are old vans any good? Forums

littlejaffa · Last edited by littlejaffa on Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:58 am; edited 2 times in total

I'm looking for a van as small as possible, but everything seems to be brand new & £30,000+ or 10 years old with 40-80,000 miles.
I'm temped by the older van's price, but knowing little about mechanics, is there any point?
I'm looking for something that will last 5months solid use without breaking. It has to have a bed, preferably 2ring stove, and in heaven space for a loo, don't really care about the decor etc.
Any advice on vans that age well/don't age well - things to avoid or look out for etc greatly appreciated.
I'm thinking something between a autohome and an autosleeper
newb

gaspode · Moderator

Look at Hymer 544 and similar models of 1990 - 1994 vintage. Built like the proverbial brick sh*****se and good for 150,000 miles. The looks are a bit dated these days and they're not so nimble as modern machines but they're solid as a rock.

littlejaffa

not sure if i'm looking at the wrong thing but 'googled' Hymer 544 looks like a huge tank, not the samll romahome i'm dreaming of, also big worried about the fuel cost of a brick. Please give me a website for pics etc if a Hymer 544 is actual the small but perfectly formed creation i'm looking for - thanks

gaspode · Moderator

Ah - now you didn't say that small! The old hymer is fairly short by modern M/H standards but dainty it ain't.

I would have thought that the only real option then would be a VW based vehicle, perhaps someone else can suggest something?

hymmi

Hi,

Have a look in Motor Caravan Magazine they tend to have older vans in the private sales.

If they have been well cared for and if you can buy private the owner can tell you all you need to know,i think you only need to look and have a run in it to know,or pay for A.A. test on it.If you prefer to buy from a dealer then you will have a 12 month warranty,but will pay more for it.

The main problem with older vans is damp,apart from that nothing wrong with an older van at all it gets you on the ladder.

Good luck

ScotJimland

Hi

Sounds like your looking for a van conversion or camper van rather than a coachbuilt, if that's the case then damp won't be an issue. I would look not at the millage but rather the history, servicing etc, 80k isn't a high millage on a well maintained diesel engine. Bear in mind the average millage on a coachbuilt MHs is about half that of a car .. say 5k a year but some van conversions are used as everyday transport and can have much higher millages.
Any basic camper van will have at least a cooker and a fridge maybe even hot water but few will have the space for a proper loo other than a pull out porta potti, however some of the more modern vans with innovative designs do manage a full size toilet cum shower.
Best of luck in your search ..

dodger148

If you can find a VW T4 van, either a panel van conversion or coachbuilt you wont go far wrong with the 2.4 or 2.5td 5 cylinder engine. These motors have to be the most economical ever used in motorhomes and they are so quiet compared with the rest.
There are plenty of options in van conversions, for smaller type coachbuilts look at the Auto-Sleepers range or a Compass Calypso

Rapide561

Hi

I am sorry i know nothing about older vans and indeed very little about newer ones either!

However, when I worked in the coach holiday industry, there was always lots of "snobbery" amongst drivers as to who took the newest coach etc.

Well, about 5 years ago, we were in the Austrian Tyrol for Christmas. The weather was clear and sunny by day - and evil with cold at night. All coaches had a toilet and coffee machine etc. There were 11 coaches on the trip. Only one, did not freeze up inside. You guessed, the old girl with a Leyland Engine!

I am not saying that the reliability of a coffee machine is anything to go by but you get the drift!

Equally, I set off to Italy with a coach just days old - we never made it to the Channel Tunnel. Volvo had to come to us with a problem with the clutch.

I think it is like anything else - it is all down to how the thing is maintained etc.

Rapide561

Barty

For a really cheap but old van look at a Bedford Autosleeper CX2000 has your loo, the engine is good for 90K, fuel about 20mpg and many out there to choose from around £2,500 but you will need a tool box.

subaru

How much are you looking to spend???