Camper vans talk to me!
Discussion
So we've got a chunk of money earning f
k all interest and we have always wanted something we could go away camping in (myself, missus, almost 5 year old son & maybe the dog)
I really like the look of the old skool VW (T2?) Camper vans but know absolutely nothing about then at all!
I'm an ideal world I would like to buy something that is
Reliable....otherwise what's the point?
Fits us all in
Perhaps a little project that's is mechanically sound but might need some interior work
Whats the score? Are the VW's the best out there? Are there other brands that do the job just as well if not better?
Talk to me...
k all interest and we have always wanted something we could go away camping in (myself, missus, almost 5 year old son & maybe the dog)I really like the look of the old skool VW (T2?) Camper vans but know absolutely nothing about then at all!
I'm an ideal world I would like to buy something that is
Reliable....otherwise what's the point?
Fits us all in
Perhaps a little project that's is mechanically sound but might need some interior work
Whats the score? Are the VW's the best out there? Are there other brands that do the job just as well if not better?
Talk to me...
Mave said:
Great fun when the weather's right, you're in the mood, and everyone you meet at the petrol station will have one, want one, or know someone who's got one. They rust, overheat, rust, leak oil, rust, go slowly up hills, rust, need very regular servicing.
Yup, but they are utterly cool! Especially a syncro with a Subaru engine 
I've had lots of aircooled VWs and 5 old vw campers.
1) they are mechanically simple and reliable if you understand their limitations, 60mph, 55 in hot weather. The air cooled VW engine and much of the running gear is in essence a 1940s design, they are vintage motors in comparison to whatever else you may have driven.
2) they rust. Even a newly restored one will be quietly rusting from the inside out. One day you'll open there garage and it'll be nothing but rust.
3) the rust is difficult and expensive to restore unless you're prepared to learn to weld and have time on your hands.
4) they're great fun and the scene is very friendly, also very practical, small on the outside, big on the inside.
5) I sold my last bay caper, a factory wesfalia for £14k 7 years ago, the prices have not gone down any, do nit expect to spend much less than £15k for a serviceable bay window camper, a resto job can be an open cheque book job and a big commitment. Double that for a decent split screen that will not ruin your life.
A 5 year old T5 wwindow van and a conversion to your liking is probably a better thing to do unless you're really committed to old cars, there a millions of companies and internet forums etc on converting T4 and T5 vans.
1) they are mechanically simple and reliable if you understand their limitations, 60mph, 55 in hot weather. The air cooled VW engine and much of the running gear is in essence a 1940s design, they are vintage motors in comparison to whatever else you may have driven.
2) they rust. Even a newly restored one will be quietly rusting from the inside out. One day you'll open there garage and it'll be nothing but rust.
3) the rust is difficult and expensive to restore unless you're prepared to learn to weld and have time on your hands.
4) they're great fun and the scene is very friendly, also very practical, small on the outside, big on the inside.
5) I sold my last bay caper, a factory wesfalia for £14k 7 years ago, the prices have not gone down any, do nit expect to spend much less than £15k for a serviceable bay window camper, a resto job can be an open cheque book job and a big commitment. Double that for a decent split screen that will not ruin your life.
A 5 year old T5 wwindow van and a conversion to your liking is probably a better thing to do unless you're really committed to old cars, there a millions of companies and internet forums etc on converting T4 and T5 vans.
A bay window t2 will be rotten. Also people now think they are worth anything from 6/7 k to 40k. Mechanically they are utterly reliable. Terrible fuel economy but you can sit at 70/80 on the motorway. Perhaps less with hi roofs, camping gear, 4adults depending on engine size. If you want one, yr either paying big money for a sorted one or a project you need to sink money into. Don't underestimate the rust issue and the sheer size of body work.
If you want a camper to actually use, look elsewhere. If you want to drive to a field, sit at a Vw show buying junk to stick on it then go for it. I've had loads, a long time ago and they've had their day as a useable camper for serious adventure and comfort.
Don't forget they have a terrible heating system so in winter you spend yr life driving in hat, coat, gloves freezing to death. ( and my heating worked properly! )
If you want a camper to actually use, look elsewhere. If you want to drive to a field, sit at a Vw show buying junk to stick on it then go for it. I've had loads, a long time ago and they've had their day as a useable camper for serious adventure and comfort.
