The van for the journeys you share.
The Mesa makes its debut at the NEC this October.
The Mesa is the newest van in the Onyx range, and the Motorhome & Caravan Show is where you’ll see it first. It starts from £145,000 inc VAT.
We’re booking viewings on our stand across the six days of the show — half an hour with the van and with the people who built it, rather than a scrum around an open door. Slots are limited by the length of the show, so it’s worth booking early.
Can’t get to Birmingham? Leave your details instead and we’ll be in touch as the Mesa is finished, with photography and a build update.
Can’t make the show?
Leave your details and we’ll be in touch as the Mesa is finished — no obligation, and we’ll never share them.
Ready to talk now? Book a discovery call →
You’re on the list.
Thank you — we’ll be in touch as the Mesa is finished, with photography and a build update. If you do find you can get to the NEC after all, you can book a viewing on our stand. In the meantime, explore the van below.
Built for the trips you will remember longest.
These are the trips that stay with people. And they need a van that’s actually ready for them — a permanent shower room that nobody has to think about, four berths without compromise, a kitchen built for real cooking when there are four people hungry after a long day outside.
Designed and built in our West Sussex workshop
Room for everyone, without giving anything up
“Onyx created the van of my dreams. The finishing detail is second to none. Since picking it up in April, we’ve used it almost every weekend, and we absolutely love it.”— Debbie W.
The Mesa at a glance
Four berths, a permanent shower room, and the systems to stay out as long as you want.
Permanent shower room
Full enclosed shower and toilet — no setup required.
Four people, properly
Four belted travelling seats and the Onyx pop-top, both as standard — four real berths from the start.
King-sized lengthways bed
1,990 × 1,680mm — slides away to open up storage and space.
Off-grid as standard
Victron 400Ah lithium, 400W solar and gas-free Truma Combi 6D diesel heating — days off-grid, no hookup needed.
Full kitchen
Double induction hob, 85l fridge, stainless sink (three-in-one oven optional).
Rear garage
Open-through, L-track throughout — same as the Summit.
Available in 4×4
MAN TGE platform — FWD or 4×4.
Customise your colours
Cabinetry, fabrics, worktop and more — yours to choose, included as standard. Jump to the picker →
The interior, feature by feature
Tap or hover any feature to read more. The exterior is further down the page.

Four people, properly
Four adults travel in fully belted rear seats as standard, and the Onyx pop-top is standard too — a full 190 × 122cm upper berth with integrated lighting, designed and built in-house — and closes as a clamshell on top of the roof rack, keeping the solar array, awning mount and carrying capacity intact.

The sliding bed
The king-sized bed — 1,990 × 1,680mm — sits on an aluminium sliding frame. It pulls out to sleep on and slides away in seconds, with no lifting and no wrestling with cushions, opening up storage you can reach from the cab. Reading lights both sides, with folded aluminium overheads above.

Victron electrical
A full Victron system — two 200Ah LiFePO4 batteries giving 400Ah, 400W of solar via an MPPT controller, a 3kVA inverter with 120A mains charging, and a 50A DC/DC charger. Managed from a touchscreen, it’s the same equipment used in marine and off-grid home installations. Additional batteries, upgraded solar and a 100A charger are available.

Heating
A Truma Combi 6D diesel heating system — a proven, reliable unit that runs entirely from the main diesel tank, with no separate gas cylinder. It provides warm-air heating throughout and hot water from an integrated tank. The Aquahot hydronic system is available as an upgrade for continuous hot water, two-zone control and underfloor capability.

Kitchen
A double induction hob, a stainless sink and tap, and an 85-litre Vitrifrigo fridge. Drawers below, a large overhead above, and a Hi-Macs composite worktop in between. A Dometic three-in-one microwave, convection oven and grill is available as an upgrade — a proper range for four people after a long day.

