Commer Camper Van Wanted

[Hertz]

Morning All,

 

Her in doors has always wanted a camper van preferably a Split Screen VW . I have managed to pursuade her to have a look at the Commer as I am certainly not paying £10k for a pile of rust. I really like the Commer van and if I could find a nice one I think she will forget all about that overpriced german fad!

 

So does anyone know any leads on one of these or what to look for (I am joining the Commer Van Fan forum as well). How much do you think a "goodun" would be?

 

Cheers,

 

Hertz

[Rocket88]

These seem to be starting to attract the dreaded "scene tax". I would think a really nice one would be £5k at least...........if you can find one. Thet drive nearly as badly as a VW though..............

[revolting peasant]

[Rocket88]

There are a couple on ebay, the green one looks tidy enough, but watch out for cunningly sculpted wob. Have you considered the rather groovy Bedford CA conversions, [Martin Walter]?

[Father Ted]

http://www.toddsmotorhomes.co.uk/

I have no idea if its for sale but they have a 1970 autosleeper conversion in green.

[trigger]

You could just hire one from these guys for a Yorkshire camping holiday, Me and Mrs T spoke about it last year after getting a flyer from them at the NEC show.

 

http://www.yorkshireclassiccampers.co.uk/

[warren t claim]

BMC J4 FTW!!!

[revolting peasant]

[Angrydicky]

Marina Sun-Tor FTW. There's a tasty one in the Ebay Tat thread actually

[Hertz]

You could just hire one from these guys for a Yorkshire camping holiday, Me and Mrs T spoke about it last year after getting a flyer from them at the NEC show.

 

http://www.yorkshireclassiccampers.co.uk/

 

Yes I stumbled across that very nice website. It's probably wise to hire before we buy.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys, keep your eyes and ears out

[Alexg]

You could just hire one from these guys for a Yorkshire camping holiday, Me and Mrs T spoke about it last year after getting a flyer from them at the NEC show.

 

http://www.yorkshireclassiccampers.co.uk/

 

Wicked! I might do this for my 30th Birthday in July. The Mrs says.....

 

YES

[Des]

I had one many years ago, diesel and gutless but I liked it, sliding doors were gr9 for summer, handbrake on the right for jumping out to then watch it come to a halt and actually quite a comfortable ride. I'm not sure if I spent more time repairing or driving it, but it's a very close call. it always broke away from home which was fun, I remember changing water pump, injector pipes as they cracked one by one, nasty heater plug with a diesel feed, had to strip fuel pump and replace the valves, kingpins, lots of balljoints, brakes, masters, diff went bang, gearbox pulled a number stripped a Hunter one to rebuild it, everything electrical had the curse of Lucas about it. Wish I'd had somewhere to stash it instead of getting rid. At the time the scrapyards were full of them which was handy, and amazing how many bullshitters would tell me they'd been in one when it turned over, Commers may look unstable but can corner fairly well, if a little scarily.

[Tayne]

.

[TimothyClaypole]

I think they are attracting the people who are trying to get away from the VW tax so will end up overpriced the same.

[Cavcraft]

Bedford CF?

 

Came in all kinds of flavours inc. 'proper' coachbuilt types with bed over cab, Dormobiles and pop tops. Seem to be a fair few still about, prices are pretty good and earlier ones at least don't look too bad.

Shame that aircooled VW stuff is so expensive, must be one of the only ones on here who think they look ace.

[Pete-M]

Oh, I get it. "Scene Tax = Worth more than it was in 1989" and therefore it's some kind of rip off.

[scooters]

I like the commers - nice wee vans with a sensible layout.

 

I'm not sure if I buy into the 'scene' tax theory across the whole of the VW market....fact remains that mobile homes are pretty pricey and cost a lot more than cars or caravans ero it also stands to reason that campervans, being in demand, can cost more than cars as well.

