Van brands (A campervan thread spin-off)
- Thread starter Dubversion
- Start date
Pie Eye Posting:
nope
I want to check out this insurance thing that Garf mentioned first though - getting it registered as a camper means converting it and I won't be doing that this summer.
nope
I want to check out this insurance thing that Garf mentioned first though - getting it registered as a camper means converting it and I won't be doing that this summer.
Ah, Cadnam. Used to do a lot of acid in Cadnam
We've just had a bit of a fright. Checked out insurance costs, both as a conversion motorhome and just a van, on that Mercedes. It's coming in at £1200.
is that the engine size (2.9?), the fact we're in Lambeth or what? is that insanely high or are we naive?
PS - yes please, cous!
We've just had a bit of a fright. Checked out insurance costs, both as a conversion motorhome and just a van, on that Mercedes. It's coming in at £1200.
is that the engine size (2.9?), the fact we're in Lambeth or what? is that insanely high or are we naive?
PS - yes please, cous!
han
love is the answer
Dubversion said:Ah, Cadnam. Used to do a lot of acid in Cadnam
We've just had a bit of a fright. Checked out insurance costs, both as a conversion motorhome and just a van, on that Mercedes. It's coming in at £1200.
is that the engine size (2.9?), the fact we're in Lambeth or what? is that insanely high or are we naive?
PS - yes please, cous!
Yes, that is insanely high, and not the engine size or Lambeth - ours is the same size and we're in Lambeth....ours is £480 pa....still horrifically high.....
We use Adrian Flux - (afaik the Mooses do too!) - we are limited to a mileage of 5000 a year (which keeps the cost down massively) but we don't go anywhere near that anyway!
Maybe you could say that you're keeping it up north or sommat? That would bring the cost down....
I haven't done that even though my folks are in the countryside, but that's cos I'm a bit of a wuss and am scared of getting found out!
yeh.
and now we're looking at this -
1998 FORD Transit 190 TD LWB
Price:
£1,050ono.
Features: 130,000 miles 1998 Full Description: Glossary of Terms
2.5, 130000 Miles, semi Hi-top, fully lined inside, all good, no faults, MOT, darkside windows. £1,050. o.n.o
and the insurance on THAT is £1100.
is it because Pie Face hasn't had a policy before - she's only even been a named driver?
all very worrying.
and now we're looking at this -
1998 FORD Transit 190 TD LWB
Price:
£1,050ono.
Features: 130,000 miles 1998 Full Description: Glossary of Terms
2.5, 130000 Miles, semi Hi-top, fully lined inside, all good, no faults, MOT, darkside windows. £1,050. o.n.o
and the insurance on THAT is £1100.
is it because Pie Face hasn't had a policy before - she's only even been a named driver?
all very worrying.
and we've been getting fully comp quotes - could that be it?
(we're REALLY gormless about all this)
3rd party fire and theft on the Mercedes is about £700.
that's more like it, i guess..
(we're REALLY gormless about all this)
3rd party fire and theft on the Mercedes is about £700.
that's more like it, i guess..
DJ Squelch
King Of Insides
I use Adrian Flux, 3000 mile limit, leisure use only (no driving it to work), 3rd PF&F & I pay less than £200. Mind you Im in Brighton & have 5 yr NCB.
If your just using it in the summer for festies can't you park it out of London for the rest of the year?
If your just using it in the summer for festies can't you park it out of London for the rest of the year?
madamv
Oi! With the poodle already
Fully comp is loads dearer but sensible. If its within your reach financially, could potentially save heartache.
I will talk to my guy tomorrow and let you know..... but that one for £1050 is good if its sound. Has anyone mentioned RAC inspections yet??? Oh, and dont forget your RAC/AA/Green Flag membership. A real necessary evil methinks.
I will talk to my guy tomorrow and let you know..... but that one for £1050 is good if its sound. Has anyone mentioned RAC inspections yet??? Oh, and dont forget your RAC/AA/Green Flag membership. A real necessary evil methinks.
Dubversion said:is it because Pie Face hasn't had a policy before - she's only even been a named driver?
You're right about the first policy thing. When I got my first insurance I went with Direct Line because they gave 2 years no-claims discount because I'd been a named driver beforehand.
Dubversion said:
Aha but it's too late
You've been sucked in already. The romaticism of driving round in a van you can sleep in has a price, and it's always more than you thought. Once the idea is in your head though, it won't go away until you've tried it. And once you've started you won't be able to stop and you'll do anything to justify the cost.