The garage
The garage is open-through to the front of the van, so there’s no arbitrary length limit on what you carry. L-track is fitted throughout for proper load securing, and sliding the bed forward opens up the rear further for taller items on the move. Additional accessible storage sits at the rear, with an optional slide-out gear tray.

Shower room
The shower room is permanent, fully enclosed, and built to the same standard as the rest of the van — aluminium powder-coated walls, a stainless steel tap and mixer, and a removable composting toilet. L-track inside means it doubles as practical storage on the drive when it’s not in use as a shower.

Furniture & fit-out
Durable HPL throughout, in a choice of colours, finished with powder-coated aluminium corners that protect the edges where lesser builds wear first. The same hardwearing approach used across every Onyx van.
How the Mesa is laid out
The new layout making its debut at the show — a long wheelbase that makes room for everyone, including a permanent shower room. Floor plans below; see it in person at Stand 11.50.


The Mesa is at home anywhere you want to take it
Shown here from across the Onyx range — the Mesa shares these systems, finishes and the same long-wheelbase body. Its own photography, in the Mesa’s exact arrangement, follows after the launch at the NEC.
Built for where you’re going
An Onyx roof rack, fitted as standard
Every Mesa leaves the workshop with an Onyx aluminium roof rack fitted as standard — sized to carry rooftop kit properly, with solar panels and a side ladder for safe, clean access.
Specified for where you actually go
Many buyers add optional upgrades before their first trip: Black Rhino Warlord alloys, Onyx rear carriers with wheel carrier, and a Fiamma F45 awning. None of these are included in the standard price, but all are available — and for buyers heading off-road or spending extended time away from facilities, they make a real difference.
If you’re considering a lift kit, all-terrain tyres, or a specific wheel and carrier setup, we’ll talk through what makes sense for your trips on your discovery call.
A pop-top, fitted as standard
The Onyx pop-top comes on every Mesa, adding a two-berth upper sleeping area without compromising the roof rack — the solar array, awning mount and carrying capacity all stay intact when it’s closed.
Every Mesa, built to this standard
Options and upgrades are listed separately below.
Base vehicle
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| Model | MAN TGE 4.160 LWB — 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive as standard — 4×4 available |
| Gross weight | 4,000kg |
| Trim | Lion XC |
| Suspension | Upgraded suspension |
| Headlights | LED |
| Cab seats | Factory swivel seats |
| Cab air conditioning | Fitted as standard (habitation air con is a separate option) |
| Driver aids | Cruise control, rear view camera |
| Infotainment | Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Exterior | Mud flaps |
Dimensions
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| Berths | 4 |
| Travelling seats | 4 (fully belted rear seating) |
| Bed dimensions | 1,990 × 1,680mm |
Electrical
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| System | Victron — 12v |
| Batteries | 2× 200Ah Victron LiFePO4 (400Ah total) |
| Solar | 350W roof-mounted, Victron MPPT controller (pop-top fitted as standard) |
| Inverter | Victron 3kVA |
| Mains charging | 120A via inverter/charger |
| DC/DC charger | Victron 50A |
| Shore power | Hook-up compatible as standard |
| Monitoring | Victron touchscreen |
Water & Heating
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| Heating system | Truma Combi 6D diesel |
| Fuel source | Main diesel tank — no separate gas cylinder |
| Hot water | Integrated tank |
| Fresh water | 109 litres |
| Grey water | 87 litres (4×4) / 63 litres (FWD) |
| Ventilation | Maxxair Maxxfan |
Kitchen
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| Hob | Double induction |
| Microwave/oven | Optional upgrade — Dometic three-in-one (microwave, convection oven, grill) |
| Fridge | Vitrifrigo 85l compressor fridge |
| Sink | Stainless steel with tap |
| Worktop | Hi-Macs composite |
| Storage | Drawers below, large overhead above |
Living
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| Shower room | Permanent enclosed shower and toilet — aluminium powder-coated, stainless tap and mixer |
| Toilet | Removable composting toilet — Clesana X1 Pro heat-sealing toilet available as an upgrade |
| Shower room storage | L-track fitted inside — doubles as storage when not in use |
| Bed | King-sized lengthways sliding bed — 1,990 × 1,680mm |
| Bed overheads | Folded aluminium — easy access, designed not to dominate the space |
| Bed lighting | Reading lights both sides |
| Pop-top | Fitted as standard — Onyx-designed, two-berth upper sleeping area (190 × 122cm), integrated lighting, clamshell close, solar-ready |
| Seating | 4 fully belted rear seats |
| Furniture | HPL throughout — choice of colours, powder-coated aluminium corners |
| Garage tie-down | L-track throughout |
Exterior & Chassis
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| Roof rack | Onyx aluminium roof rack — fitted as standard |
| Side ladder | Fitted as standard |
| Side step | Black step fitted as standard |
| Rear step | Black step fitted as standard |
Full base vehicle specification available on request. Options are available to change the specification — call us to discuss.
