LFGSS Camper Van owners?

There's also this thing from Ford.

https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/transit-custom/nugget

Edit: seen the price. Hah!

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

Out of curiosity, where have you parked up?

Have been hankering for a camper van for a while (pretty much since we had blackfoot jnr) but don’t have the space or money.
And I’m thinking with long distance air travel being curtailed for a while, there maybe an uptick in campers/caravans.

All across the UK - Ireland, Scotland and England. A lot in Portugal, Spain and France. Mainly in the middle of nowhere, and rarely in cities.

There’s an app called park4night which makes it very accessible.

We got asked by the landowner in glen Nevis to use the campsite after having been there for a few days (which we did and he was very amenable) but never had any trouble.

You obviously have a good idea then! I would still avoid a Bongo personally. Think a Hiace or Transit Custom would have more room inside. Aside from reliability and fuel consumption the big downside to a Bongo is no reversing front seats

park4night

This is awesome, thanks for the tip!

I didn’t know bongos didn’t have reversing seats. That is a big downside for a vehicle that size. Will definitely do some more digging in the hiace options, thanks.

Yes, reversing the front seats makes a big difference to the available space and seating "saloon" when parked up. I have seen some fantastic Traffic conversions if dont want the VW tax.

Second the avoid a bongo. I had one for about a year or so. All the above is true, they are so thirsty it’s insane. We did have the 2litre v6 one though.

Whilst they don’t have reversing seats, the passenger seat does fold forward to allow a rear facing seat.

On the positives, they are smaller so easier to park etc, and it was great fun to drive. They are so bouncy and powerful driving around rural wales was superb.

On the positives, ..... it was great fun to drive. They are so bouncy and powerful

Yes! And I still shout "BONGO!", when ever I see one. Used to really piss the dog off (dog not called "Bongo"). But that fuel consumption.... and I never got on with that front seat/foot rest contraption - not very comfortable.

Haha I always point one out too. Habit now!

Also the term Bongonaught made me smile.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad....

Yes Bongonaughts and the Bongofury forum! I was laughed at when I tried to get someone to make a proper reversing front seat. And the sheer amazeballs everytime used the electric pop top.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad....

I just think there are much better reliable, economic, easier to maintain, much more interior space options available now for not much more cash eg a Traffic simple conversion.

Oh and lets not forget the crazy world of the jap import market as well!

it's not clear why you want an alternative to a VW though as it fits your criteria

I think this ticks all my boxes.

https://www.blocket.se/vi/91176697.htm

Wish I had the money to buy it

Keep looking at the cost of a Cali on contract hire...

Ouch, essentially, but how else are we gonna holiday this year?

Hmmm I should buy a boat etc

Don't get me wrong, I'm still keeping an eye out for decent VWs, it just seems that what you get for your money is a bit skewed.

We've settled on a max budget of £15k, which basically gets you any Japanese vehicle you like in any setup, or a T4 or older T5 with lots of miles.

Still haven't decided on anything yet.

Rent one

Been there done that.

Contract hire is pretty much the same thing -with a longer duration.

..and the insurance, VED and place to park it.

So Ive got this lwb sprinter van hi roof,,,,, hob unit, sink unit, blown air heating/water unit,,, ziggi unit (all the units)lol. and cables in a garage from a previous camper,,,,, mmmmmmmm

eh, you need to look harder :)

This 4wd swamper is £16,500 on ebay, I think you could get it close to budget. Ex AA van so you know it's been maintained. With Covid-19 and the start of the summer it's an expensive time to be buying a campervan, but there you go