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Been there opens your eyes to some some fokes level of selfishness.
He's spent a few months sharing AirBnB's and dossing on floors in Morzine, plus student house. He can cope - and also has someone he won't invite on this trip from selfish behaviours before...
Be much better with a converted van than factory built camper. Something on a sprinter with rust treated well, basic conversion thrown in and you might do ok.
I had a Peugeot 605 I kept 18 years, Trail Rat. I drove it into my local indy one day when it had suddenly slowed on the autoroute. They took the head off the same day and showed me unequal height pistons (bent conrod) and warped head. A quick back of enevelope quote for an engine from Peugeot and fitting, I left it with them and picked it up the next week after which it ran fine till I took it to the breakers. An engine swap and not a single niggle afterwards.
The local Renault franchise gets 4.3 average from 360 reviews compared with 3.7 from 400 reviews from BMW Maidstone (the first make and town to come into my head to compare with).
As for buying tyres, tyres from a specialist are always a lot cheaper than from a main dealer or even indy. Just ask for the wheel, carry it along to the local tyre specialist then roll it back to the garage where the car is being fixed if you don't like the quote for the tyre.
I bought an Audi in Val d'Isere that needed some work on the front suspension so I could get it home safely. The local garage was too busy to do it so I asked to borrow the specific tools - no problem. The guy refused a cash tip so I went and bought a bottle of good whisky and left that.
Junior got a 25-year-old 205 to Mongolia (someone else drove it back). Dad made sure it was running OK before he left, it was desert-prepped by a mechanic in Turkey for a tiny sum and fixed by a roadside mechanic in Mongolia when he ripped a brake pipe off.
Must just have been because the wheel was on the wrong side ......(although van has french plates and driver was french speaking) but none of the 5 French garages were interested including his local that does all his other work
Maybe he should have gone to Turkey.
My 6ft something work colleague seems quite happy sleeping across his Relay (currently doing his second conversion - both have been very tidy and used the same sleeping layout).
Spare clutch cable is a good call (if it isn't hydraulic which most will be). I actually carried one bitd and had to swap it half way up an Italian mountain :-). 10 minute job with no tools but I still don't miss some aspects of '90s cars......
Renault Kangoo and a tent. You can add a camping set up but it might be cramped for more than one.
I wouldn't bother trying to fit the van out to sleep 3 - it'll be boiling hot and three up sleeping in a van will be minging. Decathlon pop up tents are the one. Better to be able to keep the bikes fully built in the van overnight (don't want to be dismantling them every night to fit them in).
I'd not try and over think it, just get a cheap van and get on with it. Getting EU recovery would be worthwhile (we used it a couple of times when road tripping round EU with LDV vans...). Peugeot and Citreon vans tend to be pretty cheap and it might make getting them patched up a bit easier - the French garages we visited were a bit bemused by LDVs.
If the van is going to be a disaster-athon you'll know within the first few hundred miles of trucking, so a couple of UK trips to settle everything in is probably worthwhile.
I’d not try and over think it
Exactly. It's easier now than it was in the 80s as most vehicles are sold in most countries. Gone are the days of having to drive 100 miles to find a Ford garage in Italy to get a part.
Buy a van (or estate car and tent), get it looked over and serviced by a trusted independent, fresh MOT, breakdown insurance if you want and let them get on with it.
My 6ft something work colleague seems quite happy sleeping across his Relay
Must be diagonal or fetal. I am not saying he is not comfortable but there is no lying flat out cross ways in a detcto / relay at over 6' unless they have suddenly increased in width by about 3" + since 2007.
Gone are the days of having to drive 100 miles to find a Ford garage in Italy to get a part.
That was still a thing in 2016🤣
Drove into a treestump and broke my Transit's sump in Finale. Managed to get it more or less back into shape with a hammer and a tube of gasket sealant. Only lost half a pint between there and Lincoln. Only found one Ford dealer en route, in Albenga, and they could get a new sump in 'less than two weeks'
Cheers all - we've decided to look at mid-size such as Citroen Dispatch, plus big awning/drive away tent and a roof box. They can get three bikes in, three across front, they are cheaper to buy, run and insure, and it better suits him on his own after summer adventures.
There's a couple of half decent looking ones around, but we're not in a rush to buy.
Sounds like a good idea, keep an eye on the height with the roofbox if they going to use the toll roads in France.
decided to look at mid-size such as Citroen Dispatch
Go for the old school bulletproof 2.0HDI version over the 1.6
we’ve decided to look at mid-size such as Citroen Dispatch, plus big awning/drive away tent and a roof box.
