my dream 'camper' (Iveco Daily 4x4) ..... only bother with video if interested in 4x4/overlanding
- Thread starter Tookey
- Start date
trevskoda
Full Member
- Posts
- 41,070
- Likes
- 58,969
Hope its not wet.
Greenmachine
Guest
Hi, have you got a Delica JB-470? How do you like it? what's its 4x4 capability like? Thanks
Tookey
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,004
- Likes
- 3,331
Yes I have, but only since January. So far I am very happy with camping in it but can not comment on 4x4 myself as I haven't engaged it yet! As you have probably read in this thread another owner who is far more experienced than me rates the Deli's capabilities (bad track rather than off road)
You considering getting one?
Greenmachine
Guest
Yeah considering it. Not many in the UK so would probably look at importing from Japan. Bit confused about the whole import process and seems hard to know about the quality of the vehicle before you buy. I'll have a look at the other threads on the post. Interested in the slightly longer JB-500 too, seem to have a shower/toilet setup which looks good. Yeah get that not a full on off-roader but imagine you would be a bit more confident taking it into some more remote/poorly paved places. Thanks
Tookey
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,004
- Likes
- 3,331
Best vid I know of for seeing it on a rough track. This Delica has been heavily modified though
Greenmachine
Guest
Cheers, looks pretty cool. Look forward to hearing how you get on with yours. Don't break it.
davep10000
Full Member
- Posts
- 359
- Likes
- 792
The exchange rate doesnt help at the moment, and when I looked, it wasnt that attractive to import one, as the cost was much the same as finding a good one in UK.
I cant mail you, being a free member, but can try and answer any questions on the JB470 if you like. (Have had mine 3 years now).
Greenmachine
Guest
Thanks Davep, interesting you say not a great time to import and unfortunately I can't see the strength of the pound improving anytime soon to be honest. Do you think van would be good for a family of four (two young but growing kids) or too small? What speed can you sensibly cruise at on motorway? Do you think it is a quality conversion and how suited to cold weather camping? At the moment I have a T25 westfalia pop top that I love but would like to be a bit more adventurous and self sufficient. Thanks
Tookey
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,004
- Likes
- 3,331
GM,
I did a 100+ hrs of research on what will the best vehicle to do a trip of approximately 15,000 miles (some will be on unsealed roads) for a family of 3 in relative comfort and at the same time we can access everywhere in the UK your T25 can go. Due to medical reasons my license is restricted to 3.5T and my budget was 15K max. The Japanese have taken a competent 4x4 that fits into a supermarket space and somehow added a hab box that your family of 4 could be comfortable in, it is not a tardis though, with 4 you will be slightly on top of each other but within reason. Dave will give you better details on its rough track abilities but the compromise is that it is top heavy and is tippy, therefore it is for rough tracks and not off road.
The cab is basic and electrics minimal, personally I consider this an advantage, you might not. It is fun to drive. The 'fixed' bed is basically 2m square but when you push in the sliding part the hab box feels big. After practice I can turn the seats into a bed in approximately a 1 minute and it is longer than 2m and with 2 kids you wouldn't have to put it into 'wide mode'. I am 6'4" and due to an upcoming year of full timing I needed to be able to stand straight which I can do. When it comes to storage the Japanese stereotype of being able to do a lot with a small space is justified.
On the motorway mine is happiest at 60/65mph, above and she is working, you are not going anywhere quickly. The vantech hab box is one peice, the body will not leak, buying a moho over 20 yrs old you have to consider how great that is. Approach and departure angles are very good (for a camper) and ground clearance is ok, approximately 7". All terrain tyres fit on the 15" rims and are within the arches.
You are sat on top of the engine, she is not quiet but I assure you that you don't hear the engine, I hope that makes sense
I have not done a winter and will have to leave that to Dave to answer. Obviously I am bias but I think you will be hard pushed to find a different vehicle that will allow you to be more adventurous and will give your family moho comfort for under 20k. If your budget is higher there are some beautiful 4x4 sprinters out there and some older Dailys. If you go Sprinter route be aware of the long tail and if viewing inspect the rear door seal thoroughly, if you plan on using rough tracks you don't want duelies on the back as a rock lodged between the wheels can be a very costly replacement of 2 tyres. I paid 10k, you will NOT get a Sprinter that your family can get into and comfortably holiday in the next day for that money. Our Deli's are not 'cool' you are not paying additional money for Merc/VW status. Don't misunderstand though, if the funds were available I would get a nice Sprinter....but quite simply they are not!!
You will have to be 'on it' to get JB470/500, mine was put on Saturday night and I viewed Sunday morning, by the time I got there 2 people had phoned, one wanting to put down a deposit before viewing and a 3rd phoned while I was viewing. I had missed one a month before cos a chap had driven through the night to be there first thing.
Dave can answer more technical stuff. You are welcome to view mine, I am in Todmorden (OL14)
Ps for 4 people you will need to carry additional water to the in built tank but there is a 2 perfect spots behind the front seats for containers and the roof space is good for panels
Pps the 470 comes in two different lay outs
Last edited:
davep10000
Full Member
- Posts
- 359
- Likes
- 792
I have done a bit of a good points/ bad points summary but cant seem to pm it to you, and a bit lengthy (and of no interest to most on here!) to post.
There are only 2+ dog of us, but think Tookey has kids? so better to comment.
Its certainly all set up for a family of 4, but if you are over 6' it may be tight.
Sensible max cruising is 60 motorways, 50 A roads and 40 on twisty B roads.
Your T25 would handle better.
Brilliant in winter with 4wd for snow and built in tanks and great diesel heater.
