Transit Custom H1 or H2?

[bofh]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a van to convert to a camper. We are a family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 kids. I don't want an extremely large van. However, I am tall-ish at 183cm tall. I'm also particular about optional extras.

So, I've settled upon the 2014-2016 Transit Custom Limited with the 2.2 engine. I would be putting in a pop top with a bed and a rib bed with MoT-compliant belts. This should give enough seats and beds for the family.

The L2 H1 version, while uncommon, good examples can be found. However, I'm keener on the L2 H2 version to get more headroom, but they seem to be as rare as hen teeth, especially a well-looked-after version.

So, my question is, is the L2 H2 version worth the effort to find to get the additional 30cm headroom? Or, should I just go for the L2 H1 version?

I have found a supplier and fitter for the pop-top roof that fits the L2 H2 Customs.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Bolti]

I'm only 5' and I soon got cheesed off being stooped over moving around the van.

 

[Tombola]

H2 every time

 

[bofh]

Awesome replies, thank you! I'm now second-guessing myself and looking at Transit H2 & H3 but it feels that it looks too big to me.

Interior dimensions floor to roof in mm:

Transit Custom H2: 1778
Transit H2: 1886
Transit H3: 2125

But then again a Transit in "Limited" trim would be pretty much impossible to find as opposed to the Custom.

I'm trying to convince myself that a Custom H2 with a pop roof would be sufficient for my 1830 mm height.

This issue is stuck in my mind at the moment!

Many thanks again!

 

[CAB96]

The Custom will be far more car-like to drive than the Transit. But of course, less room and height.

How are you going to use it? Will it be mostly campsites? Will the kids be in the pop-top during the day or can you raise it up?

Having a normal Transporter, I would now go for a hightop (so your Custom H2) , simply for ease of moving round, packing, car parks etc.

It may be slightly not high enough for you, but much better than moving around in the H1.

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

 

[d95gas]

I have the Transit Custom Limited 320, which is actually an MS-RT. Its based on the L1H1. There is only me and the dog and I find it has plenty of room for us, however, I really wish I had gone for either H2 or Pop Top.

I can still go Pop top but having just spent £1k on Awning and mounting brackets, I am reluctant to get rid of it at the moment (Cant fit poptop with the Fiamma Van, and the Ford mounting brackets).

Hope this helps

 

[Brains]

Whatever you get, ensure it's Euro 6 engine.

Personally, two identical vehicles built a month apart one Euro 5 other Euro 6.
The Euro 5 should be half the value of the Euro 6 today.
I still fail to understand why people are paying almost the same price unless they only envisage a few years of life left in the van.

The Euro 6 is not going to be banned inside LEZ zones until there is a viable alternative, and that viable alternative is over 25% of the vehicles.
The Euro 5 will be tolled heavily &/or banned inside the LEZ zones within a few years.

 

[gus-lopez]

he Euro 6 is not going to be banned inside LEZ zones until there is a viable alternative, and that viable alternative is over 25% of the vehicles.
The Euro 5 will be tolled heavily &/or banned inside the LEZ zones within a few years.

Although they state 'euro 5/6' the actual requirement is the nox figure; which for TfL is 0,08g/km NOx.
Many euro 4's comply with this level & as long as you can prove,by way of the original Coc figures obtainable from the manufacturer,that your vehicle complies you can legally enter.TfL is one who has had to allow it.
That is until they lower the amount but at present they can't as nothing would comply.

 

[Guigsy]

H2 will be much more livable. But you're talking about something that'll be pretty small. Are you going to spend much time in it anyway? Will it fit under car park barriers?

My brother has a LWB Transporter. I had a 5.4m Ducato. Virtually the same footprint. But I had a bathroom and a permanent bed. He tends to go to campsites for a couple of weeks at a time and sets up a large awning where he does most of his cooking and lounging. Whereas I tended to move pretty much every day and tour.

I've currently got a 6m a-class. I do miss the flexibility of a van, but I'd never slim down to something smaller than a Ducato/Crafter sized van.

 

[arturo]

I owned a converted Custom L1 H1 with pop top for just myself and the wife. It was also used as our daily vehicle. It drove like a car, easy to park etc . When used as a camper the poptop was essential to provide height & space but in adverse wet/windy weather it was sometimes safer to have the roof lowered. The reduced head height then became a real pain. I would say thay for a family of 4 you need the L2/H2 as a minimum.
I now own a Pilote 540G based on the Ducato chassis and it's chalk and cheese. Compact enough to still be our daily vehicle.

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

 

[Brains]

Although they state 'euro 5/6' the actual requirement is the nox figure; which for TfL is 0,08g/km NOx.
Many euro 4's comply with this level & as long as you can prove,by way of the original Coc figures obtainable from the manufacturer,that your vehicle complies you can legally enter.TfL is one who has had to allow it.
That is until they lower the amount but at present they can't as nothing would comply.

I don't disagree, although having had to sell two perfectly good Transits for scrap this year, it's one thing having the Coc and it's another actually getting the exemption.

Also that is just Tfl.
Just in the UK you have Bristol, Glasgow Southampton, Sheffield etc all following suit, and within a few years every major city and many larger towns will have their own version of LEZ's.
Germany and France already have more locations and the rest will follow.