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After some advice, I'm looking at getting a bigger van. Ideally one I could use to transport bikes inside, sleep a dog and 2 people. More swayed towards day van than full blown camper with shower etc.
Currently the favourite option is a ford transit l2 h3, the total length isn't far off my work van so will fit outside my house and in parking spaces.
Any ideas of things I should be looking at? Any inspiration for me?
Thanks
I'm just back from a trip in our new to us nv400 . It's l2h2
2 people and a dog should be a doddle in anything.
I'm struggling a bit as we are 4 now and I've got 4 traveling seats 2 in front and 2 in back
Coming from a 7.4m.iveco race van it's been a struggle but I guess if your going the other way anythings an improvement over something small.
I can sleep 3 . I could get a 4th in if I really wanted to but I can't ever see us sleeping in the van as a family. We have an awning for that. But I wanted at least a bed for events like the puffer but most of all like you I wanted a day van for days at the beach- the loch- the park - the hills where ever we went to have cold drinks , fresh food (kept chilled) and the ability to cook.
Keeping under 6m makes ferry's far more palatable if your that way inclined
Id avoid the transit's as they all rust badly. Always have. Almost anyone makes a less rusting van.
. Dis broke
..... Double post
As per normal, I'll recommend what I have (and have had for 12 years) - a SWB VW transporter. Current setup is:
- 3 seats up front
- 3 seats in the back
- pop top and Amdro kombi bed on the back of the back seats
- basic'ish electrics setup (lights, USB/12v sockets off a leisure battery/split charger setup mounted under the drivers seat)
What does this give me? A range of options:
- seats 6 + 4 bikes comfortably. Would take more bikes if all wheels came off and you did some top & tailing.
- sleeps 4 (+ a child if I threw a kids bunk across the front seats) + my dog wherever he decides he wants to sleep
- with the kombi bed setup I can get 2 bikes down the side of the bed with front wheels off/bars turned or under the bed with both sets of wheels off
- awning rail on the outside means its dead easy to attach a tarp type shelter or a driveaway awning (we never cook in the van anymore - we never did even when it had a "proper" camper interior. Cadac outside/in the awning was way better!).
I've a XLWB H3 Ducato.
Ducato is wider than all other vans. I've a bed across the back above the garage. 188x145cm.
Rust seems to be less of an issue than with Sprinters, Crafters and Transits.
I’m currently lying in my king sized bed in the back of my ford transit l2h3. With my large ginger dog sharing said bed. We got this version because my husband is 6ft3 so he can stand upright. I have both my gravel bike and my e-bike in the van underneath me. Been on the move now for a week and a half and currently up round Lossiemouth.
I’m fortunate that my job is fully remote normally from my bedroom so I have tabletop and monitor setup with a puck on the roof and my router connected so I’ve got WiFi.
Yeah they rust, we keep on top of it and got one in good condition. It’s currently at around 150k on the clock and needs the glow plugs changing and is struggles to start in the cold. It’s not glamorous and doesn’t have a shower or bathroom but it works and didn’t cost the earth to do ourselves.
With my van now sold the hunt begins, already looked at two vans that looked immaculate but were actually nails.
So any more recommendations of vans under 5.6m long that you can stand in?
