Small Camper for 1 and a bike

[brman]

Landcrab_Six said:

aaron_2000 said:

The plan with a car would be to cut some of these foil insulation to shape. I've spoken to a few micro camper owners who rate it highly

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DOUBLE-ALUMINIUM-BUBBLE-I...

We use that in our conversion, it's great.

Ditto. It makes a nice cheap window screen. It does not prevent condensation but it is definitely better than nothing.

[Foliage]

Have at mpvs under a grand on autotrader for a grand you cant really be fussy.


depends what ya mean by living in it, id want a high top panel van personally so I can stand in it. But i understand the need for someething smaller.

Every man and his dog is after campervans atm.

Edited by Foliage on Monday 14th December 11:42

[aaron_2000]

Ruled out anything Berlingo sized as they're just too small. A Hyundai Tucson measures up big enough so I'll have a look at 4x4's that size/Subaru Foresters too. Still need to measure up a good number of others

[crofty1984]

bristolracer said:

Berlingo multispace ?

I've got a Berlingo van. I think it would make a good 1 - person camper. But watch out for bed length. When I was looking for that size van. Load bay length was smallest in a Kangoo, then berlingo/partner, then Vaux Combi

[aaron_2000]

I just saw a Ssangyong Rodius in a car park which I hought looked spot on. Found out they're also dirt cheap, £1300 seems to buy a good one from a dealer. Only issue is they have that awful underpowered Merc 5 pot diesel, gonna have a look at them though

[mike9009]

Personally, I would buy a bike rack, a tent and air mattress and use your existing car.

Better the devil you know and you'll be far more comfortable.

I did have a look at various options but all seemed too compromised, which means getting a pukka van. I did find this after looking at cheap Volvo 850s

https://youtu.be/6MCftRdVw5M


Unfortunately, even ordinary vans have rocketed in value.....

[aaron_2000]

I got it, a 95/6 Toyota Granvia 3.0TD. I paid £1400 for it, cam belt has been done and all the mechanicals and electrics seem perfect. I'm very happy with it but I won't be driving much until it's been looked over on the ramp. I'm very happy though

[anonymous-user]

Nice choice - seems very cheap! Keep on top of the bodywork, those things can rot!

[aaron_2000]

Landcrab_Six said:

Nice choice - seems very cheap! Keep on top of the bodywork, those things can rot!

No mention of rot on any old MOT's so I think it should be solid. I'll snowfoam it and rinse it down underneath as I do with the Focus whenever I wash it. I can't see me owning it longer than 5-6 months depending on when I manage to get out of the country

[bristolracer]

aaron_2000 said:

I got it, a 95/6 Toyota Granvia 3.0TD. I paid £1400 for it, cam belt has been done and all the mechanicals and electrics seem perfect. I'm very happy with it but I won't be driving much until it's been looked over on the ramp. I'm very happy though

I have had 2 of those, which were camper conversions, proper pop tops and conversions fitted, and far better than the overpriced VW stuff at that price point.
Both absolutely reliable, can cruise at motorway speeds.
Bit heavy on the juice, keep to 65 and it will give much more mpg. 3 speed auto with overdrive?

If you look at the front seats you may be lucky and find they swivel.
The rear seats can be removed but they are really heavy so you may need a mate to help you shift them.
If you haven't got one you may need a new radio aerial as the JDM unit they were fitted with will not pick up our higher frequencies.
Most mechanical parts are shared with the hilux pick up so normally easily available, most Toyota dealers will get parts in 24 hours
Plenty of 2nd hand spares on ebay, there is a facebook page also which is quite helpful

It wont comply with the London Lez so stay outside the M25

Good choice, just remeber it is JDM so watch for the rust, both mine were solid but many wont be

[CharlesdeGaulle]

aaron_2000 said:

I got it, a 95/6 Toyota Granvia 3.0TD. I paid £1400 for it, cam belt has been done and all the mechanicals and electrics seem perfect. I'm very happy with it but I won't be driving much until it's been looked over on the ramp. I'm very happy though

Only one pic, and in the dark, but it looks quite a handsome thing. Nice work, seems a bargain.

[aaron_2000]

bristolracer said:

aaron_2000 said:

I got it, a 95/6 Toyota Granvia 3.0TD. I paid £1400 for it, cam belt has been done and all the mechanicals and electrics seem perfect. I'm very happy with it but I won't be driving much until it's been looked over on the ramp. I'm very happy though

I have had 2 of those, which were camper conversions, proper pop tops and conversions fitted, and far better than the overpriced VW stuff at that price point.
Both absolutely reliable, can cruise at motorway speeds.
Bit heavy on the juice, keep to 65 and it will give much more mpg. 3 speed auto with overdrive?

If you look at the front seats you may be lucky and find they swivel.
The rear seats can be removed but they are really heavy so you may need a mate to help you shift them.
If you haven't got one you may need a new radio aerial as the JDM unit they were fitted with will not pick up our higher frequencies.
Most mechanical parts are shared with the hilux pick up so normally easily available, most Toyota dealers will get parts in 24 hours
Plenty of 2nd hand spares on ebay, there is a facebook page also which is quite helpful

It wont comply with the London Lez so stay outside the M25

Good choice, just remeber it is JDM so watch for the rust, both mine were solid but many wont be

Think it's 3 speed with overdrive,been in the UK for years so the clocks have already been converted and the radio is a UK piece which works fine even though it's pretty old now. Seats don't seem to swivel which is heartbreaking. It seems to have real grunt, I spent a good half hour sat in the back with my feet stretched out in the petrol station whilst I did the tax, logbook and MOT. Never had any mention of corrosion on the MOT and it all seems solid, I'm gonna Waxoyl the sills. Did you ever have any issues with yours? Everyone seems to reckon they're pretty much bulletproof without the 2.4 head issues. I'm aiming to get out for Feb, I may go sooner depending on work thing I need to finish

[10126 Torino]

Good luck getting away in February , maybe by then you can travel with a negative test on you .

