New Van - Panel Van or GRP Body

[Prop]

Hiya Guys
We have a T5 and thinking of upgrading to something 6m longish.
We want something with a garage to store bikes and a wet room, we are going to the NEC next week, we have seen a couple of vans on paper that we think would suit us both panel van and GRP body (ie

Chausson S514 Sport Line)​

Our concern is how robust are these GRP bodies and if you damage them how easy are they to repair compared to a steel van?
.
Paul

 

[rod_vw]

I'm going from a LWB High roof T6 to a LWB MAN TGE which is having a bespoke conversion done for me.

T6 is 5.1m long and the TGE is 6.8m long.

 

[CazPaul]

I'm going from a LWB High roof T6 to a LWB MAN TGE which is having a bespoke conversion done for me.

View attachment 823116
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T6 is 5.1m long and the TGE is 6.8m long.

I love the LWB vw with the high roof, especially in 4 motion spec.
It’s a big jump in length, almost 2 metres you’re going to.

Regarding the OP question, PVC I would choose, much more resistant to damp. Those Chausson coachbuilt have timber in the construction and you see quite a few reports of damp.

 

[rod_vw]

I love the LWB vw with the high roof, especially in 4 motion spec.
It’s a big jump in length, almost 2 metres you’re going to.

Regarding the OP question, PVC I would choose, much more resistant to damp. Those Chausson coachbuilt have timber in the construction and you see quite a few reports of damp.

Yes CazPaul the LWB High roof VWs have been our mode of camper for over thirty years as you will see from my signature however as the years stack up the need for more home comforts mainly in the form of a built in loo and a probably little used shower seemed a good way to go. Time will tell of course.

 

[Landy Andy]

If I could I would have a panel van conversion. Smaller, tougher, easier to repair, and less likely to leak. But they just don’t have the room required for me.