Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
Does installing a CoMBEiNG kit require homologation approval?
Since our kits are fully removable, their use does not require any special homologation for the vehicle; they are considered like any other load you might transport. You will comply with the new technical inspection regulations in effect since May 2018 simply by presenting your vehicle without the load, meaning without the equipment. Indeed, since May 2018, if a utility vehicle is converted into a camper van and it is not marked as a "camper" on the registration certificate, it will be rejected at the technical inspection! The utility vehicle must be presented "empty" for inspection.
What happens during a police road check if our vehicle is equipped with a CoMBEiNG kit but the registration certificate is for a utility vehicle?
Nothing will happen; 1) because the rear of your vehicle is a private area that the officer cannot force you to open unless they have special authorization (warrant or roadblock), and 2) because the equipment is fully removable, it will be considered as a load you are perfectly allowed to carry.
What modifications are allowed in a utility vehicle without risking rejection at the technical inspection?
Since May 20, 2018, the regulations are open to interpretation, and there may be differences from one inspection to another. The following answers were provided to us on 17/09/2018 by a control body with the current IT versions as of that date. For all these questions, there is no problem as long as the work is done properly and according to the rules:
. Can the vehicle be presented without a partition? YES; no inspection required
. Can it be presented with a small roof ventilation frame, a skylight? YES
. Can it be presented with one or more ventilation grilles in the walls? YES
. Can it be presented with insulation glued to the walls? YES. The PTS may note "6.1.1.g.1 modification preventing the inspection of part of the chassis," but this is not subject to a follow-up inspection.
. Can it be presented with wall cladding? YES. The PTS may note "6.1.1.g.1 modification preventing the inspection of part of the chassis," but this is not subject to a follow-up inspection.
. Can it be presented with ceiling cladding? YES. The PTS may note "6.1.1.g.1 modification preventing the inspection of part of the chassis," but this is not subject to a follow-up inspection.
. Can it be presented with an auxiliary battery? This is not inspected (unless the installation could cause issues)
. Can it be presented with a Webasto heater? This is not inspected.
. Can it be presented with a single passenger seat instead of a two-person bench if the registration certificate lists it as a three-seater? YES. But not the other way around. (The absence of a seat will simply be noted).
. Can it be presented with swiveling seat bases? YES. But be careful with the attachments and seat belts.
Can it be presented with a pop-up roof?
The European directive causes a lot of controversy. During the inspection, the vehicle is presented with the roof closed, and the inspector is not required to open it. Depending on the inspector or the installation, it could result in a follow-up inspection because it changes the vehicle's rigidity. However, if everything is done properly, there should be no problem.
Can I install a kit for a vehicle with non-visible wheel arches in a vehicle with visible wheel arches?
Yes, you can install a kit for a vehicle with non-visible wheel arches in a vehicle with visible wheel arches. The reverse is not true.
Are mattresses included in the kits?
Yes, our kits come with mattresses. For most vehicles (Transporter, Trafic, Vivaro, Custom, Vito, NV300, Talento, Master, Boxer, Jumper, Ducato, NV400, Movano, among others), you can set up a bed of 160 cm x 184 cm. For vehicles like Jumpy-Expert-ProAce-new Vivaro, you will have the option of a larger bed of 131 cm x 184 cm. For passenger vehicles like Caravelle, Multivan, Space Tourer, Tourer, Viano, and Classe V, you will set up a bed of 131 cm x 184 cm. For taller individuals, you can add the Maxilit option to extend the bed length to 210 cm.
Can I try out CoMBEiNG in my vehicle?
Yes, of course! Contact us to schedule an appointment.
Can I use the kit without additional interior work or equipment?
Yes, you install it in just a few minutes and can use it immediately.
What removable accessories do you recommend?
You can gradually equip yourself with removable comfort accessories that require no external intervention:
For cold, a portable cooler. For lighting, battery-powered LED lamps with magnets or hooks (they have very long battery life). For ventilation, Airvent grilles that fit into a window frame. For the power supply of the dinette pump, a small 17AH booster with cigarette lighter and USB outputs. For outdoor showers, a solar pressure shower with 8 liters from Decathlon. For power autonomy, Goal Zero portable batteries (available in 7 and 100 AH, with 220V/12V/USB outputs, rechargeable via mains, cigarette lighter, or solar panels); it can fit in one of the boxes and power a laptop, small fridge, etc. For gas supply, a 28mBA hose and regulator with a valve + a Campingaz R901 gas bottle (the smallest, and you should take two).
Should I insulate the vehicle walls?
To insulate or not to insulate, that is the question. It's not strictly necessary; in summer, the risk of condensation is minimal. In the mid-seasons, if you ventilate well, it's fine. Our ambassador Marie-Dorin Habert did not add insulation to her van. If you want to insulate your vehicle in a simple way, CoMBEiNG's advice is to stick a thin, dense insulation directly against the metal to move the dew point outside the vehicle, rather than creating an air gap, which may not be effective and would reduce the available space. We recommend the thin Winco NEST insulation of 6 or 10 mm, a compact fiber mat between two aluminum sheets (Acoustic damping 16db, Thermal resistance 1.7, non-combustible, tear-resistant R3). This insulation is available at Leroy-Merlin; simply glue it with high-performance double-sided tape and shape it to fit the metal to redirect the dew point outside.
