2013 Volkswagen T28 Camper

This is a very smart and presentable example of a facelifted Volkswagen T5 campervan (sometimes called a. T5.1), with only two owners from new. Power comes from a 140PS 2.0-litre turbodiesel via a six-speed manual gearbox. The rear is equipped with a pop-up Skyline roof, split-charge system, night heater and all the extras you could hope for in a vehicle that is destined to make the most out of summer.

The conversion uses bespoke handiwork as well as off-the-shelf parts, creating a safe and modern living space that’s not too flashy – a beautiful result, we reckon. It’s fully insulated under the floor and behind the carpeted walls, and the rear “rock ‘n roll” seats (which have fitted seatbelts) fold flat into a bed. There’s also a sleeping platform in the roof, so the campervan can comfortably sleep a family of four.

Being a Highline model, it carries a few more gadgets and gizmos than the basic Startline version, so in the cockpit you’ll find satnav, electric windows, cruise control, and Bluetooth, with buttons on the steering wheel.

“It’s very smooth and easy to drive, and it’s been ‘plug and play’ ever since we’ve had it – just really reliable,” says its owner. “I wanted something that my wife could use regularly, as well as take us and the kids on trips away, so it had to something we could depend on, and it’s been just that. As soon as you start the engine it gives you the confidence to drive to France or wherever. We’ve been all over the country in it, and to France, and it’s never let us down.”

On the whole this is an extremely presentable vehicle. Look closely and you’ll find a few nicks and scratches we ought to mention, the worst being some kerbing to the off-side front wheel, and the front wing on the same corner which has also received a bit of a dent, shown in our images.

Other than that, the blemishes are only skin deep; various chips to door edges and a few light scratches, that sort of thing – and all signs of being “lived with” rather than incautiously driven. 

Most importantly, there are no major dents, misaligned panels or any signs of corrosion to worry about, and everything appears very original. The lamps are all clear and in good condition, as is the glass. Privacy glazing is fitted to the rear barn doors and to both sides, where the glass also slides to open. The Skyline roof operates well, and pops up to reveal smart and undamaged canvas, showing no signs of mould.

A 400W solar panel is discretely fitted to body-coloured mounting brackets on top of the Skyline roof.

The tidy condition of the rubber flooring and plastics around the cabin indicate very careful ownership, especially considering this van has been a daily driver for at least part of its life.

Everything is said to function as it should – with the minor exception of the Bluetooth system which the owner admits can be intermittent, seeming to prefer some phones to others. The issue is easily overcome with a cheap 12v gadget from Amazon.

The leather seats have come from the even posher Sportline model; they have a well-used patina, which would mostly disappear with the use of some leather restorer, although the driver’s seat has a couple of split seams which would require more skill. 

You’ll find buttons around the steering wheel, with a few toys such as voice activation and parking sensors (maybe that’s why the bumpers haven’t been clobbered) so all the family can feel happy behind the wheel. 

The camper conversion:

The owner bought this vehicle as a van from the electrician who had owned it from new. During Covid, he and his wife together set about the conversion, using professional companies for the more complex installations.

The split-charge system was installed by the owner in partnership with a professional electrician. The system runs two leisure batteries, totalling a generous 300Ah, which are powered by both the engine’s alternator (when the engine is running) and by the 400W solar panel on the roof (when it is not). Current is converted to 240v by a Victron Phoenix 1200W pure sine wave inverter – sine wave being the recommended choice for powering electronics such as phones and laptops. These are all fairly meaty specifications for a van of this size, so you should have no problem powering all your devices away from home.

To keep you warm at night, a heater – located underneath the vehicle – supplies warm air into the driver’s footwell and into the rear behind the driver’s seat. It is fuelled directly from the main diesel tank, and is thermostatically controlled via a small digital control panel beside the rear seats, together with an additional 12v socket. The kitchen unit was crafted bespoke by a local cabinet maker in Oxford; inside you’ll find plenty of storage space, with more behind the rear seats.

The rear rock ‘n roll seat was installed by Ox Campers in Marlborough, and the double bench in the front is a swivel seat, enabling four people to sit in the back facing each other. It also has the effect of really opening up the living space.

The vendor is including an additional mattress topper which supplements the mattress in the roof, as well as a standalone two-burner gas cooker. When it’s time to cook you’ve got a lovely wooden work surface above a decent-sized fridge, not to mention a proper sink and a handy pull-out drawer which doubles as an additional work surface. Nicely considered, we reckon.

There’s not much to report in the engine bay, other than its extreme cleanliness. The vehicle starts well, without excessive smoking, all the warning lights go out, and it sounds just right. Everything looks tidy and where it should be, and the vehicle is mechanically standard. The vendor is not aware of any technical issues. 

The vehicle looks very clean and tidy underneath, with no sign of structural corrosion or the excessive dirt that might cause it. One thing to note is that the exhaust is looking rusty (see our photos) so the next owner will want to budget for a replacement eventually, but it wasn’t bad enough to cause an advisory in the latest MOT.

You will spot some minor oil seepage around the bottom of the engine. It does not appear to be actively dripping so we wouldn’t be too concerned, although it’s worth monitoring. Hopefully it’s merely the result of an old spillage when replenishing the oil.

Please take a moment to scan through our photographer’s work detailing the service history, which paints a picture of regular and detailed maintenance during the current owner’s tenure.

The owner believes the cambelt and coolant pump were changed at around 90k miles, shortly before he bought the van, although we have no documentation to prove this.

Invoices indicate that a complete service was carried out in 2022 at 108,000 miles. Later the same year at 116k miles the offside wing mirror was replaced and the sliding door received some refurbishment work, costing £800. Another full service was carried out at 120,000 miles in 2023, at which time the rear offside spring and the rear brake pads were also replaced.

The only advisories mentioned at the latest MOT in January relate to the front tyres, and both of these have been replaced since then.

The owner reports that the vehicle is lovely running condition with no issues to prevent you confidently hitting the road. The MOT will last until January 2025.

These T5 campervans are a million miles from the air-cooled, rear-engined dinosaurs which started the lineage, but in their spirit and versatility, they’re cut from the same cloth. T5s weren’t without their issues, but those that have been looked after – like this one – usually prove to be dependable steeds for the long haul.

Your bids will determine its value, but we expect this lovely campervan to comfortably fetch £20,000-£25,000. If you’re in the market for a sophisticated, headache-free and well-built adventure machine, this is for you.

Just in time for summer too. Exploration awaits! 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’