LFGSS Camper Van owners?

I feel your pain so close.

Our early bay (also pastel white) just doesn’t fit 5 so we’re getting a monster 6 berth, 7m long coachbuilt French can thing. :( but :)

Considering the value of the T2 has risen from 5k to 15k in the 10 years we’ve had it I’m considering loaning it to a friend who only has 1 child instead of selling it. That way we can have it back in 15 years when the kids have left Home and it’ll be worth £45k. Probably.

Used to drive a panel van version tom_d of your Panzer camper.
Slow, heavy, but offset by being from the era when Mercedes where very well built and very reliable. Simple engines and not coke can thickness body panels on a burly chassis.
Wouldn't want a Vito or Sprinter for anything other than outright speed as they rot fast.
Renault Master/Traffic have weak gearboxes, current fun buses i use are Fiat Ducato, whacked out 90k on some of them in one year, with marignal servicing and many many drivers behind the wheel trying to get them beyond the limited 68mph restrictor's. We had the badged up Peugot variant before and 6 blew head gaskets around 120-140k mileage mark.

Used to see loads of VW's at DH races all pimped out, those on a budget went Ford Transit as it's a Transit so cheap to run and repair, massive second hand spares network too.
Enjoying this thread.
caravans can burn :)

Very true...I've had 21/22 aircooled VW's since my first camper when I was 16....I've driven them out of fields they were abandoned in, and bought split screens for £1500. My current bus is the best one I've ever driven, and I know if I sell it, I will never have another one down the line, due to their prices.....

Tried Camperbug? We hired a Cali for a week or so, think it was about £800, took it France, was rad.

Feels a bit like flying by the seat of your pants compared to Airbnb, mind.

Impending birth of our second child has forced some updating of the van. The original layout had no seat belts in the back, with a sofa and a single square seat with storage underneath. I was on the lookout for minibus seats with integrated seatbelts but the going rate of £100-200 was a bit much. Fortunately a week later an ad popped up on gumtree for a range of seats at £20 each only 10 miles away.

When I went to pick one up the bloke was converting an ex-Council disability school bus into a camper so was stripping out the 12 seats on rails in there. The seat I got was removable and he gave some half meter lengths of Unwin railing that it goes in. The only problem was that it had a hideous pattern, bright yellow grab handles on the headrest and a fluorescent yellow seatbelt.

Fortunately I found some spare material in the camper from when the previous owner had it returned so tasked my mother to copy the seat covers. A new seatbelt was sourced from BHIUK for £35 delivered. Did the fitting yesterday. Had to drop the half filled tank which, on reflection, I should've drained. Luckily the van is high enough so that you can just crawl underneath without jacking. Pretty happy with the finished article as now I can take the toddler and baby out.

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VWs so overrated. I just picked up my Elgrand Rider S on Tuesday, fresh from Japan. It's madness. 250bhp, super comfortable like being on a spaceship.

Looks sick but what happens if you need parts?

Looks like it might have broadband to order them?
Looks super comfy!

It shares a lot of components with the Qashqai.

A friend of mine had a really nice camper conversion done on an Alphard by http://www.northstarconversions.co.uk

It's the same engine as Skyline and 350Z! So pretty easy to get parts, bodywork is more tricky, and would need to be ordered from Japan, but I can live with that for something this awesome and cheaper than some T5 which is basically a white van with alloys.

Awesome work!

Good luck!
The difference with campervans is that unlike cars, the get used occasionally and for long distances during precious holidays. A long delay to replace a failed part is very much more consequential. I definitely would not want to get stranded in deepest mainland Europe, or North Africa, or even Scotland with a broken down van for any extended period of time. I expect things to break but know I can get VW parts readily across Europe and find someone to fix it in a day or two. But hey, the Elgrant a good looking bus, enjoy it!

Can get nissan parts anywhere, the only real issue is body work, most other parts are shared with other nissans. Just need to find the parts numbers and there are great forums for this kind of stuff.

Micro campers :)

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Not quite 250bhp.
Little Bedford rascal also built by Suzuki as a Super carry.

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Daihatsui Hi jet is another one to look for.

We had a Bedford years ago until my mum melted the engine, then she went to a Hi-jet.
There are 4wd variants out there too.
Did check out the prices of a Pinzguar 710k radio wagon, was looking for a Haflinger but they are hard to find and only rag-tops.
This little red Suzuki has a custom wheel and jerrycan rack, a winch fitted up front and has done some serious overland touring.
Wants one :)

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many years ago I tipped one of those on its side going too fast around a roundabout

There's a Subaru version too isn't there?

Hammond rolled one on TopGear after thinking a Scandinavian flick would be a good idea (or being instructed by the production team) in a tall narrow-tracked vehicle.

Really nice! been looking for one for a while, and yours is super cool! is it 4x4?

No Subaru version but just about everyone else- has been known as...

Suzuki Every
Suzuki Super Carry
Bedford/GME/Vauxhall Rascal
Holden Scurry
Maruti Omni
Maruti Versa
Mazda/Autozam Scrum
Wuling Rongguang
Daewoo Damas
Chevrolet CMV/CMP
Mitsubishi Colt T120ss
Mitsubishi Minicab
Nissan NT100/NV100 Clipper
Chang'an SC6320G/Chana Star
Hafei Songhuajiang HFJ6350
SYM T880/T1000/V5/V9/V11
Chevrolet N300 Max
Ford Pronto

I've always presumed that the Japanese made ones are better than the Luton manufactured vans but that could just be my prejudice.

Does anybody have a nice comfy van that they rent out? Would be nice for a long weekend in May. Not many miles, just down to the coast

Hi guys,
I'm looking to install a solar system in our van (what with the heat wave coming).
I'd like it to power the three way fridge, top up the measure battery and charge phones.
How do I work out what wattage I need?
Also what are your thoughts about rigid Vs flexible panels?
Cheers

You’ll need one panel, (I think that’s 100w) and get a rigid panel as cheaper and more reliable. Eventually the panels need replacing so there’s no point overspending.

Where you must spend money is on an MPPT regulator. They’re much more efficient, reliable and safer

I’ve just been doing some research on this myself. Info online is a bit confusing isn’t?
I’m looking to run a compressor fridge, and the internal led lights. As well as iPad, phone charging etc.
I went to the motorhome show a few weeks ago had a chat with these guys. http://www.photonicuniverse.com
They told me a minimum of a 130 watt would be good enough, with a MPPT controller.
I’m going for a semi-flexible stick on panel as it will fit well onto my pop top.
But check your fridge is it a compressor or condenser as the condensers draw a lot more power.