What base van to convert into a rough'ish camper?

[Register1]

Considering a LWB, High top sort of van .
Hoping to spend no more than £3,000

Something like this with a few windows already

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324739994965?hash=item4...

[bristolracer]

Stay away from the ldv/ maxus
At that budget either Transit but watch for rust or the Movano/Master

[Andyjc86]

Used van prices have gone through the roof since lockdown. At that price range you’re potentially buying someone else’s problem.

Whatever you buy, do so with you’re eyes very wide open. Get right underneath with a torch to see how bad the rust is, and make sure the engine has been well maintained.

[marksx]

Andyjc86 said:

Used van prices have gone through the roof since lockdown. At that price range you’re potentially buying someone else’s problem.

Whatever you buy, do so with you’re eyes very wide open. Get right underneath with a torch to see how bad the rust is, and make sure the engine has been well maintained.

Do you think the price hike is temporary?
I'm looking for something to turn into a camper but prices are crazy

[Andyjc86]

marksx said:

Andyjc86 said:

Used van prices have gone through the roof since lockdown. At that price range you’re potentially buying someone else’s problem.

Whatever you buy, do so with you’re eyes very wide open. Get right underneath with a torch to see how bad the rust is, and make sure the engine has been well maintained.

Do you think the price hike is temporary?
I'm looking for something to turn into a camper but prices are crazy

I’ve no idea. I’m just going by what people are telling me when they’ve broken down. The worse I’ve seen was a vivaro that the turbo failed on, 18 miles after purchase. £3200 paid, private sale. Ouch

[neutral 3]

02 on Ducato 2.8JTD Hi Top would be my choice, engines in these are awesome, but you will likely struggle to find anything that’s not been ragged to death.
Plenty in France though and a LHD one will be my next one.

[21st Century Man]

I've been very pleased with this, the 2.4 Duratorq engine and slick 5spd has been great. We're just about to board the ferry at Belfast after a circuit of Ireland and 2500kms along The Wild Atlantic Way. You need to make sure you get one with something seriously wrong with it though like mine, it drives really nicely, goes well and uses little fuel.

[anonymous-user]

Ex patient transport minibus?

[21st Century Man]

2003 LDV Convoy Minibus, ex-technical college, one owner, 39k, fsh (over maintained if anything) and in great condition. I paid £3k for it four years ago. It's an archaic design and not without it's faults, but it's a good old bus, nothing like as bad as the detractors would have you believe.

[J8 SVG]

I went to see a few £2-3k vans with my friend when he was looking earlier this year. He bought an estate and and chose to save up for a bit longer as they were all absolute dogs underneath. Good luck! there might be a bargain somewhere

[LargeRed]

my understanding is, if you convert a commercial panel van into a camper, you need to notify DVLA of change.
Then they will set a new road-tax value for the conversion.

This could be why many people who to convert panel van leave out the windows, to make it look more stealth like, not attracting plod.

[austinsmirk]

I follow a self build camper van group on FB. Dead handy if yr planning purchase etc

There’s a lot of unfinished tat for sale. Van prices are stupidly high currently: everyone is holidaying in the uk now.

[Register1]

LargeRed said:

my understanding is, if you convert a commercial panel van into a camper, you need to notify DVLA of change.
Then they will set a new road-tax value for the conversion.

This could be why many people who to convert panel van leave out the windows, to make it look more stealth like, not attracting plod.

Its also to do with "van limits"
Vans have lower speed limits on A roads and the like

[Register1]

austinsmirk said:

I follow a self build camper van group on FB. Dead handy if yr planning purchase etc

There’s a lot of unfinished tat for sale. Van prices are stupidly high currently: everyone is holidaying in the uk now.

Whats the group ?

[anonymous-user]

For £2k-£3k, and you'd need to do a lot of research, go for a Volkswagen Caravelle.
The 2.4 D 69PS isn't bad, but you'd need a 2.5 TDI if you can find it - not many at this price range.

Most tend to be GL spec, which is well-equipped for what you get; there's a fair few with race chequered flag and GTI alloys fitted, so look for an original example if you can.

£3k gets you a high-mileage one, but you can find early 2000s models with a high-mileage in this price range, the newer T5 generation.