Is one of the party a double amputee? If not someone’s in for a very uncomfortable summer. There’s def not room for 3 adults with legs in a Dispatch.
There’s def not room for 3 adults with legs in a Dispatch.
Won't really matter which van they buy the passengers are in for a torrid time.
How ever when I was their age a group of 9 friends would go to Les get in a 9 seater land rover. Bikes on the roof.
My idea of hell but they were willing.to put up with the discomfort for the riding.
Exactly - if the price of a summer or EWS, riding and climbing the eastern Alps is cramming into a tent, snug in a van seat, and generally other dirtbag behaviour, they seem to be up for it.
That was still a thing in 2016🤣
Drove into a treestump and broke my Transit’s sump in Finale. Managed to get it more or less back into shape with a hammer and a tube of gasket sealant. Only lost half a pint between there and Lincoln. Only found one Ford dealer en route, in Albenga, and they could get a new sump in ‘less than two weeks’
Aren't Transit engines still all PSA? A Citroën /Pug dealer may have been a better bet.
Aren’t Transit engines still all PSA? A Citroën /Pug dealer may have been a better bet.
2 points. His old transit was ancient wasn't it.
Also just because the vehicle shares the engine code. It may not share the sump. It's quite common to have specific sumps to clearance drive trains and subframes.
Whatever they get they will enjoy it. Once you leave it doesn't really matter.
Also just because the vehicle shares the engine code. It may not share the sump. It’s quite common to have specific sumps to clearance drive trains and subframes.
Just going by my experience. I'd still ask the question before writing it off though.
Apart from rust, what else do I need to look out for on Transit's?
Abigales boyfriend is just about to put his van up for sale. I can get you some info if you want
As long as it is under £5k....!
There’s a couple of half decent looking ones around, but we’re not in a rush to buy.
Then buy a Haynes manual and a minimal toolset for odd jobs on it
This is the link to it recent service and MOT
Ive not seen it as he comes up in a car when he visits, it is down South
Apart from rust, what else do I need to look out for on Transit’s?
The rust thats hiding behind the rust you can see. My cosseted 07plate ex welfare van that was regularly waxoyl'd and cleaned underneath in winter secretly rusted to bits. Mechanically was okay they'll need to take a spare starter motor with them though - mine used to eat them every year as the DMF was slowly filling them with metal swarf.
Apart from rust, what else do I need to look out for on Transit’s?
Just that. But there will enough to keep you busy!
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Gear selector units on FWD ones. Either a couple of hundred for a new one and an hour or so labour, or fifteen quid for the bearing which seizes and about six hours labour.
As above, starter motor, but a cheap and easy replacement on a FWD one, harder to get at on RWD as the engine is turned the other way.
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Brake discs are not a DIY job unless you have an air gun, 450Nm bolt torque (for some stupid reason they are behind the hubs) Pads are a doddle though.
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Handbrakes seize (may not be a Transit specific problem, I've always had dodgy handbrakes whatever vehicle I've had)
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Rear light clusters let water in, sends the electrics whappy. Easy fix though.
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But mostly it's rust.
Rear light clusters let water in, sends the electrics whappy. Easy fix though.
Ah yes, I remember that from when we had 4 at work from brand new...
This is one that has popped up - MOT history is not too bad, and no mention of rust on MOT.
I have a Trafic van and you would have to be pretty creative to get 3 bikes and 3 blokes sleeping in the back of one.
Even a LWB is not as big as people have in their head 🙂
We did three people in an L1 H2 Ducato for years. The bikes were hung from the roof when sleeping. Two people slept on the floor and the third across the van on a bed about 40cm off the floor with foot room for the other two under it. I'm not saying it was especially comfortable but it was practical if you don't mind life on all fours. comfortable was the front seats and as anyone who's owned a Ducato will know that's a pretty miserable place to be for long.
So where are the bikes going while the lads are sleeping in that Transit?
I'd favour Tracey's Vivaro, keeping the bikes in the van and the people in tents.
I'd be tempted with a panel van with a raised bed and bikes go in underneath. Only issue with that though, is if they get lucky with the local ladies, they will be fighting for the bed space...so an awning/tent would be handy to let the others sleep!
I'd also be tempted to pack some camping stoves and pots/pans and have that as my camper bit - save money to spend on the van - 3 seats up front and get them to decide if it is 2 (maybe 3) or 3 (maybe 4) as that determines number of seats and what is then available.
