Camper Van knowledge (Read 413235 times)

butters · April 23, 2011, 01:13:20 pm

Quote from: Duma on April 23, 2011, 02:48:01 am

Will have some questions for butters soon I'm sure (assuming the vast dataset that is the T4 forums can't help), but just spent a week in font in her, and very pleased to be back in the van way.

Edit: Work IT bollocks seems to be interfering with my ability to post flickr links, but you should be able to click through

Feel free to ask any questions van related - I don't confess to being an expert (my van would have been finished long ago if I was...) but quite happy to share anything I have learnt on the way.

Adam Lincoln · April 23, 2011, 04:37:34 pm

Ok, without reading through the whole thread, what is the best engine to get T5 wise. Looking for more economy than anything else. Also, what kind of mpg can i expect with reasonable driving.

Duma · April 23, 2011, 05:34:54 pm

Quote from: Duma on April 23, 2011, 02:48:01 am

Will have some questions for butters soon I'm sure (assuming the vast dataset that is the T4 forums can't help), but just spent a week in font in her, and very pleased to be back in the van way.

Edit: Work IT bollocks seems to be interfering with my ability to post flickr links, but you should be able to click through

Home now, hopefully this should work:

Black Betty @ Beorlots 2 by Duma Brickhill, on Flickr

ChrisC · April 23, 2011, 05:46:49 pm

Quote from: Adam Lincoln on April 23, 2011, 04:37:34 pm

Ok, without reading through the whole thread, what is the best engine to get T5 wise. Looking for more economy than anything else. Also, what kind of mpg can i expect with reasonable driving.

Think the VW stats show the 104 or is it 110 HP one asmost efficient. I get 33 to 37 out of mine fully converted and loaded. Used to get 39 tops before covversion. Gets much worse above 70 / 80...

butters · April 23, 2011, 10:58:35 pm

My T5 (104 bhp) gets high 30's on a run (sat at legal-ish speeds on a motorway) though I have had low 40's on a run to Font which I think is about as good as it gets without tuning.

Pretty sure I have written up what to look out for with regards to T5's on this thread so have a look but feel free to get in touch if you want to know more. Now is not the ideal time to be looking though really as every man plus his dog are dreaming of doing one up to convert the sun is shining etc.

El Mocho · June 21, 2011, 09:54:40 am

Quote from: ChrisC on January 10, 2011, 01:07:54 pm

Just had a quote form sureterm.com for £318, Full European cover for 1 year, no strings. 5k personal effect cover, 2K gas + awnings, Glass, Courtesy Car etc... And only an extra £42 for EU breakdown cover too.

Just got insurance with these guys, £335 or so. Had just gone up from £350 to nearly £700 (with the only change being 1 extra years no claims) with mine insured as a van. Do need a gas safe certificate for mine (as part of insurance) and therefore a bit of work - drop out for gas, sealed cuboard for bottle etc anyone had experience of doing this themselves/know of anyone cheap (not to bothered by good - have you seen my van, also just camping gas bottle and stove which I turn off at the bottle when not using so no real chance of leaks) around shef who could do it?

Will also try to get mine officially converted to camper (although insurers didn't seem to bothered by this)

cheers

bb

SA Chris · June 21, 2011, 10:01:04 am

Never had a gas safe cert for ours for any insurance.

Main benefit for getting it reclassified from van to "motor caravan" is the lifting of the speed limit, as per previous pages.

El Mocho · June 21, 2011, 10:12:15 am

I think it might be to do with 'self conversion' (I think this also includes many of the smaller companies who convert them for you?)

Agreed with the speed restriction thing, thats my main reason for doing it.

butters · June 21, 2011, 10:30:01 am

What is your road tax per year Chris? I seem to remember that it goes up considerably with the reclassification.

SA Chris · June 21, 2011, 11:13:46 am

I'll check with management, she spends the money, I only earn it.

