Panel van quest.

Krazykate

Krazykate

Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Posts
123
Likes collected
178
Location
Scotland, UK
Funster No
94,264
MH
Citroen Relay PVC
Exp
Since 2010 but ltd experience.
Hi, a bit of a newbie here and your help would be much appreciated.
After having a Bongo many years ago and a very old 5.7mt coach built Fiat, I’m on a quest to find my first 'grown up' van. Got the pennies, been researching like a mad thing, but struggling with sourcing one from a Scottish dealer or by a reasonably simple route going to get one or even transporting one up here. Does anyone have experience in Scotland (or vice versa) of obtaining a van and perhaps favoured dealers with stock with mainland uk delivery? I’ve looked at every Scottish entry on the dealers list on here, left my details with many and now stabbing in the dark at the rest of the country. Any advice would be great. Thank you.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
A question. I was looking for a 6mt but does the 6.3 length pose a real problem? Im fairly confident about driving, won’t be parallel parking 😱 but what about small windy roads etc? TIA
 
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
Hi Blisteringblue
There must be a sold sticker on every accent we see!
Will have a look at the others, thank you.
Click to expand...
Hi there, as a 2014 Accent owner, does this mean I own a desirable model?, and out of interest, what kind of money were they asking for them?

By the way, they are a great van.

We travel to and from Spain in ours, with the bed made up and plenty of storage underneath, as well as above the cab, and a compartment under the dinette floor, as well as under the rear passenger seats.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
mikeyv said:
Hi there, as a 2014 Accent owner, does this mean I own a desirable model?, and out of interest, what kind of money were they asking for them?

By the way, they are a great van.

We travel to and from Spain in ours, with the bed made up and plenty of storage underneath, as well as above the cab, and a compartment under the dinette floor, as well as under the rear passenger seats.
Click to expand...
Thanks for messaging Mike. Yes I like this van, not easy to find at the right price though.
Widening my search to over 6 mt but not sure if it’s a good idea!
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
A question. I was looking for a 6mt but does the 6.3 length pose a real problem? Im fairly confident about driving, won’t be parallel parking 😱 but what about small windy roads etc? TIA
Click to expand...
6.3 isn't too bad.
Just imagine having another rulers length on the back :)
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
Thanks for messaging Mike. Yes I like this van, not easy to find at the right price though.
Widening my search to over 6 mt but not sure if it’s a good idea!
Click to expand...
Depends on how you plan to use it I guess.
More than 6m will cost you more on ferries, and make car parks a bit more awkward, but I find very little difference in the driving experience.
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
A question. I was looking for a 6mt but does the 6.3 length pose a real problem? Im fairly confident about driving, won’t be parallel parking 😱 but what about small windy roads etc? TIA
Click to expand...
6 metre doesn’t fit in a single Tesco parking space! So 6.4 won’t either.
5.4 is good if using as everyday drive/car as it fits in ordinary parking bays! A 5.4 usually doesn’t have a bathroom/shower some do!
Small windy roads are not a problem in a 6 metre van!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Gingernuts said:
6 metre doesn’t fit in a single Tesco parking space! So 6.4 won’t either.
5.4 is good if using as everyday drive/car as it fits in ordinary parking bays! A 5.4 usually doesn’t have a bathroom/shower some do!
Small windy roads are not a problem in a 6 metre van!
Click to expand...
Perfect , just what I was after. More things to consider 🫣🤪
Thank you everyone for helping, I'm really appreciating all your experience!
GeoffnDee said:
www.devonconversions.co.uk based in County Durham may have what you are looking for.
Click to expand...
thank you 🙂
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
My daughter is 21 and is already chirping in the background, “you have to get a three berth mum” 🙄
Click to expand...
Who is the third berth for, I was picturing you + spouse or partner + 2 little angels. Add daughter => 5, then add daughter's spouse or partner...
Don't you want a minibus & a couple of tents?
 
Upvote 0
stuartholmes said:
Who is the third berth for, I was picturing you + spouse or partner + 2 little angels. Add daughter => 5, then add daughter's spouse or partner...
Don't you want a minibus & a couple of tents?
Click to expand...
Oh gosh no!
Most of the time just me n OH with occasional visits from 5/6 yr old nieces and my daughter….separately!
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
Oh gosh no!
Most of the time just me n OH with occasional visits from 5/6 yr old nieces and my daughter….separately!
Click to expand...
Well you do call yourself Krazy Kate so who knows... 🙂

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Gingernuts said:
6 metre doesn’t fit in a single Tesco parking space! So 6.4 won’t either.
5.4 is good if using as everyday drive/car as it fits in ordinary parking bays! A 5.4 usually doesn’t have a bathroom/shower some do!
Small windy roads are not a problem in a 6 metre van!
Click to expand...
Perfect , just what I was after. More things to consider 🫣🤪
Thank you everyone for helping, I'm really appreciating all your experience
stuartholmes said:
Well you do call yourself Krazy Kate so who knows... 🙂
Click to expand...
Youve sussed me already Stuart....totally bonkers! 🤪
 
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
Well today's quest:
Scrolling and scrolling yesterday spotted a van 100 miles away, can't believe I missed it. Over budget but worth a look.
Autotrail Tribute T670. Front dinette, rear lounge with WC and kitchen in the middle on opposite sides (obviously).
Nice van, few cosmetics, very comfortable seats and rear BUT the gap between the hob and the WC door is 35cms!!!! So literally you burn your belly on the front burner! 😱 I couldn't walk normally front back and I'm a size 16 (the most common size for women in the uk btw 🤭)
I get why there's a bottle neck but is a narrow a gap as this normal?

