Should I or shouldn’t I?

[WESTY66]

Thinking of selling my Carthago Chic C line and building my own van. The benefits for us would be we could retire a LOT earlier as I’m starting to struggle in the heavy maintenance side of quarry work.
I’m thinking of Merc, MAN or Crafter and the build would have no gas just 600ah of lithium and as much solar as I could fit, and diesel Truma. Everything else would be standard van build. Are there any downsides to this, other than the dvla and insurance? Is 6m adequate or would I need 6.8 LWB? Is there anyone who has done a build on any of the above and can offer advice? When retired I’m thinking 9 months out just touring and 3 months back.
I am NOT selling the house and full timing as such as the daughter will be living in it, and she will be running it so to speak.
Thanks for reading, it’s just a little seed at the moment

 

[suavecarve]

If you have the ability to create a van that is adequate/perfect and that van would then allow you to retire then get on with it.

I m playing with the 6 months away (in 3 hits per year) and reckon couple of months worth of rally type meets in this country which might see us away for 8 months. Keeping the house as well

 

[Phill D]

2 big changes there;
1. move from what I am sure is a really nice van to a smaller self build.
2. Retired.

Both have the significant benefit of probably a positive move, but only you know if you will be happy with a self build smaller van.
Retirement is great as long as you are enjoying it ( to state the obvious).
Good luck.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Something like this? Probably get most of the parts from your quarry

 

[Jays2]

Just built one as you had stated.
It’s on its first long trip away.
We built it on a Iveco 5 tonne 7.2 long twin wheel high top.
All works as it should to date.
1000 watts solar, can tilt but not had too.
120 amp b2b charging.
We don’t eat out for meals.

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[CazPaul]

Sounds great but would you have time to build it whilst working?

 

[Jays2]

Can be quite time consuming.

 

[Jays2]

We also had a workshop.

 

[Simon Select]

Thinking of selling my Carthago Chic C line and building my own van. The benefits for us would be we could retire a LOT earlier as I’m starting to struggle in the heavy maintenance side of quarry work.
I’m thinking of Merc, MAN or Crafter and the build would have no gas just 600ah of lithium and as much solar as I could fit, and diesel Truma. Everything else would be standard van build. Are there any downsides to this, other than the dvla and insurance? Is 6m adequate or would I need 6.8 LWB? Is there anyone who has done a build on any of the above and can offer advice? When retired I’m thinking 9 months out just touring and 3 months back.
I am NOT selling the house and full timing as such as the daughter will be living in it, and she will be running it so to speak.
Thanks for reading, it’s just a little seed at the moment

Stop being weird and let me sell your van. I can then flirt with Val and you can buy a Mega Mobil. Everyone wins!!!! Xx

 

[WESTY66]

Stop being weird and let me give you a fortune for your van. I can then flirt with Val and you can have a heavily discounted Mega Mobil on the MAN chassis, Everyone wins!!!! Xx

There you go, I’ve changed it for you

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[Next Stop]

Can be quite time consuming.

Can confirm this to be true if building whilst working, throw a couple of kids into the mix and it can take years, butttt, you'd have a van built to your own spec and save a huge wodge of cash.

 

[haganap]

If you can do it......

DO It

 

[Simon Select]

If you can do it......

DO It

How is your mates new Carthago?

 

[Carpmart]

Just built one as you had stated.
It’s on its first long trip away.
We built it on a Iveco 5 tonne 7.2 long twin wheel high top.
All works as it should to date.
1000 watts solar, can tilt but not had too.
120 amp b2b charging.
We don’t eat out for meals.

WESTY66 - This would be my choice of base vehicle. No payload issues!

 

[haganap]

How is your mates new Carthago?

Brilliant. He's loving it.. on the phone every day either asking or dragging my arse off somewhere

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[WESTY66]

WESTY66 - This would be my choice of base vehicle. No payload issues!

If I’m honest Harvey I’d prefer the MAN as I’d like to keep it under 3.5 ton so do away with all the go box s##t and plus Mrs Westy could drive it also

 

[CazPaul]

If I’m honest Harvey I’d prefer the MAN as I’d like to keep it under 3.5 ton so do away with all the go box s##t and plus Mrs Westy could drive it also

I agree if I was doing one I would go for the 6 metre 3.5 tonne

 

[Gellyneck]

Stop being weird and let me sell your van. I can then flirt with Val and you can buy a Mega Mobil. Everyone wins!!!! Xx

apart from Val.

 

[Lenny HB]

If I’m honest Harvey I’d prefer the MAN as I’d like to keep it under 3.5 ton so do away with all the go box s##t and plus Mrs Westy could drive it also

You had better go on a diet then.

 

[WESTY66]

You won’t be laughing when I turn up with reels of cable and box’s full of blue stuff

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[Lenny HB]

Knowing your existing van and the amount of junk you like to carry, you make me look like a lightweight.
It would never work at 3.5t and really can't see you coping with the space available.

Why don't you start with a CAT Dumper Truck, more your style.

 

[gus-lopez]

Is there anyone who has done a build on any of the above and can offer advice?

