Bought myself a new (2nd hand) van!
Discussion
As per the title - just pulled the trigger on a new (to me) van. On the face of it, a bit of a departure from the current Knaus BoxDrive600XL but kind of going back to my routes in the motorhome world.
I bought the Knaus brand new coming on two years ago. It has been a great little van - initially bought as a step up from the VW California; a camper and second car at a time when I only had 1 kid fulltime at home with me and one on regular but short visits. Fast forward nearly two years and I now have 3 kids and a small van with 4 belts! Although it's had a decent amount of use (10.5k miles) - Ireland a couple of times, France, Northumberland, Peak District, Lake District more times than I can count and some local SE England stuff, it was getting to the stage where my wife resented it as its diminutive size was claustrophobic and as a result of not being able to take the whole family, it was just an escape for me on solo stuff or with my 12yr old daughter.
So, after a lot of looking around and viewing this exact van back in October last year, we did all the numbers, concluded that this would cost more or less the same as the BoxDrive (save for having to buy a second car and rent a storage pitch!) and pulled the trigger. Finance approved yesterday, derisory PX accepted like a good rodgering and collecting in two weeks time!
We've already booked our Summer holiday in Austria, looking at Holland for February half-term and no doubt a hole host of stuff on top, plus skiing in France next February. All of the above we'd never have attempted as a family (even of four) in the Knaus. Can't wait!
For those of you who can't decipher from the photo - it's a 2020 Bürstner Argos 747-2G, one owner from new, 18k miles, auto 180bhp on 5t chassis. Fully winterised. I'm having Gaslow fitted on top of the dealership doing full engine service, cambelt & water pump, new Michelin Agilis CrossClimates (x6), Habitation Check & new MOT. In due course it'll need upgrading with LifePo4 and I'll probably put semi-air on the rear to increase payload by 500kg as it's a bit tight around 750kg when you consider 5 of us plus water, gas, sports gear etc.
It reminds me a lot of the Concorde Charisma I880f I full-timed in for 2yrs although much more modern. It's my first Fiat after only VW, MAN and Sprinters - not especially looking forward to it - however they can't be that bad given everything seems to be built on them! Main thing is to get the layout right and I think this is spot on with the kids. I didn't want a rear facing lap-belt 5th seat as I didn't want to have to choose which of my children should be more injured than the rest in an accident!
Can't wait to take delivery now!
I bought the Knaus brand new coming on two years ago. It has been a great little van - initially bought as a step up from the VW California; a camper and second car at a time when I only had 1 kid fulltime at home with me and one on regular but short visits. Fast forward nearly two years and I now have 3 kids and a small van with 4 belts! Although it's had a decent amount of use (10.5k miles) - Ireland a couple of times, France, Northumberland, Peak District, Lake District more times than I can count and some local SE England stuff, it was getting to the stage where my wife resented it as its diminutive size was claustrophobic and as a result of not being able to take the whole family, it was just an escape for me on solo stuff or with my 12yr old daughter.
So, after a lot of looking around and viewing this exact van back in October last year, we did all the numbers, concluded that this would cost more or less the same as the BoxDrive (save for having to buy a second car and rent a storage pitch!) and pulled the trigger. Finance approved yesterday, derisory PX accepted like a good rodgering and collecting in two weeks time!
We've already booked our Summer holiday in Austria, looking at Holland for February half-term and no doubt a hole host of stuff on top, plus skiing in France next February. All of the above we'd never have attempted as a family (even of four) in the Knaus. Can't wait!
For those of you who can't decipher from the photo - it's a 2020 Bürstner Argos 747-2G, one owner from new, 18k miles, auto 180bhp on 5t chassis. Fully winterised. I'm having Gaslow fitted on top of the dealership doing full engine service, cambelt & water pump, new Michelin Agilis CrossClimates (x6), Habitation Check & new MOT. In due course it'll need upgrading with LifePo4 and I'll probably put semi-air on the rear to increase payload by 500kg as it's a bit tight around 750kg when you consider 5 of us plus water, gas, sports gear etc.
It reminds me a lot of the Concorde Charisma I880f I full-timed in for 2yrs although much more modern. It's my first Fiat after only VW, MAN and Sprinters - not especially looking forward to it - however they can't be that bad given everything seems to be built on them! Main thing is to get the layout right and I think this is spot on with the kids. I didn't want a rear facing lap-belt 5th seat as I didn't want to have to choose which of my children should be more injured than the rest in an accident!
Can't wait to take delivery now!
