfalia?

[vw_dude]

I wondered which ones are more sought after...

[Zeitgeist 13]

Assuming you're talking about the T4, then the Westfalias were never available here in the US in full camper form, so the Winnebagos were your only options. Objectively I think most folks would prefer the Westfalias on the basis of design and execution of the camping bits.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[CdnVWJunkie]

The poster is located in Canada Casey.

I've had both the T4 Winne and Westfalia. The Westfalia is hands down a better quality unit. The Winne was only build on the LWB chassis which is nice but other than that I can't think of anything advantageous. The fit and finish of the Westy, the roof construction quality, the upholstery- all better.

[vw_dude]

Winne fridge is better.

[CdnVWJunkie]

Hmm. The winne fridge style- front open is better. More aftermarket options. Not sure I'd agree the fridge itself is any better.

[Abscate]

I camp 3x yearly, tow boat 3x yearly , and then use my T4 BusVan Weekender Poptop as backup rest of year. There is no way I would want to lug the camper weight around all year. YMMV
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.ssS!

[vw_dude]

[swsl]

Depends on if you are sleeping alone or ok as a couple in small beds. The US Winnie camper has two narrow beds. the Weekender has a queen size below.

For us, that was the deciding factor and very glad to have more room and less furniture inside the van. Creative storage and outside camp kitchen works for us.

Portable chest fridges are the best option for us also.

[TDCTDI]

Given the increase in size & aside from having a few more amenities, the Winnebago conversions are a horrible floor plan that wastes just about all of the increased space. I have no clue as to why people want to cook in their bedroom. If camping, I would much rather have the additional space for gear/sleeping accommodations than to clutter it up with kitschy stovetop/refrigerator that rarely gets used & more often than not, doesn't work properly. Then, if you do decide to go camping, you're relegated to parking lot camping in the Winnebago as it's extra girth & length make it difficult/impossible to maneuver down trails or even windy roads.

During one of my trips, I decided to check out the access roads to see the New River Gorge bridge, even though fairly wide & paved, just the first two or three switch backs would have put a Winnebago Eurovan in precarious conditions.
But it wouldn't have gotten to this point.

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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[vw_dude]

I was talking about campers, not vans (Weekenders).

[TDCTDI]

Then I would suggest the Westfalia, they are much better planned use of space. Get into both, spend some time getting acquainted with the layout of each & make your decision. The Winnebagos are also a wiring clusterfu#*, there is no schematic that I have found & damn near all the wires are white.

Also, take into consideration just how much more size & weight is added in the Winnebago conversion, this is especially important depending on whether you're looking at the early 5 cylinder vs the later 6 cylinder versions in both performance & braking.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Zeitgeist 13]

When we're camping in ours I often think that I could use those extra few inches found on the LWB vans. It can get kinda cramped in there when the bed is deployed. I really wish the Weekenders had the same removable driver side seat like the MVs. When I install vinyl flooring, I'm going to weld in the receptacles for the MV seat, and then ditch that space hog.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[vw_dude]

Ok, another probe:

what transmission would you pick, auto or manual?

[Zeitgeist 13]

I prefer driving the auto, but the manuals have proven to be less problematic and expensive to repair.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Broseph Stalin]

I like the Winnebago conversion, but haven't owned the Weekender so I can't compare the two. It's nice to have the living necessities inside the van. It can be a pain cooking and washing outside.

The LWB Winnie certainly needed a lift and 16" wheels, but that wasn't expensive. I like having a built in LP furnace, a 3-way fridge, sink, water pump.

[Zeitgeist 13]

It really depends on your purposes and needs. For lots of us the camping is purely recreational, so sprawling out into the campsite is perfectly fine. But, if you're boondocking/stealth camping, having all those amenities on the inside makes sense. I lived in my '67 Split for a year while stealth camping in the Cap Hill/U-district areas of Seattle when I was twenty, so I get why folks like the self-contained setups.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[vw_dude]

Camper and a van are totally different animals and dont understand why would you even try to compare. My question was purely about comparing the camper conversions, Winne and Westy. My impression was that in North America Winne is more sought for and appreciated...

[Joshwa]

The westfalia camper was not available in the US up until recently, now that the oldest has reached 25 years. Yes the Winnie’s would be more sought after previously, because the westfalia, with an “f”, was just not available.
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93 Weekender TDI conversion (AHU)
93 MV TDI conversion (1Z)
Weekender rear cot
Late model cabin air filter on 93
Euro spec bumper install on 93

[Zeitgeist 13]

A Weekender is both a van and a camper, which is why it keeps coming up in the discussion.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Broseph Stalin]

Boondocking is about all I do, solo or family & friends, it will be in dispersed NF camping or BLM land. Not a fan of campgrounds. It's nice when the weather is uncooperative to have the amenities inside warm and dry.

The furnace is a big deal for me, and the 16 inches extra interior length with the LWB is fine with me. This '95 has a SidewinderII awning https://www.nwrvsupply.com/manuals/cc_sidewinder_ii_eurovan_installation.pdf with tabs for two ground stakes on each ground leg. I doubt it will stand strong winds, which are typical when camping, so the inside amenities to me sound better taking that into consideration.

There's always many factors to consider with recreation vehicles. For me, the Weekender would have come up short on too many factors. I have a 19 foot travel trailer that is offroad capable, has all the amenities, tow it with a lifted V8 4Runner, but I get about 10mpg towing it and there's places it just cannot go.

Hence the Winnie Eurovan, I get some of this and some of that compared to the trailer. Conveniences other than an inside toilet, hot water shower, can go 350 miles on one tank of fuel, gets places in one piece the trailer & 4Runner cannot.