 

OK, Split Screen Type 2s aside, you can get a solid Type 2 for between 5 and 6 k, these models have some good advatages over the competition - firstly, in Westfalia pop top format they are very cleverly laid out - the side door pattern has some serious advantages over the rear dor vans (like my Sherpa). On top of this there is a vast amount of support for these vehicles in the form of parts, old and new and knowledge....I can testify to the challenge of running a van which is not so well supported. Simple things like fitting rear belts become a nightmare in a vehicle without this level of support. IMHO The most sensible van on the market at the moment for somone with a 5-6k budget is a Type 25. Again £6k will get you a good one - £9k should get you a minter....does this equate 'scene' tax or is this just a premium paid due to the general demand of camper vans.

 

In the last 2 months on ebay 2 identical Sherpa Autosleepers have gone for over £3k - I paid £1500 for mine, had it been just a van I probably would have picked it up for £400...

 

I think, as a shitter, one of the things that does annoy about the Camper scene is that it attracts folk who actually don't understand that these vehicles are essentially classic cars and need a degree of mechanical competance and or support to keep on the road safely,

 

I predict that the price for these vehicles will go up this summer as folk look to holiday in the UK but when VW release their new 'retro' camper van many of those who want a van with 'character' will flock to it rather than the risk and work involved in running a type 2...

 

I know I bank on about my Sherpa but if I had the money at the moment I would be very tempted to buy a sound 4x4 Type 25 Westfalia conversion - a reasonable one could be picked up for about £10k...., in shitter terms it is a lot of dosh but as a daily utility vehicle doubling as a campervan it is still pretty reasonable. As a campervan these things are very practical and use their space cleverly and safely.

 

The commers you are looking at are nice vehicles but if your budget is £5k I wouldn't dismiss the VW route....it can make life a lot easier and I doubt you will lose any money buying one

[Justin Case]

(Scene) Tax-free special, worth thinking about if something a bit later/roomier/better fitted out/less rusty/more powerful/more comfortable will still fit the bill

 

http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/make ... 46d/advert

[scooters]

£5k is a heck of a lot of dosh for a Talbot 2 berther - it must be a minter for that....I would think twice as one thing that commers and dubs have in common is whilst they might cost a bit more they will tend hold their value ad uif you let them fall to bits you can always shift them on as viable projects. the bay is littered with Talbot and Renner Autoshitters with horrible bodywork and damp interiors.

 

I may have only spent £1500 on the Sherpa but by the time I have it properly running I will have spent in th4e region of £2k and that is with me doing the work. Talk about scene tax - the very mention of the word 'camper' seems to make things a lot more expensive. Some joker was selling camper cut curtains for £350 wen you would be looking at an incompetant seemstress like me with a machine knocking them up in a few hours for the cost of the cloth and the urtain tape and a few poppers....£350!!! might start making th4em myself.

 

Gas bottles - you need to carry 2 of them in case one runs out - £17 quid for a refil but £20-30 deposit on the bottle! Far more sensible is to swallow a £100 bill to install refillable LPG bottles.

 

Awnings - even 2nd hand you are looking at a few hundred quid whereas you could buy and adapt a decent sized tent for well under £100 second hand....

 

By the time I have sorted everything on the Sherpa I could have funded a decent 2 week holiday to Spain....but I wouldn't have all that Sherpa lovelieness to leer at

[barefoot]

 

Awnings - even 2nd hand you are looking at a few hundred quid whereas you could buy and adapt a decent sized tent for well under £100 second hand....

 

 

Have a quick look at Just Kampers, or you can have my old one for a few pounds if you're passing.

[triang1]

Scene tax??? Surely not

 

I bought my T25 for £3k 5 years ago - sold it for £6k last year, having done little too it apart from a regular service.

 

Some tax that - double yer money back!

 

Ok the "scene" around VWs is a bit of an arse but they are good vans that hold (usually increase) their money and spares are no problem at all - sour grapes methinky???

[dieselnutjob]

I bought my shite 1988 Adria caravan for £1200 about 4 or 5 years ago.

The only maintenance I have done is to grease up the wheel bearings and check the brake pads and grease the overrun slider.

I might think about getting some tyres this year.

