Advice on 10yr old Vans

Axeboy

Axeboy

Axeboy

Soldato
Joined
13 Nov 2002
Posts
5,442
Location
Scotland
Hi Guys

Bit of an odd one but I'm looking at buying a camper this year to do a bit of travelling around the islands and europe. Ive not got a massive budget, maybe £4k to £5k.

Ive done a fair bit of digging around and come to the conclusion that I want the following:

1. SWB or MWB Transit size
2. Turbo D or Petrol
3. Good condition bodywork
4. Reliable and or reasonably repairable :)

The install of the camper kit including windows, bed, power etc I can have done, but what I after is some peoples experience on the actual van.

I'm looking at 2001-04 transits and 2004-5 Boxer/Ducato/Relay's

All vans I'm looking at seems to have reliablility issues one way or another but the two types above seem to be the best for the budget.

I like Movano's/Vivaro's but they seem to have plenty of issues engine and gearbox wise, whereas all the mercs and VW's seem to have plenty of issues bodywork wise.

Anyone got any other options or advice?
 
Get yourself a crew transit, the ones network rail use (decent condition ofc), as they have useful bits of kit, and you can easily gut them quickly to convert them. They usually have low mileage as they are only used as somewhere to sleep and sit during breaktimes :)

Im a transit fan, because in my experience, I have found them the best drive, and the nature of the problems I've encountered with them have only been minor issues.
 
The transit is my current top choice, lots around that are starting to rust, but i can get low miles ones in good condition if i look for them.

As its probably the most used, im thinking if i was travelling in europe that any repairs would be simple enough to have done.
 
Brookert said:
Get yourself a crew transit, the ones network rail use (decent condition ofc), as they have useful bits of kit, and you can easily gut them quickly to convert them. They usually have low mileage as they are only used as somewhere to sleep and sit during breaktimes :)

Im a transit fan, because in my experience, I have found them the best drive, and the nature of the problems I've encountered with them have only been minor issues.
Click to expand...

Normally have a toilet at the rear as well.
 
Axeboy said:
The transit is my current top choice, lots around that are starting to rust, but i can get low miles ones in good condition if i look for them.

As its probably the most used, im thinking if i was travelling in europe that any repairs would be simple enough to have done.
Click to expand...

It all comes down to how good you are at finding the sensible buys and checking it over.

I would probably look at the vans around 100,000ish miles over a longer period of time. At least you know it probably was used by a tradesman or someone just needing to get to a site, and the van spends most of its days parked up.

Whats your budget op?
 
You don't want a petrol, whatever make / model.

A 10 yr old merc Sprinter would be the nicest to drive, but probably has rusted away by now.

Transit all the way. :)
 
Both of the van's I've owned were very much at the bottom end of the market, but one thing I would say is go for a high-top van, my first van was a MWB 'semi-high-top' (iirc) Transit, my use is for going to race meetings and sleeping/changing in and it was a pain with not being able to stand up.

Since then I've got an LDV400 LWB high top and it's far far nicer for 'living' in the back than the Transit could ever be. Driving is a whole different matter and it's a bit awful but ignoring that bit get a high top :p
 
LDV could be a good choice.

Our 56 platers at work went for £1500 quid each, for comaprision got 3k for trasnsits and connects.
 
Sone said:
LDV could be a good choice.

Our 56 platers at work went for £1500 quid each, for comaprision got 3k for trasnsits and connects.
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There is a reason for this, LDV's are/were crap, where the Transit goes from strength to strength.

I would far rather an older Tranny than any LDV for the same given price.

Although as I said, from a drivers point of view, it would have to be a Sprinter.
 
Transits are so simple to fix.

I just sold my 2001 transit t350 high top for 1k. I had part converted it to camper van. Insulated, bed, bike garage etc.

Engine and gear box were sound. Body was tatty with some rust patches... The only thing thAt concerns me is the dual mass fly wheel going.
Listen for whines from the rear diff. Mine was a tiny bit noisy at 50mph or more. I would have just swapped it out

Be careful for leaks from the roof as well. Most vans 10 years old or more arent going to look fresh.

RAC vans come up often and are looked after.

What I will say is that they are very comfortable and driving distances really doesn't take it's toll on you. I did a lot of European travelling and driving was a pleasure.

And these eBay furniture kits are expensive for what they are.

Buy yourself and old caravan. Take out the cabinets, electric bits,Heater, cushions, window, cooker, water system etc to put into the transit
 
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R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
There is a reason for this, LDV's are/were crap, where the Transit goes from strength to strength.

I would far rather an older Tranny than any LDV for the same given price.

Although as I said, from a drivers point of view, it would have to be a Sprinter.
Click to expand...

LDVs are not that bad to drive, regularly drive brand spanking new transits and they are nothing special.
 
Sone said:
LDVs are not that bad to drive, regularly drive brand spanking new transits and they are nothing special.
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Your kidding!

LDV's are / were probably one of the worst vans on the market, ok, no van is that much fun to drive, granted. But LDV did not go out of business due to making fine vehicles that customers wanted or enjoyed driving!

Many years ago, I worked for City link, we had a fleet of LDV vans, all brand new (P reg iirc) yet we all used to fight over the J reg transit that was the spare vehicle! despite it being a rusty rattly nail, it was a better van than the LDV's (400 iirc) and more reliable too!
 
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R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Your kidding!

LDV's are / were probably one of the worst vans on the market, ok, no van is that much fun to drive, granted. But LDV did not go out of business due to making fine vehicles that customers wanted or enjoyed driving!

Many years ago, I worked for City link, we had a fleet of LDV vans, all brand new (P reg iirc) yet we all used to fight over the J reg transit that was the spare vehicle! despite it being a rusty rattly nail, it was a better van than the LDV's (400 iirc) and more reliable too!
Click to expand...

The LDV Maxus is the largest abomination to vans in the world, disgusting thing to drive. I drove three of them, and all of them had terrible clutches that took a run and a jump to free up. Radio was from 30 years ago and didnt pick up anything, and the speedo was a mile away.

the biggest POS ever!
 
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