Can’t find a van!

J

JoJo12

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I am getting really frustrated trying to find a panel van to convert, it seems like the world and his mother is doing the same. I am looking for a Ducato/Boxer/Relay/Sprinter. Any suggestions for where I can look beyond the obvious, Ebay, autotrader, E and M, the AA?
I should add I have a modest budget, hence why I assume there is a lot of competition.
 
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Check out the auctions that deal with the disposal of lease hire vehicles. but you may have to be a trader to get access to some but vehicles do often change hands without leaving the site.
 
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One of the reasons you can’t find a van suitable for conversion is the upsurge in online sales causing a huge demand in delivery vans.
It could take a while finding one that isn’t shot to pieces at a reasonable price. You could be better off buying a decent second hand one off the forum classified section.
Phil
 
Thanks, I will keep an eye on there too. Online sales requiring deliveries on top of reduced production at the top end of the market due to lockdown has definitely made the search more difficult.
What will be, will be!
 
What age?

Many vans do 50k a year so will be high milage after 3 years.

However buying a low milage van that's 15 yo is imho just as dodgy...

I would look at 10 years 100,000 mile point were I looking again..

Which I might be next week!!😭😭😭

Cheers

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Hi, that's exactly what I am looking for! But all the ones I can afford are being snapped up really quickly. A case of being in the right place at the right time!
 
Just thought you didn't mention gumtree.

That's where I got mine from.

Cheers James
 
have you considered a vauxhall movano or renault master they arnt bad vans did take me a while to find mine though
 
and agree with above 100,000 is ok mileage if its been looked after
 
Try auction sites like Mannheim.

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Bobby dazzler said:
have you considered a vauxhall movano or renault master they arnt bad vans did take me a while to find mine though
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Avoid the earlier 2.2!!!

Later 2.5 / 2.3 are better.

Cheers James
 
Chaser brought an ambulance. High mileage but at least he knew it was genuine, not been to a mileage correction facility. Just saying what’s on the speedo might not be true.
 
I have a movano than performs on par with a broken microwave .....!!

Just avoid the 2.2!!!

Cheers James

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Any news on a van??

Cheers James
 
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Hiya my van came from copart ,ive spent a bit on it but weve ironed out all the bad bits ,they always have plenty of choice , best regards pampam
 
Ivory55 said:
Chaser brought an ambulance. High mileage but at least he knew it was genuine, not been to a mileage correction facility. Just saying what’s on the speedo might not be true.
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I wouldn’t touch an Ambulance with a barge pole.

They get thrashed all day, every day, started from cold and thrashed, thrashed then left to idle for an hour outside a patients house. Driven to hospital where they idle for hours. Thrashed to the next job and repeat, 24/7.

The only advantage is they are often part converted.

It would be interesting to compare mileage to hours.
 
Googlebot said:
I wouldn’t touch an Ambulance with a barge pole.

They get thrashed all day, every day, started from cold and thrashed, thrashed then left to idle for an hour outside a patients house. Driven to hospital where they idle for hours. Thrashed to the next job and repeat, 24/7.

The only advantage is they are often part converted.

It would be interesting to compare mileage to hours.
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And yet often do seriously high miles and have to be ultra reliable.

I can guarantee they are less thrashed than any ex courier van etc
Especially since the drivers of them are usually scraping idiots who thrash vehicles around off the road surface every other day.

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I bought an ex RAF ambulance, it was cheap at £500. Only needed one new piston. It came with blue lights, a ne naw horn, stretchers, oxygen tanks and eberspacher heater and was an automatic.
Never went wrong until it fell off the ramp on a channel crossing. Insurance gave me £3500. Ambulances are Ok!
 
Hi, it has been a while since I posted but one of my dogs has been having chemo and I decided the timing wasn't right to be going to the expense of a van to convert. Then I realised it might be his last summer so started my search again and happened to be in the right place at the right time. I am now the proud owner of everything I didn't want 🤣 a SWB transit, BUT it has all been done and is ready to use, and at a decent price. It needs a bit of rearranging to accommodate the dogs but as a beginner's camper is ideal. Fate!
 
Sorry to hear about the dog but pleased you gave found a van I'm sure you will both have some happy times in it
 
Grummyb said:
Sorry to hear about the dog but pleased you gave found a van I'm sure you will both have some happy times in it
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Thanks, really excited, just hope not everywhere is booked up over the summer.

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If your not fussy about where you go I think there will be pitches available and you could always buy the britstops book I've just got mine, i work for myself and i cant book time off I just go away when I have a quiet weekend so I'm hoping the britstop book will work well for me
 
shame I didn't see your post before, there has been a localish firm selling a fleet of ex MOD minibuses, all low miles and immaculate but cheap still as nobody seems to want them. Been advertising on and off on Facebook since January with prices dropping
 
That's a shame. Not to worry!
 
Grummyb said:
If your not fussy about where you go I think there will be pitches available and you could always buy the britstops book I've just got mine, i work for myself and i cant book time off I just go away when I have a quiet weekend so I'm hoping the britstop book will work well for me
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Not heard of the britstops books?
 
Just had a look at the britstops website, think I will order a book, looks useful, thanks.

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