Camper Van Anyone?

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Berties

Fast and careful!
Brother in law has one of these ,racks up the back no garage on his one,we use it when we can get away ,fully self sufficient ,central heating ,toilet ,shower easy to drive,Honda genie to power sockets ,watch out for the tyres as they stand a lot of the time and tyres decompose I had a bad blow out near Barnstaple ,ripped the grey water tap off
We park any where and you can do cassette empties at cc sites cheaply and water a garages
 

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swee'pea99

Squire
My holidays as a kid were in something like that, the Danbury Conversion, about '74.

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£40k now.

http://www.vwkampers.com/classic-campers/


I've thought for awhile that that should be the next retro-update vehicle, following the success of the facelifted Beetle, Mini & Fiat 500. Lots of people love them, lots of people who are the right age and have plenty of money, and would just about sell their souls for an updated version of that, with modern reliability built in.
 

F70100

Who, me ?
It will be a campervan (not motorhome or RV) for me for when I retire. The countdown has begun, so I'm saving my pocket money like mad.

It will have a bike rack (naturally), and a towbar for a trailer with the motorbike on ^_^.
 
It will be a campervan (not motorhome or RV) for me for when I retire. The countdown has begun, so I'm saving my pocket money like mad.

It will have a bike rack (naturally), and a towbar for a trailer with the motorbike on ^_^.

I am not clear on the difference.

Seems there are two sorts- First is a van, like a delivery van that is steel and it then has windows and kit in it. Then there is often the same cab part but with a much bigger back fitted on. Like it has backed into a caravan.

First type seem to be stronger as they have a strong shell and they are nowhere near as wide. Second type seem to have lots of room and perhaps a lower floor plus space over the cab.

I quite fancy converting a van but then I also think that the ready made ones seem to hold their price well and you could buy one for £20 k, use it for a year and then sell it for about what you paid.
 
I've thought for awhile that that should be the next retro-update vehicle, following the success of the facelifted Beetle, Mini & Fiat 500. Lots of people love them, lots of people who are the right age and have plenty of money, and would just about sell their souls for an updated version of that, with modern reliability built in.

They nearly did a few years ago. And then they didn't.
 
I quite fancy converting a van but then I also think that the ready made ones seem to hold their price well and you could buy one for £20 k, use it for a year and then sell it for about what you paid.
This bit is mostly true. I bought both of mine and sold each after a few years of use for nearly what I paid. Both of mine were bought in Germany on a weak euro, like now which also helped and LHD is no problem and much better abroad.
 

martint235

Dog on a bike
Location
Welling
I've already (20 years to go) started the conversation with SWMBO about getting an RV and spending our retirement driving round sunnier climes in the south of Europe. Lump sum payout should buy one, rent the house out and just draw my pension in which ever country I'm in. I may even strap a bike to the back of it.
 
I've already (20 years to go) started the conversation with SWMBO about getting an RV and spending our retirement driving round sunnier climes in the south of Europe. Lump sum payout should buy one, rent the house out and just draw my pension in which ever country I'm in. I may even strap a bike to the back of it.
You retiring at 75 then, Mart? I suppose that's fair, as you spend all your Civil Service employ taking the taxpayer for a ride.
 

F70100

Who, me ?
I am not clear on the difference.

Seems there are two sorts- First is a van, like a delivery van that is steel and it then has windows and kit in it. Then there is often the same cab part but with a much bigger back fitted on. Like it has backed into a caravan.

First type seem to be stronger as they have a strong shell and they are nowhere near as wide. Second type seem to have lots of room and perhaps a lower floor plus space over the cab.

I quite fancy converting a van but then I also think that the ready made ones seem to hold their price well and you could buy one for £20 k, use it for a year and then sell it for about what you paid.

Smallest is a campervan, typically built using something like a VW T5. They're just about small enough to use as an everyday vehicle being about the same size as some people carriers. They rarely have a shower on board.

vwcamper.jpg


Next size up is also a camper van but known as a panel van conversion. They usually do have a loo and shower on board but it makes them too high to use as everyday vehicles.

panelvan.png


Next is a coach built motorhome. Often about the same length and height as a panel van conversion but much more conspicuous. Because they have straight sides, they make more efficient use of the space inside and modern ones usually have all home comforts.

coachbuilt.jpg


Some motorhomes are known as A Class motorhomes (don't know why). Instead of using the cab from the donor vehicle, they're totally "coachbuilt" and makes them feel very spacious inside.

aclass.jpg


American RV's are big, both inside and outside. Very thirsty engines and a bit impractical on uk and european roads. They're often too big for most pitches on european campsites. In the US and Canada though they work very well.

RV.jpg


Strangely, in terms of cost, small campervans, panel van conversions and coach built motorhomes cost about the same when new. How you assess their value though is up to you. Campers and panel vans are usually fairly unobtrusive and perhaps more practical; motorhomes are a bit gaudy I suppose, can attract attention, but are probably easier to live in as they have more space. Yer pays yer money etc.
 

tfg71

Senior Member
I have wanted an old vw for a long time. Just cant afford at moment. However I did find one at stowford farm meadows in Devon same price per month as my current car. Newer model however it was over ten years instead of 4 - wished I had bought it now. Danbury do nice new ones in the old retro style but they are £££. Have toyed with a 2nd hand transporter and fitting it out myself.
 
OP
OP
cosmicbike

cosmicbike

Perhaps This One.....
Moderator
Location
Egham
Thanks for the responses folks. I'm being quite selective about what I want, so must be a T5 or T6, T30 minimum and has to have a tailgate (so I can fit a 4 bike rack). SWMO and I have looked at a couple which are very nice and on budget, but so far not found one that has a tailgate..
 
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