A forum for van conversions, van living and travel

The vanlife => Van Conversion => Topic started by: JakeLeeYes on March 10, 2015, 10:35:08 AM

Title: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: JakeLeeYes on March 10, 2015, 10:35:08 AM
Hey all,

I'm looking to buy a big LWB High top Panel van and convert it myself. I think my best choice would be a 05 plate LDV Maxus with roughly 100k on the clock. I think with a bit of time I could find one for this price.

But my question is what do you think is my best choice? and how many miles is too many miles on a van?

Any ideas welcome! I'm desperate to get started.

Jake
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: Camper Van Travels on March 10, 2015, 06:21:48 PM
LDV went way downhill the second they introduced the Maxus vans in my honest opinion. Just stick with an LDV Convoy. Or a Mercedes Sprinter. Or the old Mercedes 310D or any of the other similar derivatives. The Iveco Daily vans are also a good bet. Ford Transit Jumbo vans aren't too bad either.

http://campervantravels.com/which-van-is-best-to-convert-into-a-camper-van/
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: JakeLeeYes on March 11, 2015, 08:49:05 AM
I've since found a really nice 53 plate Convoy. Reckon thats my best bet?

Thanks for the reply!
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: Camper Van Travels on March 11, 2015, 05:32:54 PM
It's not for me to say without seeing it or not knowing what it's like. But on the whole they're really not that bad once you get used to their little quirks.

I know lots of people can't stand them but most LDV Convoy owners actually end up falling in love with the things believe it or not and now they've actually got a bit of a cult following with LDV Convoy van owners waving, tooting the horn or flicking the full beam on/off when they pass each other on the road lol.

They're a good friendly down to earth lot on the whole willing to share tips and advice if and when you need it too.
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: JakeLeeYes on March 12, 2015, 08:59:11 AM
That sounds perfect for me. I'm going to view it saturday and hope to be driving it away that day! It looks in really really good condition so I'm excited.

What are your views on powering the leisure battery? Are solar panels definitely the way forward if I want to do wild camping?
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: Camper Van Travels on March 13, 2015, 10:01:52 PM
Solar panels for this would be good yes and although some will disagree with me and that's cool, there is actually not much difference between most ordinary 12 volt car batteries and leisure batteries except for a fancy sticker on the side saying 'leisure battery' or 'marine battery' which instantly sends the price of them through the roof.

You can buy ordinary 12 volt car batteries typically for about £15-20 each at your local vehicle breakers yard. That's what I've used for a few years in my van and they work just fine.

If you do intend to go through a lot of power, just get on top of the roof of your van as many high wattage large panels as you can fit up there and ensure you use the correct solar charger with them and you'll be good to go.

Youtube is great too for finding out how others have solved these problems.
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: JakeLeeYes on March 15, 2015, 06:10:59 PM
Thanks for being so helpful CamperVanTravels! Definitely the most active member of the forum.

Just an update: I bought myself a 2003 LDV Convoy although it was born on 30th Dec so its only just missed being a 2004!

It looks great, had a brand new MOT with no advisories and just has a few holes which is no big deal. Its only holes in the floor where the previous owner has screwed into the floor and then removed the screws and just taped over the holes (doesn't stop water surprisingly) but its nothing a bit of fibre glass resin won't fix!

Really excited to start the conversion. I'm definitely stealing loads of Mikes ideas for it. (sorry mike!)
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: JakeLeeYes on March 15, 2015, 06:20:13 PM
Just to add to the above ^ it only cost me £1300 which saved loads on my original budget!
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: Camper Van Travels on March 16, 2015, 11:44:07 PM
£1,300 with a full MOT isn't too bad at all. Keep me posted on my website below how you get along converting it. Only I would be interested to know how you are getting along.

As for being the most active member here, I'm tailing off to be honest. I mean it's all well and good trying to help others here but I could just as easily be doing this information sharing on my own site which will help increase the number of visitors.

No offense to Mike but I'm receiving very little in the way of thanks from him for trying to keep his forum afloat with some activity going on. Really he should be posting here a lot more himself and welcoming new members. I can't be doing his job for him.

The reason why the forum is as dead as a doornail is because he's not leading from the front. Which is a shame for if he was to do so it would probably help a great deal to get more members posting. Even Tai Chi has left by the looks of it.
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: Tai-chi wanderer on March 17, 2015, 09:44:40 AM
Hey don't write me off yet Mark..... ::)

Sig. other half has been in and outa hospital all last week. Laser op on her eyes because of increasing pressure from glaucoma and preceding cataracts. It has not worked, so we have a regime of special eye drops every other minute. Of course we are booked to worry the Frenchies all summer and we don't want appointments messing that up. Perils of father time I'm afraid.
Agree with you about Mike, pm'ed him 2 weeks ago and no response, maybe like us he has other pressing personal issues. Meanwhile it's up to the members to hold the fort. Here we have a fully functioning website and loadsa interested peeps.
You fend one goal I'll do the other, a good opportunity to help others start wearing the road out, without too much pc crap.

By the way welcome aboard JakeL, sounds like you did and got a good deal.
Q away, Mark's got plenty of time, just tell him to put on some sounds and chill. lol. :o
Title: Re: £2k to spend. Which van to buy?
Post by: JakeLeeYes on March 17, 2015, 10:20:48 AM
Don't worry boys I'll help you out. I'm completely inexperienced with living in a van and converting but I'm more than happy to let people know how to avoid the mistakes I'll inevitably make!

Yeah it was £1300 including a brand new MOT. Very happy with it. Currently stripping it all out ready for rust repair and fibre glass patching of screw holes etc