Relay, Boxer or Ducato

[mikal83]

I am considering buying one of the above to convert into a campervan. I have chosen just these three as they are under 6m and wider than a VW or MB. Looking at spending around 5-7k max and hopefully will get a decent van for that. BUT the frog vans are quite similar and the italian has a different engine.

What should I be looking for and what and why would you recommend your choice. I am NOT considering any other make.

[mikal83]

Busterbulldog said:

I have had many , easily the ducato is the best in my opinion.

Is it the engine or......I have read somewhere that it gets better mpg, (it will be a diesel of course) but only a later model?

[mikal83]

shake n bake said:

For your budget try to buy one that’s had a gearbox rebuild.
Good vans really, they get knocked for unreliability but they’re cheap new, used hard and thrown away generally.

Which van?

[mikal83]

shake n bake said:

mikal83 said:

Which van?

The boxer/relay. Unsure on Ducatos as I don’t get involved with fiats.

ta

[mikal83]

Apart from fleabay, what website do you recommend for buying vans

[mikal83]

lawrencec said:

The fiat is definitely the better van for reliability as it uses a iveco engine

I have read that on a few van sites... but where to buy?

[mikal83]

king arthur said:

The Fiats have a cambelt whereas the Peugeot/Citroen have the 2.2 PSA/Ford chain cam engine, so factor in the cost of cambelt changes if going for the Fiat. Early EURO5 Ford engines had oil pump issues but that should be sorted now. The equivalent Fiat is marginally more economical than the Ford engined vans. Apart from that they're the same van.

So your vote would against the fiat due to the cambelt?

[mikal83]

Cheers, only prob with a crafter/sprinter is they are narrower than the Relay/Duc/Boxer and the mpg sucks....Still looking tho. Cheers