JJ0063 Posted Sunday at 04:30 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 04:30 PM 45 minute video tour with a potential buyer today, they’re planning on coming up next Sunday… I trust no one after the T4 so let’s see… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ0063 Posted Sunday at 09:34 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 09:34 PM Checked out trains for the kraken van and it’s surprisingly simple… drive to Peterborough, direct train to Edinburgh then one train to Kinghorn.. £63 Its definitely a viable option but likelihood is that it’s going to be at least another month until I’m ready to buy something AnnoyingPentium 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted Sunday at 09:39 PM Share Posted Sunday at 09:39 PM 4 minutes ago, JJ0063 said: Checked out trains for the kraken van and it’s surprisingly simple… drive to Peterborough, direct train to Edinburgh then one train to Kinghorn.. £63 Its definitely a viable option but likelihood is that it’s going to be at least another month until I’m ready to buy something Those 2.5tdi lumps aren't known for their reliability... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom13 Posted Sunday at 09:40 PM Share Posted Sunday at 09:40 PM I heard some horror stories on the 2.5s. the 1.9s are good though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ0063 Posted Sunday at 09:47 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 09:47 PM 8 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said: Those 2.5tdi lumps aren't known for their reliability... 6 minutes ago, tom13 said: I heard some horror stories on the 2.5s. the 1.9s are good though. Ah, bugger. OK cheers for the heads up! tom13 and Dick Longbridge 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted Sunday at 10:26 PM Share Posted Sunday at 10:26 PM 37 minutes ago, JJ0063 said: Ah, bugger. OK cheers for the heads up! Most of the 2.5s I see around are belching smoke, not a good sign! The 1.9s aren’t exactly smooth but they’re tougher and used in more applications - easier to get them sorted if the worst happens JJ0063 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ0063 Posted Sunday at 10:56 PM Author Share Posted Sunday at 10:56 PM 28 minutes ago, AxWomble said: Most of the 2.5s I see around are belching smoke, not a good sign! The 1.9s aren’t exactly smooth but they’re tougher and used in more applications - easier to get them sorted if the worst happens Seems like I’m destined for a trip to Scotland! Another nice looking van that ticks the boxes and is a 1.9.. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202301203437025 AxWomble and AnnoyingPentium 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted Sunday at 10:59 PM Share Posted Sunday at 10:59 PM 1 minute ago, JJ0063 said: Seems like I’m destined for a trip to Scotland! Another nice looking van that ticks the boxes and is a 1.9.. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202301203437025 That looks a lot of van for a smidge under 10k. T5s of that age without the camper bits don't command much less than asking. GIB! JJ0063 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted Monday at 08:48 AM Share Posted Monday at 08:48 AM 9 hours ago, JJ0063 said: Seems like I’m destined for a trip to Scotland! Another nice looking van that ticks the boxes and is a 1.9.. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202301203437025 That doesn’t look bad at all - I’d investigate what the “some rust” is, but otherwise looks a steal! JJ0063 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers Posted Monday at 09:11 AM Share Posted Monday at 09:11 AM I recognise the conversion on that van, done by a firm in Worksop, long since gone bust - my mate designed the layout. Definitely on the "budget" end of things, but a hell of a lot better than most diy. Don't trust the seatbelts on the back seat, they're not at all safe to use. Give the roof a very very thorough inspection - they're a bit "man in a shed" and the canvas doesn't fit great and they tear round the corners and nothing really fits well or seals well. If the canvas is knackered it's two or three days work to fit a new one. Give it a good test drive and if there are creaking/rattling noises above your head the cab roof "reinforcement" frame has come adrift (they were just riveted on, and the rivets crack). We used to buy these roofs and fit them ourselves when I converted these vans for a living, we put a bit more "love" into it but they were still never very good. You can buy ready made seat fabrics for £150 ish to sort out those horrific front seats. Erebus, mercedade, Dick Longbridge and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted Monday at 09:22 AM Share Posted Monday at 09:22 AM 8 minutes ago, cobblers said: Definitely on the "budget" end of things, but a hell of a lot better than most diy. Don't trust the seatbelts on the back seat, they're not at all safe to use. Is it one of those wooden beds or a proper crash tested steel frame jobbie? I find it odd that big motorhome manufacturers can sell 5,6,7 berth vans with travelling seats that have seatbelts but about as much structural integrity as a park bench 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers Posted Monday at 09:26 AM Share Posted Monday at 09:26 AM Just now, AxWomble said: Is it one of those wooden beds or a proper crash tested steel frame jobbie? I find it odd that big motorhome manufacturers can sell 5,6,7 berth vans with travelling seats that have seatbelts but about as much structural integrity as a park bench 😬 They're a steel bed, but not crash tested and build down to a price. The seatbelts are attached in the middle of an unsupported 120cm length of 20x20mm box using m10x80mm bolts and a stack of about half a dozen m12 nuts used as spacers. More like something you'd expect in a camper built in the 1970s really. AxWomble and JJ0063 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted Monday at 09:41 AM Share Posted Monday at 09:41 AM 10 minutes ago, cobblers said: They're a steel bed, but not crash tested and build down to a price. The seatbelts are attached in