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Doable?
Or do I need to spend more pennies?
I have a friend at the moment looking for a mazda bongo and he says he's looking at ten?
10 on a bongo .... hes mental
you might find a van conversion for 5k.
there was a low miles lt35 with tui conversion on here the other week that went at auction for just under 6k . was kicking my self for not bidding but dont like bidding blind.
Ive got a fully converted Bongo, 95 with about 80k on the clock. I've been given a price of £5000 for part ex against new. Its a fantastic van. So I bet you can get one for £6k to £7k on ebay ?
I paid 5 for my bongo, not converted though.
Yes. Will largely depend on the donor vehicle and what you want in it, unlikey to get crash tested bed, pop top etc... Our day van (03 Ex AA T4 with RnR bed) was £5.8k nearly 3 years ago. Had the inside done properly since as it had been done on the cheap and was showing it but it worked as was. Bed, table, electrics and lighting in the back, loads of insulation. Camping stove if we're not near enough a pub for food.
We spent 5 weeks on the continent in it through the summer covering something like 5k miles, down to Ventoux, trip to Holland, Germany, France back to Holland and a week in Brittany.
Give me a shout if you're around Plymouth if you want to take a look.
Probably all depends on what your definition of "decent" is, won't find many camper vans or motor homes for £5k.
Also depends how handy you are and what you fancy doing.
VW's always a premium price but you could get an 80's VW T3 van/caravelle and convert it for around 5,000 depends on what mod cons you want and how perfect/reliable/car like you want it.
There's also this book:
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Not sure I'd get my dream for £1000.
I found it very rewarding converting my 7 seater to a camper though.
well it sure as hell wouldnt involve an LDV .... id rather cycle there or crawl over a bed of hot coals with nails in
size age and mileage will come into it.
for that money stay away from mid sized (t4) VWs. prices are high. you might find that van based conversions offer better value for money on slightly larger vans; ie LT35/ sprinter sized as opposed to vw t4/ renault traffic etc.
browsing ebay there are definitely some useable a decent condition vans for ~5k.
That ebay one that sold for <£6k is here:
I too watched if go thinking "someone's got a reet bargin there"
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110951094620?nma=true&si=EZ%2Ft04u9Uu5iiqRdC3j4MQLB6m8%3D&rt=nc&_trksid=p4340.l2557&orig_cvip=true
Looks almost the perfect mountain biking van if you can put up with the bulk of it.
Not suggesting the LDV, just the book will go through how to build from the base van, I have the older build your own motorhome book and it gave me an idea of things that could be done along with an idea of where my own limitations would come in.
I've not got the skills or patience to build my own units, but I was happy installing them and doing lining, insulation and electrics, plenty of on-line resources to help as well.
Just reverse a van into a caravan....
Doable I think as long as you don't want something too new or too fashionable (ie. VW). As said, often the bigger vans are cheaper as people tend to want something more manageable that will fit in a regular parking space.
You could probably find a converted Bongo for that. Ours cost £6k but I didnt try too hard to knock the price down (mind you, I've spent over half of that again on repairs since...)
It's been good for a couple of long road trips around Europe, bikes on a towbar mounted rack. We've got a full width bed, hookup, cupboards and most importantly...a fridge.
That transhit is oar-some
Get a hearse, some curtains and a matress. Done. Guranteed low mileage and driven VERY carefully.
Easy! Ive had hone conversions and pro builds and never spent more than that. A lot depends on your needs.
I recently bought an externally tatty, VW t25 high top, 1989 for £3100. Spent some time getting the body work done myself, not hard to do, just takes time). Touched up the spray to make it look half decent, full spray job over winter.
Myself the wife, 2 kids and our dog just spent 6 weeks touring the west coast of France in it, along with 4 bikes, 2 surf boards, kite surfing kit and more.
2000 miles of driving, 6 weeks of awesome fun and all in a van that cost £3100. Ideal.
Also VW's hold there money so well, I think this one now Ive started her up and once she has new paint will be worth about 6k.
...also, my previous was a 02 plate Toyota HiAce. Great for covering big miles at quicker speeds than the old v dub, and some real bargains out there already converted
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-MAZDA-BONGO-FORD-FREEDA-DAY-VAN-CAMPER-8-SEATER-GREEN-AUTOMATIC-/140850595355?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20cb59861b ]bongo[/url]
No idea if its any good and it needs converting
I did a conversion on a 2004 LT35. It's cheaper than buying a completed van but costs can add up. Windows, skylights, decent insulation, fridge, cooker, water heater are all expensive. You also need to have some skills in electrics, plumbing and carpentry. Very satisfying though.
well it sure as hell wouldnt involve an LDV .... id rather cycle there or crawl over a bed of hot coals with nails in
Still quicker and more reliable than the look at me I bought a bay window camper cos im not a surfer van
if you can get a cheap van do it yourself. that way you can get it exactly how you want it. but expect to spend about £2k on the build, so you're looking at a basic van for £3k to keep it in budget. check out rainbow conversions, bluebird, and camper forums for ideas/fittings etc
we did this with our camper - 1986 VW T25. much better than decrepit 1980's/90's beige interiors and stuff you'd just want to replace anyway
A Bongo won't be £10k unless the market has changed radically from last year, where we bought a really nice one for a bit over £5k from a dealer.