Whatever it is it's worth it for getting there quicker and saving on fines.

butters · June 26, 2011, 02:39:40 pm

Quote from: El Mocho on June 21, 2011, 09:54:40 am

Will also try to get mine officially converted to camper (although insurers didn't seem to bothered by this)

Doesn't look as if that is a possibility any longer - it seems the DVLA are now reclassifying as "A Van with windows"...

wolfgang · July 25, 2011, 12:39:57 pm

Does anyone have any experience with VW Caddy? Specifically converting with a bed and general travel stuff?

Paul B · July 25, 2011, 02:03:08 pm

have you looked back through this thread? I converted one and so has another UKB memeber (north_country_boy). Apart from the size, there's no a lot of difference between insulating/carpetting/wiring a caddy than any other van (apart from maybe the timed lives in the back).

wolfgang · July 25, 2011, 04:33:31 pm

cheers, had a search couldnt find much. Could you sleep in the back of one, big enough for a double??

Adam Lincoln · July 25, 2011, 04:46:07 pm

Quote from: ChrisC on April 23, 2011, 05:46:49 pm

Quote from: Adam Lincoln on April 23, 2011, 04:37:34 pm
Ok, without reading through the whole thread, what is the best engine to get T5 wise. Looking for more economy than anything else. Also, what kind of mpg can i expect with reasonable driving.

Think the VW stats show the 104 or is it 110 HP one asmost efficient. I get 33 to 37 out of mine fully converted and loaded. Used to get 39 tops before covversion. Gets much worse above 70 / 80...

And would people say get the 1.9 or stump up extra for 2.5?

Paul B · July 25, 2011, 04:58:29 pm

the 2.5 engine is better (IMO).

Quote from: wolfgang on July 25, 2011, 04:33:31 pm

cheers, had a search couldnt find much. Could you sleep in the back of one, big enough for a double??

yes, but you'll have to make good use of the curved rear end and the gap between the pillars to get the most out of the available room. NCB is considerably taller than me and sleep in his.

butters · July 25, 2011, 09:51:27 pm

Quote from: Paul B on July 25, 2011, 04:58:29 pm

the 2.5 engine is better (IMO).

The only reason that I can see to go for the 2.5 is the 6th gear - it is the 1.9's Achilles heel as in all other aspects the 1.9 is the better van IMO when it comes to T5's.

The third way is to get the 84bhp model and get it tuned for circa £300 - they are exactly the same internals as the 104bhp model and can be safely tweaked up to 135-140bhp (tuners recommendations). I have seen figures as high as 160bhp mentioned but that is more of a power map as opposed to a power\economy map as I understand it and it definitely one of the winter projects on my van.

Fultonius · July 25, 2011, 10:02:34 pm

If anyone's interested, a mate of mine in Aberdeen is selling this as he needs a car instead:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/renault-trafic-basic-camper-conversion-no-vat/84621339

SA Chris · July 26, 2011, 08:43:47 am

Dave makes some wild unsubstantiated claims in that ad!

The van is in good nick though and a good deal.

Fultonius · July 26, 2011, 08:56:47 am

Ha! Which ones?

SA Chris · July 26, 2011, 09:16:53 am

Quote

Really nice to drive much better than VW transporter and Vito.

Fultonius · July 26, 2011, 09:43:20 am

Have you driven both?

SA Chris · July 26, 2011, 09:48:38 am

Of course. All 3 actually. But that's beside the point; "better" is unsubstantiated, which is the point I was trying make.

Fultonius · July 26, 2011, 10:00:16 am

Which would you say is the nicest to drive?

I was half-tempted to get a van but I just don't think I'd get the use out of it to jusfity it!

SA Chris · July 26, 2011, 10:19:13 am

I liked driving the Vito, but it was a 2.2l or so so so a bit livelier. Wouldn't get one though as they are RWD so a right dog in the snow apparently, and also prone to colour fading and rust, and don't keep value very well. After that I prefer the transporter to a trafic, which feels like a van rather than the t5 feeling like a car. It's all personal preference though. If you are thinking about it and drive feel is important I would do some test drives.