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everyone loves a van thread sont they? im looking for reccomendations...
i want van that is my day to day vehicle, lots of motorway miles. it will be a van foremost and will be used as such, for chucking bikes in - and i would like lots of racking for storing my gear, tools etc.
I also want to spend the occasional night in it, it wont be used as a full on holiday vehicle, but more for arriving the night before an early ride somewhere far from home, that kind of thing.
im not fussed about a rock & roll bed, i am quite happy on an inflatable camp mattress, However i want it to be warm and dry, preferably have a window and decent lighting. id like enough room for my bike to stay in the back while im sleeping there too.but im not fussed about running water, a hob or fridge etc.
£10K ish, newer the better.
not sure whether its better to start with a basic panel van and insulate/ply/carpet myself, or try to find one already done...
Cheers
I started with:
basic panel van
long version van Caddy Transporter Maxi.
Perfect for: 1 dog + 1 bike + 1 man
Spent max 0.6 k for putting some camping stuff in. Left, back side of the van: a row of fat heavy load storage boxes. On top 10 mm plywood approx 0.8 x 1.9 m.
The complete, crazy unit strapped onto the floor hooks of the van. PERFECT bed!
No heating. No insulation so...
A Caddy maxi/lwb would seem the obvious choice there. Or the Berlingo type vans, but they are a little shorter. Next step up in size would be the Dispatch/Partner or a SWB Transporter/Vivaro/Vito/Transit.
To get a Caddy sized van insulated, ply and carpet lined I'd expect around 500-700 quid +/- depending on roof/floor included etc.
I'd think twice about a window for stealth camping and bike security.
Transporter or something equivalent that isn't too van like if it's your daily. A modern transit would also be reasonable and you could get a custom for you're money.
What gets me is the road noise even when insulated.
But I have built a single bed out of wood and have lift off slats so I can stow stuff. It also gets me off the floor and I have a foam mattress so it's not too cold. Bikes go on the side door side of the van.
Most vans that have been done usually have double beds and you have no idea how they've done things such as the insulation. I suppose you could sell the bed and build your own thing.
If you're planning on having it as a daily and sleep in it I would insulate it and carpet line too.
yeah cheers, should have mention this will be an upgrade from a small partner van, that van has been brilliant but its just not adequate for kipping in comfortably. no doubt the lwb caddy's would be but im definitely leaning more towards a tranny custom or vito type... dont really fancy a transporter - cba with the stigma.
also 3 seats is a priority... good point about the window - how about a roof light?
that 500-700 quid - is that installed by a professional or just to buy the gear?
It'd be a toss-up between the Vivaro/Trafic and the Transit Custom for me at that price.
Lot of the used ones seem overpriced to me though and almost all seem to go to dealers.
also 3 seats is a priority
then you need a
vito type
size.
Caddy Maxi Transporter: great for 1 man. If I take the dog with me I take the second seat out. Bike is in the inside.
What gets me is the road noise even when insulated.
Can understand.
But I'am totally relaxed. Yes - sound is funny. Like a tin can. You even hear the fuel sloshing in the tank.
But I even like this sound.
Vacation mode kicks in right away then...
+1 for the Caddy Maxi
Mine does circa 50mpg motorway cruising at 70-80 and really drives more like a car than a van.
Slowly converting it when I've time...... gotten as far as lining it adding LED lights and installing the below pull out bed designed built by a far more talented friend than I.
[url= https://photos.app.goo.gl/P23xUfatQrpOzbL02 ]Pull out bed pictures[/url]
Still need to install a side window since A. nice to have the light when staying in it and B. there is a massive blind spot there!
With the bed in, can still fit 2 bikes straight in without issue. Bit trickier with the bed out, but by taking the front wheels off you can fit most in.
My only question is whether I need to sell it when I go travelling in May......
Transit custom would be my preference for that sized van or maybe a Vito, and I own a T5.
In those vans windows in the side doors don't look too 'camper' so can still be pretty stealth, especially with a dark tint/blinds.
Camper van style roof lights are not usually very secure. More of a risk on lower vans of those size than big sprinter/Iveco vans.
It's all a balance of pro's and con's. I have dark tinted windows in the doors.
that 500-700 quid - is that installed by a professional or just to buy the gear?
Installed price. Maybe a bit more for a Vito/Transit sized van. Probably half that for materials. Check ebay for prices as there are quite a few people offering it.
5/700 to line and insulate a van? I'm a " professional" come round to ours I'll do it for 495.
Camper van style roof lights are not usually very secure.
important when talking about small vans like the Caddy Maxxi Transporter:
the roof is not so rugged like T5 roofs or Vito roofs.
Before you take some cutting tool ... ask the manufacturer if this is possible... Caddy Maxxi roof (when you have a sliding door): you shouldn't cut it...- this would weaken the whole structure too much!
Caddy Maxxi roof (when you have a sliding door): you shouldn't cut it...- this would weaken the whole structure too much!
Says who ?
You get pop top roofs for caddy Maxi ....kinda hard to fit without cutting the roof.
Big thing to remember about caddy Maxi is that its restricted to lower speed limits as it is not light enough to be a car derived van.
So might as well buy a decent size van