Westfalia Wave Camper Van Marks the Iconic Brand's Return to North America

For American camping enthusiasts, Westfalia is a name that has come to be associated with pop-top Volkswagen-based camper conversions. However, the model that will bring back the beloved Westfalia nameplate to United States shores - a camper van called Wave with a serious family-sized sleeping capacity - will be based on a Ram Promaster.

The French-owned German company has a fascinating history. Founded in 1844 as a builder of horse-drawn carts, Westfalia stepped into the van conversion business in 1951 after a special request from a customer - to equip a VW Transit van as a home. The firm has been converting Volkswagen vans into comfortable, stylish, and reliable pop-top motorhomes known as "Westys” over the following decades.

The brand ceased its US operations shortly after it was acquired by DaimlerChrysler in 1999, but it is now ready to make its return. Westfalia Wave, the first North American model in over two decades, marks a new chapter in the brand's history and was previewed in pre-production form at the Elkhart RV Dealer Open House in September. Now, the official public introduction will happen at the 2024 Florida RV SuperShow, which will take place in Tampa between January 17 and 21.

"The Florida RV Super Show marks a milestone for Westfalia as we present the all-new Westfalia Wave to the consumers," said Len McDougall, Head of Sales for Westfalia North America. "It's an opportunity for enthusiasts to witness the legendary Westfalia spirit in a modern and innovative design."



The all-new camper van is based on a Ram Promaster 3500 chassis, a tried and tested platform that has reliably been used as the foundation for many conversions over the last decade. It boasts a high roof and a 249-inch (633-cm) long interior that has been leveraged to create a modern mobile living space with a versatile floor plan packed with all the amenities US campers have come to expect from luxury RVs.

The clean European-style layout is seamlessly combined with a series of more North American-influenced features. It offers sleeping arrangements for up to six adults, a kitchen, a dinette, as well as a full-size wet bath. Smart home controls and plenty of storage solutions throughout the van for personal belongings and camping gear round up the package, promising a versatile camping experience.

A long roster of unique features makes Westfalia Wave stand out from the crowd, including the distinctive dinette at the front with its patented bench seat that easily folds out and turns into a bed. During the day, the dining area offers ample seating space thanks to the two-seat rear bench and swiveling driver and passenger seats. A cleverly designed dual-leaf expandable table serves all four of them.

According to the company, the camper also includes "intentional” storage solutions that make it perfect for the beach lifestyle of many campers in Florida. The central aisle space and versatile trunk with a slide-away section can easily fit paddle boards, skis, mountain bikes, or other larger outdoor gear.

The interior is also fitted with a functional kitchenette with a Vitrifrigo fridge, a microwave oven, a propane stove, and a slide-out island extension, as well as a full-size wet bath.

However, the Wave's biggest selling point has to be its impressive sleeping capacity. Touted as a functional family camper van, the newcomer will sleep up to six people, which is something new for Westfalia. A queen-size bed at the rear of the van will comfortably accommodate two adults. In the cabin, the dinette turns into a double bed that extends over the swiveled driver's seat and sleeps two more individuals, and the van is also equipped with a roof-mounted, pop-up tent that rounds out the six-sleeper configuration.

The only caveat, though, is that the Wave only features four belted seats, so it won't be able to carry the entire camping squad to the desired location.

The wet bathroom compartment is positioned on the driver's side and acts as a divider between the dining area and the rear bed. Camper van baths are a hot topic of conversation in the van life world, and while some outfitters decide to forego a shower altogether, many modern campers can't imagine doing van life without one. Wave's wet bathroom comprises a cassette toilet and a shower, with a Truma Combi water heater/furnace unit supplying hot water to both the shower and the kitchen tap.

The full spec sheet of the new Westfalia Wave will most likely be revealed next week when the camper is formally unveiled in final form, but we do know that it will also include a tablet-style Firefly touchscreen command center, 600 amp-hours of batteries, and a 3,000-watt inverter. Pricing details haven't been unveiled either, but given the high-end features and amenities, we expect it to cost more than other Ram Promaster-based models, like the Winnebago Solis, Pleasure-Way's Tofino, or even Airstream's Rangeline.

Below, you can watch a video of the pre-production Westfalia Wave camper van presented in September.