Panel van so at least the kit is hidden as no windows, bed can be 3/4s up the available height as even lying on side there should be height available which means bikes and kit can go underneath.
I'd suggest an alpine-hut style of sleeping - all of them in 1 bed in their sleeping bags sleeping head-to-toe - saves space OR a tent/awning that can allow sleeping outside if preferred.
As much fully comprehensive insurance as they can get and also as much personal insurance as they can - MTBing is considered a high risk sport and isn't always covered by standard 'holiday' insurance so make sure they get full cover for all the shenanigans they will be getting up to.
Make sure they practice changing tyres on the vehicle and that they know where all the important bits of the vehicle are i.e. fuse boxes/bulbs and how to replace them/tyre spares and how to use them. Get them to regularly check the oil levels and as long as they aren't racing the van everywhere it should do them well.
Sounds like an awesome adventure...it'll be brilliant.
The plan is not three in the van - it is to use a large drive away awning or our existing tent alongside. There would be one sleeping in van - and it looks like much of the summer may only be two of them.
They would need to:
- get three people, three bikes and kit inside to travel.
- (maybe) sleep one person + a load of kit in van, bikes and people could then be in the driveaway awning, locked to the van.
I think if the transit looks OK and drives OK it has some potential for a project .
I think the bed would be a lot better up in the air with space for bikes and gear underneath, at the moment there is a lot of unused space at the back.
In 6 years we have never used the sink in our van. We have a small plastic sink bowl and ideally wash pots outside.
The unit behind the double seat I would potentially take out, utilise elsewhere, unless its hiding something and have the facility for flipping the front double over to rear facing when parked up.
I cant see from the photos but there is also scope for storage above the front seats either with a shelf or cargo net.
When Abigale travels, most of the time, cooking, eating and socializing are all done in the awning.
When she comes with us she has her own space up in the roof 😃
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Practicalities point, be aware that GHIC or whatever it is now called does not include Switzerland (or Norway I think), so if your going to need medical treatment make sure you have insurance, or can get across the border.....
The plan is not three in the van – it is to use a large drive away awning or our existing tent alongside. There would be one sleeping in van – and it looks like much of the summer may only be two of them.
Where are they planning on doing this ?
French campsites ain't cheap
The unit behind the double seat I would potentially take out, utilise elsewhere, unless its hiding something and have the facility for flipping the front double over to rear facing when parked up.
One of those things that's very easily written down. Great fun actually doing it safely and double passenger seats are even less fun to Sit on for relaxing than they are for traveling in
Talk to me some more, oh van experts.
We've seen two - one was an absolute nail, I'm convinced the pictures were taken three years ago!
Another:
1. some rust, mostly treated OK, lots of new suspension bits and brakes. The remaining rust included inner front wheel arch, passenger side. A small hole and a 5cm patch of rust. Is this MOT fail?
2. It had a really notchy gearchange - simple linkage issues or ....?
Model of van ?
Unlikely inner wheel arch on passenger side to be a fail .....won't be near steering or brakes or a body mount.
But if your seeing rust. There's more rust you can't see.
Transit 350 - med WB and high roof.
Everything at this age has rust - is more about how much we can delay it by...
If it has a years ticket
And is a transit.
Treat it as disposable anything else is a bonus. But trust me. There's more rust than you can see on a if your seeing rust on a transit.
They disolve in the rain.
Notchy gearboxes on transits is generally cables and freeing off the pivot.
Probably worse left to right than up and down ?
Gear boxes going don't generally get stiff they whiny or grind.
Probably worse left to right than up and down ?
Yes, and first.
Hmm, I think it's one to leav. The owner has treated some rust, but missed a few obvious bits. A few other things makes me think it's not an old but cared for, more run on a shoestring.
Hmm, I think it's one to leave
Gearbox issue on a Transit? Could be the bearing on the selector unit.
Either a couple of hundred for a new selector and an hour or so to do, or fifteen quid for the bearing and five to six hours to do. Much easier to get at on the FWD ones than the RWD version. Very helpful step by step picture guide on the Transit forum.
I would describe that problem more as very stiff to change rather than notchy though.
(EDIT) What Trail Rat said basically
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/singlespeed-transit-aaarrrgh-gearbox-advice-please/
Cheers, we will walk away..
My cosseted waxoyld 2 owner 07plate looked mint from the outside but the inner sills were shot when I scrapped it