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Vans
mistergrumpy - 14/6/11 at 09:11 PM

I'm toying with the idea of getting a van sometime in the near future to convert into a camper and am after suggestions which one to get.
VW Transporter/Caravelle are the popular choice but the cost for even high milers is massive and tbh, I drive one at work and it isn't any better than any others really.
Ford Transits are a great drive I think, better so than the Transporter but I tend to think it's a bit stereotypical white van/gypsy wagon and seems to be real popular for getting stolen atm.
VX Vivaro's seem quite cheap. Mixed reviews when I looked into them and seem to go into limp mode fairly regularly.
Merceds Vito just appear expensive with expensive spares.
Not considered the French options due to bad experiences with French cars in the past.

So. Any suggestions or dispel some of the myths I've read?

owelly - 14/6/11 at 09:15 PM

I have a Ford Freda for sale in the next week or so...... It's the best thing in the whole wide world....but I would say that.
If you want an honest opinion on the Freda/Mazda Bongo, let me know. If you're after a more mainstream option, I won't waste my time!! ;-)

austin man - 14/6/11 at 09:18 PM

Personally the T4 for me in looks reliability performance and ease of conversion / parts availability

BigFaceDave - 14/6/11 at 09:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by austin man
Personally the T4 for me in looks reliability performance and ease of conversion / parts availability


Couldn't agree more! I am on my second, I sold the 1st with almost 200k on the clock and it had 82k when my dad bought it (before I had it) and the only money apart from servicing and tyres was having the fuel pump re-coned and that was it in 120k miles, My new one I have known since new and has never had anything wrong on it and its a 99 so its far from new can squeeze 40mpg out of it too, I know what you mean when you say they seem pricey but you get what you pay for, The Vitos rust badly and tend to drink heavily I believe.

There are plenty of conversion bits for the T4's too but I would recommend going for a 2.5 as my 1.9 isnt exactly fast!(lets just say even if I had a flux capacitor I still would be able to time travel! )

Plenty of inspiration here too Linky

But of course I am also biased!

nick205 - 14/6/11 at 09:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
I have a Ford Freda for sale in the next week or so...... It's the best thing in the whole wide world....but I would say that.
If you want an honest opinion on the Freda/Mazda Bongo, let me know. If you're after a more mainstream option, I won't waste my time!! ;-)



Came very close to buying a Bongo a year or so back, really like the novelty value, but ultimately the auto-box only issue killed it for me.

JoelP - 14/6/11 at 10:01 PM

vivaros do knacker their gearboxes after 60-80k, but mine has taken some good abuse since i changed it, 40k ago. Turbo also went, but to be fair, its a nice drive if a bit slow, and goes on with minimal fuss. Not really big enough to convert though maybe?

thunderace - 14/6/11 at 10:01 PM

Ford Transits ,you can buy a camper roof for it on ebay Item number: 180646969251

se7en - 14/6/11 at 11:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mistergrumpy

VX Vivaro's seem quite cheap. Mixed reviews when I looked into them and seem to go into limp mode fairly regularly. .....

..... Not considered the French options due to bad experiences with French cars in the past.


The VX Vivaro is a Renault Traffic re-badged so your experiences of French cars can apply here. It is the same van as the Nissan Primastar.

Having driven the majority of vans on the road in my life I would have to say that IMHO the VW T series are superior vans to their competitors.

Mercedes Vito as stated above are expensive to buy and very expensive to maintain, same can be said for Toyota Hiace.

Fords are typical although their current model I found better than previous models.

The Iveco is not a bad van even though it is Italian but I would avoid its fellow country's vehicles even if they do own Ferrari.

I have seen the Mazda Bongo/Ford Freda and as a camper it is very well finished, well worth a look at.

HTH

Tom

Davey D - 15/6/11 at 05:22 AM

How about a Toyota HiAce ? i think that is the van i would choose if i was making a camper style van

vinny1275 - 15/6/11 at 06:33 AM

We've just bought a swb transit to turn into a camper, we got a 2001 for less than what a 96 t4 would have cost. There are a few motorhome forums about - sbmmc is quite a handy one. Like locosts, the conversion will cost more than you expect!

mangogrooveworkshop - 15/6/11 at 07:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
I have a Ford Freda for sale in the next week or so...... It's the best thing in the whole wide world....but I would say that.
If you want an honest opinion on the Freda/Mazda Bongo, let me know. If you're after a more mainstream option, I won't waste my time!! ;-)
Was this the one you imported???? Sorry for going off topic

Benzine - 15/6/11 at 08:35 AM

commer


bedford CF


UAZ


Skoda
1

volvo

richardR1 - 15/6/11 at 09:20 AM

Most of the vans mentioned are a bit on the small side for conversion. i have plans to this in a few years and will be using lwb high roof version of a Relay/Boxer/Ducato as they are very good value and being fwd give max volume and min weight. This is important to consider as it will give you more payload for all your fittings and gear. If you look at all the manufacturer van conversions most are on this chassis for those reasons.

mistergrumpy - 15/6/11 at 02:46 PM

I'm aware that the Vivaro is a rebadged Renault but I assume the engine isn't the same?
I have looked at the Hiaces. The newer ones seem alright but are a bit expensive and from reading around the older seem to curve in at the roof a bit too much.
I don't like the Bongo's/Freda's and the automatic box puts me off too.
I don't really want a lwb due to parking space.
Another issue with VW's is that I think there is a huge clique with the VW gang and there's a tendancy to overexagerrate their reliability. Certainly from my limited dealings they're no different to anything else and if anything appear slightly over engineered, unnecessarily.

dinosaurjuice - 15/6/11 at 03:20 PM

t4 or t5. parts are reasonable, ok they have known problems but most are easy to fix and can be avoided. resale value as a camper is much higher than any other converted van. theres a VW festival every weekend of the year so a cheap way to get about and socialise. all the reasons i have one

a4gom - 15/6/11 at 04:59 PM

I've been considering a van too, not a full conversion but adding a second row of seats and a temp bed for when I'm away sprinting.
A standard van is much cheaper than a van with extra seats (crew cab or whatever you call them) and or a camper and I'm sure I can do what I want with less than the difference but does anyone know what other implications there are?
I'm thinking changing the registration doc for the extra seats and what about insurance, "any modifications?"