If you could safely get an email address to me I could send you pics, but not sure how on a public forum...
Dave.
Post clashed with Tookeys!
There are only 2+ dog of us, but think Tookey has kids? so better to comment.
Its certainly all set up for a family of 4, but if you are over 6' it may be tight.
Sensible max cruising is 60 motorways, 50 A roads and 40 on twisty B roads.
Your T25 would handle better.
Brilliant in winter with 4wd for snow and built in tanks and great diesel heater.
If you could safely get an email address to me I could send you pics, but not sure how on a public forum...
Dave.
Post clashed with Tookeys!
Tookey
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,004
- Likes
- 3,331
It's my thread Dave, permission granted to post your summary text
davep10000
Full Member
- Posts
- 359
- Likes
- 792
It's my thread Dave, permission granted to post your summary text
OK, here goes, readers please move on if you are not interested! (But seeing all the 'toilet' threads..........!)
And no, wont be selling it anytime soon!
DELICA L300 VANTECH JB470.
1999 (T reg) L300 2.5L TD. 85BHP, Manual 5 speed with H+L transfer 4WD box. 28000 miles.
Toilet + shower compartment, on board waste and 40L fresh water tanks, Heat exchanger for hot water, compressor fridge, cooker, sink, rear aircon, Webasto diesel night heater, solar panels, twin leisure batteries, rear DAB radio, Wall mount TV, rear leather reclining chairs, roof bars, bike rack, 3 external lockers.
Good Points
Size only 4.7m x 1.9m x 2.8m. (size of a VW T5 SWB) park anywhere go anywhere.
6 seatbelted seats, 2 large double beds. Various layouts have been made.
6’ + headroom, cab walk through.
Plenty of cupboards (8)
Slide out ~ 6’ x 6’ large top bed or storage.
High quality factory build/ materials (to survive rough road abuse)
Seitz windows.
Fiamma side awning.
Brilliant for unsurfaced roads / snow … 4WD.
‘Industrial strength’ proper chassis, and ‘basic’ engineering (No computers on this one..)
Rear camera (wired in type)
Shower room small but perfectly usable, great for storing large stuff.
Bad Points
Poor fuel consumption (20 – 25 mpg) but could use 50% veg oil.
A bit top heavy due to narrow track (espec when windy or on sideslopes)
Very 1980’s period cab – not many mod cons (But has aircon and elec windows!).
Cruising speed not brilliant (OK at 60mph)
4WD has to be manually selected, not automatic.
Fairly small fuel tank (65 litres-ish)
Cam belt rather than chain.
No intercooler (not room for one) so limited power.
Cab seats pretty basic. (limited height for better ones – SMART car ones may fit)
Ice cream van looks – either love it or hate it!
MOD’s we have done on ours.
Uprated rear springs, gas shocks all round, torsion bar tweaked.
235/75/15 BF Goodrich AT tyres.
2 x 100Ah leisure batteries, 50A Battery to battery converter, 100w solar panel and controller.
Dinitrol treated underneath.
Audi S line leather seats in rear
Extra tall landrover n/s wing mirror (folds back).
Hella off road spotlights.
Rear chassis leg extensions to take removable bike rack.
Lots of minor stuff like water level gauge, battery monitor, extra window, led lights.
---------------
Have had ours 3 years, and we just love it – cant believe how well designed it is, and has everything we need. Would really struggle to find anything (4wd) comparable without spending twice as much. We use it 12 months – really cosy in winter, heater is great.
Always get people wanting to see inside, and ‘what is it!’
Attachments
Greenmachine
Guest
Thanks a lot for all that info, definitely seems like it could be the right vehicle for us based on what you have said. I would definitely be interested in having a look at your van sometime Tookey as the reality of the internal space may be the deciding factor, will have to join the site so can send messages more easily.I have looked at sprinters in the past but not the biggest fan of self conversions on the whole as think it must take a huge amount of work and money to get the spec up to a factory conversion, plus 4x4 sprinters are not cheap as you say. Will definitely be keeping my eye open for any JB-470s and 500s that come up for sale, not sure where to look apart from the regular places ... eBay, auto trader, car and classic... any other ideas? Would love to see a few other photos of the internal layout if anyone can post. Thanks again.
Tookey
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,004
- Likes
- 3,331
As Dave has already hinted, your request would now be more suitable to a conversation opposed to a forum thread. The location app on the site is so good that honestly joining is a no brainer and then we can private message
davep10000
Full Member
- Posts
- 359
- Likes
- 792
Just for comparison, the spec of this is identical to mine (theirs has slightly higher mileage ), but comes in at around £14500 then the shipping costs have to be added.
You should only be paying £10 - £14k for one already in this country, dependant on miles / condition.
[URL
[/URL]
[/URL]
Links dont seem to work but there are hundreds of 4wd motorhomes on the ts-export site
Last edited:
dane
Full Member
- Posts
- 567
- Likes
- 354
Similar style, but slightly larger are the Toyota Dyna based motorhomes (sometimes called CamRoad). Seen a couple of 4wd ones, one was for sale recently. 2.8D n/a, auto and manual 4wd system is the same as in my HiAce, so it will be slow and thirsty, but generally reliable.
Those Mitsi's are very cool. Think the one in the video above fell off a cliff earlier this year (no injuries!).
Those Mitsi's are very cool. Think the one in the video above fell off a cliff earlier this year (no injuries!).
Tookey
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,004
- Likes
- 3,331
Off a cliff,
The owner was selling it, do you know if it was the new owners that messed up? He wanted 25k for it!!!