From £145,000 inc VAT
The Mesa brings the full Onyx family layout — four berths and a permanent shower room — into one long wheelbase van. It starts from £145,000 inc VAT, depending on specification and base vehicle.
See it for yourself at the NEC in October, or book a discovery call now for a figure based on your specification.
Book a viewing at the NEC →Customise your build
The Mesa is complete as standard. The options below are for buyers who want more capability, more comfort, or a more specific fit for their trips — all priced transparently. We’ll talk through what makes sense on your discovery call.
Tick the upgrades below to build your spec — it’s an estimate, not a quote.
Climate
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The Mesa is fitted with the Truma Combi 6D as standard. The Aquahot hydronic upgrade adds continuous hot water, two-zone control and underfloor capability; underfloor heating requires the Aquahot upgrade (added automatically). Habitation air conditioning is one option at one price: limited off-grid use on a 12v system, or full off-grid use on a 24v system. If you plan to run it off-grid we’d recommend adding a battery and the 24v upgrade alongside it — both are in Electrical systems below.
| Aquahot hydronic diesel heating — continuous hot water, two-zone control, smaller footprint, underfloor capability | £4,000 |
| Underfloor heating — third hydronic zone (requires Aquahot) | £4,500 |
| Habitation air con | £5,000 |
Layout
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The Onyx pop-top is standard on the Mesa, and it is what turns four travelling seats into four berths. Some buyers want to travel four but only ever sleep two — if that’s you, the pop-top can come off the specification and its cost comes off the price. You keep all four belted seats either way.
| Remove the Onyx pop-top — fixed roof, sleeps two, still travels four | -£5,800 |
Electrical systems
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| Additional 200Ah Victron LiFePO4 smart battery | £1,050 |
| DC/DC charger upgrade — 100A (replaces standard 50A, requires upgraded alternator) | £800 |
| 24v system — 5kVA inverter and 3×100Ah batteries | £2,700 |
| Additional solar | POA |
| Upgraded USB — Tiger Exped high-powered USB A/C (replacement) | £100 |
| Additional Tiger Exped high-powered USB A/C | £180 |
| Additional Scanstrut USB A/C port | £150 |
| Additional 240v sockets — up to two extra, four in total | £200 each |
| Starlink Roam — fitting only | £500 |
Internal additions
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| Clesana X1 Pro heat-sealing toilet (replaces the composting toilet) | £800 |
| Dedicated socket for the Clesana X1 Pro (otherwise it runs on battery power) | £200 |
| Dometic three-in-one — microwave, convection oven, grill (installed) | £500 |
| Sink chopping board infill | £100 |
| Garage slide-out gear tray | £750 |
| Ridgeline bug screen — side door, including fitting | £400 |
| Ridgeline insulated bug screen and blind — rear, including fitting | £620 |
| Upgraded mattress — memory foam | £600 |
| Upgraded mattress — pocket sprung | £1,000 |
| Seat upholstery — front seats | from £2,000 |
| Seat upholstery — rear seats | from £1,000 each |
External upgrades
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| Black Rhino Warlord alloys — four, or five with the spare | £400 each |
| Onyx rear carriers and wheel carrier | £2,000 |
| Fiamma F45 awning | £1,000 |
| External spotlights | from £250 |
| Tokul bike rack — suitable for all bikes, including fitting | £550 each |
Base vehicle factory upgrades
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| Non-standard colour | £1,439 |
| Tow bar | £796 |
| Heated and folding electric mirrors | £192 |
| Heated windscreen | £341 |
| Heated steering wheel | £110 |
| Cruise Assist (adaptive cruise control) | £1,328 |
| Leatherette seat covering | £79 |
| Upgraded alternator (enables future DC/DC charger upgrade) | £432 |
| Manual diff lock (AWD only) | £680 |
| Seikel 35mm lift kit | £5,606 |
An indicative estimate based on list options — not a formal quote. The base vehicle, factory choices and any POA items are confirmed on your discovery call.