For wall cladding, refit the original cladding or install pre-cut "floor, wall, and ceiling" kits available from specialized suppliers.
Do you have bedding solutions for 3 people, or more?
Yes. For very long vehicles (e.g., Boxer from L2), we can offer a 2-person bed + a 1-person bunk. For all other vehicles, you can find "cabin beds" on the market that allow you to set up a bed on the front seats.
Can we easily carry leisure or professional equipment inside the vehicle, or even sleep with it?
Yes, the modularity of the concept allows you to either store the boxes in a corner of the vehicle, load the equipment, then set up the bed for the night; or even sleep with your equipment.
Do you offer additional services such as cladding, heating, etc.?
For additional equipment services, you can find companies near you that provide such services. These are typically companies that equip utility vehicle fleets. Indicative prices for vehicles like Trafic, Custom, Jumpy, Vito, Transporter are: CP floor: €200,00 Vertical wall protection including doors in CP: €300,00 Vertical wall protection including doors in film-covered CP: €450,00 Ceiling protection in CP: €250,00 Ceiling protection in film-covered CP: €300,00 Webasto ST2000 heater: €1900,00 Auxiliary battery with coupler/separator and 12/220V converter 2000W 2 12V sockets: €1000,00 Sliding window 600x400: €300,00 Sliding window 400x400: €300,00.
< span style="color:#393939;">How can I connect the mattresses together to keep them secured in sleeping mode?
Simply by using fitted sheets from the store: For 158x210 beds, use a 160x200 sheet, for 158x184 beds, use a 140X190 sheet, for 131x210 beds, use a 140X190 sheet, for 131x184 beds, use a 120X200 sheet, for 79x210 beds, use an 80X200 sheet.
Does the equipment make noise when the van is moving?
Since the components are very rigid and attached independently of each other, the equipment itself does not make any noise when the van is driving.
Does installation require an external professional?
No, installing the kit does not require any tools or external professional intervention, except for connecting the "gas hose and regulator" kit for the dinette. The components are fixed to the floor and between each other by manually screwing the bolts provided in the kit.
Are the components too heavy to move?
The concept allows an adult to move each component by themselves. The boxes with their fronts weigh 8 kg when empty. In general, you don't transport very heavy items (duvet, camping dishes, clothes). When this happens, we ensure that the box containing heavy items is positioned so it doesn't need to be moved (e.g., the box with supplies).
Do we have a lot of storage space?
CoMBEiNG is the champion of available storage volume. Each box offers 100 liters of storage space. We quickly reach a capacity of 500 to 800 liters with our kits.
Is it a hassle to transform the setup?
Not at all; in use, we choose combinations that allow us to go from travel mode to daytime mode and then to nighttime mode with minimal component movement.
Can I use my kit in other vehicles than mine?
Yes, the boxes are universal and reusable on any vehicle; the floors are also interchangeable within the same category. Only the wheel arch floors and wheel covers for Transporter and the new Jumpy-Expert are slightly different.
Can I drive normally once the equipment is installed?
Yes, you can drive normally as long as you adhere to the usual operating conditions, which are, in travel mode, the obligation to secure your loads, to fix the components to each other and to the floor, and to place the heaviest boxes on the floor.
How do dry toilets work?
Dry toilets are provided with a 21-liter food-grade plastic bucket. You must fill it with a 5 cm layer of sawdust at the bottom, then add one or two handfuls of sawdust after each use. They must be used while seated to avoid splashes on the sides of the bucket; with this precaution, which prevents splashing, dry toilets have the advantage of not leaving odors, contrary to popular belief. To make cleaning easier, the bucket can be covered with a bag as you would with a trash bin.
How does the dinette box work?
The dinette box consists of a sink with a contactor faucet, two gas burners, a 10-liter potable water tank (5 liters for the foldable dinette) with an electric pump connected to the faucet by a flexible tube, and an electrical outlet with a male cigarette lighter plug. The gas hose, 28mBA regulator with valve, and gas bottle are not included (We recommend using the small Campingaz R901 gas bottle and having a spare). The power supply can come from a portable booster (not included), the van’s cigarette lighter outlet, or an auxiliary battery (not included). Your dinette is completely independent and can be placed in various locations inside or outside your van.
Is the kit too bulky to store?
Your kit is designed to be easy and compact to store; it can be stacked on its storage pallet, occupying an area of 80 cm x 120 cm on the ground and about 2 m high.
Is it really that easy to quickly equip my van for a trip?
Yes, it's really easy because you can leave all your equipment on its storage pallet ready to go, filled with duvets, pillows, dishes... etc., basically everything you need for the trip, and it takes just a few minutes to install it by yourself.
Can the kit be used for something other than equipping my van?
Yes, your kit can easily be used in your home as a guest bed, as office or living room furniture, or even as furniture for a student room. CoMBEiNG is ideal for temporary furnishing. You can use it from June to September in the van, and then use it for the student room the rest of the year.
Is there a risk of condensation between the mattresses and the tops of the boxes they rest on?
No, there is no condensation because the spaces between the boxes, and the holes in the boxes, allow enough airflow to ventilate the underside of the mattresses.
How do I connect the mattresses for the bed?
In the most common cases, a simple fitted sheet from the store is enough to hold the foam together (Use a 140x190 sheet for our 158x184 beds, or a 160x200 sheet for the Maxilit 158x210 beds)
