VW T7 Camper: Transporter, Multivan and California

Two Different Vans Called “T7”

For decades the VW Transporter generations were numbered T1 to T6.1, and each was one family: a van, a people carrier and the California camper on the same underpinnings. That changed with the current generation, and “T7” now gets used for two quite different vehicles.

• The Multivan is a people carrier built on VW’s own MQB platform, the one shared with its cars. The current VW California camper is based on it.
• The new Transporter (from 2024) is the commercial van. It is built on the same platform as the Ford Transit Custom, with Ford leading the development, and it is made by Ford Otosan in Turkey. VW does not officially call it the T7.

This matters because a converter building on a new Transporter is building on what is, underneath, a Transit Custom, while the California is a VW design from the ground up.

The New Transporter as a Conversion Base

VW UK quotes up to 3,002mm of load length (or 3,450mm with a load-through bulkhead) and 1,777mm of load width, with diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric versions. Those figures match the long-wheelbase Transit Custom, which is what you would expect from a shared platform.

For a camper, that means everything in our Transit Custom guide applies: the same pop-top options, the same rock and roll bed layouts, and a standard roof height of around 2m. It also means converters with Transit Custom experience can build on it, which widens your choice.

What the new Transporter may change is resale. Transporters have a reputation for holding their value, partly on the strength of the badge. Nobody yet knows whether a Ford-based Transporter will do the same, so treat claims about future values with caution.

The California

The current California is based on the long-wheelbase Multivan. Every version has a pop-up roof and sliding doors on both sides. The trims are Beach Camper, Coast and Ocean, and at UK launch prices started from £63,376, with a plug-in hybrid 4MOTION among the options.

If you want a factory-built VW camper with a warranty, that is the one. It is also the benchmark for any Multivan or Transporter conversion quote: a converter should be able to explain clearly what you get for the difference.

Converting a Multivan

Some owners buy a Multivan and have it converted rather than buying a California. That route can make sense if you already own one, but the Multivan is a people carrier with individual seats on rails and a car-like interior, so a converter will be working around trim and seating that a panel van does not have. Ask whether they have done it before.

T6.1 or T7?

Many buyers are still choosing between a used T6.1 conversion and a new-generation van. The T6.1 is the known quantity: converters have years of proven layouts for it and parts are plentiful. The newer vans bring updated safety systems and hybrid and electric options. Our VW T5 vs T6 vs T6.1 guide covers conversion costs across the older generations. For a fully electric VW camper, see our ID. Buzz camper guide.

Finding a Converter

Most VW specialists in our directory list the T5 and T6 generations. Our VW Transporter conversion guide covers the model family. If you want a new-generation van, ask each converter directly which versions they have built on, and ask to see a finished example.