We have the slightly older version, and this butterfly bed looks even easier to assemble (ours isn't bad). Our van gets used for three adults, and we upgraded from a 'conventional' layout. The proper height kitchen and inbuilt loo being important to us. I can sit on the back bench seat, just, with the roof down, and this is very handy to avoid back ache while organising cupboards etc. for packing. Washing dishes with the roof up is actually easier than it looks, despite the overhang of the rear shelf. Something we didn't think about was head height for the lower bed while both beds are being used. I miss being able to sit up properly in bed and drink a cup of tea in the morning, something which was easy to do with the 'rock and roll' bed in our previous van. I noticed some comments asking about how much space is available to use the dining table. We are all tall, and haven't had an issue so far. We enjoyed watching the review, thank you!

I feel the Nugget has the advantage of a standing height, always accessible kitchen but not the lack of leg room at the front table. The 2nd bed is larger and seats 5 belted.

Definitely interesting, but limited if you plan to do anything while away. The Cali can fit a paddle board plus bits and pieces under the bed for example. No real storage for big items here. Thanks for the review!

With no luggage space it wouldn’t work as a daily driver but as a summer weekend van it’s a well thought through design. It’s pricy for that use case especially with no LED lights and driver aids that come as standard in the Cali.

Thanks for showing this van - it is interesting to see how different the 6.1 layouts can be! Personally I think a 5m van is too small for any toilet facilities and when I see alternatives it makes me realise how well designed the ocean/coast is - especially for four people. Hope you get some news on the Sven soon 😀

Another great vlog. I like what you guys do in terms of showing different vans, every camper van isn't to everyone taste but it does show what you can squeeze into a VW 6.1. I'm waiting for my VW van to arrive can't wait to start getting out there. Keep up the great vlogs. We need more !!

Had a pop top for 6 years..only did a height restriction once..couldn't stretch to the £98K for a Club Joker so went with the step before Westfalia California Exclusive. Bigger bed on the bottom that the club Joker too and a proper toilet room with door. LHD only but Europe does do Camping better than the UK..so LHD makes a lot of sense to me now.

Magnificent van and superb video. Thanks guys!

Great video, love the layout, that bed mechanism is really cool.

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

It really is! Very clever.

Thanks for showing us. Bet u can’t wait to get a van again. 😊

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

The wait is killing us!!

Great review of the van, thank you. Really interesting to see a layout that's different to everything else.

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

We have had our Club Joker High Top for just over a month now. We love it. We were originally looking at a pop top, but a weeks trial rental of another pop top made us realise it wasn''t for us. Also long lead times at the moment were really off putting, from deciding on the van to taking delivery was around 5 weeks.

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Oh wow! Very special and they are such a clever package. Congrats!

Lovely van indeed , im with Will on the high roof version , as it also has more storage cupboards , , i also think you can get outside luggage racks for bringing a canoe for the side of the high top version, and also a luggage rack at the back I have a 2013 Westfalia Ford Nugget and i love it , lots of storage plus a far wider bed downstairs measuring 130 cm wide , and both beds are really comfortable Thanks to both of you for another fab informative video , i love watching

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Great van but the California seems more spacious and has so much more space for luggage in the back. Excellent quality though and would probably work for some.

The club joker city has been around for quite some time but this aside; although at first glance it is an interesting alternative to the california, it is not for us, at least if you really opted for a california with all its advantages and disadvantages. Some examples: in the evening you have significantly less space to sit in the club joker city (we do travel the whole year around and not only in the warm months when you can sit outside), the kitchen in a cali is so designed that it can be used while seated and can therefore also be used on the road during a quick stopover without raising the roof. The kitchen of the other is too high for that, so you must open the roof every time when using the kitchen. I suppose that lay-out works best with a fixed high roof and not a poptop. And a lwb: that toilet is just a waste of space and would be better in a longer van. The bed downstairs: 90 cm wide... so a maximum of a 3-person small camper while the california can sleep 4 people (we are 4). Also: no trunk space in the westfalia and the california has two tables on board, both nicely stowed away and two folding seats in the tailgate. No other small campervan has that and is a main reason that we chose a new california over a new westfalia. We have looked around and compared carefully before ordering our cali and I can give that as a top tip for potential buyers of a small campervan: compare and look it all up at forums and facebookpages, and youtube of course ;-). We have also made 10 years of travels with a T4 westfalia before buying our california and that layout has been around for a long time and there is a reason for that... In addition, the sub-2 meter height has already been useful on every trip and is therefore a must for us. When buying a small campervan it must meet as many personal needs as possible so it is certainly true that everyone has their own wishes and needs so all the above applies to us but not to everyone. But as always: an entertaining review!

