What Motorhome magazine Mid-Season Debuts - May 2020 Back Issue

This was as big a decision as moving house and second only to that in terms of cost, so it needed to be right. The time had come to trade in our much-loved, near-decade-old VW California SE. With only 34k miles from new, this was nothing to do with the Cali’s age (it was still in remarkably good condition), but instead about changed circumstances. More often than not, we now need a camper with five seatbelts and the California was one strap short.
Cue much deliberation in the Vaughan household. The easy part was deciding on another VW, our T5 having greatly impressed with its quality and retained value. It would have to have the comfort and safety of single cab seats, meaning an extra-wide rear bench would be required, too. First thought was a California Beach, with the addition of a Reimo kitchen pod, but that didn’t seem like quite enough of a true camper.
Another requirement (based on experience with the Cali) was a sliding rear seat, as well as headroom for a 6ft 2in adult on the bench. And, of course, it had to be a top-quality conversion from a brand with a well-established pedigree. In the end the decision was remarkably easy (even if finding the readies wasn’t) and we’re delighted with our ex-demo CMC HemBil Urban. You can read more about this fabulous VW camper on page 39 (and in future issues of the mag).