BigFaceDave - 15/6/11 at 05:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by a4gom
I've been considering a van too, not a full conversion but adding a second row of seats and a temp bed for when I'm away sprinting.
A standard van is much cheaper than a van with extra seats (crew cab or whatever you call them) and or a camper and I'm sure I can do what I want with less than the difference but does anyone know what other implications there are?
I'm thinking changing the registration doc for the extra seats and what about insurance, "any modifications?"


I believe to have the class changed to a camper van you have to have it inspected by the DVLA and it has to have a few things fitted eg a sink a bed a cooker or grill and possibly a few other bits.

As for insurance I have a policy with a company called Just Kampers which allows me to do anything I want inside from leaving as standard to putting in extra seats to a full on camper conversion and for me (30 with clean licence and full NCD) fully comp with alloys on and 18k miles a year its £210, There is another company called Brentacre that quoted me £450ish for the same sort of policy but I can modify the outside aswell as the insode and it wont effect the premium as long as I dont up the power.

Simon - 15/6/11 at 06:53 PM

DAF Van Hool 51 seat coach | eBay UK

ATB

Simon

deep blue - 16/6/11 at 01:01 AM

Ok! I will probably be fastened in the stocks and showered with rotten tomatoes for a week for stating this but for me the best readily available cheap and economical van for self conversion in to a practical day van come basic sleeper, is in my opinion the humble much insulted LDV pilot/200 .
More accurate the 6 seater ex post office offerings, that come with a rear seat and a pair of side windows as standard.
They are loaded with the Citeroen peugeot (PSA) XUD 1905cc diesel or the 1900cc DW8 version of it in some later vans, these are a ancient engine now but non the less dependable and reliable if well maintained, give good economy and in turbo at least fair if not earth shattering performance.
The LDV as problems like any other make and model, but mechanically are simple and durable and have no modern complexities to taunt you and tie you to the dealership or releave you of too much of your hard earned.
Physically they are a quite compact van nice in the confines of the style of back roads the yorkshire dales devon and cornwal etc throws at you.
Internally the pilot as a decent amount of headroom/length so you can squeeze four berths two adults and two children in to its less than grand at the moment bodywork.
Availability of vans, they are everywhere at the moment, not trendy not loved and here lays your biggest headache sorting the wheat from the chaff, but the good news is the post office kicked them out at about 50K, and hopefully you can either get one straight from the Royal Mail, or from a gentle joiner who did not abuse it too bad in his limited ownership.
Parts availability, Again everywhere they are unloved quite often get killed in action and end up in local breakers yards or on the big Bay in little bits, for you to buy when you need them, plenty out there and probably will be for as long as you have the van.
Things to do. Well if it is a ex Royal mail. pilot 6 seater, it already as windows, and a back seat with belts etc, so at least you have a start of sorts. My advice id insulate insulate and insulate, and then use your imagination to create a beast of your own your own as simple crude as you like or as far as your talent and pockets allow.
Things i did,and would advise you to do. first off check the clutch postman pat is heavy on clutches.
Change the front seats for better ones, i fitted Renault Clio seats to the LDV bases. , the best things in a Clio.
Check for leaks around the windscreen rubber seal or replace, also check and paint the floor of the van prior to insulating it. They can rust in the front foot well area when they get a few years on their backs.
Engines, i got my van dirt cheap with the belt snapped and i decided to replace the engine rather than fit a second hand head, so i got a XUD 1905cc turbo engine from a old peugeot 405 a neighbor was scraping, it was a straight forward install well within the capabilities of the average spanner jockey.
A bit of plumbing out of the turbo to the original front pipe// fit the 405 radiator relocate the air filter fan switch wiring heater relay and a few holes in the bonnet to vent air through the inter cooler a little nicer, and that is about it as far as i can remember.
The engine is not compulsory the standard N/A Diesel is reliable, but the turbo is a little better, and i think worth the effort.
Of corse you could hunt out a turbo version, but i have only ever heard they sold them with the turbo installed i have never accrualy sen one.

a4gom - 16/6/11 at 07:56 AM

quote:
Originally posted by BigFaceDave
I believe to have the class changed to a camper van you have to have it inspected by the DVLA and it has to have a few things fitted eg a sink a bed a cooker or grill and possibly a few other bits.

As for insurance I have a policy with a company called Just Kampers which allows me to do anything I want inside from leaving as standard to putting in extra seats to a full on camper conversion and for me (30 with clean licence and full NCD) fully comp with alloys on and 18k miles a year its £210, There is another company called Brentacre that quoted me £450ish for the same sort of policy but I can modify the outside aswell as the insode and it wont effect the premium as long as I dont up the power.


Cheers thats good to know, I'm not actually wanting to go as far as converting to a camper but as long as the insurance are happy about extra seats thats fine.