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great reply. We're really keen to show different vans with different layouts on the channel as is absolutely is a great idea to look at as many as possible when making a choice. The City version of the Club Joker (high roof) is obviously the same layout of van but with a lower roof and SWB - Westfalia must have demand for it as it's been building them for ages, so there are those that love it and it will suit well.

Entertaining review and interesting design features. This layout may look very twee in the showroom but again I can’t imagine what I would do with all the gear I shove in the back. Perhaps if I became a monk!

With the Cali with its top loading fridge, we just ensure we have the tea bags and kettle already out before going to bed, so cup of tea in the mornings is no problem. That butterfly bed is clever but is a little on the small side so the extra comforts of toilet and shower are probably offset by sleeping discomfort. And I bet it’s more faff to turn and slide the front seats out of the way than it is to slide the cali’s bench before folding out. The Joker is just too cramped and fussy for us, and we really need the boot space of the Cali as a daily driver for the wife’s hobby. But really enjoyed your review 👍

The new found Cali bashing comments are interesting. Like the previous review this is a great video to highlight that the evolved layout of a classic Cali beats anything on the market for an optimum living and sleeping experience vs these alternative layouts. Faults and all.

I love your presentation, thank you! ❤ I was wondering about the butterfly bed... It almost looks as if you couldn't open it if the roof wasn't up. Is that right or just an illusion? I mean if you want to go unnoticed in the city but still have to open the roof to be able to open the bed below... 😬 😂 Thanks for your answer and keep up the good work and adventures 🌻

Thanks …where do you store bedding? Think the Ocean is better even though we don’t have a loo 😂

Another really great video and very informative video - could you demonstrate how the shower actually works actually water splashing around in a small space - my concern would be wouldn't the water go everywhere

@CampervanTime

10 ай бұрын

Thanks. As this van was brand new we didn't want to do that but there is a another video on KZread where (German I think) journalist has one for a weekend and does show how the show works with the interior shower curtain. It's quite clever and does stop water going everywhere.

What i love about these proper conversions is no grey or charcoal carpet stuck on walls and roofs, when paying this sort of money i like the first class airplane feel,also its not a converted van it says campervan on logbook, 60mph on A roads instead of 50mph also better for insurance and safety not to mention resale value.

5m & a toilet -it’s the future …..thanks, very interesting 🍻

The lack of space at the front means I would struggle to sit at the table. I also couldn’t cope with the lack of space between the front and rear seats. As many have pointed out the boot space flexibility is very poor. In standard mode the Cali is large and with the seats in the position of the joker the Cali boot space is vast. All in all the Cali layout is way more flexible. Just have the early riser sleep downstairs.

Nice review - well done - just a mention you didn't cover any solar panel options ...

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Apologies, will make sure we try to remember in future about solar

for sure smart alternative to cali , but maybe too many features in only 5 meters .. Lower bed install seems to be much easier vs Ford nugget , and i really appreciate left opening window and flyscreen . Very smart on Campsite , but for daily use necessary in our family habits , cali remains master ( space , rear boot and sliding bench when Wife go shopping IKEA 🙄

Where is your bracelet from? 😍 love it

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! It’s from Notch (notch.io) you can personalise the notches for any interests you have, whether running marathons or other less energetic hobbies! My notches are for my love of border collies - I have the collie notch, one for Roxy with a paw and one to remember Lucy with a rainbow and a paw 🐾 🌈 It helps me to have a permanent reminder of her with me ❤️

where do you leave your bags in that set up? and how water? which system it is installed there?