What next? Back to the drawing board, suggestions welcome 🙄



IMG_4440.jpeg
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
Well today's quest:
Scrolling and scrolling yesterday spotted a van 100 miles away, can't believe I missed it. Over budget but worth a look.
Autotrail Tribute T670. Front dinette, rear lounge with WC and kitchen in the middle on opposite sides (obviously).
Nice van, few cosmetics, very comfortable seats and rear BUT the gap between the hob and the WC door is 35cms!!!! So literally you burn your belly on the front burner! 😱 I couldn't walk normally front back and I'm a size 16 (the most common size for women in the uk btw 🤭)
I get why there's a bottle neck but is a narrow a gap as this normal?

What next? Back to the drawing board, suggestions welcome 🙄



View attachment 907589
Click to expand...
I think most vans with that layout will be similar. It will be even worse with vans based on Sprinters or Crafters as they are narrower to start with, either that or the shower/loo will be narrower.

British vans often have the full cooker, so that defines what space is left over for the shower room and galley across the width.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
CAB96 said:
I think most vans with that layout will be similar. It will be even worse with vans based on Sprinters or Crafters as they are narrower to start with, either that or the shower/loo will be narrower.

British vans often have the full cooker, so that defines what space is left over for the shower room and galley across the width.
Click to expand...
Edited to say, it's all a compromise, just learn to shuffle sideways!
 
Upvote 0
CAB96 said:
British vans often have the full cooker, so that defines what space is left over for the shower room and galley across the width.
Click to expand...
I never understand how so many designers feel the need to make domestic size things fit campervans. Not only ovens but armchairs & dining tables. (Neither of which we have in our 'van.)

It's for camping in not living in permanently with 2 adults & 2.4 children.

Stop trying to tick every box & cut your cloth to match your environment - and for pity's sake leave room to move about.

Or is it only me...?
(and maybe the Krazy one 🙂)
 
Upvote 0
CAB96 said:
Edited to say, it's all a compromise, just learn to shuffle sideways!
Click to expand...
👍🏻🤣
stuartholmes said:
I never understand how so many designers feel the need to make domestic size things fit campervans.
It's for camping in not living in permanently with 2 adults & 2.4 children.
Stop trying to tick every box & cut your cloth to match your environment - and for pity's sake leave room to move about.
Or is it only me...?
Click to expand...
A temporary home on wheels, but it's not going to be perfect. In fact compromising is part of the fun. However if you're spending £50000 it's gotta be kind of right.....and comfortable!
Does anyone have an opinion/experience on how small the washroom is at the back if you choose a French bed. We don't use the shower.
 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
👍🏻🤣

A temporary home on wheels, but it's not going to be perfect. In fact compromising is part of the fun. However if you're spending £50000 it's gotta be kind of right.....and comfortable!
Does anyone have an opinion/experience on how small the washroom is at the back if you choose a French bed. We don't use the shower.
Click to expand...
Sorry but what's a French bed? When I was a lad it was in appearance any conventional bed with sheets & blankets but in reality the sheets had been folded & tucked so you couldn't actually get in it.
(also nb I wasn't moaning at you over the cloth size Kate, that was distinctly aimed at designers.)
 
Upvote 0
stuartholmes said:
Sorry but what's a French bed? When I was a lad it was in appearance any conventional bed with sheets & blankets but in reality the sheets had been folded & tucked so you couldn't actually get in it.
(also nb I wasn't moaning at you over the cloth size Kate, that was distinctly aimed at designers.)
Click to expand...
Not at all Stuart I took it as well intentioned advice!
It appears a French bed is located at the back along the side of the wall with a washroom squeezed in beside. It often has a corner cut off which may be suitable for the shorter partner. On investigation it still seems to be double bed size. It apparently leaves extra room at the front.
Anyone else's experiences?
 
Upvote 0
Ref; length we have a C class longer 6.6m length, still waiting to find a supermarket I can't find a spot for the van in. Usually takes a while guaranteed, but you learn where you can do a rear overhang onto a kerb or grassy bit easily. In terms of driving it's no different really to driving a 6m van ... On any van I would reccomend two rear cameras as a minimum.
 
Upvote 0
Thanks Starquake.
My partner and I were just saying with our last van even shorter than we're looking at, we used to park at the far side or in a corner or next to someone who was cheeky enough to stick out a bit.
Have brought a 6.3 back into the equation hoping it might stagger the layout and reduce the bottle neck. Not sure that's the case though as I've not got experience and it's not easy to try out lots of vans up here.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Krazykate said:
Thanks Starquake.
My partner and I were just saying with our last van even shorter than we're looking at, we used to park at the far side or in a corner or next to someone who was cheeky enough to stick out a bit.
Have brought a 6.3 back into the equation hoping it might stagger the layout and reduce the bottle neck. Not sure that's the case though as I've not got experience and it's not easy to try out lots of vans up here.
Click to expand...
You still havnae said where up here is!?
Scotlands a big place😎
Alex fae Perth
 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top