the middle of an unsupported 120cm length of 20x20mm box using m10x80mm bolts and a stack of about half a dozen m12 nuts used as spacers. More like something you'd expect in a camper built in the 1970s really. Crumbs. That’s a bit iffy. We’re putting belted minibus seats in our new van but we are at least using the original installation hardware in the same way the manufacturer intended. I guess they’re not testable on the MOT beyond checking that they’ve been installed with some level of good practise - although the gov.uk page on this seems to suggest that unless they’ve been glued to the floor, anything goes 😂 “Additional seats should be fitted securely so that they are likely to remain in place in the event of an accident” https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/converting-a-van-to-carry-passengers-in-the-rear/converting-a-van-to-carry-passengers-in-the-rear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erebus Posted Monday at 10:58 AM Share Posted Monday at 10:58 AM 1 hour ago, cobblers said: I recognise the conversion on that van, done by a firm in Worksop, long since gone bust - my mate designed the layout. Definitely on the "budget" end of things, but a hell of a lot better than most diy. Don't trust the seatbelts on the back seat, they're not at all safe to use. Give the roof a very very thorough inspection - they're a bit "man in a shed" and the canvas doesn't fit great and they tear round the corners and nothing really fits well or seals well. If the canvas is knackered it's two or three days work to fit a new one. Give it a good test drive and if there are creaking/rattling noises above your head the cab roof "reinforcement" frame has come adrift (they were just riveted on, and the rivets crack). We used to buy these roofs and fit them ourselves when I converted these vans for a living, we put a bit more "love" into it but they were still never very good. You can buy ready made seat fabrics for £150 ish to sort out those horrific front seats. What brand of roof and bed is it out of interest? Think it might be one from near Sunderland. Understand if you'd rather not say on a public forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers Posted Monday at 11:04 AM Share Posted Monday at 11:04 AM I think they were called "Elite campers" Erebus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom13 Posted Monday at 11:46 AM Share Posted Monday at 11:46 AM 12 hours ago, JJ0063 said: Seems like I’m destined for a trip to Scotland! Another nice looking van that ticks the boxes and is a 1.9.. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202301203437025 10g and he has 4 pictures and a very basic write up. You would get a very nice 2.5 T4 for that. Just a thought. I know they are love hate, as I think they have the transit 2.2, but you could consider something like a SWB relay? My mate has a 2007 and its a great all rounder for it's size. Much nicer camping space than a T5 but still an easy daily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers Posted Monday at 12:02 PM Share Posted Monday at 12:02 PM I wouldn't want to daily a Boxer/Relay/Ducato the SWB ones are short, but they're all a foot wider than a T5 (2508mm vs 2242mm) which makes them not fit in parking spaces and they feel flipping massive when you're on country lanes. The length of mine has never been the problem (ooer) it's the width that grinds on you. JJ0063 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted Monday at 12:16 PM Share Posted Monday at 12:16 PM Or alternatively, a Vivaro/Trafic? Same sort of T5 size but a bit cheaper and might get you a more comprehensive conversion if you’re lucky. They’re obviously less popular so you’d have to look harder. Would echo what @cobblers says - a Relay/Ducato/Boxer is really a class above a T5 in terms of size, and will feel a fair bit less like a car. Ours has never met a parking space it couldn’t fit into, but it’s always tight. A T5 would always fit with no extra thought required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobblers Posted Monday at 12:29 PM Share Posted Monday at 12:29 PM Vivaros are squarer with more vertical sides so they feel more roomy inside for the equivalent footprint. AxWomble 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juular Posted Monday at 12:46 PM Share Posted Monday at 12:46 PM A SWB Trafic is about the same size in terms of footprint as most modern cars. They are incredibly easy to live with in this regard. They'll even fit under most height barriers and into multistorey car pars without too much clenching required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom13 Posted Monday at 03:53 PM Share Posted Monday at 03:53 PM 3 hours ago, cobblers said: I wouldn't want to daily a Boxer/Relay/Ducato the SWB ones are short, but they're all a foot wider than a T5 (2508mm vs 2242mm) which makes them not fit in parking spaces and they feel flipping massive when you're on country lanes. The length of mine has never been the problem (ooer) it's the width that grinds on you. I have never thought they felt overly big for a daily. No worse than my Transit width and that's fine. Also they are square so you can sleep sideways across it. Standard height without pop top is good as well. Best 'average' van size IMO for space. T4s and T5s are fine but just a bit too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ0063 Posted Monday at 07:22 PM Author Share Posted Monday at 07:22 PM I’ve had a Primastar before, I wouldn’t rule one out but they still feel like a van, the T5s feel like a car, I dunno what it is Bar a T5, the only other van I’d consider is a Transit Custom but I know their engines aren’t the best and they also command a higher premium as they’re also newer. I think I’ll be waiting until I’ve sold the Transit, sold the Scirocco then I’ll see what’s about. I plan on spending £10-£11k absolute tops I wouldn’t have anything like a T4 again as I want something that at least feels a bit modern - I know I like T5’s so I’d be confident buying one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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