Have you thought about fuel consumption yet?
Hi,
We just got a campervan (apparantly it's a 'caravanette'! as it's a pop top) but it's our first so I'm not exactly an expert, but we went through a lot of the thoughts you seem to be considering...
Anyway, it's a Bedford CF, absolutely gorgeous, 'bout the same size as a VW but about half the price from what we saw. In our limited ownership it has run amazingly - bit heavy on the petrol but we have been averaging 70 when apparantly we should stick to 50 ish! Nice amount of room in the back, cupboards and all that, enough height to stand up when the tops popped up, hob, grill, fridge, sink, bed/seats... haven't done an MOT or anything on it yet but very very happy so far!
Ah, insurance... they don't seem to like anything that isn't 'factory fitted' or professionally converted into a campervan (we asked about a few before buying). The bedford is factory fitted out as a camper but still Adrian Flux didn't want to know (can't remember why, van may not have been old enough!!) I think if it's a normal van it's classed as a commercial vehicle which costs a fair bit more to insure, however much you argue that you're not using it as a commercial vehicle... Well, that's been my experience anyway.
Went with Camptons in the end, fully comp + lots of good cover on contents of van and stuff £590 a year for 2 drivers, one of whom has 2 years no claims, insured in east london, would have been less elsewhere i think.
We just got a campervan (apparantly it's a 'caravanette'! as it's a pop top) but it's our first so I'm not exactly an expert, but we went through a lot of the thoughts you seem to be considering...
Anyway, it's a Bedford CF, absolutely gorgeous, 'bout the same size as a VW but about half the price from what we saw. In our limited ownership it has run amazingly - bit heavy on the petrol but we have been averaging 70 when apparantly we should stick to 50 ish! Nice amount of room in the back, cupboards and all that, enough height to stand up when the tops popped up, hob, grill, fridge, sink, bed/seats... haven't done an MOT or anything on it yet but very very happy so far!
Ah, insurance... they don't seem to like anything that isn't 'factory fitted' or professionally converted into a campervan (we asked about a few before buying). The bedford is factory fitted out as a camper but still Adrian Flux didn't want to know (can't remember why, van may not have been old enough!!) I think if it's a normal van it's classed as a commercial vehicle which costs a fair bit more to insure, however much you argue that you're not using it as a commercial vehicle... Well, that's been my experience anyway.
Went with Camptons in the end, fully comp + lots of good cover on contents of van and stuff £590 a year for 2 drivers, one of whom has 2 years no claims, insured in east london, would have been less elsewhere i think.
han
love is the answer
Dubversion said:yeh.
and now we're looking at this -
1998 FORD Transit 190 TD LWB
Price:
£1,050ono.
Features: 130,000 miles 1998 Full Description: Glossary of Terms
2.5, 130000 Miles, semi Hi-top, fully lined inside, all good, no faults, MOT, darkside windows. £1,050. o.n.o
and the insurance on THAT is £1100.
is it because Pie Face hasn't had a policy before - she's only even been a named driver?
all very worrying.
Now that's a lovely van!
Turbo diesel - v v good. High mileage, but then transits can go up to about 200,000...maybe more if you look after it....I don't get the high insurance though.
When did Pie Face pass her test? Or maybe it's cos she's under 30?
Also - get a quote from Adrian Flux motorhome division - they're v good. Also try a women-only insurance company - premiums are lower.
han
love is the answer
madamv said:
Yep - I agree that the RAC inspection or AA inspection (about £50) that you can do, where you take an AA/RAC mechanic with you when viewing is a Very Good Idea - if you don't have a very mechanically minded friend you can take....
By the way - Britannia Rescue are v v good for breakdown - the AA guy recommended them to us!
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
Dubversion said:yeh.
and now we're looking at this -
1998 FORD Transit 190 TD LWB
Price:
£1,050ono.
Features: 130,000 miles 1998 Full Description: Glossary of Terms
2.5, 130000 Miles, semi Hi-top, fully lined inside, all good, no faults, MOT, darkside windows. £1,050. o.n.o
and the insurance on THAT is £1100.
is it because Pie Face hasn't had a policy before - she's only even been a named driver?
all very worrying.
it's prolly becuase it's a 190 too which is the long wheel based on and although that one isn't it's usually up til 98 (i think don't quote me) a double axel at the rear again would usually be considered a commercial vechial.
who has she been a named driver with if it's some one like direct line then she could ask them to give her the no claims which they usually pass over to named drivers as well.
if oyu ripp the seats out so it has less than 6 (7 i think is the max) and also get the dvla to change it from commercial status to private use then it'll drop in insurance terms. ditto camper van or motor home. also if you can get away with it get a 120 or even a 90 trannie and they are cheaper to insure and can be covered by a standard direct line insurnce quote mine was a 120 and was around £450 fully comp.
also if pie face does an advanced driving course this will usually knock a thrid off the premiums too.
