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Barn door for me. The only vehicle I regret selling is my Berlingo. I was lucky to have been in a position where there was only really ever me in the van. It was just so easy, I have slept in the Berlingo and it’s obviously no where near as comfortable or as practical as the T6, but for one night it was fine. Both my vans are diesel, more than happy with diesel. Comfort wise, the T6 is very comfortable inside, probably as comfortable as my main car (quite a nice Merc), the Berlingo didn’t have the mod cons, but was absolutely fine. I used to drive to Norwich from MK stopping off at Thetford after work for a short ride, I could change in the back, as soon as I was finished bike in the back, no faff, and away I went.
Berlingo just peeking out in the below picture.
And just to annoy TTHEW…Aspirational vans with mountain bikes attached….
I’ve only just learnt how easy it is to post pictures so every thread I’ve read tonight I’ve added pics, sorry!
I'm not annoyed, I just forgot to put a 😁 at the end of my comment to demonstrate I wasn't being entirely serious.
Your VW is nice too, but the photo demonstrates the main problem with campers in that you can't put bikes and stuff inside because they're full of furniture!
I’ve currently got a vw t5 with a campervan conversion, we’ve had it 10 years or so and not used it as much as a camper as we’d like over the last few. It was brilliant as a bike transporter before the conversion. It’s also looking like I’m going to need to use it as a second car for the commute, so thinking of downsizing… Other complication is I need to drive to start the bike commute 2-3 days a week, so seats down faff in a car isn’t ideal. Struggling to work out what would be best as a replacement, Caddy, connect, belingo/partner/combo, etc. Ideally 2-3 year old.
Petrol vs diesel (prefer petrol)
Barns doors vs tailgate (prefer tailgate)
Panel van vs van based car (prefer van)
But can’t get a petrol panel van with a tailgate for love nor money.
Any thoughts or pearls of wisdom? Cheers
If my van was my sole vehicle I'd want something other than euro6 diesel. Shorter journeys running the kids around can't be the best idea for a more complex engine. Petrol or electric would suit that use better. I'll be using our Transit Custom as my sole vehicle sometime in the next few years for exactly that use though...
Tailgate fanclub member here. Took ages to find a T5 for our first van, best purpose is sheltering from in the rain. Specced our current van from factory, including tailgate.
Panel van suited us better than the people carrier equivalent. Less worry about turfing stuff into the back of a double-cab with its ply-lined interior than the plusher "de-vanified" interior you get in a van-based car. Compromised in ambience, if that's your thing, but doesn't bother me.
At times I debate if a nice big estate car would be a better all-rounder for us instead of a double-cab Transit-sized van: better economy, better performance, easier parking, more comfort. However, a van's just too useful to us. Secure bike storage. Changing room for my daughters post muddy rides and SUPing (they have MUCH more modesty than me). Tip runs. Mini-kitchen on family days out. Camping trips without worrying what you're (not) bringing - just put it all in.
Unless you’ve got one of those Uber rare midroof transits with the ugly 3/4 tailgate and still not enough room to stand up to put your keck’s on 🙂
I followed yesterday a High-Mid roof LWB transit with that freaky-deaky 3/4 tailgate. I properly had to look twice to work out that yes I was seeing a 'unicorn' - a transit you can actually stand up in, but is not in jumbo long flava, and with a tailgate. 'Perfect' bikers camper van...
Aspirational vans with mountain bikes attached….
Nah, it's SWB 😉
Is there an option you've not thought about - re-convert the van? Our T5 was bought as a camper conversion and it was brilliant for years but at the start of this year we decided it just wasn't useful anymore. Removed the camper interior from the back and sold that. Bought a set of kombi seats with the floor, fixings etc and spent a weekend fitting them all myself (pretty straightforward). Ended up being quids in as the new seats were only £500 vs the £1500+ we sold the camper interior for.
The van now sleeps 4 still (had a pop top so obviously kept that but also have an Amdro kombi bed attached to the back double seat) but seats 6 and has loads of room in the back for 3 bikes with wheels on or 4 bikes + luggage with wheels off. Roof bars for surf boards/roof box too and the kombi seats are easily removed for being a proper van. Best thing we did...
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Couldn't do this with a camper conversion in there! Useful to be able to forklift pallets of tiles straight in there (which you also couldn't do with a tailgate 😉 )
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At times I debate if a nice big estate car would be a better all-rounder for us instead of a double-cab Transit-sized van: better economy, better performance, easier parking, more comfort. However, a van’s just too useful to us. Secure bike storage. Changing room for my daughters post muddy rides and SUPing (they have MUCH more modesty than me). Tip runs. Mini-kitchen on family days out. Camping trips without worrying what you’re (not) bringing – just put it all in.
I often think the exact same thing. Could easily flog our van and for half the money get ourselves a 8/9 year old E-Class. But vans are ace... I'd be more tempted to sell our other car and buy another (smaller) van and have two!
I often think the exact same thing. Could easily flog our van and for half the money get ourselves a 8/9 year old E-Class. But vans are ace… I’d be more tempted to sell our other car and buy another (smaller) van and have two!
My less-bikey friends can't understand why I 'put up' with the compromises of a van for everyday driving, but I wouldn't be without one. Hard to rationalise! About 10 years ago we had Mrs a11y's car, T5 camper, and a nice e90 330i. So few miles were being covered, we decided to get rid of one vehicle - only stipulation was the van HAD to stay! So I lost my nice car.
Mrs a11y's onboard with it too and considering an e-Berlingo as her next vehicle although that's a long time away.
not used it as much as a camper as we’d like over the last few. It was brilliant as a bike transporter before the conversion
Erm, unconvert it? Take the kitchen and R&R bed out which I presume live in there, put the back seats in, have it as a nice 5 seats MPV with a huge boot that will swallow a bike easily.
And get a few quid back selling the removed 'bits' ?
That's three of us agreeing on something!
spooky_b329
I guess the conversion is a modular type kit that’s been fitted? Why don’t you strip it out and sell the camper kit so it’s back to being a bike van?
Yeah, I had both a TT and a T5 when I was in the UK and had to sell one. I kept the T5 because it was both more economical and nicer on longer journeys and had space for the dogs. Never a better choice made on vehicles...
The T5 was a bit battered and scared the other drivers on my commute to Cambridge though. Far more forecful than the TT. Damn. I miss my van.
Knew I'd seen this somewhere but couldn't find it, but it's just popped up randomly in my IG feed. Here you go, solution to the tailgate Vs barn door dilemma
I realised I never followed up this post..
I ended up selling my battered 2010 T5 for a healthy sum of money and bought a petrol Citroen Berlingo van. SWB, 2020 with 11000 miles on the clock.
I think it ticks most of the boxes, small enough to park easily in height restricted car park, better mpg than the old converted T5 (42 vs 37mpg), petrol vs diesel, really nice to drive, bikes inside rather than outside (can fit 1 big bike in wheels on, two bikes in with front wheels off), can still get changed inside if the weather is rubbish, practical for moving stuff, really nice but not enough to be too precious about it.
I just need to keep an eye on the timing belt.