Panel vans-----Campervans

[mikal83]

Having sold our caravan 2 years ago and done 2 extended trips to OZ and NZ is small campervans, (one bought and sold, one borrowed), we have decided that long haul flights/holidays are on the back burner for maybe a couple of years. So we thought, lets get a campervan again and tour the EU etc. Prices of nicely laid out ones are big bucks, so we thought, lets build our own.

So a donor panel van is needed..........have you seen the prices lately, up 20% in a year for good 2nd hand ones. One dealer I spoke to said his entire stock has sold, another closer to me but 2k above up country, the first thing he asked was...."is this for a campervan conversion"! Fleabay/Autotrader hardly any for sale.

I was shocked. there seems to be a huge shortage of 3/4/5 yr old vans. Anyone else going down this road?

[ChocolateFrog]

Had my converted van 3 or 4 years so from a personal point of view I'm fairly happy.

That said I'm sure it'll be fairly short lived and they'll come down next year.

[mikal83]

ChocolateFrog said:

Had my converted van 3 or 4 years so from a personal point of view I'm fairly happy.

That said I'm sure it'll be fairly short lived and they'll come down next year.

Boom n bust....but next year aint this year!

[rustfalia]

We sold our t25 camper at the end of lockdown for a very very good price

Waiting for the right t5.1 lwb 140 to come up to convert but people are asking crazy money for high mileage 3 or 4 year old panel Van's.

I just ventured into ebay to look at the Van's listed in the camper van section...stupid prices.


All the 20 to 24k Van's are now up for 34k.

There is a t6 for sale privately for 64k.


Insane.



Thinking of buying a performance car for a year and trying next year.

[mikal83]

we are seeing some really dumb prices for converted high spec campervans. 30k even a few 60k vans...its mad

[feef]

If you're old enough to be able to drive a 7.5 tonner on your licence, have a look at some of those.
I used mine as race-transport when I was rallying bikes, but it was a comfortable 'camper' too. Even with the astronomical mileage, the Cummins straight 6 was reliable, and it cost me less than an unconverted van : I suspect because 1: folk don't think about them as an option, and 2: not everyone can drive one on their licence.

[mikal83]

Have just bought a relay 35 heavy L4H2

[LeighW]

Vans are in very short supply.

If you're anywhere near the midlands, this is one of my clients, a very nice and honest chap who only sells late model, low mileage vans.:

https://showroom.ebaymotorspro.co.uk/Vanhunter-Ltd

[rustyuk]

What is your budget? What size of van are you looking for?

[SpamDisco]

If you want it to change the V5 to show as campervan, make sure it complies with the regs, they seem to have become stricter.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/convert...

I'm also looking at the moment, but not really seeing much choice, I'll probably wait till winter.

[LeighW]

SpamDisco said:

If you want it to change the V5 to show as campervan, make sure it complies with the regs, they seem to have become stricter.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/convert...

I'm also looking at the moment, but not really seeing much choice, I'll probably wait till winter.

Basically, unless it has a high top and motorhome/caravan style swoopy stripes on it, you have Bob hope of getting it changed now.

[SpamDisco]

LeighW said:

Basically, unless it has a high top and motorhome/caravan style swoopy stripes on it, you have Bob hope of getting it changed now.

I'd be happy with a higher roof, but not sure whether the DVLA would be happy with a factory standard high roof
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Or whether they want an upside down boat roof
https://www.denbycampervans.com/products/denby-hig...

[mikal83]

Now starting a shopping list.

Solar. 2 x 100w, mppt, cabling
Leisure batteries. 2 x 110ah
Inverter
battery charger
sink
hob twin burner
safefill gas bottle
toilet
fridge

Then theres the 3 windows, ply, insulation etc etc for the van itself

Wife wants 2 swivel captains seats. $$$$$$$$$$$$$

AS Jimmy cricket said, Wait, theres more!

Oh and a 125cc scooter for the garage.

[mikal83]

OH and for the solar experts out there....this is Pistonheads so theres hundreds.......
I will be installing 2 x 100w panels on top. 2 x 110ah leisure batteries inside for the wriggle bits.
So I have read somewhere that a split charge relay isnt needed as theres an MPPT controller than will accept the 2 inputs. 12v from the vans battery, (from the alternator when driving) or solar. And it decides which has the higher voltage to charge the leisure batteries.
But for the life of me cant find it.

