2026 Jerba Cromarty campervan review

They used to call it badge engineering. That was when pretty much the same model of car (or van) manufacturer would turn out effectively the same model but under the name of a different make or model. In the motorhome world, think of Fiat’s Ducato and its Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay equivalents.

Well, it’s happing with campervan base vehicles now. Volkswagen’s Transporter T7 is the result of a joint enterprise with Ford and its latest Transit Custom. And, like many who have previously exclusively converted Volkswagen Transporters, Jerba Campervans has spotted the attractions of Ford – especially the particularly well-equipped Tourneo variant here.

So you can have a Cromarty carrying the Ford badge, as here, or VW. There are of course, plenty of differences, but you might want to check out details of the warranties offered by the two manufacturers.

Based in North Berwick and selling direct from its manufacturing and servicing premises here, Jerba campervans can boast the reassurance of being just one of a handful of converters that have Motorhome Qualified status from Volkswagen as well as being registered as a Ford Pro converter.

It’s also possibly the only specialist campervan conversion company that’s 100% employee-owned. There’s no shortage of heritage here, either – the first Jerba hit the roads in 2005, with the company going on to produce its own elevating roof design, now patented, in 2015. It went employee-owned with the formation of the Jerba Campervan Trust three years later.

The Cromarty is its long-wheelbase model – a five-seater with sleeping accommodation in the form of two double beds. And sure enough you can have it based on Volkswagen’s T7 or Ford’s Tourneo Custom, including PHEV versions of both. Indeed, if you like the Cromarty concept but want a bit more self-sufficiency, it’s also available based on the Volkswagen Crafter, coming complete with full washroom facilities.

The format here might look like a standard enough side kitchen/rear seat campervan layout, but you’ll have guessed by now that Jerba dares to do things differently.

As well as the aforementioned elevating roof, Jerba designs and makes its own furniture in-house, using 15mm Ilomba Poplar plywood sealed with Egger laminate and offering it in a choice of four finishes. The Cromarty also comes fully insulated, using recycled PET bottles for the sides and foam boarding underfoot.

The rear seat is a Mobiframe unit (the SAF43) that provides three-point belts for up to three travellers as well as folding out for a 1.92m x 1.26m double bed – wider and longer than many others provide. The unit is on rails and includes a drawer in its base, so it’s particularly versatile between optimising lounge space during the day and luggage carrying when needed. It also comes with Isofix points for younger children’s travel seats.

The roof bed is an optional extra, but it’s definitely worth consideration even if there are just the two of you – when fitted, it means you can leave your clutter etc in place down below as you head up to a very comfortable double bed on a slatted base for the night.

Next to the rear seat, kitchen facilities extend to a three-burner hob and sink combination (there are also options to go gas-free, including a diesel-powered hob, as here), a 51-litre compressor fridge with freezer compartment, and a good combination of locker and drawer storage.

You also get 38-litre on-board fresh and waste water tanks, a 100Ah lithium leisure battery and two tables, plus plenty more.

A visit to Jerba’s premises could well be the next step if you’re interested in any Jerba campervan – to see how it goes about making its campers as well as meeting the team. Luckily, it’s positively encouraged… and hopefully well worth the trip!

To find out more about insuring a Jerba Cromarty or your current campervan, visit our campervan insurance page.

Verdict: Top drawer stuff from a truly independent manufacturer

Plus: Impressive credentials, five-seater travel, quality build and practicalities

Minus: It could be a long way to North Berwick!

In-a-nutshell: Extra quality, extra practicalities, extra pedigree

Alternatives: Bilbo’s Celex LWB, Rolling Homes Columbus