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Depends on what bags I suppose. We always unpacked into our Cali or used packing cubes, which would go in the cupboards. Hot water on this model is a small tank under the sink area which has a 3 litre capacity, and is 12v operated.

would I be correct in saying the only way to use the gas hob is with the roof raised? If this is the case it's a no from me. I can count endless times when I just want a quick brew or bite to eat. Having to pop the door each time would become a chore. Let alone if you're camping in strong winds and you're too frightened to pop the roof. Other than that I'd say the layout is ok. Thanks for your time.

The lower bed is definitely a single!

What a great video thanks!, The only English full review of the Joker City out there!!!! This is likely to be my first camper purchase. They're currently doing some serious discounts off brand new VW Cali Ocean (c£5k) as the camper bubble seems to have burst and things are getting back to normal. Therefore this is a good 10-15k more than a Cali Ocean, as you own one do you think this is worth the extra?

@CampervanTime

10 ай бұрын

Hello! Well we did own a California Ocean (we had two of them) and we sold it in preparation for our new van, a Westfalia Sven Hedin that we have on order. The Club Joker City is quite different to a California both in terms of layout and capability. There are few things to consider really like how many people (and children?/dogs?) and how much you think you may want to use hot water and the shower. There is no doubt the California is a great campervan, it's stood the test of time in terms of design but then so has the Club Joker City, and the Club Joker. They are both excellent quality and it really comes down to how you feel about each layout. The other option is the Club Joker (high roof). If you absolutely want a pop-top van then it's not that, but in pretty much all other respects it could be said it's superior - as it has a proper fixed bathroom/shower cubical, far superior heating system, you can stand up in it and is much more of an all year round van. Well worth a look too.

I would be interested to hear comments from someone who own in one of these and camped for several days with two p people. The panel next to the gas cupbboard seems impractical and the space for clothes and bedding seems limited. Perhaps it would be better on a long wheelbase.

Thanks for showing the Westfalia, a really interesting alternative.Great video! Does it come with 4MOTION too? New Subscriber.

@CampervanTime

11 ай бұрын

Hello and welcome! Yes absolutely, but I'm not sure if they are still taking orders for 4Motion models any more. They certainly have made them in the T6.1 model though.

@RideNowhere72

11 ай бұрын

​@@CampervanTime Thanks for letting me know. I was just wondering how important you think 4Motion actually is? I thought it might be useful on campsites with grass pitches but am I overthinking it?

@CampervanTime

11 ай бұрын

Well to be honest it's a nice to have rather than an essential. In our experience tyres are more the critical factor than 2wd/4wd. If you want decent traction on grass (and only wet grass at that) then really you'd need more of a trail type tyre (BFG Train Terrain, for example). That said, most people just stick with 2wd and standard tyres and take a couple of these: amzn.to/3OKonkL just in case.

The lower bed arrangement isn't ideal for wild camping. On a recent trip to France I had to make a speedy escape one night and messing with the bed/rotating the drivers seat would have put me in a vulnerable situation.

How on earth have you not got more subscribers???? Splendid video and I'm now following your channel. Love the look of this but as at Sep 23, VW are discounting new Calis quite significantly If I can easily negotiate 5k off the cost of an Ocean, plus cheap finance deals. I think we're finally at the point where people won't pay silly prices for campers anymore. Personally when you can get a brand new Cali Ocean for £69k the Joker price seems a joke at over £80k 😆

@CampervanTime

10 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad it has been helpful. VW have always discounted the California, even through lockdown, COVID etc, it has just varied as to how hard you had to try to get it. anywhere between 8 and 12% has pretty much always been there. You are right in terms of the Westfalia range though, discounts are pretty much non existent (most are built to order) and financing deals are by third parties so tend to be higher rates. If you're not fixed on a Transporter then maybe the new Ford Nugget might be worth a look, given it is a Westfalia build on a brand new van platform, but by a main dealer/ford/ford finance etc. ?

