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04 T5 1.9TDi 6 seat kombi
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Next steps... insulation, electric hookup and bed
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VW T4 bought it 18 months ago wasn't cheap but it will hold its price well
it's the 2.5 tdi and is better than my old car(honda accord 1.8) on juice.
It has 5 seats with a bulkhead to keep the dirty stuff away from the clean etc.
Will not go back to a car as long as I am riding bikes, the kids love it and it's a pleasure to drive on long trips.
Rob.
Another T4 - ours is a 1995 Westfalia Poptop with LHD - comfy, well kitted out, will do 75 all day and get about 30-35 mpg. Second vehicle AND holiday home. Love it.
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Heres ours. Vauxhall vivaro. Factory fittedn bulkhead brill as can just fill up the rear with kit. 6 seats so good for taking kids +friends. If was to get another might consider lwb version.
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Mmm, seems to have turned into a bit of a vw frenzy, dont understand at all, have these people never driven a transit ?
2001 Specialist converted MWB Merc Sprinter. Nothing changed inside except some fleecy seat covers 8) , 6,000 miles this year 4 weeks and various weekends. New injectors + bits @ £900. 30mpg. I wanted something a bit bigger and more comfortable than a simple van, and I love this. Has double bed, cooker, oven, fridge, freezer, hot water, bathroom, loo, central heating plus plenty of space; took 4 or us plus bikes inside to the alps no bother.
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(last one courtesy Dr P)
Mmm, seems to have turned into a bit of a vw frenzy, dont understand at all, have these people never driven a transit ?
Yes.
Didn't like it.
Bought a T4.
Sorry
Mmm, seems to have turned into a bit of a vw frenzy, dont understand at all, have these people never driven a transit ?
Yes.
Didn't like it.
Bought a T4.
Sorry
I am fancying a transit
owt to look out for?
Iveco Daily! Wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a bike/camper van as it drives like a truck, unweildy and bumpy, but it spends more time towing a horsebox and apart from the Merc Sprinter, its about the only 3.5t van that will tow the box legally.
Bodged up a quick interior for a summer holiday, but now being done 'properly'. The rear is split 70:30 into toilet and bike garage but not got any pics of that.
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If I didn't need the towing capacity, I'd choose Ducato/Relay/Boxer. Transits are OK but there are the flywheel and injector issues to be aware of. Also, the LDV Maxus is worth a look as prices are low for a relatively modern van...although it doesn't look very sleek and modern, once fitted with windows etc they look quite smart. (just remembered, SuperstarOpponents has posted a pic of his silver one already)
I use a small wheel base Vauxall Vivaro now looking for a Long wheel base
What about something like a Citroen Dispach? I'd need something as a daily driver as well as bike transport, so economy and ease of use for things car parks handy.
An alternative to Despatch/Skudo is the Transit Connect, though it seems to have a love it or hate it driving position so make sure you get a good test drive.
No pics sorry, but had a FIAT Scudo Combinato(like the eurotaxi) so it has windows, for 4 years.
Been to the south of France 4 times, Lots of solo camping, no problems other than it had a big appetite for brake pads and pins, when working in Kielder
Holy sh1t - £7900 for a wee 37 y/o VW you couldn't swing a cat in. What was it brand new - about half that?
ok they look the (retro) part but waaay overvalued imo and I'd guess they need a lot of tlc.
Looked at the smaller VW seriously in the past(for commercial use) but always too small, high load area, overpriced. Had several LWB Hi Top Traffics / Masters - 35k a year for serious work / hauling duties plus another 5k leisure on top - never missed a beat up to 200k and even after this nothing horrendous. 2.5dti 3 seats in the front, 2+1 in the back, twin sliding doors, car like - could sit at 85 all day fully loaded. Would make a superb camper conversion
T4 converted commercial van. From Mr Clink up there ^ at 50k on the clock.
75,000 on it now. Love driving it.
Have fitted an Eberspacher diesel heater for winter trips - bit of a money pit of an upgrade - I think Ive got an unreliable one. But great when working.
Takes 4 bikes if wanted, although we take 2+ kid trailer/kid bike.
Love it to bits. Live in it for 2-3 months of the year on the continent.
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55 reg Transporter LWB. Had it since earlier this year. Why we never bought a van before, i'll never know!
Ex parts van from work, done over 100k but it was very cheap (employee benefit for a change!)
Full metal bulkhead, ply lined inside, seperate 'garage' under the tailgate for the bikes (will take 4 DH bikes comfortably) and space down the side for all the essentials for a race weekend (camping equipment/gazeebo/bike spares/tyres etc)
Front has over garage storage for riding gear, seperate shelving down the offside for a few other bits. Still plenty of room for toolkits, food storage and the like, and still space to get changed inside. Built the insides ourselves, its still work in progress at the moment as we refine through use, but its getting better. Would like to remove the bulkhead and chuck a single seat in the back so we could carry 4 people properly then, along with a full side zip awning.
100% recommended. Transporters tend to cost a bit more to buy, but even if I didn;t get lucky with mine through work I would have stumped up for one I think.
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T3 Westfalia, sleeps four, fridge for cool beer, hob for tea, stereo and speakers.
What more do you need?
And yes Brown is sooo the colour 😉
stoner - what awning is that and is it on a Reimo Multirail? (sorry to OP a bit off topic)
I had no idea i needed a van until i read this thread.
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213bhp of T5 lovliness. 5 People, loads of bikes, drives like a car. Proving brilliant for biking through Scottish weather.