Also you should ask yourself if you even need to convert it. The seats fold into a great big bed, and with a thin cotton mattress over that, ours is BLOODY comfy. We use a Quecha base seconds centre section as a good awning. We don't want to convert - see no point.
Things to watch for:
- Rust underneath. They're not treated for it in Japan because they don't use road salt there. So anyone who imported one should have made damn sure to waxoyl the underside well. Some of them have horrible rust problems if this wasn't done (ours is mint after a year, thanks to being properly treated by Discount Trucks in Newbury).
- Past cooling problems. Because they're mid-engined, they're vulnerable if the water stops. People have cooked them good and proper. I'd want one that had always had a coolant alarm and had been well looked after.
Thanks for that ormondroyd ill pass it on..I think they were budgeting for something mint converted
There's a "Montague" model of Bongo that was a camper right from the factory. They look pretty nice.
You want to be spending £10K really. And you really, really want to be spending it on this beauty:
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180891950642?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 ]Mmmm, what a pretty vehicle[/url]
bongofury forum is good for tips on dealers, etc.
You want to be spending £10K really. And you really, really want to be spending it on this beauty:
Mileage: 5300! Every one of them excruciatingly embarrassing?
Discount Trucks in Newbury are excellent. Montague on the other hand... 🙁
Second vote for Discount Trucks. He's a really decent bloke, there's always a few really odd vehicles there to have a gaze at, and only £30 an hour for the mechanic.
Anyone know of any camper van dealers in the Manchester or Stockport area?
I remember a guy I used to work with bought one from a place that dealt in bongos a few years ago but google is proving fruitless
Anyone know of any camper van dealers in the Manchester or Stockport area?
http://www.bringmeabongo.com/ based in warrington
or for VW http://www.teahupoo.co.uk/ in Rawtenstall
Try this place in Staffordshire
[url= http://www.campervan.uk.com/category/mazda-bongo-ford-freda/ ]G&P Car Sales[/url]
They are on the A51 just south of Stone on the way to Cannock Chase
thanks for all the info. i think for the budget i have, i'll probably be going for a slightly ghetto t4 conversion with a drive-away awning for longer stays.
jools182
Is Stoke too far? This guy (Ian Taylor- look him up on bongo fury) is super friendly. He must have sold a couple of hundred Bongos over the years. He serviced ours every 6 months for the 6 years we had it.
Would strongly recommend:
http://www.japcarimport.co.uk/
Yes, £5k is easily doable if you stay away from VW. Our w-reg Iveco was 7k 5 years ago, we sold for (I think) 5.5k after using it for three. It was a good solid beast of a home conversion.
Look on your local gumtree and be prepared to haggle.
Have a look at this:
[url= http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/one-of-a-kind-citroen-relay-campervan-conversion/107034948 ]Cheap![/url]
Doesn't a Bongo do 25mpg at best with wind behind it though ??? Wouldn't really want a camper that cost me more to use than a flight.
I have a VW T4 1.9td and bought it with full camper conversion for £4000 at the start of the year... I have spent alot more on it as its my pride and joy but still was perfectly useable when I first got it.
1.9td engine is slow but robust and easy 40mpg
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When you say "slow" what are you doing down the motor way in something like that?
A 1.9td or 2.5tdi T4, properly set up, will give you 38 to 40 mpg driven steadily. At "motorway pace" expect 36 to 38 from a 2.5tdi.
VWs hold their price quite well, but remember others depreciate fast. If the cash is there, going the VW route, should mean you can get it back if you sell in a couple of years.
My Bongo gets up to 400 miles from a 65 litre tank (29mpg?), it isnt cheap to run, but frankly who cares if it costs an extra fiver to drive to the Lakes over something more modern. I dont use it much otherwise, no commuting etc.
I have had severe cooling issue though, that's definitely something to watch out for.
ormondroyd - how good an awning does that Base Seconds make? Does it attached to your van at all, or just as a stand alone tent?
When you say "slow" what are you doing down the motor way in something like that?
I usually sit at 65 on motorway .. slow as in when you reach a hill you will need to grab a lower gear ... I have just had the fairly common 5th gear mod putting in a taller gear to drop my revs 450rpm in 5th .. better for longer hauls and should see better mpg.
Comments on these things holding their value are correct ... you pretty much almost get back what you put in .... If you shop around you can get a good deal .. I would of expected to pay nearer £6000 for my van just got a deal as the guy needed to move it on.... its done a fault free 10 days in Europe over mountains .. love it 🙂
@Paul - Is there room to get bikes in the back for driving around with that sort of conversion, or do they go on a roof/rear carrier?
@Paul - Is there room to get bikes in the back for driving around, or do they go on a roof/rear carrier?
I use a fiamma bike rack .. best rack I have ever used and its permanently attached to rear door so bikes are locked to that over night.
I bought it from ebay for £120 and carries 3 bikes .. when not in use just folds up flat against door
Cheers for the info. 🙂