)Just need a C1 license (up to 7.5t). I have one Grandfathered, Wife is going to do her theory test, training & test in due course.
In all honesty, folks get really hung up on size (stop sniggering at the back!) but it really isn't that challenging. We tend to forget that 7.5t trucks are all over our roads and even down the most rural of places, it's 7.5t-12t trucks which are doing the bulk of logistics work for small shops so these vehicles are eminently workable. Sure there is a smaller selection of pitches available but it's only the smallest of sites which cannot accomodate them at all and wild / offgrid is a little more challenging since it's more about laybys than sneaking into smaller spots. But, having owned a van of identical length and similar mass for a couple of years, I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I got turned away from places or plain couldn't get in. I'm very relaxed on the size point.
In all honesty, folks get really hung up on size (stop sniggering at the back!) but it really isn't that challenging. We tend to forget that 7.5t trucks are all over our roads and even down the most rural of places, it's 7.5t-12t trucks which are doing the bulk of logistics work for small shops so these vehicles are eminently workable. Sure there is a smaller selection of pitches available but it's only the smallest of sites which cannot accomodate them at all and wild / offgrid is a little more challenging since it's more about laybys than sneaking into smaller spots. But, having owned a van of identical length and similar mass for a couple of years, I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I got turned away from places or plain couldn't get in. I'm very relaxed on the size point.
The 180bhp Fiats with the 9G box are really impressive, we had a 2022 Fiat based Carthago after having a 6m Sprinter PVC and before our current 7m Sprinter based Hymer MLT.
The Fiat gearbox is easily as smooth as the 9G Mercedes Auto and the steering is much more precise than the older Fiats. I'd have another Fiat based one if it gave be the layout I was after.
The Fiat gearbox is easily as smooth as the 9G Mercedes Auto and the steering is much more precise than the older Fiats. I'd have another Fiat based one if it gave be the layout I was after.
AlBondigaz said:
The 180bhp Fiats with the 9G box are really impressive, we had a 2022 Fiat based Carthago after having a 6m Sprinter PVC and before our current 7m Sprinter based Hymer MLT.
The Fiat gearbox is easily as smooth as the 9G Mercedes Auto and the steering is much more precise than the older Fiats. I'd have another Fiat based one if it gave be the layout I was after.
That’s really comforting to hear, thanks! The Fiat gearbox is easily as smooth as the 9G Mercedes Auto and the steering is much more precise than the older Fiats. I'd have another Fiat based one if it gave be the layout I was after.
That looks fabulous!
I had Gaslow cylinders fitted to our van, it's good to be able to just top-up and start a trip full. With regard to other 'upgrades', I've tried to wait until I know I need rather than think I need, and found I don't actually need that much. You probably already know all this!
Have many happy holidays!
I had Gaslow cylinders fitted to our van, it's good to be able to just top-up and start a trip full. With regard to other 'upgrades', I've tried to wait until I know I need rather than think I need, and found I don't actually need that much. You probably already know all this!
Have many happy holidays!
AlBondigaz said:
The 180bhp Fiats with the 9G box are really impressive, we had a 2022 Fiat based Carthago after having a 6m Sprinter PVC and before our current 7m Sprinter based Hymer MLT.
The Fiat gearbox is easily as smooth as the 9G Mercedes Auto and the steering is much more precise than the older Fiats. I'd have another Fiat based one if it gave be the layout I was after.
I second that, we have a 12 month old Rapido 8086df with a Fiat 9 speed auto, and 180bhp. Brilliant gearbox.The Fiat gearbox is easily as smooth as the 9G Mercedes Auto and the steering is much more precise than the older Fiats. I'd have another Fiat based one if it gave be the layout I was after.
Nice van by the way.
Thanks for the feedback chaps. That’s making me a lot more confident now about the chassis side of things. Previously I’ve gone out of my way to avoid the Fiat but on this one at sub-£150k budget, there was very little on a Sprinter. Good to hear that gearbox (amongst other things) has improved things.
Getting closer now. Finance drawn down yesterday. Speaking with another dealer about getting the Lithium installed and some other wiring done. Only 9 more sleeps!
Getting closer now. Finance drawn down yesterday. Speaking with another dealer about getting the Lithium installed and some other wiring done. Only 9 more sleeps!
Look stunning inside, thanks for sharing those pics.
We've the 140ps 9G combo and the gearbox is good, I'd love to find a place that could remap the engine though.
At about 15-16,000 miles we had the AC hose rub through on the NOx sensor and stop the AC working and the NOx sensor. Apparently it's a common issue on this engine as the hose is poorly placed, the replacement hose is U shaped to avoid the sensor. It's around £800 to fix both as the parts are alarmingly expensive. Might be worth seeing if there's a record of it having been done.