Raul built a lwb crafter.
Ralph-n-Bev built a Peugeot xlwb.
Both stunning

 

[WESTY66]

One of these

Just waiting for the hab box coming

 

[Raul]

LWB crafter or man, will give you decent space and ability to stay below 3.5T, with a bit or organising the stuff well, and most important a design that works for you. If you got the budget and know how, it wont take forever, just don't dwindle on decisions. Make a list of needs and musts, then start the design, and start shopping. If you wand to go gas less you can, with the right system. Redundancies are handy if you can design such way that you dont increase the weight and space: like water heater diesel- electric, hot water as well. If you ditch the gas. Go for large model specific water tank, have plenty of solar, fixed and portable, battery storage to last you 7-8 days without sun, probably 8-10kwh atleast. A multiplus its a must for this kind of use, Also the toilet shower needs to be very useable, no make due. I would still have a gas option for cooking and hot water in case of bad weather or as a second option. Insulate as best you can with good materials, use as little as possible soft furnishings or carpet on the walls ceiling for dusty environments. Thin 3mm wallboard on batten ribs its all you need to keep the weight down.

Have a look at self buids section, I have posted a extensive tread with our build. And keep asking, appliances have moved on since then, we have much better choices now.

 

[namwaldog]

Sam, who lives local to us up here in Cumbria launched a YouTube channel about 3 years ago that covers every aspect of sourcing and converting a VW Crafter .......



His "Crafty Blinders" videos are very informative and he tells it as it is, warts and all.

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[Millcourt]

WESTY66 ….. Why make life more complicated than you need to, especially when none of us know how much longer we have left. If you want to do something……do it now!

What is it you want to do with a motorhome that you can not do with the one you have now? I presume it is under 3500 kg, so Mrs Westy can drive it as well. Do you need to sell it because it is a wreck, totally unreliable or you need to release cash to fund an earlier retirement? If not, why not rent out your home to provide some ongoing income and to keep an appreciating asset for the time which may come when Motorhoming is no longer a viable lifestyle for you, and set off full-time (if that is your dream and Mrs Westy is in agreement) a.s.a.p. Your outgoings will reduce when you are not working (e.g. no NI to pay).

Only you can decide if your financial circumstances dictate otherwise, but if it was me …… just get on and do it soon. I managed to retire 23 years ago at age 57 and could have worked longer to make more money and a bigger pension…..but, I have never had any regrets or longed for another day in the office.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

 

[WESTY66]

WESTY66 ….. Why make life more complicated than you need to, especially when none of us know how much longer we have left. If you want to do something……do it now!

What is it you want to do with a motorhome that you can not do with the one you have now? I presume it is under 3500 kg, so Mrs Westy can drive it as well. Do you need to sell it because it is a wreck, totally unreliable or you need to release cash to fund an earlier retirement? If not, why not rent out your home to provide some ongoing income and to keep an appreciating asset for the time which may come when Motorhoming is no longer a viable lifestyle for you, and set off full-time (if that is your dream and Mrs Westy is in agreement) a.s.a.p. Your outgoings will reduce when you are not working (e.g. no NI to pay).

Only you can decide if your financial circumstances dictate otherwise, but if it was me …… just get on and do it soon. I managed to retire 23 years ago at age 57 and could have worked longer to make more money and a bigger pension…..but, I have never had any regrets or longed for another day in the office.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

My motorhome is mint (except a cracked mirror casing) it is 5 tons so Mrs Westy cannot drive it, I could do with some cash out of it to fund my early retirement, and no I can’t rent the house out (nor do I want to) as my daughter still lives here.
A self build will do me (I think) as I know the type of touring in retirement we want to do. The amount I need/have unfortunately doesn’t allow the continued use of an £80k motorhome
Thanks for your good wishes

 

[rod_vw]

If I’m honest Harvey I’d prefer the MAN as I’d like to keep it under 3.5 ton so do away with all the go box s##t and plus Mrs Westy could drive it also

You will struggle to keep a MAN TGE LWB (6.8m), same vehicle as a VW crafter, under 3.5tonnes. I know I've been there! Mine without a full water tank and camping 'stock' weighed in at 3.28tonnes so will need up-plating. With the uprated front axle at 1.2tonnes which came standard on my spec it can be up-plated 4.2tonnes by Van Weight Engineering simply as a paper exercise.

This one has recently been converted for me by Buckettz Dubz or Face Book (pictures of it on a FB entry for 26th November)

Poor photo but on display at Camper Mart yesterday (Feb 4th).

A useful forum for self-build of Crafter/TGE vans or FB page for similar info.

FYI the specification of the van that I ordered back in 2021 is here.

Can Mrs West66 not get a C1 licence? I've just had to get mine reinstated as I'm over the dreaded 70 years of age and Mrs R will hopefully be able to get hers back in the not too distant future.

 

[Rogerwyn]

This is what you need fit a couple of windows and a step, you’ve even got a sun terrace

 

[Jackd]

My motorhome is mint (except a cracked mirror casing) it is 5 tons so Mrs Westy cannot drive it, I could do with some cash out of it to fund my early retirement, and no I can’t rent the house out (nor do I want to) as my daughter still lives here.
A self build will do me (I think) as I know the type of touring in retirement we want to do. The amount I need/have unfortunately doesn’t allow the continued use of an £60k motorhome
Thanks for your good wishes

Corrected that for you matie

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