I'm not planning anything .

[bristolracer]

Never had much go on mine.

A battery on one, and the other needed a new gearbox mount but otherwise all good.

You may find the steering a bit vague, both of mine were, but its an mpv not a sportscar.
For what you said you want, I think it will tick your boxes,plenty of room inside.

[aaron_2000]

10126 Torino said:

Good luck getting away in February , maybe by then you can travel with a negative test on you .

I'm not planning anything .

I'm not holding my breath but I'm hopeful. as long as I can get a ferry I should be fine. I don't think it'd be from Dover so Portsmouth to Santander seems more likely or Hull to Rotterdam.

[aaron_2000]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Only one pic, and in the dark, but it looks quite a handsome thing. Nice work, seems a bargain.

I'll upload some in the daylight tomorrow. Need to give the interior a strong clean, smells a bit of weed and Lynx.

bristolracer said:

Never had much go on mine.

A battery on one, and the other needed a new gearbox mount but otherwise all good.

You may find the steering a bit vague, both of mine were, but its an mpv not a sportscar.
For what you said you want, I think it will tick your boxes,plenty of room inside.

Yeah the steering is a bit crap but it's nicely weighted and direct enough to feel car like to drive. It drives just as good as any people carrier or 4x4, it doesn't feel commercial in the slightest. As long as it'll sit happily on the motorway in relative comfort then I'm happy, and being Japanese it should hopefully avoid headaches, I'll still have it all gone through just to be sure

[neutral 3]

I was going to suggest either a 94 - 99 300Tdi Discovery, a 99 - 04 TD-5 Discovery ( quicker, the rear load bed is longer in the TD-5, but TD-5 is more complicated.
Remove the rear seats and both are surprisingly roomy.

But unless lucky, you need £1,500 minimum, for something that isn’t rotten.
Or a Mitsubishi Delica 4 X 4.
Pokey 2.8 Litre motor, I think they are all autos and avoid the “ moon roof “ version.

[aaron_2000]

neutral 3 said:

I was going to suggest either a 94 - 99 300Tdi Discovery, a 99 - 04 TD-5 Discovery ( quicker, the rear load bed is longer in the TD-5, but TD-5 is more complicated.
Remove the rear seats and both are surprisingly roomy.

But unless lucky, you need £1,500 minimum, for something that isn’t rotten.
Or a Mitsubishi Delica 4 X 4.
Pokey 2.8 Litre motor, I think they are all autos and avoid the “ moon roof “ version.

I've had a Disco and a couple of Range Rovers before. They're the last thing I'd trust to do any journey in and I found the Disco horrible to drive.

[neutral 3]

aaron_2000 said:

I've had a Disco and a couple of Range Rovers before. They're the last thing I'd trust to do any journey in and I found the Disco horrible to drive.

Puzzled why you found it horrible to drive.
My early 300TDi Discovery, has been fantastic re reliability, it was my tow car for 8 years, all over mid and southern England, love the thing.
Stripped the rear seats out and kipped over night in it, numerous times.
Put it up for sale two weeks ago, it had almost 4,000 views in 9 days. Realised that I was mad to sell it, so we removed the advert. They are really pulling a following now.
My only complaint, is that they should have made the Disco 1s rear load bed, a foot longer, like the original RR.
But spares are cheap and plentiful.
My late built TD-5 Discovery 2, took me all over France and back again, towing a trailer, early last year. Slept in it for 3 nights. The extra interior length was much appreciated.
More powerful than the 300, it sat @ a steady 70 mph for hours
Will be fitting internal heating to it.
In a Discovery, I can go off of the beaten track.
Can’t wait to hit Europe in it again !

[aaron_2000]

neutral 3 said:

aaron_2000 said:

I've had a Disco and a couple of Range Rovers before. They're the last thing I'd trust to do any journey in and I found the Disco horrible to drive.

Puzzled why you found it horrible to drive.
My early 300TDi Discovery, has been fantastic re reliability, it was my tow car for 8 years, all over mid and southern England, love the thing.
Stripped the rear seats out and kipped over night in it, numerous times.
Put it up for sale two weeks ago, it had almost 4,000 views in 9 days. Realised that I was mad to sell it, so we removed the advert. They are really pulling a following now.
My only complaint, is that they should have made the Disco 1s rear load bed, a foot longer, like the original RR.
But spares are cheap and plentiful.
My late built TD-5 Discovery 2, took me all over France and back again, towing a trailer, early last year. Slept in it for 3 nights. The extra interior length was much appreciated.
More powerful than the 300, it sat @ a steady 70 mph for hours
Will be fitting internal heating to it.
In a Discovery, I can go off of the beaten track.
Can’t wait to hit Europe in it again !

It was a TD5 auto, the gearbox is what ruined it for me along with the terrible pregnant steering wheel. My grandad had a Disco 200TDI which was a really pleasant car to ride in, I just bought the wrong one. I'm selling the Granvia in light of yet another lockdown, Spain just isn't gonna happen so I'm cutting my losses.