It does cost me £300 a year to store the bloody thing, but then my sister paid a lot of money for a folding camper thing and I think it will take her 20 years to get even.

My boss regularly seems to spend £1000 for a week in a cottage or centreparks so I don't have to use it too much to be even.

[triang1]

I predict that the price for these vehicles will go up this summer as folk look to holiday in the UK but when VW release their new 'retro' camper van many of those who want a van with 'character' will flock to it rather than the risk and work involved in running a type 2...

 

I don't think they ever will - the Microbus concept never happened and the new retro VW that's trying to cash in on the splitty-retroness is really a Touran type midi people carrier with a VW Split Window paint job. VW didn't even bother to retro the inside, it's too small for a camper and unless they weld up the back doors it would be impossible to convert to one. Also since 75% of people will buy it in single tone silver or black it will look as much like a VW T2 as a Honda Jazz does.

 

However those who don't like old mechanicals can always buy the VW Fox engined Brazillian T2s ... £37k for a decent specced one.

[Shep Shepherd]

There's a Commer-based Jennings Roadranger on the driveway of a house near me which hasn't moved in the six years I've lived in the area. It looks pretty solid, although it probably has serious mechanical issues after sitting for so long:

 

 

Looks like a vehicle that the characters in the original version of "Survivors" would use to collect supplies with

[eddyramrod]

My stepdaughter has recently bought a 1989 Type 25 camper and loves it. I forget what she paid (on ebay); 4 or 5 grand-ish, which was covered by the sale of the X3 they've had from new. Having said that, my choice would always be a petrol-powered Bedford: either a pre-facelift CF in any form at all, or one of those really stylish befinned LWB CA poptops. But, I've never actually owned a camper, so what do I know? *

 

*I have, however, driven many thousands of miles in a wide range of camper-size vans, so at least I can compare the base vehicles.

[Father Ted]

+

+

=

Happy Camper

[boobydoo]

 

This is for sale in Classic Car Weekly this week. Under £3000 if I remember rightly. Lovely old thing.

[jaycey001]

Hi

I completely agree with Scooters, If i had that money i would buy a VW, if only for parts availability. Keeping a less supported van running can be a pain. My 84 sherpa has the "O" series engine for which parts can be very scarce, I have spoke to people who have had to scrap perfectly good vans just because they couldn’t source a dizzy cap. (Luckily i found a spare on ebay!) And unless your mechanically minded, keeping it running can be very expensive, I dread to think what ive paid out on mine, Cost me £800 and i must have spent near 2k on it so far. And i still haven’t sorted the body work properly or the oil stem seals. and it realy needs new seat covers! (do you do commissions scooters??

 

At least with a VW there is plenty of support, even bedford CA's seem well supported with a good fan club!

 

I nearly brought a commer, and in some way still wish i had as thay do have plenty of character and seem a little wider than both my sherpa and the VW bay. However i dead to think how it handles, i nearly shite myself everytime i join a carriageway i the sherpa, so god knows how this would have been in a 60s commer!!

 

Definitely try before you buy.!

 

 

J.

[triang1]

Actually the Commers don't handle that badly - I ran one (nice yellow ex BT ) for a couple of years back in the mid 80's .

 

I know they look a bit pidgeon toed at the front but I used to fling mine around nae bother - and I only had a water pump go on it in 15,000 miles so it was fairly reliable... but it was only 13 years old then and their were plenty of spares around ...

[barefoot]

 

...At least with a VW there is plenty of support...

 

 

And you can get almost all parts but, the new bits are completely shit.

The replacement panels do not fit well & are getting worse, the chrome is a joke, and even the mechanical bits are crap.

My original carburetor lasted for 25 years, its replacement lasted for 3 - then I had the original refurbished by an old bloke with biro stains on his shirt.

The heat exchangers look great & they're dead lightweight - because they have half the number of fins in them - so they don't work.

 

The VW scene (I use the word carefully) is not as rosy as it looks from the outside.

But that's just my view, I've become very jaded & stopped going to the shows.

 

I do like the camper, but am seriously thinking about its continued use as a daily.