We are considering buying a decent second hand camper for short breaks/weekends etc. Can anyone point me in the direction of where to source one from, along with any do's or dont's? Thanks in advance.
PS we will need one that has enough room for our two (small) Labradors.
When posting this question on a forum do state the amount you wish to spend in order to get any meaningful assistance.
Next do some groundwork to decide the size of campervan you require. Would this be a VW size van or something larger like a Fiat/Peugeot van?
If your budget is less than £10k then ebay would be place to buy because for that price no dealer will give you much of a warranty.
If it's £20k or more then go to a dealer, I would although if you have nerves of steel you can buy private at any price.
Lastly be aware that scammers are everywhere. It sounds obvious but never pay a penny piece upfront for a van you have not seen & if buying private or even from a small dealer pay for you own Hpi check to ensure seller has legal title.
We used to have a VW T4 Short wheel base. Very driveable, good mpg and easy to park! We changed it recently for a bigger van, because we have 2 tall teenagers! Is it the two of you an your lovely dogs?
My best advice to you, is to go and see as many as possible....that'll help you to decide on your budget and what kind of size is good for you. Get online and see if any nearby motorhome dealers have any campervans in their stock - you can't beat having a look around them, to get a feel for size etc. I would be a bit wary of eBay and Gumtree myself, but if you're savvy and have a damp meter with you, by all means, search for any for sale and go and see them. I know it's too far away, but the guy we got our VW from was great - his website is good if it at least gives you an idea. If you google Direct Campers, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire....sorry I don't know how to add a link!
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If you have £20k to spend then VW camper conversion is probably the one to go for if you want something not much bigger than a car. Be careful though there are plenty of conversions about that will have had a first life as a commercial van so it is better to go for well known brand like Bilbos or Autosleeper which are conversions on new vans.
You will pay more for a van that has been a campervan from new but probably a better bet because a camper that has been converted from a secondhand van could have had a first life of driver abuse so on.
I've always thought of VW conversions as like a "Tardis" in reverse - smaller on the inside than they look on the outside. Just my personal opinion, but they seem to have more of a 'cult' status than versatility or practicality.
Still, I can't deny their popularity and I'm generally a fan of VW cars.
I agree with Opensauce's view on conversions and I would always aim for an original one. A van based on a SWB transit / Ducato / Relay etc.. is about 5 mtrs long and 2.3 mtrs wide, so not much bigger than a large car and will fit into most parking spaces OK.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
We have a VW T5 conversion by Leisuredrive of Bolton. Happens to be quite near us. We did look round all the dealers we could find in the locality first, plus always asking to look at other people's vans to get an idea of design.
Our van was used before conversion but not much milage, and has been fantastic. It's a useful second car for us too.
My main problems with the T4 / T5 conversions is that all the ones I've seen lack a washroom and the rear door is inaccessible. Of course, these restrictions can apply to other base vehicles, but IMO, the Ford/Fiat/Citroen etc.. vans seem to have a better choice of layouts.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Leisuredrive do a version with a washroom now. And they have 2 other designs, the one with 2xsingle beds is accessible through the back. The double bed version that we have does have a back that opens of course, but not as a usable door. The layout is decided by the converter. That is why we looked at a lot before deciding.
Interesting. I'm afraid that there aren't many dealers in this end of the world so we had a limited range of vans to look at. We had originally gone to look at some Autosleeper vans but they were a bit shabby - then we spotted the Romahome R30 and it was 'love at first sight'.
I was a bit worried about the two beds being made up from the seats, but they are very comfortable. It has a sort of mix of a conventional layout with some ingenious features and every spare inch of storage is well utilised. The washroom is a bit narrow in places. Not one for 'generously proportioned' people.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
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: Campervan
