Thinking about a self build

[Martin.w]

Have been looking for a motor home on and off for about 6 months now. I cant find anything a, cheap enough or b, with enough room.
It looks like I will have to build but I dont know what i can do any cant do so i will be ready plenty looking for the information needed.
My limitations are budget, 10k is about all I have and I have to have room to take a wheelchair.
I suppose you could add my lack or skill to the limitations list

I can only drive up to 3.5 ton on my licence so I had e been thinking about doing the 7.5 to training and buying one of these http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=174460860356 but a cheaper one if I can. I need the lift and the track to anchor a wheel chair is a bonus..

 

[Eggs]

The iveco you linked to looks ideal for what you need and it's open to offers, the wheel chair lift and track is in, the lighting, and windows are in, although it's not mentioned a lot of these vehicles had diesel heaters in them. The seats you don't need could go on eBay to reign some money back, all of these are going to save you a lot of time and money. All that's needed is, maybe an accident damaged Caravan as a donor vehicle for the habitation area. I reackon if you could get 10% off the asking price you could convert this at around your budget.

 

[Jamesh]

I'd think it's not much bigger inside than a standard 4m panel Van. You could fit a tail lift to a 3?5t van and save a packet.
What about a lo loader van with a low floor?

Something like this...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=392980161221

Just a thought.

Cheers James

 

[cmcardle75]

Have been looking for a motor home on and off for about 6 months now. I cant find anything a, cheap enough or b, with enough room.
It looks like I will have to build but I dont know what i can do any cant do so i will be ready plenty looking for the information needed.
My limitations are budget, 10k is about all I have and I have to have room to take a wheelchair.
I suppose you could add my lack or skill to the limitations list

I can only drive up to 3.5 ton on my licence so I had e been thinking about doing the 7.5 to training and buying one of these http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=174460860356 but a cheaper one if I can. I need the lift and the track to anchor a wheel chair is a bonus..

The van looks good. The similar floor on mine has been excellent, as it is very strong for mounting to compared with a standard van floor. However, I've found the cost of conversion has been very high. You'll need a lot more than the £2000 remaining to convert, unless you're just talking about bunging a mattress in the back and a porta potti.

 

[chaser]

Have been looking for a motor home on and off for about 6 months now. I cant find anything a, cheap enough or b, with enough room.
It looks like I will have to build but I dont know what i can do any cant do so i will be ready plenty looking for the information needed.
My limitations are budget, 10k is about all I have and I have to have room to take a wheelchair.
I suppose you could add my lack or skill to the limitations list

I can only drive up to 3.5 ton on my licence so I had e been thinking about doing the 7.5 to training and buying one of these http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=174460860356 but a cheaper one if I can. I need the lift and the track to anchor a wheel chair is a bonus..

Don't discount, ex ambulances, alreAdy got wheelchair ramps and winch.

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[Eggs]

The van looks good. The similar floor on mine has been excellent, as it is very strong for mounting to compared with a standard van floor. However, I've found the cost of conversion has been very high. You'll need a lot more than the £2000 remaining to convert, unless you're just talking about bunging a mattress in the back and a porta potti.

I agree, that's why I said, if he can get 10% off the asking price, that would leave £2.8k out of his original budget I reckon £4K ( taking him a grand n a bit over budget) would convert that with a donor Caravan.

 

[TheBig1]

over the years I have seen loads of disabled adapted motorhomes go through the auctions much much cheaper than a non adapted motorhome. Most dealers just won't touch them

 

[Eggs]

I guess we are all different, if it was converted to a decent standard and the lift was still in I'd take it out and sell it then covert the area into a garage with storage over the top.

 

[TheBig1]

I guess we are all different, if it was converted to a decent standard and the lift was still in I'd take it out and sell it then covert the area into a garage with storage over the top.

I used to rub shoulders with real Gypsy families, not travellers. Now they are super superstitious and refuse to have anything to do with that sort of vehicle, any ambulance or even worse a hearse. They just won't do it

I was at a very long established and popular scrap yard when a hearse was brought in. All the lads went off for a long tea break and the owner of the yard said a prayer, then put it straight in the crusher without taking anything off. It was super bad luck to them

 

[cmcardle75]

Don't discount, ex ambulances, alreAdy got wheelchair ramps and winch.

Unfortunately, ambulances tend to have interstallar mileages, unless they're charity ones, which might still be, if they bought a high mileage one from the NHS.

