Mercedes vario 814 self build bus to FLT palace

Northernraider said:
Various reasons , i want to carry a motorbike, i want a more robust interior , i want it self sufficient more than the hymer etc

Lots of stuff i dont need in the hymer and lots of stuff i need that it doesnt have.
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Great , I am looking forward to see it progress further, I have been thinking of buying a fridge based Hgv would be a good base to start, as you don’t have to worry about insulation, it will have plenty lol, but then depending on various factors, some lorry based stuff does 5 miles to the gallon, expensive travelling that is, btw if your bus is not 4x4, I would recommend to have chains available for each wheel, front axle and driven rear axle , makes a big difference in traction and steering safety, we used this when I collected raw milk for a dairy in Luxembourg and German Eiffel, in full winter conditions, lots of snow and icy roads with a 44 tonne vehicle .
 
monzer said:
Yeah wrong way around.

The idea being that you forget to put step in, jump in driver seat & start up engine then the buzzer goes off alerting you to the fact it's still out so you can retract it in without jumping from the drivers seat again.

Lost count of how many times I've done it.
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Or for the price of a relay and one more connection it'll retract when D+ goes live.
 
I have a little bit of a dilemma ....well not so much a dilemma but a decision to make and not sure whats best.

Back in june i had a guy enquire about buying Toby but he didn't get his money till august as he's a retiring fireman .

I hadnt heard from him again but now he's back in touch and very keen ....but still not got the cash till end of august.

So im undecided as whether i should sell it and possibly forego my winter break , continue working on the merc over the winter etc

Or whether to keep a hold of it till next year when the market might not be as good.

If i sold it id be sticking to the full price of £27.5k thats why its tempting to sell.
 
Northernraider said:
I have a little bit of a dilemma ....well not so much a dilemma but a decision to make and not sure whats best.

Back in june i had a guy enquire about buying Toby but he didn't get his money till august as he's a retiring fireman .

I hadnt heard from him again but now he's back in touch and very keen ....but still not got the cash till end of august.

So im undecided as whether i should sell it and possibly forego my winter break , continue working on the merc over the winter etc

Or whether to keep a hold of it till next year when the market might not be as good.

If i sold it id be sticking to the full price of £27.5k thats why its tempting to sell.
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Depends mate, is there absolutely no way of being ready to travel in the Vario this winter?
Does the fireman need your old one this winter or will he be happy to wait until spring next year?
Do you need the money from the sale to continue your build?
Conundrums eh?

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Don't know much about pensions. Would the guy definitely be able to access a lump sum as soon as he is retired in August or could there be some legal wranglings drawing out the process?

It would be a long time for you to wait until you get away again if you sell Toby.
 
Northernraider said:
Like last year ive a rough plan but its subject to change depending on restrictions etc ...but hoping to go thr route i had originally planned last year to greece via Croatia Albania etc ....and hopefully do a bit of turkey too ...not so much getting around the 90/180 but utilising countries that it doesn't apply to

Its getting the timing right that will be the issue ...so i can get the best weather
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Agree with you it’s getting the timing right We’re going to Croatia in September to get round the 90/180 as we’ve already used up 64 days
 
glenn2926 said:
Depends mate, is there absolutely no way of being ready to travel in the Vario this winter?
Does the fireman need your old one this winter or will he be happy to wait until spring next year?
Do you need the money from the sale to continue your build?
Conundrums eh?
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The vario would never be complete that's for sure.

Dont think he would wait given hes been viewing vans since june and hasn't the money yet.

Don't need the money from the sale ,i have the funds to build the vario ...but would obviously be nice to get top dollar for the hymer.
 
monzer said:
Don't know much about pensions. Would the guy definitely be able to access a lump sum as soon as he is retired in August or could there be some legal wranglings drawing out the process?

It would be a long time for you to wait until you get away again if you sell Toby.
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Its his lump sum he's waiting on ...gets it August 31st


But yes it would mean I didn't get away till next winter probably ..
Would probably buy a cheap caravan to stay in till i finished the Vario.

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You never know what’s on your path for the future , so just enjoy your winter plans while you can, will be plenty of buyers for the hymer come spring, lots of people re evaluate their retirement and decide to go early, so the market will be strong for a while…
 
How about a basic interior this autumn followed by the full monty next summer.

Something like a plywood kitchen pod, loo cubicle and double bed.

Going south will be warmer so insulation isn't too much of an issue?

Or you could get a cheap van like an lt35 or 208d and use that for the winter? Fuel saving would be decent too.

Cheers James
 
monzer said:
Don't know much about pensions. Would the guy definitely be able to access a lump sum as soon as he is retired in August or could there be some legal wranglings drawing out the process?

It would be a long time for you to wait until you get away again if you sell Toby.
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I retired six years ago on 8/4/15. My lump sum was in my bank that morning. So yeah he’ll have the money. The fire service have had thirty years of knowing exactly what day he retires😂😂😂.

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The decision is, how much more will you get for Toby now than next spring?
Is that extra, if it is an extra, worth not having your winter holiday?
What value, cash wise, do you put on x number of weeks away?

It all comes down to how much you value your planned trip.
It would need to be a tidy sum to stop me going.

Richard.
 
I'd keep Toby for the winter, you'll probably need to recharge your batteries over the winter after all this vehicle prep, and where better than Greece etc!