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
unladen van will be bugger all they are quite light (even if not the most aerodynamic) and mine even though it was a petrol never used more than a car tranists don't forget have car engines, similar consumption, deisels even better consumption...Part2 said:Have you thought about fuel consumption yet?
eoin_k
Lawyer's fees, beetroot and music
Hey
Dubversion, I've been around Europe a couple of times in a DIY Tranny campervan. Whatever you go for, think about height and length. We had a high top and a long wheel base and the extra living space was appreciated obviously you have to balance this against the limits of trying to get arround medieval villages and alpine passes in a big old monster truck.
The bodywork was a bit shit. We did what we could and managed to sell up after a couple of years for more than we paid - which was a bit of a result. We also managed to get the hang of some of the basic maintenance jobs like changing oil and filters.
Other tips:
Think of weight when doing it up. More ply and less oak; cork tiles good terracotta tiles bad..etc. Also try to keep weight low down. It makes you more stable and it is less likely to fly into the cab/decapitating a hitch hiker if you have an accident.
Also when building into the van you need to design arround the metal frame inside the skin of the van. You can screw into this instead of screwing through the skin. While having a van that is already panneled is a bonus as it will look nicer and be better insulated. It also helps if you can still see where the frame is behind the panelling.
Finally we kept a white van/tradesman look on the outside which was great as it meant we got away with some cheeky parkups and probably got less hassle off the police/customs - who still paid us a bit of attention from time to time. On one occasion we gave some nosey Spanish copper a shock. We were in a car park by the beach and had the back door cracked open. He went over to investigate a suspicious vehicle and opened the door on a cosey little home with a cork tiled floor, the kettle on the boil, me cooking and my girlfriend lying in bed with a good book.
Dubversion, I've been around Europe a couple of times in a DIY Tranny campervan. Whatever you go for, think about height and length. We had a high top and a long wheel base and the extra living space was appreciated obviously you have to balance this against the limits of trying to get arround medieval villages and alpine passes in a big old monster truck.
The bodywork was a bit shit. We did what we could and managed to sell up after a couple of years for more than we paid - which was a bit of a result. We also managed to get the hang of some of the basic maintenance jobs like changing oil and filters.
Other tips:
Think of weight when doing it up. More ply and less oak; cork tiles good terracotta tiles bad..etc. Also try to keep weight low down. It makes you more stable and it is less likely to fly into the cab/decapitating a hitch hiker if you have an accident.
Also when building into the van you need to design arround the metal frame inside the skin of the van. You can screw into this instead of screwing through the skin. While having a van that is already panneled is a bonus as it will look nicer and be better insulated. It also helps if you can still see where the frame is behind the panelling.
Finally we kept a white van/tradesman look on the outside which was great as it meant we got away with some cheeky parkups and probably got less hassle off the police/customs - who still paid us a bit of attention from time to time. On one occasion we gave some nosey Spanish copper a shock. We were in a car park by the beach and had the back door cracked open. He went over to investigate a suspicious vehicle and opened the door on a cosey little home with a cork tiled floor, the kettle on the boil, me cooking and my girlfriend lying in bed with a good book.
all good stuff, eoin, thanks.
we're definitely looking at LWB hightops where we can (unless we go the minibus route, since they're longer anyway)..
we're definitely looking at LWB hightops where we can (unless we go the minibus route, since they're longer anyway)..
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
Not quite what you're looking for but.....phwoar!
PieEye said:
trans: "her dad"
stubby and green?
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
theyare great but defo hgv terroirtory if you are looking at those then i'd suggestDubversion said:
or this
however i have just fallen in love with this
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
i really want to know what that vehcial is ..moose said:Enough already with the vehicle porn - some of us are trying to work
GarfieldLeChat
fucking awesome but wrong
this seem ideal and bargin...
huge potential for conversion
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-FORD-TRA...99589213QQcategoryZ108850QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
huge potential for conversion
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-FORD-TRA...99589213QQcategoryZ108850QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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