Make it yours
Choose your colours and finishes
Every Mesa is finished to your taste. Pick the cabinetry, doors, flooring, worktop, wall lining and seating that feel like you – your palette builds as you go, and it’s included as standard.
Included as standard, on every MesaYour palette
Build your palette freely – we just ask for an email when you download.
The Mesa is built for people who…
- Want their children or grandchildren to grow up with memories of wild places, not hotel rooms
- Travel with friends who all deserve a proper seat, a proper bed, and a hot shower at the end of the day
- Have done the two-berth van and are ready for the version that doesn’t ask anyone to compromise
- Need to carry four people legally and comfortably — not just sleep them
- Want a van that works as well for two people on a quiet February weekend as it does for four in the middle of August
Whether it’s the Outer Hebrides in October, the French Alps in July, or every long weekend between now and whenever — the Mesa is the van that makes those trips possible.
Questions worth asking
When and where can I see the Mesa?
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The Mesa makes its public debut at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham, 13–18 October 2026 — you’ll find us on Stand 11.50. Nearer the show we’ll be booking private viewings on the stand, and registered visitors get the first invitations, so the best way to make sure you get time with the van is to register your interest now.
Can I order a Mesa or reserve a build slot now?
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You can register your interest now, which puts you first in line. The Mesa starts from £145,000 inc VAT, and the earliest registrations are the ones we get into the build diary first — with our typical 4–6 month lead time, being early matters. Once you’ve registered we’ll be in touch as the launch approaches to talk through specification, pricing and timing.
The photos here aren’t of a Mesa — what am I actually looking at?
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We’d rather be straight with you. Because the Mesa debuts in October, the photography on this page is shown from its sibling vans — chiefly the Arête and the Outpost — which share the same long-wheelbase MAN TGE body, the permanent shower room, the sliding bed, the open-through garage and the same Victron and Truma systems. What’s unique to the Mesa is how it brings the full four-berth family layout and a permanent shower room together in one van — and that’s exactly what’s making its debut at the NEC. The floor plans show the arrangement; the van itself you’ll see on Stand 11.50.
Which Onyx model is right for me?
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The Mesa is our long wheelbase family van — four travelling seats and a permanent shower room as standard, built to carry and sleep up to four. If you want the same four-berth family capability but would rather have maximum storage than a fixed shower room, the Outpost is built around that, at a lower price. If it’s mainly the two of you, the Arête is the long wheelbase two-berth with the same full shower room and room for an occasional third, and the Summit is the more compact, open two-berth. If you’re unsure, come and see them at the workshop.
What are my shower options on the Mesa?
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The Mesa has a permanent dedicated shower room — a full fixed bathroom with shower and composting toilet, rather than the Summit’s pop-up cubicle. It’s there when you need it without any setup, which matters more than it sounds when there are four people and a long day behind you.
There’s also an outdoor shower connection at the rear for rinsing kit, wetsuits, and dogs.