Glad you've found a place to do the upgrades you were after.
We've the 140ps 9G combo and the gearbox is good, I'd love to find a place that could remap the engine though.
At about 15-16,000 miles we had the AC hose rub through on the NOx sensor and stop the AC working and the NOx sensor. Apparently it's a common issue on this engine as the hose is poorly placed, the replacement hose is U shaped to avoid the sensor. It's around £800 to fix both as the parts are alarmingly expensive. Might be worth seeing if there's a record of it having been done.
Glad you've found a place to do the upgrades you were after.
Spuffington said:
Getting closer now. Finance drawn down yesterday. Speaking with another dealer about getting the Lithium installed and some other wiring done. Only 9 more sleeps!
Have a look at the mastervolt advanced lithium solution, this was installed in our van. It's not cheap, but a great bit of kit.Thank you - I have to say, the finish and quality of the interior was partly what did it for us. We were very spoiled coming out of the Concorde even if it was 15yrs old by the time we moved it on. There seems a real gap in the market with very few motorhome manufacturers building something which works for large families (anything more than 2kids) with an appropriate level of kit & luxury available which doesn't take you into stratospheric pricing.
The only comparable we could really find was the Dethleffs XL Family which I really liked, but even that's not hugely luxurious for the £140k price tag for a new one with the same level of kits as the Burstner. We decided a lightly used Argos was the best way to go to save ourselves £50k and get largely the same thing.
Otherwise it was non-winterised stuff at a much lower price point, which didn't work for the year-round stuff that we are planning.
Thanks for the tip on the AC hose / NOx sensor. I'll take a look as soon as I get it. May go for a pre-emptive strike on getting it replaced with the updated part.
The only comparable we could really find was the Dethleffs XL Family which I really liked, but even that's not hugely luxurious for the £140k price tag for a new one with the same level of kits as the Burstner. We decided a lightly used Argos was the best way to go to save ourselves £50k and get largely the same thing.
Otherwise it was non-winterised stuff at a much lower price point, which didn't work for the year-round stuff that we are planning.
Thanks for the tip on the AC hose / NOx sensor. I'll take a look as soon as I get it. May go for a pre-emptive strike on getting it replaced with the updated part.
mart 63 said:
Have a look at the mastervolt advanced lithium solution, this was installed in our van. It's not cheap, but a great bit of kit.
Thanks. I'm likely going to go down the route of SuperB batteries as I'm talking to Premium Motorhomes (supplier of my Knaus). Really like their Electrician Josh's work on my previous van and he's been great to deal with so far, even remotely, on the discussion on what to put into the Bürstner. Although they're not super close (2hr drive away) it is only a 2hr trip up the M11/A1 and I can camp out there whilst it's being done.So whilst the house has been filling up with accessories and every night reduces the "no of sleeps to go", I got a phonecall this morning to say the van wasn't going to be ready for collection tomorrow after all 
In their wisdom, the cambelt was booked in for change today. When taken to the mechanic, the AdBlue light was on - whilst checking the contents of the tank (which was full) they've determined it's potentially the sensor at fault. They don't have enough time today to resolve, so I agreed I would not collect it, only to bring it back, but they could have another day to sort it out.
Now after reading around on the various fora, there's a worrying array of issues reported with Ducato's and this light. Everything from knackered sensors to imploding tanks (no vented caps) and congealed AdBlue blocking vents or gumming up the pipes etc. I've also heard that the light stays lit if the consumption rate is >9litres per 100km, which it quite often can be with big, heavy, unaerodynamic motorhomes. Hoping it's the easy end of that spectrum and there's no further issues looming. Not great for confidence building with a new van.
In their wisdom, the cambelt was booked in for change today. When taken to the mechanic, the AdBlue light was on - whilst checking the contents of the tank (which was full) they've determined it's potentially the sensor at fault. They don't have enough time today to resolve, so I agreed I would not collect it, only to bring it back, but they could have another day to sort it out.
Now after reading around on the various fora, there's a worrying array of issues reported with Ducato's and this light. Everything from knackered sensors to imploding tanks (no vented caps) and congealed AdBlue blocking vents or gumming up the pipes etc. I've also heard that the light stays lit if the consumption rate is >9litres per 100km, which it quite often can be with big, heavy, unaerodynamic motorhomes. Hoping it's the easy end of that spectrum and there's no further issues looming. Not great for confidence building with a new van.
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