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Ever since i saw [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-vw-t4-camper-conversion-ideal-for-mtb ]this[/url] all i can think about is finishing my last year at uni while saving up some cash, getting a van similar but not as nice as the T4 and sodding off, see how far i get.
Anyone ever done this? any usefull tips on whats essential to have in the van etc? And whats a good van ie reliable/big enough for me+bike or maybe 2+2bikes/not massively expensive?
Naturally i will be taking the bike and stopping for trails as often as poss, so again any countries to be recommended?
Its just a crazy dream at the minute but i reckon with bit of planning and cash its do-able.
google horizon hubb forum, its mostly about motorbikes but does have stuff on 4x4's etc.
yes, didn't get too far tho, got it stolen in the South of France about 5 weeks after setting off. pretty sure the bikes were part of the reason it was taken too.
😥
a_a brilliant forum thanks, will be reading through later!
GW savage sorry to hear that bud, will have a think about security then.
it was 10 yeas ago now, a harsh blow at the time but it's quite funny now thinking back to being stranded in Nice in shorts and a tee shirt without even any underwear (quite liberating really) 😆
took a year to go round australia back when i was a lad in '97. Mazda E1600 LWB which was a complete wreck but somehow managed 30k over the year. basically the same as a long toyota hiace. had a lot going for it, long but narrow so internally it had plenty room for a bed to be permanently in place, storage underneath and a large area for bikes or kitchen stuff in front. being narrower than many vans of similar length helps with aerodynamics and parking in cities. DO IT!
sweet, definately doing it now!
don't have to have a newish van,here's my 67 4x4 inta that did 6 years trip round OZ
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Two bikes on the back and one inside
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still got the truck and its good for a trip across the country or camping at a race.
DO IT!
the fettler that looks very cool, any internal shots?
do it before you have any ties, I would have loved to do that
Done that sort of thin on a motorbike - if I was to do it again ( which i will) it will be either by bicycle or on foot.
a vehicle is both expensive and sometimes a burden - unless its a cheap piece of junk you can ditch if its a pain.
Go for it tho - just get off your arse and do it
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this is what i travel on at the moment
fettlers van looks 900% of ace! So does his bike actually, well done.
Looking back, I wish I'd done this sort of stuff a long time ago.
I'm 42 and still doing it 😆
mind you i'm single never married no kids!
I also have this for a getaway machine
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Fettler- I want your truck! (seriously 😀 )
yeah i would love to straight out bike it but i'm not sure how far i would get, with a van or something atleast i know i will get there and maybe a not so bikey person could tag along too. Van will defo be nothing special so i can sell/replace it where ever i need to, no ties, young, crazy/not 100% stupid, its going to be rad!
Just need to finish the degree (massively lame at the minute with dissertation etc), build up some cash- got me a soul destroying check-out job at somerfield, turn 21 (july 24th)so i can drive abroad....sorted!
Inspired!
top tips from me for what its worth,
The fancier the van the more stuff to go wrong
Dont forget the cd player!!!!!!
Learn the basics on how to fix one before you set off!!! And get some tools and fluids (Brake/clutch fluid oil etc.)
Get a solar shower, even if its not sunny enough to get it hot you can at least get clean!
Keep a grill handy so you can bbq
Take a big ass tarpaulin so if it hoons it down you can still sorta bodge something together for out the back doors if you need to work on the bike and there is not enough room in the van
Buy cheap tubes, brake pads, tyres, gear cables and couple of dropouts before you go!!! They will always break when your in the most amazing trailhead ever but it happens to be in the arse end of nowhere!
Get a decent first aid kit and make sure you can use it, it will save you hassle of hurting yourself and having to ask for gauze and a sterile pad in an Italian supermarket!
Apart from those essentials dont take loadsa stuff as you wont use it and it will just break/get lost and upset you/get under your feet/you will need to buy another as the one you have doesnt work anymore/or you will find a better one in quecha for half the cost!!!
in terms of places to go I cannot possibly recommend enough getting out your arse out to Slovenia. If the language was not so hard to learn (or me so thick!) I would be out there forever, it is paradise.
I hope you have a great time!
Oh yeah if have the time going on a mini trip before you go to show up what you might be missing is also a good idea.
G'day walla24 and no you can't have my truck 
some very good advice from NBgoingdown,a little bit of mechanical knowledge/and knowing the intended purpose helps.
Did the inside my self with the help of a wrote off combi(pop top cooker fridge)also kitted out for oz conditions,long range tanks(petrol 180lts/LPG 330ltt range 2500kms)out side shower solar panel& 200lts of water,comfortable to live in when traveling this wide brown land called Australia
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If you are serious about this and will be converting a van rather than buying a secondhand camper (£££) then you should join the SBMCC. £10 to join but you'll get that back many times over in the form of discounts, I was a member for three years before I finally bought my van, made the money back on day 1 for the insurance 🙂
www.sbmcc.co.uk (You have 10 free posts or something before you have to cough up)
For a cheap but spacious van I would recommend an LDV Convoy, but although it is mainly Transit mechanicals, I'm not sure how much success you'd have getting repairs done outside of Europe?
I've got an Iveco Daily (only van with a big enough towing capacity) and I'm about a 3rd of the way through my conversion.
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3932293060_29d07723e2_b.jp g" target="_blank">
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Mmmmm
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FIND A MATE and DO IT. You won't regret it. Focus on the experiences and don't worry too much on the kit.
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i'm off*
*anyone lend me a tenner or two?
My sister and brother in law did this a few years ago and I'd love to do it. They sold up everything and went for about 3 years, Switzerland to Morocco, across N-Africa to Egypt, shipped the car to Mombasa (avoiding war torn Horn) then down to Cape Town.
They used a Land Rover with a Peugeot diesel engine for reliability. Whatever vehicle you choose make sure you know all its is failings and how to fix them!
Do it!
[i]anyone lend me a tenner or two?[/i]
Mmmm...I'd make a guess at about £60,000....
nice...yeah will probably get another person or persons to come, its going to be awesome!