If you’re travelling as a couple, the Arête offers the same full shower room on a layout built around two, and the Summit is the more compact, open two-berth without a fixed shower room.
What is a composting toilet and does it smell?
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A composting toilet separates liquid and solid waste, which is what prevents odour. Used correctly — and they take very little getting used to — a composting toilet in a well-ventilated van is odour-free in normal use. Most owners stop thinking about it within the first week.
The practical advantages over a cassette toilet are significant: no chemicals, no cassette to empty at a chemical disposal point, and no dependency on campsites. For families planning extended off-grid trips in the UK or Europe, that independence makes a real difference.
How many people can the Mesa sleep?
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Four, as standard. Two on the king-sized lengthways sliding bed, and two more in the Onyx pop-top, which is fitted to every Mesa — well suited to children or grandchildren, and comfortable rather than an afterthought. Four adults in the upper berths would be a tighter fit than four people where two are children.
If four-berth use is central to how you’ll use the van, it’s worth seeing the pop-top in person at the workshop before you commit — it changes the roofline and the character of the van, and it’s an easier decision once you’ve seen it.
What off-grid capability does the Mesa have — and is it enough?
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The Mesa runs a full Victron off-grid electrical system with 400Ah of LiFePO4 lithium battery capacity, 400W of roof-mounted solar, and a Truma Combi 6D diesel heating system that runs entirely from the main fuel tank. In practical terms, that means three to four days of comfortable use without solar input, and indefinitely with reasonable sun.
For families or buyers planning extended trips across the UK and Europe, the upgrade path includes additional battery capacity, a higher-output DC/DC charger, and a full 24v system. The standard specification handles the vast majority of adventure use without additions — but if you’re planning to run air conditioning or spend significant time off-grid in winter, it’s worth discussing the options.
What is LiFePO4 and why does it matter?
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LiFePO4 — lithium iron phosphate — is the battery chemistry used in the Mesa’s Victron electrical system. Compared to lead-acid or AGM batteries, LiFePO4 batteries are lighter, charge faster, last considerably longer, and can be discharged more deeply without damage. In a family campervan context, that means more usable capacity and a battery bank that will still be performing well a decade from now.
It’s the same chemistry used in high-end marine and off-grid home installations — specified because it’s the best option available, not because it sounds impressive on paper.
Can I use the Mesa in winter?
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Yes — the Mesa is built for year-round use across the UK and Europe. The van is fully insulated throughout, and the fresh and grey water tanks are insulated and heated, so cold weather use is comfortable rather than something you have to manage around.
The Truma Combi 6D diesel heating system runs from the main fuel tank and provides warm air heating and hot water without a separate gas cylinder. For buyers who spend extended time in particularly cold conditions or want underfloor heating capability, the Aquahot hydronic system is available as an upgrade — a more sophisticated option worth discussing if winter use is a priority.
Can I take the Mesa on a ferry or through the Channel Tunnel?
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Yes. The Mesa’s dimensions are within the standard limits for both ferry crossings and the Channel Tunnel — height is the most common practical consideration, and it’s worth confirming the specific limits when you book. The MAN TGE’s commercial vehicle dealer network across the UK and Europe means support is available wherever you are, which matters for a family van doing serious mileage abroad.
How do I fit bikes in the Mesa?
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The Mesa’s rear garage is built for serious kit, and bikes are one of the things it handles well. The open-through design means length isn’t the limiting factor it can be on other campervans. For a cleaner solution, the Onyx rear carriers with Tokul bike racks — suitable for all bikes — keep the garage free and make loading significantly easier. Dedicated charging for e-bikes is available in the garage.
Where does my dog go in the Mesa?
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The garage works well for dogs who prefer their own space on the road — enough room for a dog up to lab or collie size comfortably, with L-track for securing a crate properly. If the garage is full of kit, the seating area gives a dog of that size plenty of room. Two spaniels would be easy; two German Shepherds would start to feel tight.
