The Right Fit
How to choose which Lowd Vans kombi layout works best for you
October 2023
Since we created the first Winkipop design for our own Volkswagen T2 kombi, way back in 2015, our collections have grown to include six full interior layouts for a range of heritage VW campers, not to mention an ever-growing selection of campervanning accessories. It's not surprising some customers find it rather daunting to choose what’s right for them.
So we’ve put together this simple guide to demystify the process and get you and your van #fitfortheroad
Your generation
The model of your van will be the driver
Different body shapes require different solutions. Lowd Vans offers a wide range of fit outs to suit classic Volkswagen camper van models. Whether you own an iconic T1 Splitty (1950-67), an archetypal T2 Bay (1967-79) or a vintage T3 Vanagon (1979-91), we have an interior specifically tailored to your vehicle. Each layout has been carefully designed to optimise both storage opportunities and living space. Detailed attention has been given to ergonomics and ease of use and particular care has been taken to complement the aesthetics of each model iteration.
Our Fairhaven interior for VW T1 splitscreen kombis has been cleverly designed to fully accomodate the pressed spare wheel housing in the bulkhead without sacrificing space or aesthetics. Running across the width of the vehicle behind the front bench seat, each Fairhaven cabinet has a cut-out section at the rear that allows the cupboards to seemlessly fully encase and hide the wheel housing. Taking styling cues from the old Westfalia conversions the Fairhaven kitchen includes a useful spice rack and drop down shelf.
For VW T2 lowlights and late bays there are a number of layouts to choose from (read on for tips on how to make your choice). The Winkipop offers the most storage with five cabinets including top-accessed lockers running right through to the rear of the van. Jan Juc or Marengo are more compact layouts, each incorporating four cabinets with a choice of small or large pull-out larders and optional sink. Roadknight comprises three cabinets running across the full width of the campervan behind the front seats.
For owners of a VW T3 van the Johanna layout has 5 cabinets, based on the Winkipop layout but with cabinets scaled up to suit the bigger vehicle.
Cabinetry for both T1 and T2 uses lightweight 12mm birch plywood door fronts with 4mm natural birch ply fascia panels, whereas T3 cabinetry features 18mm birch plywood door fronts with routed decorative motif.
Your bed-seat
What are your sleeping arrangements
The width of your rock and roll bed seat will have implications on how you can organize your cabinetry. If your vehicle is fitted with a 3/4 width bed, there will be space along the length of the van for extra storage in the form of top-accessed lockers. Kombis with a full width bed seat can choose from alternative layouts where the bed either pulls out to extend over the top of a low locker or where the cabinetry runs right across the full width of the van, behind the front seats.
VW T1: the Fairhaven has been designed for T1 Splitscreens with full width bed.
VW T2: for T2 kombis we have assemblies that accommodate both options. The Winkipop is for use with a 3/4 width bed. For a full width bed there is a choice of Jan Juc, Marengo or Roadknight.
VW T3: for T3 vans the Johanna layout accommodates a 3/4 width bed. A new variant for T3s with a full width bed - the Rincon - is planned for release in 2024.
Your lifestyle
Consider how you will use the van and where
It's worth having a walk around your kombi interior to visualise how you might use the space and what you would prefer where. If you have had a previous interior you are replacing, look at which aspects worked for you and which drove you crazy. Renovating a fit out gives you the opportunity to plan the layout to perfectly suit your particular requirements.
To walkthrough or not to walkthrough
If you have a bench seat across the front you can select cabinets that run across the full width of your van: Roadknight for T2s or Fairhaven for T1s. If you have a T2 and want to maintain the walkthough from front to rear of the vehicle, choose from Winkipop, Jan Juc or Marengo.
Make a good entrance
Behind the passenger seat, in the doorway of the van, both the Roadknight and Marengo layouts have a spacious larder cabinet with three drawer pull-out pantry and lift-up storage for a single burner butane stove. For the Winkipop and Jan Juc layouts the equivalent cabinet has an open-top with front rail, cutlery drawer and crockery cupboard with double doors.
Additions and omissions
Although we do not offer customisation as such, there are a few off-the-peg variations available for our standard kits. For example, if you’re not planning on doing much actual camping in your van, you may prefer an interior without a fridge or a sink. We offer a ‘fridge door kit’ in our range of accessories which converts your fridge cabinet into a large storage cupboard with adjustable shelving. If you don’t need a sink, just email us when you place your order to explain that you will not be requiring a cut-out in the top of the sink cabinet.
Your vibe
Create a unique ambiance
Once you have decided on the layout that suits both your needs and your vehicle, there are still a few final decisions that will have an impact on the overall look of your interior. The main thing left to do is to choose the colour for your cabinets.
How you use colour really sets the mood. You can choose to match or complement or contrast with your van’s bodywork, upholstery and trimming.
For the cabinet fronts, and visible side panels, we offer a choice of three standard neutral tones across all our collections: select from a palette of crisp white, warm grey or slick black (film faced birch plywood). Our T2 complete assembly packages have three additional finishes, orange, sky blue or mint green (laminate on birch plywood). For T1 or T2 cabinets you can keep the decorative fascia panels as natural birch colour to contrast with your cabinet fronts or you could choose paint the trim to match and blend in with your cabinets.
For the benchtops, our T1 & T2 collections are natural birch plywood with transparent clear film face finish. T3 benchtops have a choice of light oak or dark oak woodgrain laminate.
Accessories are available to co-ordinate with each collection.
Your choice
Everyone's different
Our complete assembly packages are always the best value for money, however you are welcome to mix and match individual cabinets to create your own bespoke layout. Try and think outside the box to see how you might use cabinets in different ways. Some people even had the idea of adding cushions to a pair of Jan Juc lockers to create ‘buddy seats’ for their dogs, behind the passenger and drivers seats!
If you are planning to head off-piste (as it were) with your interior choices, you are welcome to drop us a line or give us a call to discuss what you're hoping to achieve. If you are in the Melbourne area why not make an appointment to visit our studio and have a chat and a walk through our own T2 kombi with Winkipop assembly and all the trimmings. Happy planning!
