Used VW camper - what to look for

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kiwicamping

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We are looking to buy a 2017+ VW SWB four berth camper van. Never owned one of these before. What things should I be looking out for in a used purchase other than the usual mechanical/body/service records?
Should the van have a gas certificate or any other legal compliance certificates?
Some options such as awning and solar panel are great to have? Is manual better than auto?
Any help would be appreciated. Thks
 
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Out of interest whats the budget and reason for VW apposed to another make. can you really get a SWB to sleep 4
 
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PeterCarole29 said:
Out of interest whats the budget and reason for VW apposed to another make. can you really get a SWB to sleep 4
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Budget around mid 30k and we will mostly only have two of us in the van. VW seem to be the most popular in the UK.
 
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Budget around 30k and we will mostly only have two people in the van. VW seem to be the most popular in the UK from what I have seen.
 
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More importantly, is it a recognised conversion or a self build? Are the seatbelts for 4 compliant?
There are some lovely self builds out there but also some death traps. Might have more choice, if you look at other variants there is always a premium for VWs
never been into makes, branding, must haves am sure it has, over the years saved me a fortune.

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kiwicamping said:
Budget around mid 30k and we will mostly only have two of us in the van. VW seem to be the most popular in the UK.
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Ok from prices i have seen youd be looking at a home build conversion. is it 2017 so your into euro 6 engines to be flexible in clean air zones. You are right they are popular as they have a cult following if thats the right term but come with a matching price. any decent VW conversions with pop tops of that year i think are about £45k plus. I am a great fan of the Renault Master
Galvanised body timing chain, not belt .
 
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kiwicamping said:
Budget around mid 30k and we will mostly only have two of us in the van. VW seem to be the most popular in the UK.
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No toilet, no shower, have to sleep two in the pop top. I had a bay window type 2 in the ‘70’s and loved it but wouldn’t go back to a VW.
 
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kiwicamping said:
We are looking to buy a 2017+ VW SWB four berth camper van. Never owned one of these before. What things should I be looking out for in a used purchase other than the usual mechanical/body/service records?
Should the van have a gas certificate or any other legal compliance certificates?
Some options such as awning and solar panel are great to have? Is manual better than auto?
Any help would be appreciated. Thks
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There are no legal requirement made to a seller to provide certificates for gas safety in fact anything (private seller that is)
Solar awning yes is great .
Before deciding on a VW you need to decide can you manage with head hieght and its basic appliances and battery capacity
I was shocked when my accountant bought a VW 2018 for £54k nice conversion Battery was less than 80ah lead acid so 40ah usage no B2B charger 12v compressor fridge and tiny camping GAZ bottle. so you need to think hard how you will use the van
 
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I had one for a few years. We changed 18 months ago. I have also had a LWB T5, both in camper forms with elevating roofs. The age that you are looking at is plagued (yes that is the correct term) by Ad Blue issues. They aren't any better than any other van but accessories are plentiful. I recommend joining the T6 Forum, great team with lots of extremely knowledgeable electricians and mechanics on there. VW (or even VW specialist servicing) is extremely expensive. As VW were ripping off the UK, there is a good chance that the timing belt will already have been changed as they were advising 4 years / 40k miles. Now I believe it is 120k miles.

I strongly suggest that you buy a OBD2 device (£40) and scan on arrival and after the test drive. Solar panels - most fit a flexible panel...it is essential that this if fitted correctly with the correct air gap, ones fitted without or sealed all of the way around fail very quickly. Avoid ones bonded directly to the roof (I fitted wrap and then stuck the panel to the wrap). On the subject of roofs, ideally get a known brand like Reimo/SCA. For a few years there were some very dodgy roofs being fitted. Elevating roofs are very cold in winter and terrifying in high wind, so you close the roof for safety and are now bent over using the kitchen etc. Seats- get a branded one if the rear one is to be used and the move, RIB or Reimo. A swivel passenger seat is a god send. A double actually gives more storage options.

Check the coil springs, everyone loves lowering them and putting 19/20" wheels on. The coils crack, as do the wheels. Lowered ones are REALLY terrible in unmade car parks. Both the missus and I agreed that a LWB would have been better, only 18" longer but it makes so much difference on the inside. Make sure that you get a T30 or T32 (3000/3200kg) version as the camper kit will take you to the limit of the T28 and over for the T26 before you put any more kit it it.

If you plan on wild camping there is a toilet issue, storing it is ok but use in private is impossble without one of you leaving the van. I've used a Hozelock Flower Shower in all weathers at the back of the van in all manner of places in my undercrackers, much to the disdain of SWMBO.

I got my Dec 15 one (professionally converted by a small converter) at an extremely good price (£25k for 30k miles) in late 2018 and when I sold it July 2022, it went for a cheap £30k as I wanted shut quickly, but it was too cheap and no-one would buy it for ages! I had put extra lighting in, a B2B, LiFEPO4 battery, solar, etc.

The T6 Forum is really where you need to be for more.



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Try to work out who converted it: was it up to a spec, or down to a price for maximum profit. If it had a previous life, work out what it was - an owner driver proudly driving a metallic combi will look after it better than than a white van delivery rental etc.
A lot of converted work vans have twin passenger seats, which to us is a pita, even if they've got a swivel base as you can't walk through.
Look for the expensive bits, (you probably won't want, or get, all of this):
  • single passenger seat, armrests, quality of upholstery,
  • what swivel seat bases it's got (at least one, two's better).
  • brand and crash rating of rear seat (assuming a R&R seat/bed) . Check it's comfy. Accessibility of boot space behind it for travelling.
  • Brand and warranty of pop top. Presence of mattress in it!
  • Leisure battery size and type, charging systems (VSR/B2B, Solar). Hook up point with fuse board,
  • Awning tent / roll out awning / clip on sun canopy.
  • Quality of furniture units (plywood please, mdf or chipboard work but are not as good)
  • Proper compressor fridge, ideally not Chinese.
  • Proper hob (Cartridge picnic stoves are ok, but a cheap imitation). Presence and type of gas bottle. In a box, with a remote regulator.
  • Fresh water container: size, is it filling your best food cupboard etc. On board waste (if you consider "wilding")
  • Bling (alloys, race tyres, altered suspension graphics etc). If you value it...

    Check
    you like the layout: "chunkier" people often forego some cupboard to get a wider bed etc.
    if you like the window set-up. For us the privacy from the common pair of tinted windows is great, but some prefer all round clear glass.
    Kitchen equipment, do you need a microwave/ oven / grill.
    Toilet arrangement, if important to you, (It took me a while, but cutting bits outs to enable getting a small potty under the bed was a game changer for my wife)

    Think what you want to do with it, often there is very little spare space if you want to add bulky awnings, cycling gear, surf gear, BBQ, loungers etc. LWB does offer more options, as long as it isn't all walk zone.

    VW size vans are a great compromise between a camper and daily drivers, but they do have massive compromises to make, and everyone has different places to make them! Good luck!
 
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Loved ours but like Jaws, wouldn’t go back to one now.

If it comes with a rock n roll bed, check two things.

Be realistic about how much space you'll have in that bed - so no disappointments.

Also if you are carrying rear passengers for any distance, the very upright rear seats can be dreadfully uncomfortable.
 
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Oldrat said:
If it comes with a rock n roll bed,
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I looked at a couple with R&R beds but when set up it wasn't possible to open the fridge and under-top cupboards.

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Which engine size, yes 2.0litre but what bhp? If the engine code letters are CFCA (check the V5C) you may be well to leave it where it is! I'll leave you to Google CFCA engine problems.

Otherwise I think others have more than covered everything you may need to consider.
 
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