We've decided we need a bigger van than the I800 we've got. Looking at something like a Ducato / Boxer in L2H2 size, so we can have a bed at the back with bike storage underneath. Got a budget of 10k or so for the van and there seams to be some 2018 - 2020 vans around at better prices than they were. Are there any red flags to these? Was looking at a transit, but the wet belt stories scare me... It's not going to be a daily driver, just a weekends away / holiday / bike day bus. Anything else worth considering?
I liked my old Transit, apart from the rust obviously, but my 'new' one, Mk7, has also destroyed it's own gearbox and I think the turbo is on its way out too, as well as rusting. So I think you are wise avoiding those The Mk8 at work had various turbo issues too.
The Citroen/Fiat/Peugeot ones are apparently easier to convert as they are quite square inside. My neighbour loves his NV400, apparently loads better than a Sprinter/Crafter.
Fwiw I've put 60,000 on my 16 Transit in just over 2 years, bought at 43k now just gone over 100k.
It's the non wet belt and has been faultless.
We're going bigger next year and likely to be a VW Crafter on Man Lion.
Just bought a L2H2!
Bloody love it. Can get bikes under the bed,loads of space and drives amazing compared to my old T5.
Just bought a L2H2!
Bloody love it. Can get bikes under the bed,loads of space and drives amazing compared to my old T5.
Great news! This is what I want to hear!
What have you done to it so far? I'm thinking bed at the back, windows in the side, fridge / kitchen area and then somewhere to sit and relax. Maybe a toilet if there is space.
I’ve got 2 Peugeot Boxers, 1 is L3H2 as a camper and one is L2H2 for work. Had them both from new oldest is a ‘16 with the 2.2 diesel, the newest is ‘18 with the 2l blue engine. Neither have needed anything other than servicing and tyres since buying.
I’m 189cm and can sleep across it (just). I think on an L2, you’re either getting seating OR a toilet, as once the bed is in, there’s not a ton of room left if you want a window or a toilet/shower enclosure as they’re about 3m from doors to where the bulkhead would be, a bed for 2 people is 1400mm of that, but bikes would have to go sideways with wheels off underneath. If you didn’t want a shower and just a toilet in a box you might squeeze it all in.
If you go on Ebay and put in 'race van' you'll find dozens upon dozens with all variations of style of creature comforts from basic to exceptional.
Something like this is on the cards for me next year.
If you go on Ebay and put in 'race van' you'll find dozens upon dozens with all variations of style of creature comforts from basic to exceptional.
Something like this is on the cards for me next year.
Well there's an easy way to have pass a couple of hours looking for ideas!
Well there's an easy way to have pass a couple of hours looking for ideas!
Indeed it is!
Anyone fancy Wiggo's old van?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276996759514
OK so this is a minefield..... There's so much choice! Now to decide do we go with a straight van and convert it ourselves or buy one someone has already done... I like the idea of having the layout exactly as we want in the van of our choice, but it appears buying one converted already from someone may be more cost effective.
Apart from the gas / electrics / windows etc, are most of the other jobs to convert a van straightforward?
I'll be buying mine already done. I don't have the skills or patience or even tools, let alone knowledge.
It may take a bit of looking for the perfect layout, but my needs are not that complex.
1. Double bed. Ideally raise up and down.
2. Extra bed using seats
3. Fridge/heating
The toilet/shower/cooking would be nice but not essential for me as I'd just take a stove and pee in the bushes.
@weeksy. Thought first priority would be to get all the bikes inside secure without dismantling them 😂
Ours was and still is.
Yeah, I've done a caddy maxi and transit custom. Both much smaller. If you're buying an ex builders van, the back will likely need a refresh before you even start. Bulkhead out, all trims off to clean etc. that's a fews days work in itself.
If you haven't put stretch carpet on panels before, it's a skills which takes a bit of mastering.
Then there's planning the sequence of how to do it all, i.e electrics usually first, but often you only realise at the end you need one more of outlet, and dismantling then starts.
If you have the time ( and time to learn new skills), it's not that difficult, and YouTube is your friend. But it's very time consuming.
I've got a Boxer L2H2, raised bed, garage underneath, 2 Ebikes front wheels off and still have plenty of room. Small seating area for 2, hob, sink and fridge kitchen unit, 2 swivel seats and pull out loo that's between the passenger seat and kitchen unit for a bit of privacy. Did it myself during chemo, I've no skills but watched YouTube, time consuming though. Had some great trips in it.
So today we picked up a L1H1 Boxer! The intention was to get a H2/L2, but I couldn't find one that I liked the look of in my price range and we stumbled on a decent L1H1 so we bought it! Now to get it sorted... From measuring with a tape measure I think we can still get the bed across the back with bike space underneath, but the idea of a toilet / shower cubicle has gone! This actually fits much better on the drive than a L2 would've as well.
I think we'll look to get some of the work done professionally, rather than try to do it all ourselves. It will be a fun project though!
If anyone has used or can recommend a conversion company to help with the work, let me know!
You can get away with a porta potti in an awning or toilet tent overnight. Off grid daytime, it can just be inside the van.
I quite like this one. nice basic conversion with loads of space. No cooker though
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187247714053?mkevt=1&plmtId=1110100101&mesgId=4001&mkpid=0&emsid=enull.m161499.l174141&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid&bu=43084649446&trkId=115eafc2-6df8-3e86-a265-229d574f8c65&cnvId=a7fb74a1-c76a-4a5d-81a4-a4efd73d9c0c&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20250602003403&segname&recoId=187247714053&recoPos=1
I think we are going to go for a layout (maybe not all the wood) of something like this:
Peugeot Boxer SWB - Beautiful Bespoke Build | Quirky Campers
It's gonna be tight, but seams the best use of space for us. Can you see any glaring issues??
where are the bikes going ?
Not enough height for bikes vertically in there, even with both wheels off? And unclear if it's got the width to have them in flat or not.
And, just checking a 183cm long bed is long enough for you? I know at 187cm I'll lever fit in a traverse bed in this size of van, even with the expansion panels that add a few cm.
If you are doign the modification yourself: Plan, plan, plan. I know it has been said before, but it goes so much easier when you have all the electrics in place before you start doing things that are permanent or difficult to undo.
Advice from me (have done two vans now) is to strip as much as possible out of the back and clean it, treat rust and paint. Then sound deaden, electrics and insulate. On my T5 I went over the top with insulation, with the current Dispatch I just went with 25mm Armourflex. I'm not going to be using the van as a bedroom over winter and what I have takes the edge off summer.
Renogy do a good charging system that will take solar as well as from the alternator and is relatively easy to set up. If you have a roof rack, you can mount a cheap 100w panel to that for longer trips away.
Honestly, it's only as much work as you want to make it, but if you want something that looks Instgram good, then be prepared for a lot of work.
where are the bikes going ?
Under the bed, posts dropped on the MTB's and taken out on the road bikes should give a garage space of 90cm or so (I think.) Putting the bikes sideways on a tray should give us more space to store things behind them for extra storage.
Not enough height for bikes vertically in there, even with both wheels off? And unclear if it's got the width to have them in flat or not.
And, just checking a 183cm long bed is long enough for you? I know at 187cm I'll lever fit in a traverse bed in this size of van, even with the expansion panels that add a few cm.
Front wheel off and seatposts dropped should fit in a 90cm height garage area? Or it has with my measurements....
I'm 180cm, so it will be tight, but doable...
