Sell me your van, please :-) (1 Viewer)

[Janine]

...not literally, of course, but I'm looking for inspiration!

I've taken the heart-wrenching decision to sell 'Shirley' and buy another motorhome. (She'll be offered for sale on here as a fixer-upper in due course - pm me for details if you might be interested in a 1995 VW T4 Holdsworth Valentine 48,000 miles)

My wishlist:
less than 5.5 metres
2 bench seats/beds
decent kitchen
bathroom with shower
no fixed bed
panel van/coachbuilt/A-class - not fussy
VW engine would be the icing on the cake - definitely not a Transit!!
budget is £30,000

Anything I should look for/avoid?

 

[Head Gardener]

We've been the proud owners of a Devon Aztec panel van conversion for one entire week much of which has been spent cleaning and fettling. The only cleaning required has been to the cab area because it is a brand new conversion on a one-year old van which made a huge difference to the price.

So far we've been extremely impressed with the construction on the habitation side, coming from caravans everything in the Aztec feels strong and solid - only time will tell whether than is the case but so far we haven't found anything which feels wobbly or needs fixing properly. Although our Aztec is 6m they do conversions on smaller vans which would fit your 5.5m criteria. link to Devon Conversions

 

[Janine]

Wow! My first motorhome was a Devon conversion - a Toyota Hiace in 1987

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Head Gardener]

Jan, just been and looked at the link I posted (wanted to make sure it worked).

You wanted a VW under £30K :

 

[PORKSTER]

I think for that budget you can buy something really nice. Sorry can't recomend end anything though

 

[Janine]

I think for that budget you can buy something really nice. Sorry can't recomend end anything though

Thank you anyway - it's probably going to be the last van I buy so I want to get it right

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Snowbird]

Hi Janine, my panel van will be up for grabs shortly. It has just about everything anyone would want in a MH., including full size fridge freezer, Aberspacher diesel duel top water and heater, Sterling pure sine inverter/charger, 250 watts of solar panels, 330 amps of batteries, Snipe sat dome, Avtex TV, 2 ring gas plus 1 ring electric hob, Towbar, Microwave that runs from the inverter, Half leather upholstery, etc, etc, etc. Open to offers over £20k.

 

[Robert Clark]

Only one previous careful owner

 

[Janine]

Hi Janine, my panel van will be up for grabs shortly. It has just about everything anyone would want in a MH., including full size fridge freezer, Aberspacher diesel duel top water and heater, Sterling pure sine inverter/charger, 250 watts of solar panels, 330 amps of batteries, Snipe sat dome, Avtex TV, 2 ring gas plus 1 ring electric hob, Towbar, Microwave that runs from the inverter, Half leather upholstery, etc, etc, etc. Open to offers over £20k.

How long it please? (Errmm, you might have to be careful how you answer that!)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Richard n Ann]

I like the Sevel vans, you never see a rusty one and you get a Lot more for your money than VW.
Agree about Transits, had them at work, certainly not built to last.

 

[Snowbird]

How long it please? (Errmm, you might have to be careful how you answer that!)

Its the Citroen relay 2.2 turbo diesel, its under 6 metres, but without getting the measure out I cannot say to be exact. Will measure in the morning with pleasure if interested.

 

[deleted-member02]

Autosleeper Clubman?

Broken Link Removed

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[icantremember]

Autosleeper Clubman?

Broken Link Removed

Or Autosleepers Nuevo

 

[Minxy]

Its the Citroen relay 2.2 turbo diesel, its under 6 metres, but without getting the measure out I cannot say to be exact. Will measure in the morning with pleasure if interested.

What is it? Just being nosy!

 

[Janine]

Or Autosleepers Nuevo

I don't think the Nuevo has 2 bench seats unless I've been looking at the wrong ones.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

I don't think the Nuevo has 2 bench seats unless I've been looking at the wrong ones.

The EK version does but they're only short ones ... but then again you and Barrie ....

 

[icantremember]

I don't think the Nuevo has 2 bench seats unless I've been looking at the wrong ones.

I haven't been in one recently but thought they have two bench seats which make full length beds with the front seats turned around.

 

[ambulancekidd]

I can heartily recommend the Autosleeper, we love ours & everything still works perfectly even though she's coming up on 18yrs old, the only issue's that I have are with the Peugeot underpinnings! With the VW you'd be onto a winner.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The general]

I like the Sevel vans, you never see a rusty one and you get a Lot more for your money than VW.
Agree about Transits, had them at work, certainly not built to last.

'not built to last' where's that come from ??????

 

[The general]

My transit panel van 124k my pvc transit 21k in a year ??

 

[DBK]

If you can find a second hand Murvi Piccolo or Pimento you'll struggle to find a better kitchen or bathroom in a van 5.5m long. It doesn't have twin bench seats but the layout works for us - very spacious.
Murvi have a VW Crafter based van for sale but it's 5.9m and £38K but it would be worth asking them if they know if they might be getting a Piccolo or Pimento in - Murvi owners are a loyal lot and often exchange their existing van for a new one.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Snowbird]

What is it? Just being nosy!

Its the HB Autocampers built by Terry. The build was well documented on Fun, but when we bought it we had extra solar panels fitted so that we never need hookup and a Snipe satdome and Avtex TV.

 

[Minxy]

Its the HB Autocampers built by Terry. The build was well documented on Fun, but when we bought it we had extra solar panels fitted so that we never need hookup and a Snipe satdome and Avtex TV.

Ah, this one then - nice van ...

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/terrys-self-build-relay.107082/page-12

 

[deleted-member02]

I can heartily recommend the Autosleeper, we love ours & everything still works perfectly even though she's coming up on 18yrs old, the only issue's that I have are with the Peugeot underpinnings! With the VW you'd be onto a winner.

I agree, assuming you can minimise the tin worm that inevitably affects VW at some point.
I know on first glance they appear expensive and don't seem to devalue at all, but they are so well built and so sought after..
The monocoque construction is a winner and despite being an 'old model' the VW 2.5tdi is a pleasure to drive.

I'd also suggest Karmann, they have a lovely range of Volkswagen based vans but don't think length and layout match @Janine's requirements.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[scottie]

Morning Janine. I have a 2008 Devon Astec pvc conversion which was completed about 5 years ago by previous owner. It is based on the citroen relay and is just under 6 meters. Generally happy with van, no major issues so far. It has a huge rear lounge with 2 single beds that can be converted easily into a double. Just some observations, it only can take 3, 3.9 kg propane cylinders which are in the back of the van, the 240 volt sockets 3 in total are located on one side of the van only, so I sometimes have to use an extension lead. Comes with a shower and loo, but very compact, you would be fine, but I come in at 19 stone, so not much squeeze room for the shower. Not sure how good the insulation is, would check that out if purchasing a pvc conversion. Newer vans may have a slightly better spec, but generally my van meets my needs, the rear lounge being the best feature. Hope this helps.