Camper Van knowledge (Read 412550 times)

philo · August 16, 2011, 03:32:12 am

The carpet is only a temp thing. Ive got like a wet changing area inside the back door, a few ft by a few ft (enough to get changed out of the cold).
Im not too bothered about insulating the roof, would like ply paneling covering the majority of the metal work. (ive searched for templates) and most of the panel kits only have the walls/floors/arches etc - If I can keep it a couple of cm then im not bothered about that headroom.

ps. left my board in the van with some seaweed on my leash (after a heavy storm, the days after is thick seaweed) and my van smells worse than a wet dog

SA Chris · August 16, 2011, 08:40:56 am

A mate of mine has a strap system for hanging boards in the roof area of his Vito which work well. Some proprietary system which attaches to the roof, will ask him about make.

SA Chris · October 19, 2011, 03:16:20 pm

Getting paranoid, as van is just one week out of warranty and wouldn't start this morning at the first sign of cold weather NNFN! Left for a few hours until weather warmed up, and strarted OK, now at dealer for a diagnostics check, but made me painfully aware that with engine management systems and shit in modern vehicles that at the first sight of any trouble the ECU just shuts the systems down and without diagnostics you are a bit screwed. I suspect it is glowplugs this time, but who knows next time?

Anyone recommend any good or specialist breakdown recovery for campervans? Always used Autoaid in the past, but they won't cover for vans.

Alternatively, is there a diagnostics App? Now there's a market!

butters · October 19, 2011, 04:29:41 pm

My money would be on a battery about to die from the little you have given away.

Diagnostics - VAGCOM on a laptop and a cable to connect to the ODB2 port located to the RHS of the steering column but an alternative would be the Torque app that will run on Android. Needs a Bluetooth ODB2 dongle thingy (Ebay it but should be about a few fuck alls) but should be able to get real time data fed directly to the phone using that. I have been considering it to get real time turbo pressure readings displayed in the van (for no other reason than I can) but have got no further than that as I wanted to couple it up with Tasker so that it automatically launches when plugged in to the in car charger which I have yet to get around to sorting out. Should work on the VW no problem as it is a standard protocol it uses but don't quote me on that.

SA Chris · October 19, 2011, 04:59:12 pm

Sounds like an option.

Anyway, useless bastards have come back and told me there is an "intermittent fault" in communications between key and immobiliser, which will cost me either £180 for the key, £500 for the immobiliser, or possibly both if I replace the key and then fimd it is actually the immobiliser that is the problem. And they don't know which. Cunts.

yorkshireman · October 19, 2011, 05:04:10 pm

i wouldnt have thought it would be cold enough yet for it to be the glow plugs.doe your engine use the preheating type(hold the ignition on for 3-5 seconds before firing)assembly?

galpinos · October 19, 2011, 05:22:08 pm

On the breakdown front I've got AA cover through my bank and they've been good to me so far. No issues with it being a Bongo.

The key/immobiliser stuff sounds shit. My van problem stem from having bought a rust bucket and the fact that on-street parking in Manchester seems to have been an excuse for people to just drive into the side of it. There's barely a panel in it without a dent!

SA Chris · October 19, 2011, 05:35:51 pm

Quote from: yorkshireman on October 19, 2011, 05:04:10 pm

i wouldnt have thought it would be cold enough yet for it to be the glow plugs.doe your engine use the preheating type(hold the ignition on for 3-5 seconds before firing)assembly?

It's not and no, see comment above regards immobiliser.

It's really annoying, especially as we are meant to be away next week to Northumberland, and don't want to set off down the road with no idea how far we will get before it plays up again. I'm getting the spare key to them tomorrow am and hopefully they can use that to figure out the problem. One fucking week out of warranty.

yorkshireman · October 19, 2011, 05:56:23 pm

ahh sorry didnt see your subsequent post.
if your vehicle is just out of warranty contact the manufacturer as most of the time they do something atleast towards it in goodwill

SA Chris · October 19, 2011, 06:01:02 pm

yeah, was thinking that. No point in trying to get anything out of the local dealership as they have a reputation for being really shit.

yorkshireman · October 19, 2011, 06:43:10 pm

yeah definately go straight to the manufacturer but in the first instance stick to just out of warrenty good will etc and then if you have no luck include discussing it on an internet forum in your second letter

Adam Lincoln · February 20, 2012, 05:26:39 pm

Without searching the whole thread. Got myself a T5 which i should be picking up Wednesday.