Don't forget they have a terrible heating system so in winter you spend yr life driving in hat, coat, gloves freezing to death. ( and my heating worked properly! )
JoeMarano said:
So we've got a chunk of money earning fk all interest and we have always wanted something we could go away camping in (myself, missus, almost 5 year old son & maybe the dog)
I really like the look of the old skool VW (T2?) Camper vans but know absolutely nothing about then at all!
I'm an ideal world I would like to buy something that is
Reliable....otherwise what's the point?
Fits us all in
Perhaps a little project that's is mechanically sound but might need some interior work
Whats the score? Are the VW's the best out there? Are there other brands that do the job just as well if not better?
Talk to me...
What do you actually WANT it for?k all interest and we have always wanted something we could go away camping in (myself, missus, almost 5 year old son & maybe the dog)I really like the look of the old skool VW (T2?) Camper vans but know absolutely nothing about then at all!
I'm an ideal world I would like to buy something that is
Reliable....otherwise what's the point?
Fits us all in
Perhaps a little project that's is mechanically sound but might need some interior work
Whats the score? Are the VW's the best out there? Are there other brands that do the job just as well if not better?
Talk to me...
Do you want the whole bay/split scene? If so, then nothing but a bay/split will satisfy you. And you'll HAPPILY pay the (large) premium to be part of it.
Do you want a practical camper? Not a motorhome - a camper. There's a much bigger difference, practically, then you'd expect, especially if you might ever want to wild-camp anywhere but the ABSOLUTE boonies.
We were looking a few years back - we wanted to get a practical camper that could be parked in a normal parking space, on a smallish budget. We started off leaning away from VWs, because of the whole scene tax b
ks - we ended up in a T25/T3 (the square '80s VW, last of the rear engined). Shorter than a SWB T4, but more interior space, and a LWB T4 doesn't fit in normal parking spaces. Cheaper than a T4. We bought a Westfalia - LHD not an issue for us, and the interior just works perfectly. In 18 months and 40k miles of living in it across 20 countries, we wouldn't have changed anything about it.OP - send me a mail via my profile - yours doesn't allow messages. As it happens, I've got a mate's spare 1990/G T25 in need of a home at the moment, taking up drive space. Hightop van-conversion. Needs a couple of brake pipes for MOT. 1.7D/5spd so economical but slow. Bit scruffy, outside and in, but basically solid. Cheap. Herefordshire.
<counts down to post being removed for selling...>
<counts down to post being removed for selling...>
TooMany2cvs said:
Every inch of M5 hard shoulder says otherwise all summer long.
Its a running joke in our family that if we're stuck in a queue of slow moving cars, there will be a VW camper at the front!Personally they're not my cup of tea but plenty of people have given me small fortunes to repair/ restore them so I guess if you buy the right one you'll at least recoup your initial investment.
Never ever buy a cheap one thinking you can spend a bit and make it into a nice one, always buy one somebody else has restored!
Classic Hymers's get a Merc based one as they essentially dont go wrong or rust much, are very well made like all the Hymer variants, hold they're money well or are even going up in value, with fantastic online support too. S models are the Merc ones the B's are Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen which are OK but the Merc ones are a better chassis & different roof design & heavier duty built.
They are just as slow as T2 though lol
Forgot to add you get Pukka arctic spec heating, shower, hot water & a comfy bed or two. I have a classic Hymer & it's brilliant for what was a 6k spend. I've been skiing in it to the Alps, Scotland & use it for all sorts of activities, summer time its loaded with my windsurfing kit.
They are just as slow as T2 though lol
Forgot to add you get Pukka arctic spec heating, shower, hot water & a comfy bed or two. I have a classic Hymer & it's brilliant for what was a 6k spend. I've been skiing in it to the Alps, Scotland & use it for all sorts of activities, summer time its loaded with my windsurfing kit.
Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 6th September 09:21
Trexthedinosaur said:
Ford Nugget
Based on a Transit and had a different configuration from the VW and MB Marco Polo, it features a 2 room design that allows access and use of the kitchen when the bed is in use.
Much cheaper too, I think it is the official WestFalia conversion ...
It's the Westfalia Transit, but it's not Ford-official. Westy were VW-official, but aftermarket for every other manufacturer.Based on a Transit and had a different configuration from the VW and MB Marco Polo, it features a 2 room design that allows access and use of the kitchen when the bed is in use.
Much cheaper too, I think it is the official WestFalia conversion ...
The name, though... Nugget. <points, laughs>
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