The outdoor shower connection at the rear handles the post-walk cleanup considerably better than it would otherwise.
What does the Mesa cost?
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The Mesa starts from £145,000 inc VAT. If you’d like a figure based on your specification and how you plan to use the van, a discovery call is the best place to start — we can give you a clear picture of what a build would cost before you commit to anything. You can also book a viewing on our stand at the NEC in October and see it before you decide anything at all.
What warranty do I get with the Mesa?
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The MAN TGE base vehicle comes with a three-year manufacturer warranty through the MAN dealer network across the UK and Europe. The Onyx build is covered by a one-year Onyx warranty, and Victron components carry their own manufacturer warranty. Every completed build also comes with a free three-month check-up, where we go through the van thoroughly and address anything that needs attention after the first few months of use.
Is the Mesa road legal?
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Yes. Every Mesa goes through an Individual Vehicle Approval process and is registered from new as a motorhome — not a panel van conversion. That means it leaves the workshop correctly classified, with all the legal and insurance implications that come with motorhome registration.
If you’d prefer to register the van as a panel van, that option is available and comes with a small discount on the build price. It’s worth understanding the insurance and usage implications of each before you decide.
Is the Mesa suitable for full-time living?
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It’s a question we get asked, and it deserves an honest answer. The Mesa is designed and built for serious adventure use — extended trips, multi-week travel, remote locations. It will handle full-time living considerably better than most campervans on the market, and the systems are specified to a standard that supports it.
Full-time living places different demands on a van than extended touring, and it’s worth being clear about what you’re planning before you commit to a specification. If full-time use is what you have in mind, tell us on your discovery call and we’ll make sure the build reflects that.
Do I need a special licence to drive the Mesa?
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Yes. The Mesa is built on a 4,000kg gross weight base vehicle as standard, which puts it above the 3,500kg limit covered by a standard Category B car licence. Driving it needs C1 entitlement, which covers vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg.
If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997, you will almost certainly have C1 already — it is listed in the categories on the back of your photocard, and it is worth checking there before anything else. If you passed after that date, C1 is a separate entitlement: a medical, a theory test and a practical test, usually completed over a few days.
It is worth thinking about early if more than one of you will share the driving on a long family trip. The base vehicle specification can be changed, so raise it on your discovery call and we will work through the options and what each one means for payload. C1 entitlement on a UK licence is recognised across the EU.
Why the MAN TGE over the VW Crafter or Mercedes Sprinter?
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The MAN TGE isn’t the most familiar choice — most people arrive expecting a Sprinter — but it’s the right platform for what we build, and the reasons are practical.
Against the Sprinter, it’s comparable in quality and capability at a slightly lower base price, which means more of your budget goes into the build rather than the base vehicle.
Against the VW Crafter, the more important difference is support. The MAN TGE is the commercial vehicle version of the same platform, which means it’s backed by MAN’s truck dealer network — service centres across the UK and throughout Europe. For a van you’re taking seriously into remote places, that network matters in a way it doesn’t for a van that stays close to home.
We’ve driven other platforms. We kept coming back to this one.
Not sure the Mesa is the one?
The Mesa is our family van with a permanent shower room. If you’d rather trade the shower room for maximum storage at a lower price, the Outpost is the family gear-hauler built around exactly that. If it’s mainly the two of you, the Arête is the long wheelbase two-berth with the same full shower room and room for an occasional third, and the Summit is the more compact, open two-berth. And if none of the models fit, Hors Catégorie is our bespoke programme.
Come and see the Mesa
The Mesa debuts at the Motorhome & Caravan Show — NEC, 13–18 October 2026, Stand 11.50. Book a viewing and you’ll get half an hour with the van and with the people who built it.
We typically have a 4–6 month lead time, so a van ordered at the show would be with you in the spring.
Or call us on 01403 458 668Not ready to talk yet?Join the list for new models, open build slots and workshop updates.
