Hokaay….  Bit after the fact on this, but, run a T25 and used to run a T4 (hated it, gave it to my old Mum who loves it) know a bit.

My T25 is called Henry and is a 2.1 fuel injected petrol high top Holdsworth Villa conversion.  If you read around the forums on this they would have you believe thirsty as owt, I get 28 – 30 mpg not the 16mpg some would have you believe.  it dropped below 20mpg on the Isle of Mull last year but pretty much never got out of third gear, glorious island and I was towing a trailer with a kayak and two bikes on.

Engines wise, unless you are a desperate fan avoid air cooled and the 1.6 diesel, slug slow and woefully underpowered.  I have looked at both diesel and Subaru conversion options, done the sums and, unless mine blows not worth doing on the mileage I do (About 6000 a year).

Bodywork, post ’86 T25s are galvanised up to the waist line, far, far fewer problems, but, buy a good one.  Mechanically they are pretty simple to fix, old school ’80’s tech.  I’ll ‘fess up, I am a time served mechanic (tho’ haven’t worked as a mechanic since 1991).  Don’t buy one that has been hacked about/lowered/kevved up.  BIG NOTE if you smell petrol when you brake hard, good chance that the fuel breather across the top of the fuel tank has broken or perished.  It’s an easy fix, but steady work, you’ll need to remove the tank to check it is the breather not the top of the tank rotted away, then put it all back together.

T3 or T25?  Well, shorthand dictates that air-cooled models are generally referred to as T3’s (yes I know it is the same designation for Fastback/Notchback/Squareback saloons but these are Type 3s not T3s) and T25s for the water-cooled versions.  Water-cooled have one MASSIVE advantage, a heater de-mist that works.

Mine is in the process of being tweaked for off-road work, lift springs, better tyres and shocks, after I spent a lot of happy miles driving over un-paved roads last year.  The 2WD version is surprisingly capable off road, not surprising as it is based on what is essentially a site capable vehicle, I’m fitting an LSD  next year which will allow me to go pretty much anywhere within reason (thinking winter snowboard trips).  If you really want total off road capability then the Syncro 4WD version is the one to go for.  Be warned, no matter what price you pay they will cost around the 15,000 mark to get right.  Bomb proof tho’. and hugely capable off road.

Lots of specialist suppliers to keep you going, pretty much nothing you can’t get or fix; in no order of preference, I use them all, and all are very good; Brickwerks, Campervan Culture, VW Heritage, Sunflower Camper, German and Swedish.

Yes I am a fan, get a good one, look after it, they are going up in value quite quickly as T2 Bay window models become unaffordable (had one of these too, never, never going back).  Basically, sixty smiles per gallon.  :o)

T4 Caravelle and a big tent. Seats, safety, space, no packing when you go out for the day, not a caravan 😉

(STW approved run wot you brung response)

is it still possible to get parts for the syncro’s 4wheel drive?

Our camper is a LHD Multivan with a Vamoose potop and a little kitchen pod. It works well with 2 adults, a 7 yr old a working cocker. 40 nights last year and 13 by the middle of next week so far this year.

After years of tents, where our packing list got long enough to fill my T4 day van we now take as little as possible and this minimalist approach seems far less stress. Cook on the Cadac if its dry, pub for tea if its too wet. We break up journeys with overnights in pub car parks or wild spots and stay on campsites for a couples of nights to use the facilities.

We love the feeling of moving on regularly and always waking up somewhere new. As for cost and future value, by the time our boy is too cool to hang with his parents we will have had enough adventures and gained enough memories to have paid for the van 10 times over…

The only problem we need to solve moving forward is the expensive bikes hanging off the back. For the moment we have two pub bikes for this job but as he gets older we will want to take better bikes. Does somebody fancy setting up some kind of AIR B&B for bike storage! This is how we ended up with my T4 in the first place, pre child, on a trip to Wales we got sick of having to take our bikes back to the digs to then go and do non bikey things.

Thanks for continuing this thread!

I originally started this 9 months ago and 2 have become 3! So I think that means T25 are out for reasons of fitting a baby seat….

Oh yes.  Everything, and goodies galore.  Campervan Culture is a pretty good place to start.  The Gov, Dan, is Syncro mad and imports loads of goodies from the states where Syncros have a bit of a following.

I  know people chew on the fact that VW campers are pricier but there is a reason; you can source parts for pretty much any VW Transporter from any era.  Try doing that for a ’80’s Renault Traffic (great van but body parts?  Pretty much dream on).

Syncros have a bit more transmission stuff going on, naturally.  Chances are you will need the assistance of this gentleman, http://www.aidantalbot.com/live/ at some point.

Will post pics of Henry once I have finished the ‘Adventure Van’ work, about six weeks away (mainly waiting on the imports).  :o)

For those looking for cheaper vans and don’t mind having the steering wheel the correct side, look in France.

Converted vans without proper documentation ( carte grise, V5) , have become illegal.

There could be some bargains about.

Tell me about it 😪

I tried to register my old air-cooled T3 in Spain and it was a dead loss. Home conversion, pop top etc, but the papers from VW had it as a panel van. Scrapped it in the end. You can’t even fit a tow bar here without getting it homologated. Any kitchen or sleeping structures have to be removable for the MOT.

Reading the thread with interest anyway. Currently have a 7 seater T5 multivan I’d like to fit out a bit, for 2 or 3 night stays (any longer and I’ll put the tent up)

@Mugboo, any website recommendations for overnight spots in the UK? Camper friendly pubs etc? We’ll be driving up to the Lakes from Spain in summer – I know plenty of spots in France but pretty much lost once we cross the Channel

Searchforsites.co.uk

T3s used to be great when you could buy them cheap. I remember buying a panel van for £300 with an MOT, and having to refuse the second van for spares that came with it because I had no room.

Currently running a ratty Doka. Great for CX racing. Bikes in the crewcab bit, washer and water in the back.

Please though. Stop calling them T25s. It’s worse than there/their/they’re.

andreas holden- is the limited slip diff an original VW part?

I’ve had two T3s/T25s/Vanagons (delete as applicable, pedants!) – first one (panel van) bought in the late 90’s for £700, super-budget “conversion” (Ikea futon, caravan cooker bungeed behind the passenger seat) and driven round europe for six months, mostly on 3 cylinders. Sold afterwards for £200.

Then did it again a few years ago with a diesel Devon pop-top, for family camping – loved it but just couldn’t keep on top of the maintenance – if you can’t weld yourself, either get something that’s been properly sorted, or expect big bills come MOT time.

Brilliant as a camper, but ours wasn’t so good at actually reaching campsites without at least one unscheduled stop to fix some random fault or other.

Now bought a late T4 DIY camper – so far its been brilliant.