I’d like to buy a camper van

[Imaplumber]

After my foray into camper vans, (8 weeks in Australia) me and the wife have decided we would like to buy one

Is anyone here selling one?

If not what would anyone recommend?

We had a Mec Sprinter in Australia, automatic, cruise control, diesel, it was easy to drive, as long as you remembered the extra length

Any idea if it’s bettrr to buy private, from a company or eBay ?

We don’t have a bottomless pit of money, but we would like to find a decent one

Preferably just a jump in and drive away,

If we was to buy a van and pay a company to do the work, any idea of the cost of a conversion ?

Say for a transit, sprinter ?

[sjg]

There's a big show at the NEC next week 19-24 Feb, worth going just to have a look around loads of them and see what you like and don't like - a lot of campervans follow a set formula but there are some alternative layouts that can work well if you have particular needs. Lots of the campervan converters will be there with demo vehicles to look at.

https://www.ccmshow.co.uk/caravan-camping-motorhom...

[Imaplumber]

That’s a bit of a bugger, I’ll be in Cuba then

Any recommendations for second hand ones dealers in west London ?

[gordmac]

There are a huge number of different makes, lots of different layouts. It is a bit of a nightmare to navigate! Spend a while working out what you will use it for and what you want inside. Toilet and shower? How many berths? Do you want fixed beds or are you happy to spend time making them every night? Budget? Size? Ferries usually charge a lot more over 6m. Will you used it for everyday transport?
Look at a few before you decide.
Coach built can be more spacious than van based but prone to dampness.
Good luck and have fun!
I decided a motorhome was beyond my budget and got a demountable instead.

[Imaplumber]

Thanks for the reply

I did have a Go Pod (2 person caravan) but I never used it, it was hitching it up every time, it could be towed by a FIAT 500 or even a trike,, you could make the bed up every night or just leave it (that’s what we did in Oz, it was always warm enough to eat out side)

It was very nice it’s just we never really used it, it really messed up the mpg dragging it around

You could call it a posh tear drop trailer, but you could cook inside

The camper would just be used for lengthy trips, there could be plenty of them, retired😄 now

Yup there are plenty out there but most I have seen are dogs (at least with a dealer I would have a bit of protection)

On eBay they seem to be selling them because of problems they never put in the listings

I was wondering if anyone here has got a camper or could recommend a dealer

I’d be happy to leave the bed up all the time as long as I could use the cooker, get to the fridge

As for a toilet and shower, we never used it the whole 8 weeks, every campsite had showers, toilets even a cooking area, some even had a swimming pool and kids play areas (we used the pools not the kids play areas👍

[nick997]

I’ve bought two larger coachbuilt motorhomes from Webb’s in Reading - first one was based on a Transit which are notoriously easy to steal. Webb’s have a tie up with a VW van converter who do a few different layouts. Stephen Archer or Guy Tegg both pleasant to deal with, no pressure sell.

[Imaplumber]

I had a look at their website, not that far from me

But the second hand ones are all 4 berth, it’s just me and the wife, so a 2 berth would suit us fine

Plus they are a bit out of my price range 😐

[gordmac]

Sounds like a basic camper with rock and roll bed would do you. Maybe consider buying a van and paying a conversion company to convert it?

[Imaplumber]

What on earth is a rock and roll bed ?

[DoubleU]

A rock and roll bed is a rear seat bench that folds down into a small double bed.

For a really basic view of conversion prices from a company, take a look at this link: http://ajcconversions.co.uk/pricing/

(disclaimer - I have never used or heard or them until I googled camper van conversion price list)

Thats for your standard VW type van size.

[Imaplumber]

I’d prefer something a bit larger than a VW (I thought they were in the 70’s or 80’s)

[Earthdweller]

You’re not making it easy !

Are you looking for a camper van or a coach built chassis conversion?

And roughly what sort of budget ?

That would certainly help people to advise you ?

[Imaplumber]

A camper van,
2 berth, kitchen, (gas hot plates) not so bothered about a ex or shower (but if it’s there that’s fine)
Diesel, automatic (if possible)
Cruise control (that would be nice)
Budget about £10-£12 grand
Fairly low mileage (but as long as it’s not rusty and it’s got a good engine)
Fridge/freezer
Lighting (if it has LEDs that would be fine, but I can convert them)
Windows (so a steal camper isn’t on the cards)
Fresh water tank
Hot water tank
Leisure battery
TV (but never seen one that works in a camper)

As the same as everyone ‘as much as possible for as little of possible’

[sjg]

Other things to think about:

Are you fussed about height? For beach/park carparks, multistoreys, general usability - high-tops can be a pain in some places.
Or length? Something that can just about squeeze in to a normal bay?
How much stuff would you want to take with you? Do you travel light and are happy to pick up food most days? Any extra kit (bikes, etc) you'd want to take away with you?
Do you want to be able to stand up? Sounds silly but a low roof van without a pop top means stooping a lot, cooking sitting down, etc.

If you want an automatic, can be worth looking at the japanese imported stuff, there's things like the Bongo and some of the newer big MPVs (Alphard, Elgrand, etc) get imported and converted - tend to be petrol though. They're also at the smaller, more everyday usable end too, but a reasonable size for 2 people to camp in.

[Imaplumber]

I’d like to be able to stand up in it, so a high top, not too worried about length, my sprinter I rented was out 4-5 meters long (not really sure I never measured it) but it went into a parking bay okay, it did have a reversing came which I found on our last week

I have been doing ebay/gym tree searches but there are some dogs out there, some have no documents or want to meet in a lay-by or service station (as if I am going to do that)
I went to look at one today
Cracked windscreen, cushions torn, curtains hanging down, rust every where, none of which was in the photos posted, so a waste of time, he wanted 6k for it (he got upset when I said he would be lucky and if he was serious why not clean it up a bit)
This is the 4 camper I have looked at
They put up lots of photos, but miss out a lot
We bought food every 2-3 days, (milk was the biggest problem because the fridge broke down)
We just stored clothes in the suitcase, but there was a wardrobe in the van

Edited by Imaplumber on Tuesday 12th February 18:05

[gordmac]

Pug Boxer or similar is the favourite of coach builders these days, wide enough for a decent transverse bed unlike most vans. You may struggle to get something worthwhile for your budget considering what you want.

[Imaplumber]

I guess it’s a case of ‘keep on looking then’

I like the idea of a pug (I assumme you mean Peugeot ) Camper

I haven’t looked any of them, it’s all been transits and sprinters 🙁

[anonymous-user]

Go for an older purpose built Hymer based on the Mercedes vario chassis. S660/s500. Solidly built for the purpose. properly insulated and they hold their value like nothing else. Post 1993 and you get solid wood furniture + there is an excellent community of classic Hymer owners if you need any help or advice.

Something like this would make for a fantastic camper for 2 people with plenty of space. Bulletproof mechanicals too (unlike our fiat)

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...

Ours is rated at 5 berth but its quite cramped for extended trips.

[mikeiow]

I agree that Hymers do look to be the dogs ‘nads, but that link is over 7m long!!
OP spoke about driving one 4-5m long....bit of a difference manoeuvring that kind of beast about!!

[Imaplumber]

I couldn’t fit the camper in my driveway, I can fit a sprinter or transit
We have width restrictions in the uk, both the sprinter and transit fit through these restrictions

Off to look at another couple this week (if my car gets repaired, posted in another entry, some where on the forums)