But the Transporter Shuttle is equally as good, not as luxurious, but harder to find for £3k, but they'll often be ex-taxis or ex-minibuses, so watch for worn interiors and oil leaks.

It's often the starting point for many people given the iconic VW Bus as campervan, but be wary of lurid colours and GTI-alloyed models.

[austinsmirk]

The group on fb is “ self build campervans”. About 340 k members.

I’m not going to pour scorn on another members post but you won’t buy a Vw for a few grand. Prices are bay st crazy.

I also have a T5.1 camper van.

Be it a panel van , a caravelle or a camper: they’re insane. Unless it’s a project or near to scrap. I can tell you the 2.5 engines are known to be an issue as are the higher bhp ones and dsg gearboxes.

The T5/6
Forums again on fb are useful. It’ll give you an accurate idea of pricing

[xstian]

Personally I wouldn't bother converting a van unless I already owned it. Prices now mean at £3k, you are getting an end of life van with 1 big bill or bad mot failure that will render the van uneconomical to repair.

Even if you double your budget, you'll be lucky to find something worth converting. It's laughable people are suggesting buying a 20 year old van to convert, unless you are looking for the new age traveller look and then I don't suppose they worry too much about roadworthiness.

[anonymous-user]

LargeRed said:

my understanding is, if you convert a commercial panel van into a camper, you need to notify DVLA of change.
Then they will set a new road-tax value for the conversion.

This could be why many people who to convert panel van leave out the windows, to make it look more stealth like, not attracting plod.

You don't need to notify DVLA and lots of insurers now will insure as a camper even if the V5 says it's a van. Mine is still a van on the V5 but Adrian Flux have insured it as a camper and at a price much lower than a van. The change of speed limit might still be a benefit to some.

Most people who I've spoken to during my build have left out windows because they use the vans in a way that makes insulation much more important than more windows. Our use for example means we're often quite remote and at altitude so can be at the extremes of temperature and away from shore power. Similarly this is a big reason for people converting vans rather than buying them as very few commercially available motor homes are able to accommodate this type of use. 120w of solar and 100ah battery is often an extra which is still inadequate in anything other than good sunlight for more than a few days.

DVLA have recently made the process of re registering a van much more complex and included necessary things within the criteria to change the V5 which are opposing to how lots of people want to use their van such as the requirement for two windows on one side in addition to the driver/passenger window meaning your van gets hotter or colder faster.

I don't have much experience with the cheaper vans on the market but all vans have seen a huge increase in prices. I wonder if the ,market will fall again as restriction leave us. Perhaps at that point there may be a few bargains in the part converted markets?

[21st Century Man]

Luckily I got mine reclassified as a motor caravan in that small window a few years ago when it was quite easy, before they rapidly changed it back to difficult again. Apparently they now insist on campervan graphics/decals and a fixed table (the latter is particularly stupid as surely nothing has a fixed table, whether home built or factory?)

[brman]

21st Century Man said:

Luckily I got mine reclassified as a motor caravan in that small window a few years ago when it was quite easy, before they rapidly changed it back to difficult again. Apparently they now insist on campervan graphics/decals and a fixed table (the latter is particularly stupid as surely nothing has a fixed table, whether home built or factory?)

Worse than that from what I have read. There are plenty of reports of people doing everything in the DVLA list (inc decals, awning, high top van, etc) and still get it back as a van with windows. This includes people who convert vans for a living.
It would appear that the only sure way of getting motor caravan is if it no longer looks like a van.

ie something like this:
https://res.cloudinary.com/hqxyevlf6/image/upload/...
rather than something like this:
https://www.southdownsmotorhomecentre.co.uk/pub/me...

That said, the OP said he just wanted a roughish camper. So I doubt he is worried about what it says on the log book. I would however agree with all the other posters. At the moment a £3k van is basically only fit for scrap unless you are very lucky. I have an old (mk1) fiat scudo that I did a basic conversion on but in the last year I have been looking for something a bit better to convert (in the vivaro/trafic etc size) and frankly even the £10k+ ones I have looked at are too abused.
Of course if you get lucky then go for it but my recommendation would be to not get hung up on make/models. Just look for anything the right size and hope you can find something the right condition before you give up on the whole thing.......