I want a van/truck

sgc

Guest
Hi

I'm looking for a van or a truck. Any ideas much appreciated.
Requirements:

RHD
4 wheel drive
wet room
wood burner
diesel powered
fixed double bed
capable of doing more than 15 mpg
plus all the other things that a camper might have
and costs less than 15 grand

cheers :)
 
Self build or buy a self built. There's no off the shelf products I can think of that come with wood burners.Or you could fit one into an existing van. Have to be careful of the weight though.
 
Hello sgc I agree with Firefox,your better off making your own then you will get everthing you want in the right places:D
 
thanks.
Yes have been thinking about building one myself. Is there anywhere to buy an off the shelf luton style body in the uk that I could attach to something like an RB44?
 
Try

Brade-leigh Products Ltd.
Albion Industrial Estate - Oldbury Road
B70 9EH West Bromwich (West Midlands)

Bodybuilders & Repairers
Phone: 01215534361

They do good Lutons. They will sell parts as well as I bought matching panels off them when I converted a Luton into a motor home about 1990. If you've got a vehicle, they'd probably give you a quote for a custom body. Might not be cheap though. I think I bought 3 ali panels for about £100 in 1990.
 
oh and sbmcc may be a site you can use if you do go down the self build route.
 
Thanks for those Firefox. I'll get in touch with them tomorrow and have a chat.
I swing from thinking I need a 4x4 to no I probably don't and could get some sort of Mercedes 709 ish thing. But not having ever had a camper before its hard to decide and chronic indecision soon sets in.
How often do you really get stuck in mud or on wet grass in a wild camping situation?
I got stuck in mud just 10 feet from the gate in an old Range Rover and had to call the AA. The AA couldn't get me out but a passing 90 defender did. Turned out both the front drive shfts had snapped.
 
I suppose it depends what kind of wild camping you do, if you need a 4WD or not. It's perfectly possible to wild camp on gravel, laybys and carparks

Check out a guy called jedthespread who posts on this site:

YouTube - jedthespread's Channel

Now he needs a 4WD the places he and his mates go!

But it's also easy to get stuck on a regular grass campsite especially if it rains overnight after you park up.

First time I converted a van, the main mistakes I made were getting something far too big (for me) (Bedford CF LWB Luton) and also a 2nd hand vehicle that was too old with a very tired engine. By the time I'd got all the caravan bits in you had to boot it up the backside to do 50mph and that was if it started at all!

This time I've spent more money on a much better base vehicle less than 3 years old, with 6 gears than can easily do 80 mph up the motorway, and also do well over 30mpg if you drive it carefully as well as fitting in a standard car parking space.

But it is two wheel, front wheel drive, like most of the modern vans. If I get stuck I've got some Fiamma ridged traction mats. I haven't tried them out yet but they look pretty good.
 
hi. you may find it better to go for a truck chassis and cab +box .vans fetch more money ,worse they are alittle narrower and not so nice when converted. many use vans but a truck is abit better i reckon. you could look for daf/man or these days a mitsubishi canter or isuzu truck .i use mitzy. made in portugal. and because i spend alot of time in morrocco (they make them there aswell)north africa is full of isuzu n mitzy. you should beable to fill your requirements very easily with 15 grand. dont go newer than 2001 ish because of the electric pumps etc. i use instantanious water heaters, gas lights ,solar panels on roof. thermex catalitic heaters. renault do a nice one as well stay off ford as they rust too much. pm if you need more info. i get involved in building expedition trucks for friends . 4x4 is nice but not neccasary most of the time .i cross the sahara in a mini artic . well known in morocco and southern europe. cheers alan.
ps .i,m taking it for granted you have c1 on your licence?
 
Last edited:
Hi Alan,
How many times have you crossed the SAHARA? You may encourage others to emulate, especially if it can be accomplished (was it easy or difficult) in a VW 5th wheeler.
 
not really difficult. needed a few tows got down to gambia n back. now its more complicated as you need carnet de passage for senegal. most now take a route through mali and miss the corner out altogether. there is now alot of tarmac roads to help . you findthat most of the route through is a hard stoney tundra, very hard on tyres n punctures every day. i wish i was more computer litterate i would put some pics up. remember there are loads of trucks running up through every day. most only 2wd. if you have enough money then go 4x4 but its an expensive trip. the best vehicle for the desert is a citroen 2cv perfect ,but then you cant carry much. i,m lucky with my truck it puts 2,600 kg about on tothe fifth wheel so traction is not allways a problem .the real trouble is soft sand making a bow wave in front of the front wheel.you now find many mitsubishi and isuzu trucks in africa good because thety are very light and now factories are producing them in house. anyone thinking of it should get down to morocco and have a play. shame the paris dakar as come to an end that was always good fun in jauary.80,000 campers entered morocco last year so i,m told. dont be afraid. give it ago. cheers alan.
 
sgc said:
Hi

I'm looking for a van or a truck. Any ideas much appreciated.
Requirements:

RHD
4 wheel drive
wet room
wood burner
diesel powered
fixed double bed
capable of doing more than 15 mpg
plus all the other things that a camper might have
and costs less than 15 grand

cheers :)
Click to expand...

hiya whats your intentions with the vehicle? full timing in the uk wildcamping? pt on campsites???????
 
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