@davidcambell4183

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for your reply this is really useful, clearly VW dealers have a lot of margin to play with. I'm following a few used Joker Citys and they're certainly not selling quickly so it's only a matter of time before they start to discount I'm guessing.....@@CampervanTime

Firstly I have said previously how I like the channel however I would like to see some more stuff about what other people value as mostly you guys favour standard VW over convertors. Not going standard opens up a huge area of customisation which you never talk about and I suspect because it’s not important to you but is very important to the community. I have just had delivered a T32 204ps DSG 4 wheel drive with and eco waggon plus conversation. In addition and this is where it gets interesting Air suspension…..unbelievable add on, self levelling and makes the vehicle handle incredibly 18 alloys….look amazing Air dams ….ditto 55 litre water tank upgrade essential for off grid Font seats replaced with Audi sports seats……comfort and hold like no other Talk to people about why they value how they have customised as this is at the heart of the community…… most people don’t want standard VW with the bloody sliding door on the wrong side got 85k before you even try to make it look cool

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Your van sounds great! We're trying to cover as much as we can and people obviously come into vans and campers from different angles. Some are selling a car and want an OEM product with warranty, main dealers across Europe etc, some are coming to build their own, converting their own van and others want a customised professional conversion to their own design and spec. There are a few cracking converters near us we'd like to go and see and share, we just need more time!!

I do love your blogs but you said at the start it wasn’t a comparison to the California then mentioned the California every 5 minutes 😂 I’m afraid it’s no way near as good as the California mainly because it’s a single bed downstairs ! No space for kit ! No living space ! And way to much money ! But that’s only my opinion. Keep up the good work xx

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, I think we were trying to say that it wasn't a comparison to one there next to it (ie a side by side comparison) but given the price and type of van it is, it's likely it will always be compared.

Really don't like having an internal shower so open like that.

@samcooper6115

Жыл бұрын

There is a shower curtain that press studs around 360 so protects cupboards etc

I’m still not a fan of the open layouts that have you crapping in the kitchen 😂

@Cous1nJack

Жыл бұрын

Preferable to bucket and chuck it.

@grahams3417

Жыл бұрын

😂

@Rowtheboat99

Жыл бұрын

@@Cous1nJack I’d hope you still need to Chuck it with the kitchen crapper 😂😂

This is the second van in which you have not demonstrated how the shower curtain works.

so its basically a ford nugget competitior, even though they are converted by the same company.

@CampervanTime

9 ай бұрын

yes!

You really dont like the california anymore do you lol!

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

We’ve never said that! We do love the Cali and always will do, but we’re just trying to share other makes and models of van on the channel now because we have a wide range of viewers. The Cali is a fantastic camper and suits very many people but there are other alternatives!

The side kitchen layout hasn't accounted for 98% of Transporter conversions over 40 years for nothing. I love Westfalia, but again this over promises and under delivers compared to a Cali / Jerba / Bilbo. Mostly bought by folk who've never had a camper I'd guess, who wonder why all the regular vans are so unambitious......then they learn. The LWB high top though? Now you are talking!

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

There was a lovely LWB high top (Club Joker) there when we filmed this and it was absolutely stunning. Very clever package in a small (ish) van.

@broadpete

Жыл бұрын

My old T4 Exclusive (same dimensions as the Club Joker) was fab, but was still too hefty to be my only vehicle. .. So if you are going to have something sat around waiting for holidays, might as well go bigger like a Sven Hedin 😉

Sadly for me that is trying to make something that really shouldn't happen, trying to ram far to much in a small van, the shower is just a crazy idea as everything would be wet through.... Sorry but its a very BIG no from me...

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

There's a lot packed in that's for sure. It does have a full shower curtain though...!

Switched video off as soon as you got to Extras. Why do people think the volkswagen is so special. Most of things you mentioned are standard except for auto gearbox. On transit & Trafic

@CampervanTime

Жыл бұрын

Possibly on some models, but on the Westfalia Kelsey we looked at (a Transit Custom based camper) those things were options too, and we thought it was relevant to mention it because the VW California has some things included as standard on some models, and is typically compared to this.