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Difficult to advise as dont know your budget? £5k or £50k. Advise do some initial research, be clear on what you want it for and what you are happy to compromise on, decide on a budget, come back and ask again.
Fyi I wanted a van that could keep for 10+ years, that could sleep 2, fit 2 bikes inside, swb so could drive as a car as a single vehicle owned. My budget was £20k converted (note the 10 year lifespan). I went T5, 3 years ago, as wasnt convinced about Custom, Traffic longevity and residuals, paid £16k for a 3 yewr old van with 13k miles. £8k on conversion. Pop top still to do.
Conversion I used Travelvolts electrics, Evomotion design for furniture, OxfordT5 for sliding california bed, vanex for insulation and lining carpet.
Think the key is to be clear what want it for and to really keep it simple. On my 5th van and mistake I see the most is people overcomplicate what they want. Its a metal tent with a bucket really and the only key requirement is to be sat with a glass of wine 2 minutes after parking!
velosaurus-
Think the key is to be clear what want it for and to really keep it simple. On my 5th van and mistake I see the most is people overcomplicate what they want. Its a metal tent with a bucket really and the only key requirement is to be sat with a glass of wine 2 minutes after parking!
So much this. I'd live to convert my own vw van for the family. Our requirements are a safe van that can double as a second car for the occasional trip. Needs to sit 4 and sleep 4, ideally in colder conditions as well so some kind of heater needed. Kitchen can be super basic and at the back. Prob need an emergency toilet as well.
Best option I've seen is this
https://www.blocket.se/annons/stockholm/vw_north_camper_2010__valbyggd__fin/89689698
But £27k for a 10 year old car is way over our budget
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I hear you. Budget is to follow after scoping. The main thing right now is to figure out the market and ascertain if this is something that requires more investment to get a higher spec van with a longer life, or to start with something more reasonable and test the water.
I lived in a MWB Sprinter for a year, and did a fair bit of work on the interior to tailor it to what we needed. It seems mad that the budget for a weekend van might be 10x the cost of something we lived in full time!
My current thinking is that we either go for a Bongo Friendee style and be content with slightly poky to see how much use it gets, or go all out and get a T5 or T6 and aim to rent it out when not in use.
The main thing is that this doesn't need to act as a car anything other than very occasionally, and primarily it is a camper intended to be comfortable for two people to go climbing, surfing, operate as a base for bike trips and get to remote places for off grid camping.
You're right about not overcomplicating things, in an entire year, including nights at -7c we used our diesel heater once, and I could definitely do without a shower and toilet. Definitely needs to be possible to cook a meal inside comfortably though, both for winter and for being a bit sneaky. I also think people get overly hung up on stealth, and having only used a campsite once in a year, I don't know why people bother.
kboy
IdealStandard
I'd seen some nice Transit Custom conversions. Looking at the connect conversions, it does look on the pokey side.
Conversion via mechano isn't a bad shout, but I'm not sure time will allow. Any good kit recommendations? Ideally not too much leather and plastic!