Van-curious – Talk to me about them

My normal cars are 2 seater convertables so I need something for when I have people other than just the wife to transport.

I need something that I can stick a muddy mountain bike in.

I need something I can take life’s crap to the tip in.

Currently I run a plus cab pickup for these duties but I am thinking about shopping it in for a van. The trouble is deciding which van and what configuration.

I quite like the idea of having a sleeping option so if we go away overnight we can but not sure if that compromises the muddy bike and crap for the tip too much.

It needs to seat at least 4 which rules out most simple vans but they can’t be that hard to convert can they?

Please share your thoughts, wisdom, photos and experiences.

I wouldnt be without my van.

Its just a little pug partner. Ive had it for 7 years now. Need some building supplys- launch it in. Going biking launch it in. Going to puffer – sleep in back. Its just handy – also means im rarely designated driver for anything.

One downside, tip runs could be an issue. They are not for me anymore ive registered my van with the tip as private vehicle

I also have a pick up 4×4 for winter (ok its a landy )

If i could only have one it would be my pug. Its so much more practical in the real world and unassuming, can leave it anywhere. I hate parking the landy up at isolated carparks when i ride/run.

I will be upsizing soon though most likely to a pug boxer semi high top lwb or similar for a camper conversion. I wiuldnt get top set on buying a 5/6 seater factory van as they tend to be rare pricy and the seats generally are a shit and be located in a crpa place for camper conversion.

I plan to spend a good chunk to get a solid base van run it for 6 months or so get a feel for it then get a type/pull tested rnr bed(budget 3-4 grand for that) to fit in the back and spinny front seats. With table between To give a starting point for the rest of the camper

I was using a Vauxhall combo for all my biking and chucking stuff in the back moments however the tips in our county will not allow any commercial vehicles in even if insured X as private use only ie non commercia, not even offering to pay for 4x a year tip access. This meant filthy get up either mine or the wife’s nice cars with tiny impractical boots.
Result is I’ve dropped to one vehicle again that I can chick loads of stuff in and use daily,a five seat Fiat Doblo Mylife and a Rhino Liner for the rear for dirty bikes and kit/tip runs.

I’ve (just) got a Ford Tourneo Custom 8 seater. All the rear 6 seats can be removed to give a transit size window van.
Drives nicely and is still classed as a car on the V5.

Great to be able to chuck whatever I want in and head off….

VW t5 Caravelle here. Like the tourneo above, it’s a car for the purposes of tax, insurance, road tolls, speed limits, mot’s and it’s as quiet, refined, nice to drive and comfortable as most other MPV’s. The clincher for me was that it has curtain airbags all round so safer for the kids than the alternatives. but when you need it to be, it’s a van for going to the dump, biking, camping or even picking up sheet material for diy purposes.

A bit more spendy than a basic kombi van and you’ll have to tolerate the STW Communist party telling you you’re a member of the bourgeois for owning one, but a brilliant do it all vehicle.

I need something I can take life’s crap to the tip in.

be careful with a van/pickup. You might need a permit which gives X amount of visits per year or you might be banned completely from your local tip to protect against commercial waste.

Something with windows is normally seen as a domestic vehicle so gets around it. You could also get a small trailer.

Should’ve bought my Maxi-Life

I get 20 trips a year to tip with my van. If they ban you contact your MP if it’s your only personal vehicle. Useful for solving that problem.

I mentioned it to MrsWCA and she thought I meant I was selling the pick-up the daft bint!

Perhaps that was a poor choice of words. The van is now looking distinctly less likely

🙁

You can’t get in my local tip after 5 for vans. They all have a folded £10 near the drivers window just as they are passing the fella that asks what’s in the back. Recon something fishy is going on.

Well, Van Morrison is always good, if a little aging hippy but still good. Van McCoy, brilliant and funky. Camper van beethoven. Probably the best

Vans rule!
My first car was VW ’79 bay window, the last of the air cooled classics.
Since then
2 escort panel vans
VW T5
2 Hiace
Now a Mercedes Vito with a zillion miles on it and surprisingly no rust!
Driven most other makes, shape and size vans for work and bike trips at one time or another.
They are all cool and just get better.
I’ve no idea what I will get next but it CANNOT have indicators in the mirrors!!!!

Important! Commercial vehicles are subject to low emission zones.
There’s talk even Euro 5 engines are well above current recommendations.
I think vehicles like Mercedes Viano (vito with Windows and seats) etc. are classed as private vehicles.

I’ve got a Vito Dualiner (long). Finished like a car inside, nice to drive, seats 5, rear seats unclip in seconds to give massive load area.

Trafic SWB here. Converted to a camper. Couldn’t imagine life without one now. Even a basic van would be perfect.

Fair point big ad.

Does anyone know how that affects camper conversions (ones that are officially done with dvla or vosa or who ever changes te paperwork.

I know if you convert a commercial landy to a csw even wi 100% the correct bits or even if its a factory csw someone bought as a commercial vehicle (for tax purposes) it cannot be lez compliant…….

Is tis the case with a camper conversion ?

I mentioned it to MrsWCA and she thought I meant I was selling the pick-up the daft bint!

🙂 n+1 for cars too !

Is it the concept of yet another vehicle or the fact its a van ? Could look at small 4×4 with removable seats or Berlingo style vehicle as they are not “vans”. Could sell one 2 seater or swap pickup for a 4×4

It was a bit of both but mainly because she knows I had a hankering to use the pickup chassis as the basis for this

and she is fed up of my ‘silly’ cars.

Have had a few vans over the years.. notable ones were a ex police transit crew cab seats in the centre and a boxed off section in the rear for “stuff” wad remapped and flew… and was brilliant on fuel.

Have a transit connect 16 plate now.. can fit 2 dh bikes in at a push and comftably takes my 6″4 frame was fantastic on fuel and very nippy until i fitted a roofrack…

Mrs J wants a doblo / blingo/ tournea connect so she can have 4 seats and/or room for a bike in the back.
The ford does look nice.