[CaterBram]

If you are only looking to charge the leisure battery from the solar then the 2 solar panels can be connected in series or parrallel to 1 controller, which is then connected to the leisure batteries. the solar charge controller will sort itself out when being charged from the alternator.

the MPPT will need to be rated a minimum of 20A but might be better going for a 30A unit.

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-control...

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-control...

I use the Victron units which have built in blue tooth for monitoring and provides daily power generation and voltages.

[Alex@POD]

mikal83 said:

OH and for the solar experts out there....this is Pistonheads so theres hundreds.......
I will be installing 2 x 100w panels on top. 2 x 110ah leisure batteries inside for the wriggle bits.
So I have read somewhere that a split charge relay isnt needed as theres an MPPT controller than will accept the 2 inputs. 12v from the vans battery, (from the alternator when driving) or solar. And it decides which has the higher voltage to charge the leisure batteries.
But for the life of me cant find it.

Something like this will do it:

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/ctek-d250se-dual-in...

I have the older model in mine, it's quite fool-proof.

Also, depending on what your van is like (no familiar with the Boxer/Relay/Ducato), you can find some second hand swivel seats which fit straight in. I got the classic Ford Galaxy seats in my LT, £150 for the pair.

[vrtrooper]

Not a panel van, but this. Think the mileage might be a typo? Take away the cost of the base vehicle and it appears very cheap.
https://www.ftrperformance.co.uk/used-jeep-wrangle...

[mikal83]

Alex@POD said:

mikal83 said:

OH and for the solar experts out there....this is Pistonheads so theres hundreds.......
I will be installing 2 x 100w panels on top. 2 x 110ah leisure batteries inside for the wriggle bits.
So I have read somewhere that a split charge relay isnt needed as theres an MPPT controller than will accept the 2 inputs. 12v from the vans battery, (from the alternator when driving) or solar. And it decides which has the higher voltage to charge the leisure batteries.
But for the life of me cant find it.

Something like this will do it:

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/ctek-d250se-dual-in...

I have the older model in mine, it's quite fool-proof.

Also, depending on what your van is like (no familiar with the Boxer/Relay/Ducato), you can find some second hand swivel seats which fit straight in. I got the classic Ford Galaxy seats in my LT, £150 for the pair.

236...............ouch

[Taffer]

LeighW said:

Basically, unless it has a high top and motorhome/caravan style swoopy stripes on it, you have Bob hope of getting it changed now.

Not really; the only inflexible criteria for conversion are the internal items - for the exterior, a high roof and graphics are included in the 'combination of features commonly seen on a motor caravan', along with extra windows, and awnings - they are not a definite requirement on the application checklist. The general rule-of-thumb seems to be that it has to obviously not be a panel van from the outside once converted - only problematic if you were planning a stealth camper build.

I've been thinking of doing the same thing as the OP (maybe once van prices settle down), and the recent builds I've seen on Youtube have had no problem with the DVLA when converting.

[mikal83]

Taffer said:

LeighW said:

Basically, unless it has a high top and motorhome/caravan style swoopy stripes on it, you have Bob hope of getting it changed now.

Not really; the only inflexible criteria for conversion are the internal items - for the exterior, a high roof and graphics are included in the 'combination of features commonly seen on a motor caravan', along with extra windows, and awnings - they are not a definite requirement on the application checklist. The general rule-of-thumb seems to be that it has to obviously not be a panel van from the outside once converted - only problematic if you were planning a stealth camper build.

I've been thinking of doing the same thing as the OP (maybe once van prices settle down), and the recent builds I've seen on Youtube have had no problem with the DVLA when converting.

True. There a few self build groups on farcebook and sme folks there are not only very infrmative but have been helpfull to me. Hopefully we have bought a sound van to start with. Windows ordered today and we are anticipating a 6 week build. Its buying all the little stuff to go inside, it donthalve add up. Its like a hundred quid here, fifty there...a decent 12v compressor fridge 600, solar another 2/3 hundred, leisure batteries and all the associated gumpf. I dont see much change out of 6k!