I've fancied a campervan for some years and this seems like a good time to make the move. But because many are thinking the same the prices are a bit daft. From just under 20k for something worn and dated that I can't stand up in on a base van that's worth peanuts - to £asmuchasyoulike.
So as a fairly competent DIYer I feel like I could save a small forture. So has anyone ever kitted out a campervan?
I have one that needs some tlc that could be had a lot cheaper if you are interested.
I was going to fix it up myself but i'd be happy to sell it to a competent D-I-Y er.
Should waltz through an MOT - issues are with a bit of damp in the roof
- needs strip out and re insulate and panelling. Would benefit from LED lights etc.
All the bits are there.and worked last time I tried
When you say kitted out, are you talking about making a van into one, or just removing old crap and modernising an existing one. Certainly the latter is easy, but remember if you substantially change the innards your resale value will be absolutely nothing.
My late father found our the hard way.
On trying to convert a van you get involved in all sorts of safety standards and modifications to the vehicle that may take a lot of time and in the end not be possible, legally if its to go through an mot.
Brian
One of my kids bought a custom one to his spec a year or so ago and he's been across Spain in it and around the Scottish west coast. I helped him do some mods to fit bikes better and to fit proper leisure electrics. He's bringing it back in the next couple of weeks to fit an awning, a couple of windows, and a fixed cooker that will let him register it as a campervan rather than an ordinary LGV. (I'm not quite sure what benefits that give him, but he must think it worth his while).
And a neice built her own from scratch. She's fairly practical, but not a very serious DIY person.
So yes, it's definitely possible. There are loads of suppliers of parts, customised for all the main vehicles, and also loads of YouTube videos.
You will find that vans suitable for conversion do hold their price.
The other thing to remember is that van-users may sell on "problem" vehicles. I have a horsebox based on a Renault Master panel van, under
100k miles, that had a *very* obscure intermittent fuel system fault. I spent £2.5k with a recommended Renault specialist who didn't find it, but still fitted replacement injectors, glow plugs, and a turbo. Fortunately my normal car mechanic mate (who *really* likes an interesting problem) did eventually track it down.
camper vans are not a good idea ...vans break down...usualy on the evening of you trip .....
or, as once happened to our next door neighbours, when you're camping far away from home.
On 31/01/2022 17:27, newshound wrote: ...
Provided it is under 3050kg and 12m long, it is subject to car speed limits, so 70mph not 60mph on motorways. Insurance is also generally cheaper, but gives better contents cover. The MOT might be less stringent, depending upon size, and crossing the channel in a motorhome is usually cheaper.
Dormobiles are a waste of time and money
I *thought* 3500kg vans had the same speed limits as cars. Interesting about insurance and ferries.
Can't quite remember. I *think* there is an extra pump somewhere in the fuel feed system, if this is faulty the ECU trips out on low pressure.
Vans can do 70 on a motorway, but only 60 on a dual carriageway and 50 on a national speed limit single carriageway.
There is an exception for car derived vans, e.g. an Astra van is deemed the same as a car.
My paternal grandparents used a VW microbus as both a daily driver and a motorhome. It was getting on and regularly had problems, so they used to have two engines - one in it and one ready to swap in, stored in the covered yard. On one occasion, they called my dad and asked him to bring the spare engine - from Manchester to deep into Cornwall! They swapped it at the side of the road.
They regularly did tours of Europe in it and numerous trips involved stripping and repairing the engine in a square behind the cathedral (possibly church) in Ostend.
Fark, they must have been completely hopeless mechanics to keep needing to work on the engines so often.
Sorry, a senior moment. That should have been dual carriageways, not motorways.
I've built two, starting with empty base vehicles. There's a lot of work involved if you do it to a high standard. Many jobs seem to take a lot of time and thought because you're having to design as well as do the work.
Bill
Wouldn't it have been better stored in a trailer behind the vehicle?
Camper vans are restricted to 50mph on single carriageways.
Not if they are under 3050 kg
I've fitted a basic ply base/storage/cooker/bed to a Berlingo using guidance from a forum:
or 25mh - every time I seem to be behind one on a rural single lane road :)
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