Discussion
The wife is keen on a camper of sorts. I'm keen on a van, of sorts.
I'd like a van with two rows of seats and enough space for my road bike (cycle) in the back. She would like something that you can put a double bed in the back (assuming that you can lower / move the rear seats).
The VW T5 and T6 seem to come with a massive premium, what's the (next) best option for such a vehicle? I'm drawn to a combi Transit, but I know precious little about such things, so over to you PH!
I'd like a van with two rows of seats and enough space for my road bike (cycle) in the back. She would like something that you can put a double bed in the back (assuming that you can lower / move the rear seats).
The VW T5 and T6 seem to come with a massive premium, what's the (next) best option for such a vehicle? I'm drawn to a combi Transit, but I know precious little about such things, so over to you PH!
Running a small fleet of them it will be no surprise to a few on here that my vote will be with the Mercedes Sprinter , capable of Astronomical Mileages and a known quantity as regards what can fail ( not a lot does ) for me a no brainer . Plenty conversions out there , a few East European Lads live in them here in MK rather than pay extortionate rents , I should think you would be spoilt for choice .
reddiesel said:
Running a small fleet of them it will be no surprise to a few on here that my vote will be with the Mercedes Sprinter , capable of Astronomical Mileages and a known quantity as regards what can fail ( not a lot does ) for me a no brainer . Plenty conversions out there , a few East European Lads live in them here in MK rather than pay extortionate rents , I should think you would be spoilt for choice .
Thanks! We have had a wide variety of vans at work, I’d take a 2.2 Transit over a T5/T6 every time. I’d be very wary of a 2.0 Transit though, the wet belt engines are not proving themselves at all.
Saying that, I do also have my own van, used for carting my band’s gear about, and for me and the youth’s mountain bikes. That is a Mercedes Vito.
Saying that, I do also have my own van, used for carting my band’s gear about, and for me and the youth’s mountain bikes. That is a Mercedes Vito.
gazza285 said:
We have had a wide variety of vans at work, I’d take a 2.2 Transit over a T5/T6 every time. I’d be very wary of a 2.0 Transit though, the wet belt engines are not proving themselves at all.
Saying that, I do also have my own van, used for carting my band’s gear about, and for me and the youth’s mountain bikes. That is a Mercedes Vito.
Likewise, I'd always go Transit over Transporter. One thing to be aware of is that the 2.2 Transits are Euro 5, and may fall foul of ULEZ zones. Saying that, I do also have my own van, used for carting my band’s gear about, and for me and the youth’s mountain bikes. That is a Mercedes Vito.
The V362 Tourneo (9 seater version of the Transit Custom) would be worth a look as the rear 2 rows are cleverly designed and it’s easily run as a kombi with just the middle row in place and something to shield the boot from prying eyes.
It’s more expensive than the van variant (but still likely cheaper than a well equipped Transporter) but most are Titanium spec so you get 6x airbags, twin sliding doors, rear AC, a tailgate and I believe better suspension tailored to its role as a passenger vehicle.
As it’s legally classed as a car you also get higher speed limits and for most low emission zones no charge (at least for now) as it’s not technically a commercial vehicle.
2014 > March 2016 models (approx) use the 2.2l Puma engine without ADBlue and a timing chain instead of the wet belt - 125ps versions are probably the best in class in my opinion so long as you’re not regularly in the London / Bath / Bristol clean air zones.
It’s more expensive than the van variant (but still likely cheaper than a well equipped Transporter) but most are Titanium spec so you get 6x airbags, twin sliding doors, rear AC, a tailgate and I believe better suspension tailored to its role as a passenger vehicle.
As it’s legally classed as a car you also get higher speed limits and for most low emission zones no charge (at least for now) as it’s not technically a commercial vehicle.
2014 > March 2016 models (approx) use the 2.2l Puma engine without ADBlue and a timing chain instead of the wet belt - 125ps versions are probably the best in class in my opinion so long as you’re not regularly in the London / Bath / Bristol clean air zones.
All the suggestions are fine suggestions for a first camper van but the reality is that people who buy camper vans rarely get it right first or even second time and usually chnage after short time. We are on our third van and so I would recommend that you cut out the learning curve and go straight for an Adria Twin Supreme 640 SGX.
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