What's the best base van to go for budget £10K?

[EarthDemon]

I am looking to get the best van I can for £10K and then convert it bit by bit, using it as I go.

I like Sprinters / Crafters but open to transits too.

Would love a LWB but want to know others' experience of parking hassles - and may have to go MWB.

What about petrol vs diesel? Some councils are introducing hefty diesel surcharges when parking.

Thanks

 

[bobj808]

Keep checking all the sale sites. I sold my 59 plate xlwb relay for not much more than that. Professional fit that cost £14000. Desperate to sell as we had bought a motorhome so took what we could get for a quick sale. Absolute bargain. Bob.

 

[edina]

There is a lot of info on base vehicles on our sister site Motorhome Builder Base Vehicles | Motorhome Builder

 

[ricc]

petrol versus diesel

my own experience , on older vans, is on a loaded 3.5 ton van petrol doubles your fuel consumption.

parking and congestion charges are irrelevant if you dont use urban car parks and drive in cities.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

When i sold my motorhome because the places i wanted to go init the signs started to go up No motorhomes or Caravans I got an ambulance and converted it for what i needed and never changed to log book over to motorhome so i can go where i like. It dose Pee the police of some times when they tell me to move or stick a ticket on it and find out it is not a motorhome, :wave:

 

[wildebus]

When i sold my motorhome because the places i wanted to go init the signs started to go up No motorhomes or Caravans I got an ambulance and converted it for what i needed and never changed to log book over to motorhome so i can go where i like. It dose Pee the police of some times when they tell me to move or stick a ticket on it and find out it is not a motorhome, :wave:

on the flip side, I see a lot of car parks have signs that say no commercial vehicles - so there you COULD go in a van reregistered as a motor caravan but otherwise not. 6 of one .....

Plus insurance benefits of a conversion correctly reregistered can be considerable.

 

[edina]

on the flip side, I see a lot of car parks have signs that say no commercial vehicles - so there you COULD go in a van reregistered as a motor caravan but otherwise not. 6 of one .....

Plus insurance benefits of a conversion correctly reregistered can be considerable.

I'm possibly wrong, but I think I read on one of the gov websites that you have to notify DVLA of the change, you can't just decide yourself whether to or not.

 

[molly 2]

BEST VAN They all have problems pug, citrons, fiat .have a google at ,,Honest Johns ,, web site, P Boxer with ford engines has a cam chain . VW are expensive to maintain especially the five cylinder , toyota would be top of my list .

 

[Dowel]

Guidance: Convert a vehicle into a motorhome

It dose Pee the police of some times when they tell me to move or stick a ticket on it and find out it is not a motorhome, :wave:

Guidance: Convert a vehicle into a motorhome
Convert a vehicle into a motorhome - GOV.UK

“It’s a legal requirement that all UK registered vehicles are classified correctly on the V5C registration certificate (log book). All campervans, motor caravans and motorhomes fall into the DVLA category of ‘motor caravan’.
If you’ve converted a van into a motor caravan, you must return the V5C to DVLA for amendment.”

The vehicle has to comply with all the requirements of the documents linked to the above web site to be registered as a motorhome. If not it may become a van with windows.

Hope you don’t upset too many coppers. I suspect an on the ball policeman may find fault with registration as an ambulance if it is no longer equipped and used as such.