Auto-Sleepers Trooper (1994)

Without doubt the Trooper is one of the most sought after and popular pop-top roof campers on the secondhand market.  Auto-Sleepers have a heritage going back to 1961 when the Travelyan family built their first motorhome for their own holidays.  Soon a business was established which became renowned for quality and design in leisure vehicles, setting the benchmark for others to follow.

The Trooper has always been built on VW chassis, first the T25 rear engine, then the front  transverse engined T4 (which this article focuses on), followed by the T5 and T6.  The vehicle pictured here is a 1994 vintage, on VW Transporter T4 chassis, with 1.9TD engine.  There are a few 4 cylinder 2 litre and five cylinder 2.5 litre petrols, but the most popular engines were the 1.9TD , 2.4D  and 2.4TD . All came sith a 5 speed gearbox. Conversion build quality is very high, with good quality carpets, insulation and trim. Everything looks neat and carefully put together.

One of the most appealing features about the Trooper is that it is a true dual purpose vehicle. It can be used as daily transport (and looks a bit like the VW Caravelle family model) and it has four three point seatbelts. There is plenty of space to load the shopping through the large sliding door and the floor is at a convenient height. The Trooper fits in a standard car parking spot and the turning circle is good. The height on the road is just a smidge under 2.1 metres, so it will fit under many, though not all, height barriers. The drive is much like a  car, with a slightly elevated driving position and it is comfortable on the motorway, happily cruising at the UK national speed limit.

When the opportunity arises though, the Trooper easily stacks up as a true family camper van. The rear bench seat quickly becomes a double bed and above, with the roof raised is another solid base for two children or even an adult. The roof, having solid walls, feels more secure and offers better protection from the elements than a canvas pop-top.

Facilities on board are also good, with a factory fitted fridge with three power sources; gas or mains when camping and 12 for keeping everything cool on the road. A gas powered heater takes the chill off, helping to extend the season. For cooking, there is a fitted two burner hob and grill. A cold water system supplies water from the onboard fresh water tank to a kitchen sink, discharging into another onboard waste tank. Lighting runs from a 12v supply and there is at least one mains socket, complete with safety cutout.

For living space, the cab passenger seat swivels into the main living space and has a handy table, fixed with a chrome tube support that takes seconds to fit. There is also a larger table which slots into a floor mount for use from the rear bench seat. One of the nicest things you can do is sit in your ‘van with that big sliding door open, watching the world go by whicle sipping your tea, coffee or tipple.

Storage is always at a premium on vans of this size, but Auto-Sleepers always squeeze a quart out of a pint pot. There are drawers and lockers under the kitchen, one of which is decicated to take a small Thetford Porta-Potti chemical toilet, keeping it tucked away until needed for an emergency. Over the years, as site facilities have improved, many owners discarded the potti in favour of increasing living space. At the end of the kitchen is a deep locker with storage trays on two levels and in the rear corner, a small wardrobe above the enclosed bottled gas compartment. Under the rear seat is a sliding drawer which offers more storage space and houses components for the two tables. Open the large rear door and more storage can be found under and over a handy shelf.

Many Trooper owners will add a canvas annexe, either standalone or attached, to increase living and storage space.

An elderly Trooper in good order will always carry a price premium over a lesser known or home-built camper of similar design, because of its thoroughbred heritage. If you buy and look after a good example then you will also benefit from that premium status when you come to sell.

The T4 chassis is usually mechanically fine if cared for and run on a regualar basis. Leaving a vehicle standing can be an all-to-often unintended sin for owners, resulting in problems on recommissioning. The body of a T4 needs careful examination as it is prone to rust, particulary around the wheel arches (sometimes fitted covers will hide erosion), sills and inside the sliding door. There are many good ones that have been professionally refurbished, but of course as with all things, there are some that are not.

About the author:   Chris Gage has built a career in motorhome sales and marketing. He acts as both a motorhome trader, and as a broker with Motorhome Depot. If you have a motorhome or campervan to sell and would like expert help, please get in touch.