I got my riot van from the ex police car centre in Birmingham. They often have suitable donar vehicles, cheaper because they all sorts of cosmetic damage where police modifications used to be attached, but generally with excellent service histories. Certain things like strengthened floors and diesel heaters tend to come for free. In general their vehicles will be newer, but higher mileage than similar private stuff.

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[Jamesh]

I'd second a caravan donor although the windows tend to be flimsy.

Horse box windows are a better budget option.

Also building from scratch from a panel Van takes s longer time than finding something partially converted.

Cheers James

 

[Martin.w]

This is the type of van I want as I like the look of them, my normal motor has a lowered floor as its adapted to take a wheelchair and it bottoms out on speed bumps so a lowered floor is a non starter
The chap that fixes my van says he sees this sort going through the block and I could have change from 3k if I get an older one maybe 04.. I still want to do my 7.5 licence and I think that's 1k
It must end up haveing kitchen,3 berth, shower and toilet + solar panels. I'm guessing the 5 or 6 grand left of the budget would do it.
I can spend more but you have to start with a number and tbh I'm tight and would hope to come in under budget.

 

[the_owl]

Hi Martin,

I have a a high top Renault Maser ex-ambulance for sale if you're still looking? I think this will suit your needs, give you a great starting point and give you plenty in your budget to modify as needed? Electrics are 12v.

I bought this from a specialist dealer as a van/mobile workshop for my business earlier this year, and also used it as a spacious weekend camper a few times! It is the high roof model so adults can comfortably stand with headroom. It has had new, branded tyres all round this year, is reliable and drives well. It has a valid MOT until next summer (19/06/2021). Unfortunately the appearance and ongoing financial effects of Covid on my new business have now forced me to sell this on.

When I bought it I had the air suspension professionally replaced with springs as these are far more reliable and less costly to maintain. The engine and gearbox had also been replaced with units from another van the dealer had in the workshop that had only done around 40K! - Bonus!

It has plenty of solid, metal framed cupboards and storage areas from the original ambulance conversion in addition to a split charge system for the leisure battery that I upgraded to a new 110AH AGM unit to power computers, peripherals and laptops in the back as part of my business in addition to the lighting and a full size fridge!

It has a high quality 1500W Antares/Cotek Pure Sine inverter installed with the optional wall mounted remote control in the rear that also monitors load and battery charge and isolator switch on the dashboard. This provides a solid mains electric supply while out on the road. The inverter alone starts at around £650, plus the extras (remote, isolator and split charge system), together with professional installation the whole power setup could cost north of £2K! according to companies I called prior to buying this van. This was one reason for me buying an ex service vehicle. I needed solid, electronics friendly power on the move, and buying units of this quality to have professionally installed to a "standard" van would have pushed the total spend on the project a lot higher.

I have upgraded the interior lighting with modern, high quality LED units.

It does have a separate A/C unit above the cab for the front and rear, and an Eberspacher diesel night heater installed. These will need to be serviced before use. the Air con fires up and blows air, but is not cold, I'm told it needs re-gassing and a check over by an A/C engineer. The night heater fires up and delivers hot air for a short time before going out, I'm told a service will sort this. I have not relied on these so were "a job for later" as I wasn't expecting to sell.

The cab interior has signs of use and the "blue light" switch panel was removed during the decommissioning, it now houses one switch for the roof top light. During this process they also cut the wires to the four white corner lights. I was planning to upgrade these to LED floodlights and get them reinstated for use on external jobs or when being used as a weekend camper, but did not get around to it. All standard driving controls operate as expected.

There is a Parrot hands free installed, but I read online that my phone is not compatible to test it...

The van is currently SORN'd and will need to be taxed etc to drive away.

Offers around 4K considered. Drop me a line if you're interested

Lee

 

[Jamesh]

Hi I have a movano (same as master) and they are good solid vehicles loved by ambulances and horsebox convertors.

Drive well, body control is tight plenty of power. Body is galvanised so less likely to rust.

Cheers James

 

[mitzimad]

not practical to run at 3,5 with a wheel chair lift due to the weight a of the lift

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[bigwood]

A minor issue I have had in the past with the Iveco based vehicles is the ride quality. We had Transit, LDV, Renault and Iveco recovery and breakdown vehicles. The Iveco stood out as a hard ride even unladen. The Renault was the most comfortable but bottomed out near its weight limit.
The LDV was a re badged Sherpa with suspension and a cab to match. The Transit seemed a good compromise being a fairly good ride and reasonably comfortable getting better as the models changed.