Insurance wise, anyone managed to get their cars ncd onto their new van insurance? Guessing brentacre and such like.
What prices are people paying, looks about £690 for me, using gocompare as a guide. 6 years no claims on a car for what its worth. Any tips of getting cheaper?

Thanks guys!

ChrisC · February 20, 2012, 06:16:25 pm

If are planning to convert it and get it registered/insured as a camper then that will help. I'm paying £325 with Sureterm Direct for 12 months (that's including a bit extra for a full 12 month Green Card too).

Adam Lincoln · February 20, 2012, 06:24:45 pm

Quote from: ChrisC on February 20, 2012, 06:16:25 pm

If are planning to convert it and get it registered/insured as a camper then that will help. I'm paying £325 with Sureterm Direct for 12 months (that's including a bit extra for a full 12 month Green Card too).

I am, but this will take time. Guess i need to insure it as normal for a while.

ChrisC · February 20, 2012, 06:29:50 pm

When I did mine they were happy with the fact that It was a basic van to start with but that I was in the process of converting it - I think they gave me a time frame to do it in but can't remember how long it was. Don't crash it before its finished though as its only insured for its 'basic' value until you let them know its final value.

Adam Lincoln · February 20, 2012, 06:50:47 pm

Quote from: ChrisC on February 20, 2012, 06:29:50 pm

When I did mine they were happy with the fact that It was a basic van to start with but that I was in the process of converting it - I think they gave me a time frame to do it in but can't remember how long it was. Don't crash it before its finished though as its only insured for its 'basic' value until you let them know its final value.

Really? That sounds like a really good deal then! Wow... What were the minimum requirements for it to satisfy their criteria Chris?

Ste · February 20, 2012, 07:14:54 pm

My T5.1 is insured as a camper pending conversion with Shield insurance. They give you 120 days to complete your conversion and the criteria is basic. My initial quote was £1,800 as a van but only £280 as a camper valued at £30k. You need to provide them with pics of your bed, storage cupboard and a place that can secure gas and water storage. My conversion is not finished yet and it's looking like I will run over the 120 days but they are fine about it.

Drew · February 20, 2012, 08:27:33 pm

Sorry to barge in, but I'm interested too. I was wondering how basic your cupboard, and water & gas storage need to be. I mean are we talking Amdro style, or a single fixed wooden box, a Jerry can, and a few small gas canisters on a portable stove?

Ste · February 21, 2012, 09:17:11 am

Not sure on the specifics -I will dig out the paperwork and post the details later today.

ianv · February 21, 2012, 09:47:54 am

I insured my bongo with http://www.2getherinsurance.com/ they were pretty cheap: £450 (for a dodgy postcode) incl euro travelling and euro breakdown cover.

Adam Lincoln · February 21, 2012, 11:18:06 am

Quote from: ChrisC on February 20, 2012, 06:29:50 pm

When I did mine they were happy with the fact that It was a basic van to start with but that I was in the process of converting it - I think they gave me a time frame to do it in but can't remember how long it was. Don't crash it before its finished though as its only insured for its 'basic' value until you let them know its final value.

Hi Chris, just rang them and got a really good quote. However they have given me 90 day to get a fixed bed installed, non rock and roller bed, running water, and gas, certified by an engineer. Is that all something you did? The rock and roller bed is going to be a problem...

Adam Lincoln · February 21, 2012, 11:19:43 am

Quote from: Ste on February 20, 2012, 07:14:54 pm

You need to provide them with pics of your bed, storage cupboard and a place that can secure gas and water storage.

Does Shield specify you can't have a rock and roller bed? Sureterm said it can't be. See above post.

Adam Lincoln · February 21, 2012, 11:59:40 am

Scrap all that. Adrian flux have given me 6 months to convert. Only criteria is bed, which can be rock and roller, cupboard, and cooker. Result. And cheap as chips.

Forgot to ask them, but assuming the new laws means there v5 document doesn't need changing to campervan? Seems that isn't needed/allowed nowadays.

SA Chris · February 21, 2012, 01:26:52 pm

Not sure how it works since law change, but used to be that unless it was registered as a campervan you are restricted to 60 mph speed limit.

butters · February 21, 2012, 01:35:31 pm

I think I posted something up about it a while back but the DVLA no longer change the registration to "camper van" any more - think it now known as a "van with windows".

As far as I know it has never been necessary to change it unless you wanted to get the raised speed limit option but not sure how the new laws work with regard to that part now.