Any camper van suggestions?

[ManiacGT]

So now we have a small dog, it limits us a little on the foreign excursions and while there are plenty of UK hotels that are dog friendly I quite fancy exploring the idea of a camper van to allow us to just whizz off any weekend we like for a little break.

While the old VW stuff looks lovely, I really need something thats plug and play as the saying goes, something reliable, comfy, well equipped, can sleep two people and with a fair frugal to powerful enough balance.

Anyone here with one/a story to share/thoughts?

edit:

oh and budget wise, I've no idea what these things cost... but given the ad hoc nature of usage, something at the cheaper end. Certainly nothing over 10 grand, in fact, ideally half that if its doable?

Also size wise, I'd like to keep it to something VW size and not a ford transit type thing. Its going to be sat on the driveway so I'd rather it be discreet ish. Just so long as its not so small that you have to lose weight to get in it.

Cheers.

Edited by ManiacGT on Monday 19th May 13:58

[FredClogs]

I've had a couple of T2 campers, you have to get to know them and they are slow but they're not unreliable if you pay due diligence. I made money on each of them and there is great character and a great scene around them, plus inside they're as big and useable as modern vans, but you'll struggle to get a bay window that doesn't need paint or welding for less than £10k and you won't get a splitty that doesn't need about 5 years of you life for that money. So it's a wedge or a more modern T4 I think - I'd concentrate on getting a decent van, interior fit outs to suit you purpose can be done for a couple of grand and there is loads of companies out there doing them now, a pop up roof makes all the difference when camping but you might prefer to get a big awning, we found that we only ever really slept in the van when camping and used the awning for cooking etc... You can also use the thing as a van.

Enjoy - you can't beat it

[graham22]

Get something that's not a VW - far better value for money!

OK a little blunt but having had a T5 Transporter you do pay alot more but do see most of it back at the other end particularly if you convert it - which leads onto my next thought:

Why not get a normal clean van & kit or part kit it out yourself - do you really need all the wendy house furniture or could you get away with a rock & roll bed, lined, insulated and carpeted walls, utilities pod, dog friendly lino on the floor and a driveaway awning - can keep the cooking smells out of the van and still have something lighter & more useable when not on hols.

This is what we did to the T5 and broke even a couple of years later - worth the effort and you would probably see a similar return on a Transit/Vivaro.

Edited by graham22 on Monday 19th May 14:49

[ImpossiblyDaft]

Campers are pricey - £5k would mean something old (I don't mean in a classic way, just '80s/'90s vans) and even £10k isn't that much, certainly not enough for a usable classic VW.

The best bet for general usability is something that's van-based rather than the ones where it's fibreglass on the back (coachbuilt, iirc. or is that just the ones where the whole body is fibreglass? I'm not sure.). While you can get a bunch of ones on small platforms (ie. Suzuki Carrys etc.), the extra weight etc. means you're better off with something VW Transporter/Transit/etc. based. The size isn't likely to be that big a deal except the height.

I've read DIY & aftermarket conversions can sometimes be a little difficult to insure, but they're cheaper to buy.

I don't quite get what you mean by "discreet-ish", though. Literally the only non-obvious things I can think of are conversions of those Mazda Bongo Friendee things.

Edited by ImpossiblyDaft on Monday 19th May 14:51

[ManiacGT]

Discreet ish as in not too large and not so ugly that I'll get moans from neighbours because it looks like I have a wreck on the drive.

I'd rather not go too large, we don't have lots of space, but I'm willing to consider any option really... its just an idea that I had to explore. While I like the idea of the old VW, so does everyone else and they cost a fortune. I'm quite happy with something that's as described in my first post. Affordable, reliable and just plain fun.

[PeetBee]

graham22 said:

Why not get a normal clean van & kit or part kit it out yourself

This.

Can mean you get better value for money as well as the spec you want.
There are companies out there specialising in every brand of van to convert it and getting DVLA to reclassify the van as a 'motor caravan' is a lot easier than you would think.

[ManiacGT]

I don't mind this as an idea but I'm not sure my health is good enough to fit out a van so it would have to be a company doing it. I'll have a look into conversion companies perhaps... Plus side I guess is that you get exactly what you want.

[maffski]

ManiacGT said:

I don't mind this as an idea but I'm not sure my health is good enough to fit out a van so it would have to be a company doing it. I'll have a look into conversion companies perhaps... Plus side I guess is that you get exactly what you want.

Might be worth having a look in the Tents, Caravans and Motorhomes forum, there's been a couple of threads on DIY conversions recently:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[FredClogs]

If you're in manchester check out these guys...

http://www.teahupoo.co.uk/

we bought units from this guy in southport...

http://www.sjsvwcamperinteriors.co.uk/apps/photos/...

[austinsmirk]

I've had campers for 20 odd years now.

rules, don't buy in summer, buy in winter !!!!

had loads of vw ones...... a T4 is in yr price range. either get a proper camper or caravelle converted one, as oppose to panel van converted. ( its about window strength and insulation)

personally they are too pricey.... any old van from renault, mercedes, ford etc will be pretty much brilliant these days.

back in 80's, 90's and so on, the vw ones were good due to build quality.......... these days they're all good.

have a look in some of the magazines too, accept its an older crowd, often selling privately (often having bought vans with retirement money) and then they are too old, frail, or someone dies......... they are some gems of bargains out there, with very little use.

for me, if the van is too big, they are terrible to drive long distances, in remote places etc. I love a bit of wild camping, which is a nightmare in some truck sized white plastic beast !!!

[deltashad]

Certainly not small, but i've been considering this beauty

http://mercedes.anunturi-auto.4tuning.ro/anunturi-...

[egor110]

have a look at mazda bongos, there a bit cheaper to buy than t4's but drink more fuel.