Getting an upgraded van...help

[REC]

Build your own on an L3H2 Sevel base Ducato, Relay or Boxer, (what most PVC converters use). You'll get a brand new, well insulated, good spec and as you want van for less than £30K.

This was original plan but now have no house to do it outside, just a renovation project in UK so time and space mean this is what we have to do especially as there seems to be a fair choice of the layout we want. Think we will just take our time, haggle hard if we see what we like and accept that the specs may be less than a self build!

 

[mark61]

Won't they all be LHD though? Contacted Bundesvan Bob who was really helpful but couldn't get RHD which is what we need.

Yes, thats true, no good if you need RHD.

 

[groyne]

Don't know about under £30000, most new 3500KG van with a few options and VAT are around the £30000 mark.

Don't know where you are shopping, but I got a brand new factory order, 2.0l Euro 6 L3H2 Peugeot Boxer Professional, with extras, for £18K all in. £8k to £10K (depending what you want), for the build, that's less than £30k.

Won't they all be LHD though? Contacted Bundesvan Bob who was really helpful but couldn't get RHD which is what we need.

The British market is so small, compared to the continent, that it's not worth German manufacturers costs in retooling. That's why any RHD vans the do make for this market invariably have the sliding door on the drivers side.

 

[mark61]

Don't know where you are shopping, but I got a 2.0l Euro 6 L3H2 Peugeot Boxer Professional, with extras, for £18K all in. £8k to £10K (depending what you want), for the build, that's less than £30k.




The British market is so small, compared to the continent, that it's not worth German manufacturers costs in retooling. That's why any RHD vans the do make for this market invariably have the sliding door on the drivers side.

Thats a very good price. You talking new though, or nearly new?

 

[Obanboy666]

Thats a very good price. You talking new though, or nearly new?

My Renault Master based Devon Conversion pvc was a 15th month old used base vehicle that I saw in Devon’s factory before conversion with 15,000 miles on the clock.
Devon fitted a new conversion and I saved £13,000 versus the same conversion on a new vehicle. So obviously we’ll worth buying a nearly new van as the saving must be considerable if Devon can sell them £13,000 less than for a new base vehicle.

 

[mark61]

Sure you can save a fortune by buying used or virtually new, a pre reg van, 10 miles on clock will be many thousands cheaper than new. If you want a few options like more power than usual panel van, auto, etc you'll be looking for a good while though. Never disputed you can save a fortune buying used.

 

[Deleted user 48797]

Depends on your budget but Hymer do 2 sub 6m Vans, the 314 and 374.

 

[Jenrai]

Have a look at Wildax Motorhomes in Yorkshire. The Aurora would probably fit the bill or I read somewhere if you buy the Relay van they will convert it for you.

I have just ordered the Leisure XL from them, they are very friendly and helpful.

 

[Goggles]

The vline 620's have compressor fridges which are useless off grid and most have a problem with 'wonky windows'. Some of them also had leaky roofs. There is a facebook website for vline owners.

 

[groyne]

compressor fridges which are useless off grid

Unless you are staying put for a week in a carpark or layby and only have a 100AH battery, there's nothing wrong with compressor fridges. Backed up by a decent charging system, battery storage and Solar they are way better than 3 way fridges.

 

[exwindsurfer]

Goggles I’ve ran a compressor fridge for nearly five years off grid so I think you talking out you bum mate They are way more efficient than a three way fridge

 

[onemanand2dogs]

first time poster but lurked a bit ....

We want
Fixed bed or rear lounge which can be left as made up bed .not overcab or drop down bed
Two extra seat belts,
A dinette at front so that we can have visitors and if one goes to bed there is still somehere for the other to sit.
Shower room or washroom
No more than 6m
euro6 engine?

we have been looking for a while and our spec was very similar to yours - however as much as i looked i couldn't find a 6m van which i could sleep comfortably in as i'm just over 6ft so a transverse bed was no good. Tried the Adria SLS with its slide out which is an interesting concept - a huge bed but concerned that manually winding in the slide out if there was a problem was very difficult - in fact nobody seemed to know how to ... and it was very rattly.

so we have gone for an Adria Twin SLX. actually gone for the 2017 model - it has ticked all of the boxes and more. now looking forward to picking it up in early Jan.

 

[hotrats]

Have a look at the hobby Vantana range,i am on my second and after a few hickups the dealer bent backwards to fix things,once i let go of them.

 

[RoadTrek Boy]

Have you looked at the Roadtrek range, ( part of the Hymer group now ) and there's nowt wrong with LHD .:idea-007::drive::camper:

 

[Goggles]

Groyne and exwindsurfer your compressor fridges sound ok but the fridges in the vline sports range are awful. They are the 65 litre drawer type and use far too much power. If you have wall to wall sunshine you'd be fine but if not you'd be lucky to get 2 nights out of one and they are totally unsuitable in this model of van for wild camping. I should know as I owned one. Check all the complaints about them on the v-line owners forum on facebook. It was the reason I changed the van and went back to a 3 way.

 

[exwindsurfer]

Goggles I run a 110ltr Waeco fridge and Ive never run the battery’s flat with it mind you I do have three 125amp battery’s and 400watts of solar .

 

[Rockburner]

we have been looking for a while and our spec was very similar to yours - however as much as i looked i couldn't find a 6m van which i could sleep comfortably in as i'm just over 6ft so a transverse bed was no good. Tried the Adria SLS with its slide out which is an interesting concept - a huge bed but concerned that manually winding in the slide out if there was a problem was very difficult - in fact nobody seemed to know how to ... and it was very rattly.

so we have gone for an Adria Twin SLX. actually gone for the 2017 model - it has ticked all of the boxes and more. now looking forward to picking it up in early Jan.

We looked at the SLS - it's quite a good solution to getting a long bed in a short(er) van. But - as you say, there's unanswered questions!

I also preferred to have a PVC than a coachbuilt.

 

[UFO]

we have been looking for a while and our spec was very similar to yours - however as much as i looked i couldn't find a 6m van which i could sleep comfortably in as i'm just over 6ft so a transverse bed was no good.

Same here, when we were looking at vans we noticed that those with side windows, at the foot and / or the head of the transverse bed, reduced the length of the bed. I can sleep ok in our Adria Twin, which has no side windows.

 

[phillybarbour]

I can highly recommend Globecar PVC models many of which meet your spec, however finding a used one is not easy and a Euro6 one will be tough. Best wishes with the search.

 

[REC]

Done it!

Well, we have just put a deposit on a 2017 demo model Tribute 670. Decided on this as we can have the rear as a lounge or leave made as double bed. Oven, grill and hob also whereas many only had two or three tiny rings. 5.99m did seem less tight than the 5.47m although I am still a bit wary about the length, Dave is very happy with the extra space. Refillable gas tank was also a bonus and we managed to persuade them to include a fitted awning and a couple of other bits too. Do not want to pick it up till after our trip to Thailand and new Zealand but mid Feb it will be ours! Our son is getting our self conversation van as a birthday present...so all happy!