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Oh boy, that's my dream ride but in long version 🙂
forge - Its a reimo Charly on a reimo multirail. Not easy to get now from Reimo UK I dont think, but easy to fabricate your own by sewing some piping cord into a seam on a tarp for sliding in the rail and stamping some brass eyelets in the corners for some poles.
just been delivered a VW Caddy Maxi at work, looks ideal apart from having carpet in the back, but 5 people and bikes with just front wheels off I reckon, no worries
won't beat our Land Rover 130 for uplifts though
What do you guys use to insulate and line the inside of the walls of your vans
need to warm it up and has anyone added a Leisure battery in the
van?
just got my hi ace today 🙂 i'm going to start building shelfing/ seating etc over the next few days. I'll put some pics up when i am done.
which did you get? price, spec, miles, etc?
[i]What do you guys use to insulate and line the inside of the walls of your vans[/i]
http://www.spray-insulation.co.uk/product%20range.htm
The SL 420 pack will do a LWB van.
Seems expensive, but if you want a camper its miles better than rockwool/fibreglass, which absorbs water and encourages rust, and can slump to the bottom behind the ply lining. The foam adheres to the metal so no chance of condensation.
Don't consider using spray foam of the canned variety...impossible to use, absorbs water and is flammable!
stoner - that looks spot will look out for that, would prefer a commercial solution as it will be more in keeping with conversion 🙂
Leisure battery and a load of ciggy lighter sockets in the back. Insulated and carpeted throughout. LED lights run forever without flattening the battery.
If my redundancy comes through and I set up on my own, it will be one of these for work/family/dog/bike duties.
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Not [i]the[/i] most practical, but suits my needs enough to justify me getting one (just).
they are wicked!
Running a Trafic 9 seater minibus here, with the back row of seats removed it takes 6 and 6 bikes easily (ok front wheels removed)and plenty of kit. Couldn't sleep 6 though!
any issues with Traffics, i know vivaros are prone to shit bits
navaras are ace, but lots of niggly probs. nothing major just small issues. had mine about 2.5 years now, if it's near the end of warranty it's defo worth the extended warranty. paid for ours(800 quid for two years extra) then door locking system went, it should have cost 600 notes.
if you get a back cover (snugtop etc like shown in the pic above) don't expect it to be water tight though.
trafic are ace to, had mine about 4.5 years now and only small problems like bulbs gone and a small issue with the radio whilst under warranty, had a service last week and needed a new track rod end, but thats the only thing major(ish) for a 5 year old van (about £120)
rob - trafics vivaros and primastars are all made in the same factory (i know) in luton (i think) and use all the same parts apart from a few cosmetic bits.
The only big problems with them are gearbox related. Walk if the gears don't all feel nice and find another. Also known to blow clutch actuator bits as well but these aren't that expensive to sort.
loving my t5 kombi - great to drive. just bought some alloys from tyremen (good) having first tried to buy from DP-motorsport (very bad and have stole £700 from me- bastards)
anyway, love the t5. having some issues with the egr valve but for 112,000 miles it's going really well.
perfect for any outdoor activities
I had a Subaru Sumo for about four years
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Don't laugh, 🙂 it was a whole 1.2L, did 75mph, loads of mpg and it had switchable four wheel drive. It never got stuck in any wet camping fields and it had two sliding doors, a big tailgate to shelter under and loads of room for bikes. I got seven bikes in bags/boxes in it once and my Dawes tandem would fit in it with the front wheel off.
That's not me in the picture I'd like to point out...
What van have you got?
Merc Vito 110CDi
what have you done inside to improve it?
Lined all panels with roofing flashing tape, insulated, ply lined and carpeted to vastly reduce noise.
Broke out the jigsaw on the door panels and fitted decent sound system and sub.
Built a removable bed that sits across wheel arch boxes with storage underneath.
Problems?
Usual wear and tear but main one with Vitos is rust. Got some spots coming on the doors. Not great.
Seats aren't very comfy and adjustment is weird.
Dash electric failures not too uncommon - £250 for a warrantied repair.
recommended?
I love it, commute in it daily, fit loads of push bikes in or 3 motocross bikes. Great for tip runs or buying new 'white goods' too!
Currently torn between spending a bit on lowering it, remap, seat upholstering and rust touch up or saving up for a T5 Sportline.
Swallows DH bikes with ease:
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that looks cool!
bump
What is the usual insulation method behind ply panelling?
been looking at minibuses meself and quite fancy the T5 transporter traffic.
the kombi are really cheaply put together and no aircon
I have heard that the 175hp one is not very torquey though.
and they are abit epensive but maybe re sale better so not really losing money?
nasher I've got a 174bhp T5 and it's a heap fun and very torquey though the band that the torque is available is quite narrow so it needs to be in the right gear at the right revs.
t5 transporter traffic? Do you mean t5 shuttle?
The 174bhp ones are very quick 0-60 in about 8secs and no shortage of torque ever in the one I've been in. The 130 bhp version is the best to own all round (I had one).
Kombi's aren't cheaply put together and as with all the vans AC, electric windows etc are all options (well part of options packs) which some have and some don't. Mine had aircon but no electric pack as the electric wing mirrors are a fortune to replace if you clip them. The shuttle is built to the same specs so if you want anything much better you'll be looking at a full caravelle which is a lot more money!
Residuals on T5's are pretty good but not what t4's were.