Ready For Action

Camping & Caravanning Magazine does an ActionVan weekend

FIRSTLY, I need to point out that I'm not a regular windsurfer or mountain biker. However, ActionVan's take on the Volkswagen T32, inspired by an early conversion undertaken for retailer Fat Face, makes me yearn to be both. The van is designed for sports enthusiasts, with internal racking for your surfboards, tailgate racks for your mountain bikes, a roof rack for a roofbox and a spacious under-bed storage area. My family and I took the van away for two nights at the Club's Camping in the Forest site at Holmsley in the New Forest. It proved ample for the four of us when used in conjunction with our pup tent. The small, functional kitchen area has a two-burner hob, sink with pumped water and 50-litre Waeco fridge with a freezer compartment. Making best use of this space you can fit in a kettle, cutlery, crockery, pots, pans, gas cylinder, hook-up cable and food supplies. Admittedly, dining for four was a little cramped but the

ActionVan is probably more a unit for two to use day-to-day. ActionVan itself is a custom conversion specialist based near Curdridge in Hampshire. It designs and builds conversions for outdoor sporting enthusiasts and also offers conversions for hire. With this particular van, the company has done a grand job. I found the quality of the fittings to be excellent and the rear double bed comfortable. And if you need even more room, the interior board racking and extra travelling seats can be quickly removed. This adds up to a unit that is both practical and functional to use for the purpose

it's designed for. Two things that struck me were how well you can illuminate the unit at night – the bright LEDs coming into their own for reading – and how quickly the blown-air heating warms the unit, with just a minute or two between being chilly and comfortably warm. I like the simplicity of using this type of van, and being able to pitch up on site, fill up with water and plug in the hook-up cable is a great attraction for me – not to mention people who want to concentrate on getting out on their boards or bikes. With that in mind, this ActionVan is highly suited to the outdoor sports market. Our stay in the New Forest was more sedentary than sprightly. However, I found myself asking whether I see our family enjoying more adventurous pursuits in the future. In this type of van, I certainly hope so.

For information on our hire service click here