Hello

[MartynWheeler]

Hi,

I've been wanting a van for camping for a while (getting too old for tents!). I have finally got some cash gathered from an inheritance so now need to get on it.

Looking for something that will sleep two people comfortably. Needs a basic kitchen (cooker, sink, fridge, etc). Ideally I should be able to get two bikes in and out easily. Solar would be nice.

I'm looking to spend up to around 20k. What can I expect to get for this sort of figure in terms of make/mileage?

Any pointers to good places to get started on research and useful advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Martyn

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[MisterB]

Welcome to the Fun House

You could do a lot worse than checking the classified ads on this forum ... especially as 20k is not a large budget in the world of motorhomes unfortunately....

 

[Janine]

Welcome to the Fun

 

[cliffanger]

And

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[Go_buddy_go_]

 

[Figaro]

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[Lee Fryer]

 

[rolosroller]

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[David and Sally]

 

[scotzsue]

Welcome, will you ever want to carry other passengers? So think seatbelts.
Bikes are safer in a garage , think payload,
We all age, if we are lucky, so think toilet facilities. There will be some good older vans out there, just be careful, scams about too, if it looks too good, it probably is although there are bargains to be had.
good luck.

 

[Dave Scadding]

From Dorset.

 

[Mohawk Mo]

 

[fishplug]

Hi and welcome.

£20k isn't a lot if you're buying something pre-buit, but if you've got some basic DIY skills then it's entirely achievable to start from a panel van and build it up yourself.

I've just come back from the Alps in a panel van with a mattress on the floor, no insulation or running water.

It does have solar, a fridge (to keep the food warm when -6 outside ) and a diesel heater.

Cooker was just one of those cheap 'suitcase' ones.

I also have a roof fan and a carbon monoxide alarm and some LED lights on the ceiling.

It is going to get built into a full camper but doing it a bit at a time so you can spread the cost over time.

Base vehicle was £11k, there's £1,500 of solar and batteries, £400 fridge, £400 roof fan, £200 diesel heater - add the cost of a toilet, some furniture, insulation, wall panels etc and you can see how you can quickly get to £20k even with a relatively basic setup.

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[MartynWheeler]

Welcome, will you ever want to carry other passengers? So think seatbelts.
Bikes are safer in a garage , think payload,
We all age, if we are lucky, so think toilet facilities. There will be some good older vans out there, just be careful, scams about too, if it looks too good, it probably is although there are bargains to be had.
good luck.

Probably just me and my partner. The kids have left home. Ability to fit bikes is crucial, although could go on the back.

Been looking on autotrader, seems quite a bit in the 20-25k range. What sort of mileage can a diesel van do? Is 90k with a service history reasonable?

 

[fishplug]

90k is just run in!

My current one is on 160k and my old ambulance had 280k on it and to this day was the best engine I've ever had in a van (Sprinter T1N). It's still on the road and ticking along nicely 22 years from new.

The key to it is good servicing. I'd rather have a high mileage van that's been serviced than a low mileage one that's been sitting around.

My current one went from London to Southampton every day carrying spare car parts. I have the tyre tread depths for every week of it's life (right up until I bought it!) and every other service, replacement part etc detail. It got used, but also looked after.

 

[scotzsue]

Probably just me and my partner. The kids have left home. Ability to fit bikes is crucial, although could go on the back.

Been looking on autotrader, seems quite a bit in the 20-25k range. What sort of mileage can a diesel van do? Is 90k with a service history reasonable?

The base vehicles are built as work vans, so high mileage, if looked after shouldn't be a problem. My only concern would be one that had sat about for years not doing anything. Anything on the advisory for a few years and not having been attended too and any recalls not attended to.

 

[gus-lopez]