Which car to convert to a camper?

[NickyMil]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at converting an estate in to a camper by removing the back seats and building a wooden frame allowing storage/cooking equipment underneath and a mattress on top. I'm hoping to have this completed and ready for summer (fingers crossed the Coronavirus has passed by summer) to travel the UK for a month or two.

I am looking at a budget of around £2,500 - £3,000 for the car and was probably thinking of getting an old Volvo V70. I was wondering what people thought of using a Volvo V70, I am not hugely clued up on vehicles so if some more experienced people had any recommendations or information that would be great. Would an older Volvo be reliable enough? Can you think of any other makes/models that might be more appropriate?

Thanks

Nicky

[Pupbelly]

I'd look at an Volvo XC70 too

[biggbn]

Wouldn't you be better with a pick up and extended bed?

[52classic]

Ford Galaxy or Tourneo. Chrysler Voyager. Renault Espace. How about an ex-Paramedic vehicle through auction?

Edited by 52classic on Tuesday 7th April 16:18

[blue_haddock]

An estate car has very little head room, even for sitting up in bed.

Either an mpv like a galaxy or something like a Berlingo multispace or caddy life. If you go with a caddy maxi life they are lwb so loads of space.

[amazing driver]

Get a van don't mess about. Convert it. Doing the same thing myself.

[drmike37]

We (pre kids) made a camper out of a fiat ulysse. Had a folding bed, gas cooker and a little fridge. For the two of us it was easily big enough. I’d recommend a people carrier so you can actually sit up in it.

[SimonTheSailor]

Looked into this a while back.

Biggest estates were the big Mercedes or an Omega.

I ended up with a Mondeo estate which was only a couple of inches shorter inside I think.
Did sleep in the back on the odd occasion so is doable but obviously very restricted.

I would get a people carrier too. Thought the Grand Espace would be the best choice (especially the one with the 3.5 V6 in it !). Having talked to a mechanic friend he warned me off the Renault range, and the Renault/Vauxhall/Nissan range of vans, and everything that basically isn't German !!

So recommend the VW series of vans/transporters (but they are obviously expensive as they are cool).

I would get a Galaxy personally. Get a top of the range version and then the inside will be nice and you might have sunroofs so you can watch the stars while you sleep......

Edited by SimonTheSailor on Tuesday 7th April 16:56

[toon10]

I've seen a few small van conversions that looked OK. VW Caddy size but for your budget, maybe an alternative small van.

[SimonTheSailor]

Oh and I saw a Ulysese once that was quite nicely converted. There's a Citroen and a Peugeot that's the same I think.

Unfortunately the cambelt was 4 years overdue and much as the seller told me 'everything is great, it wants for nothing' - I checked with an independent garage and it was a 500 quid job !!

[52classic]

How about a Volvo 745? Swing out kitchen under the tailgate. Hinged, elevating roof.

[TurnedEmo]

Mk1 or Mk2 Toyota Previa.

To save you the hassle, you can buy them already converted from an outfit called Bumble Campers.

Very nearly bought one myself but went for a bigger import instead - quadrupling the original budget!

[crofty1984]

If you don't want to go Ford Transit size, how about comething like a Peugeot Partner/Berlingo or Transit connect (Built on a Focus pplatform)? Length wouldn't be the worst thing about an estate, it would be the headroom. If it HAD to be a "proper" car, I'd echo the advice about people carriers.

[DoubleD]

Yeah I wouldnt bother with an estate. Like others have said, van type vehicle or a people carrier.

[Darryl247W]

I saw a cleverly done one-berth Berlingo-ish thing conversion a few years ago. It consisted of a single bed with a small cabinet/cooking area alongside and seemed very effective for some lone roaming.

As others have said, an estate will be limited in headroom. It's worth watching watch Clarkson-era Top Gear for how poor an estate is as a base-vehicle

Peugeot/Citroen were the base vehicle of choice for many conversions so they must have had a lot in their favour. Citroen Dispatch for car-like attributes with good internal space?

[TurnedEmo]

Here's the Bumble conversion.

This is one of their rental fleet - could be worth renting for a long weekend when they re-open to see if it suits you.

https://www.bumblecampers.com/4-seater-2-sleeper-c...

[GSalt]

A hearse?
- not much longer than an estate car
- higher roof clearance in the back
- tend to have larger capacity bullet-proof engines and running gear

[SimonTheSailor]

TurnedEmo said:

Mk1 or Mk2 Toyota Previa.

This is a good shout. Went to look at one that was a diesel turbo and 4WD - at least you might be able to go a little bit more off road !

[Garemberg]

Definately go people carrier i converted an old Toyota Hiace SWB super custom, and lived it in for almost a year.

[lost in espace]

I have a 2005 T5 Shuttle lwb, probably worth about £3,000 ish we built a fold out parcel shelf and with an Ikea mattress was fairly usable. With some swivel seats and an awning would beat any estate. It is for sale as we upgraded to a race van 3 weeks ago which is now sat in my garden for the next 6 months :-(