Lets face it, Scotland's weather won't help you with the build especially if you're still outside, prices won't alter much if at all for a year or so and as you don't need the cash to finish the Vario

No brainer for me, good luck whatever you decide (y)
 
You’ll have to be doing the inside over the winter and if your not ready to do it then you might as well be somewhere warmer then sitting in a caravan in Scotland for the winter…. Your lucky to have a choice on what you do….👍🏼
 
Clarky said:
The decision is, how much more will you get for Toby now than next spring?
Is that extra, if it is an extra, worth not having your winter holiday?
What value, cash wise, do you put on x number of weeks away?

It all comes down to how much you value your planned trip.
It would need to be a tidy sum to stop me going.

Richard.
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Drexxer said:
I'd keep Toby for the winter, you'll probably need to recharge your batteries over the winter after all this vehicle prep, and where better than Greece etc!


Lets face it, Scotland's weather won't help you with the build especially if you're still outside, prices won't alter much if at all for a year or so and as you don't need the cash to finish the Vario

No brainer for me, good luck whatever you decide (y)
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Just smiffy said:
You’ll have to be doing the inside over the winter and if your not ready to do it then you might as well be somewhere warmer then sitting in a caravan in Scotland for the winter…. Your lucky to have a choice on what you do….👍🏼
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Yes all valid points ...thats why i hadnt bothered to readvertise it etc ... having thought about it the last couple of hours im inclined to just use it for winter as planned as i know the van and its condition etc whereas i wouldn't be comfortable taking the vario on such a long trip without having used it a bit around Scotland first. Im confident Toby will fetch 25k all day long as hes in very good condition now and much better than it was when i bought it.

Getting an extra 2.5k would always be welcome of course but i am looking forward to getting away if i can
 
I don't think it will make much difference to the price you get for Toby if you keep him until next year. It's going to be the new vans sold at inflated prices that are going to take a big hit.

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Northernraider said:
I have a little bit of a dilemma ....well not so much a dilemma but a decision to make and not sure whats best.

Back in june i had a guy enquire about buying Toby but he didn't get his money till august as he's a retiring fireman .

I hadnt heard from him again but now he's back in touch and very keen ....but still not got the cash till end of august.

So im undecided as whether i should sell it and possibly forego my winter break , continue working on the merc over the winter etc

Or whether to keep a hold of it till next year when the market might not be as good.

If i sold it id be sticking to the full price of £27.5k thats why its tempting to sell.
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Personality I would sell if you have a cash buyer. Prices at the mo are high, they may go down next year if things reopen!
I am sure you could make Kouros fit to travel with the basics you need, and you can't beat cash in the bank...,

You are fair cracking on now, it's surprising what you can do in a couple of months with the Scottish weather pushing you along.... 😎
 
I doubt your buyer would hang around when he has cash in his bank account .... Most people, including me, become a little impatient when they have the money in the bank to buy something they have been waiting to buy He is in a great position with cash in hand to swoop as soon as something within his range and required spec appears on the market.

Why not ask him and, if keeping yours saves you some money, offer it him at a lower price to reflect your saving, but at a later AGREED in writing date, with him paying a deposit? It might work?
 
Sell Toby now,a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Fly to Greece for a three week holiday to recharge your batteries.
Get the new van finished soon as.
Then back out there on you adventure.
 
Tough decision. Although as you know Scottish winters can be harsh.
How long does it take for you to earn the 2.5k extra delivering food.
If not long keep the van as I’m sure a winter break away may be worth more to you.
 
Going off what you have said about not needing the funds to finnish the van my decision would then be based on what I thought the state of Europe/UK will be this winter, Covit will still be with us.

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I would stick to your plans & go away. You sound, from what I’ve read, that you need sunshine! I’m the same, & can get quite down when stuck in the UK over winter! There will be another buyer, & better a happy Tam! 😀
 
Well you guys aren't much help ....half saying keep half saying sell.

At the moment he was discussing it with his wife and looking in to a hotel in Edinburgh to possibly view toby on Saturday. Not heard back from him again yet. Toby is currently very untidy as ive been parked the same place for months so i have stuff everywhere 🤣🤣 . Every waking hour is spent working on the vario or the deliveries at present. But if he gets back in touch and wants to view Saturday i might let him and then see what happens.

Ill let you know



Anyway its a scorcher up here today and no work tonight so im going to get on with my sills ... Got to sort out the mess the first welder did now as its terrible
 
Sell it! The first offer is always the best offer!

No one has a crystal ball, imagine how annoyed you'll be when we get a Winter lockdown, you can't use the Hymer to travel and end up in the Spring with two campers, and the market crashed as its been such a shit 2020 & 2021 and everyone flocks abroad for 2022 desperate for a holiday!
 
Northernraider said:
Well you guys aren't much help ....half saying keep half saying sell.

At the moment he was discussing it with his wife and looking in to a hotel in Edinburgh to possibly view toby on Saturday. Not heard back from him again yet. Toby is currently very untidy as ive been parked the same place for months so i have stuff everywhere 🤣🤣 . Every waking hour is spent working on the vario or the deliveries at present. But if he gets back in touch and wants to view Saturday i might let him and then see what happens.

Ill let you know



Anyway its a scorcher up here today and no work tonight so im going to get on with my sills ... Got to sort out the mess the first welder did now as its terrible
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Yes, we probably mirror your thoughts 😀
 

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