This wonderful website has aleready helped me find a superb tent for camping this summer. So I thought this would also be a good question to ask about the VW Campers!
For the past couple of years I have been saving for a VW Camper (an Type 2 hopefully... Hippy style!). Anyway, I want to buy one this time next year as I will have £5k to spend on one!
I am just after some general advice such as what to look out for? Is my budget enough? Any other general advice you can give me?
Hi Amnesia...welcome to UKCS ....someone will hopefully be along at some point to answer your question on what to look for regarding VW T2's...i my self have a T25 for the extra space....one of the top sites for buying and selling VW campers T2's and T25's is www.dubfinder.co.uk i think you will find the prices are competative.... hope this helps you a bit
best
Scratcher
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Lord Scratcher and Lady Jayne
.............................
You tried your best
and failed MISERABLY.
The lesson is : NEVER TRY .
I have had a T2 and a T25 before our current van, personally if you are not a full VW enthusiast and don't want to spend most of your time doing maintenance and non-stop holding back the rust repairs, go for a T25 or even a T4.
Loved the T2 Westy Bay window we had, it was great fun to drive, we spent over 6k 5 years ago and although it was a good van, you could see that it was going to require money all the way to keep it on the road, would estimate you would need to pay 8-9k for a similar condition one now.
You could probably pick up a semi reasonable bay for 5k, but beware there are a lot of them that look good due to a re-spray etc that will be rotted through again in 12 months time.
The T25 we have was a 1990 1.6TD Westy Hightop, that was in excellent condition and the MOT man commented on the condition of the bodywork so you could see it was going to last a few years, the slightly bigger interior made a big difference and although the driving experience was as fun as the bay, it just felt more civilised and usable as a camper.
To be honest if I was to downsize I would probably look at the VW T4 autosleepers or something similar.
------------- Think this year is to follow old meet friends for 2014.
If you cant do someone a good turn,don`t do them a bad one,its nice to be nice you know,and little things mean much more later in life.
Pete.
Booo, mine failed its MOT today, needs more welding work at the back, not a happy bunny after all the work I have already done. Oh well, out comes the welding equipment again!!
I would advise taking your time when choosing and if you can take somebody along that knows them inside out as there will be lots you may miss.
Some hidden areas to check. The battery trays in the engine compartment. If they will let you take off the front grill under the windscreen, its where the air comes in for the ventilation, always a good sign of the rest of the front panel.
Bottom two foot all the way round including the floors need checking as does inside the rear air intake vents (the ears). Bottom of the driver and passenger doors and the slider.
Also worth checking out the condition of the heating tubes and heat exchangers on the exhasut as its no fun in the winter as the heat from a descent system is minimal.
Booo, mine failed its MOT today, needs more welding work at the back, not a happy bunny after all the work I have already done. Oh well, out comes the welding equipment again!!
I would advise taking your time when choosing and if you can take somebody along that knows them inside out as there will be lots you may miss.
Cheers Ratty
I feel ya pain dude.......not heard a bloody thing yet about my Nannybus...
Scratcher
-------------
Lord Scratcher and Lady Jayne
.............................
You tried your best
and failed MISERABLY.
The lesson is : NEVER TRY .
£5k is getting cheap for a T2 camper nowadays--for that price the bodywork should be solid but the interior & mechanics may need a bit of tlc--- you(or a close friend)need to be reasonably mechanically minded & have a basic understanding of the mechanics of these vans--unless you get a rust free recent USA import(unlikely for £5k)-the van will have been welded-no problem if its been done by a professional-but many have been botched--for a really pristine van with photographic evidence of the restoration-you are looking at £7k upwards these days--good luck with your search tho--bargains are out there--
--I always smile when they are referred to a hippy vans tho---in 1970 my hippy van was an old Morris J4--T2 campers stood brand new in showrooms for £1500--way out of hippies' price range!--
Ours was an import and although at that point the only welding you could tell that had been done was the bottom of the sliding door, it certainley was NOT rust free once you started digging.
I see you've had some good advice on Justkampers. Didn't read all the thread, but did anyone mention kampman's webpage? He's a top bloke and everyone says his site is very useful: http://www.kampaman.co.uk/
Luckily my husband is a mechanic, but if I didn't have him I would definitely do a college course in mechanics and welding or as a couple of people have said get a T25/T4 - unless you've got loads of cash!
Either way buy in the winter, they start getting more expensive this time of year.
I would say double your budget to get something decent in a Bay Window T2. Check for rust, rust and rust, then look at the easy bolt-on type mechaicals. It`s the rust that will get you Same goes for the T25, they can rust for England as well.
Check out http://forum.80-90.co.uk/ for all things T25, loadsa good buying info on there. Don`t believe everything you read, everyone has an opinion, sift through the info and make your own mind up.
A proper factory built T25 camper will be at least £5000 for something presentable, and it`ll still have some rust somewhere. If it`s had a fresh paint-job, expect the worst in 12 months.
------------- Life is one big holiday, only broken up by as little work as possible
Hi amnesia this is my first post! this site is superb and have gleaned loads of info already.
Restored a 1973 Devon Moonraker 6-7 yrs ago and spent a few months in Portugal and Spain - fantastic.Enjoyed every minute of restoring it and travelling in it
Prices at the moment in my opinion are really high and at 5k be careful of renovations. i thought i did a proper job with mine but had the dreaded blisters after 18 months.....my advice is similar to the other guys if you went for a T25 or T4 you may be better off in that price range. Have you thought of an aussie import or does anyone have any thoughts on that?
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: VW Campers... general beginners questions
...not heard a bloody thing yet about my Nannybus...
Same goes for the T25, they can rust for England as well. 
