I’ve sold our VARIO …… & now looking for another vehicle.

[Darcar]

We had some fantastic trips away in the old Mercedes & she was just about perfect for the two of us and the dog, & of course we learned a lot too.

I’ve taken early retirement now, and have the time to do another conversion, so I’ve been looking around for the right vehicle. not as easy as I first thought! my requirements are fairly specific (did I mention I learned a lot)…

Firstly it must be euro 6 Compliant, between 7 & 7.5 meters long, maximum hight of 3 meters.
maximum width of 2.3 meter & above the 3.5 ton range. (These are roughly the dimensions of the mercedes Vario van). also I like RWD, an Automatic & cruise control.

Unfortunately there isn’t a panel van made today that for fills my “must have’s”. Soooooo I’m left with either buying a chassis cab & building a body on it ( which is quite expensive and difficult to achieve on my drive & on my own) or buying a luton van and working with that.

I’ve been looking at the Mercedes sprinter range of 5 ton Luton‘s not many around.
I’m looking above the 3.5 ton limit & this really reduces my choices… my conclusion is that it’s going to have to be The IVECO DAILY ! they seem to be the most popular and available.

Darren.

 

[Millie Master]

But why rule out FWD as you normally get far more head room etc.?

 

[Millie Master]

Depending on your budget Darren the Iveco Daily of more recent years have come with a fully galvanised body and did so from ?? 2018 ??, I don't know haw many of them came with the cruise control package and they do tend to be a bit tall, so might be nudging or slightly above your 3m height limit.

There are also the MAN range of vans that are built like brick built xyz houses but they tend to be about as rare as rocking horse poop.

Then of course you might also want to take a look at the very strong XLWB RWD Renault Masters, but no doubt you would find the width to be somewhat tight for you compared to your old Vario.

I just wish I was fit enough to be faced with your exciting dillema!

Good luck

Phil

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Obvious choice might be another Vario.

 

[Darcar]

Morning guys..

FWD wouldn’t be a deal breaker but luckily most of the over 3.5 ton vehicles are RWD.
Yes the Iveco Daily is definitely the front runner the van body’s are slightly to narrow, so I’m probably going to end up with a luton!
Which would be way to high....I’m guessing it’s possible to cut the roof off, reduced the hight off the walls & then put the roof back on?

I’d definitely consider the MAN trucks, the Renault Master the VW crafter along with Mercedes Sprinter. Unfortunately tho, in the OVER 3.5 ton range these are very rare.

I’d never have sold our Vario it was a perfect size for us & we loved it....
but they stopped making them in 2013 the best they can achieve is euro 4/5 with an added exhaust system. This is already a very significant factor in continental travel in anything above 3.5 ton, & is only going to get worse.
Tin worm is also rife in the van bodied vehicles.

Darren

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'd suggest a 7.5t better payload and brakes and economy isn't too bad, but the 3m probably kills that and maybe the euro 6 request.

Actually Euro 6 isn't a problem

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[SquirrellCook]

We had some fantastic trips away in the old Mercedes & she was just about perfect for the two of us and the dog, & of course we learned a lot too.

I’ve taken early retirement now, and have the time to do another conversion, so I’ve been looking around for the right vehicle. not as easy as I first thought! my requirements are fairly specific (did I mention I learned a lot)…

Firstly it must be euro 6 Compliant, between 7 & 7.5 meters long, maximum hight of 3 meters.
maximum width of 2.3 meter & above the 3.5 ton range. (These are roughly the dimensions of the mercedes Vario van). also I like RWD, an Automatic & cruise control.

Unfortunately there isn’t a panel van made today that for fills my “must have’s”. Soooooo I’m left with either buying a chassis cab & building a body on it ( which is quite expensive and difficult to achieve on my drive & on my own) or buying a luton van and working with that.

I’ve been looking at the Mercedes sprinter range of 5 ton Luton‘s not many around.
I’m looking above the 3.5 ton limit & this really reduces my choices… my conclusion is that it’s going to have to be The IVECO DAILY ! they seem to be the most popular and available.

Darren.

Hello Darren, I hope you don't mind me asking, but how much did you get for it. If you don't want it public PM me.

Thanks

Mark

 

[Darcar]

I'd suggest a 7.5t better payload and brakes and economy isn't too bad, but the 3m probably kills that and maybe the euro 6 request.

Actually Euro 6 isn't a problem

2018 DAF LF FA150 EURO 6 ULEZ 7.5TON HGV BOX WITH TAIL LIFT TRUCK LORRY TRUCK DI | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2018 DAF LF FA150 EURO 6 ULEZ 7.5TON HGV BOX WITH TAIL LIFT TRUCK LORRY TRUCK DI at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

I’m a fussy git ! That’s to big I really don’t want a lorry… but a very clean & good price truck.

 

[Darcar]

Hello Darren, I hope you don't mind me asking, but how much did you get for it. If you don't want it public PM me.

Thanks

Mark

Hi mark.
we had it advertised at 25k for about 2/3 months but only 2 people came to see it! ( We weren’t really sure that selling it was what we wanted so I wasn’t motivated to reduce the price! )
The First person wanted it but couldn’t raise the money & the second people bought it.
I dropped to £23,500. As everyone wants a deal & they were very nice people.
Darren

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I much prefer driving 7.5t trucks to any van out there and done many thousands of miles in both, just easier, better view of the road ahead and the surrounding countryside, air over hydraulic brakes so you know it will stop when you need it, vans brakes are not fit for purpose when fully loaded, but of course not for everyone, parking a problem of course.

 

[Darcar]

I much prefer driving 7.5t trucks to any van out there and done many thousands of miles in both, just easier, better view of the road ahead and the surrounding countryside, air over hydraulic brakes so you know it will stop when you need it, vans brakes are not fit for purpose when fully loaded, but of course not for everyone, parking a problem of course.

My main issue with a lorry/truck is they don’t look very Motorhomey!!! (if that’s a word) & this can cause its own problems.

I know a luton can also be an ugly block but I’m sure I can disguise it enough to have some kerb appeal.

I test drove a Iveco Daily 72c Luton the other day and was pleasantly impressed with the drive. Coming from a 2004 7.5ton Mercedes Vario it was definitely a step up on driver comfort.
It’s box was to big! at 20feet long 7’6” wide and high! But still a manageable vehicle.

Darren

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I did a plan to do one but never got around to it and we decided it wasn't feasible for us.


My drawing usually gets a chuckle so here it is

 

[Millie Master]

Darren have you thought of either the Renault/Vauxhall low loader luton vans, fully galvanised body and it is quite easy to cut through a walk through from the cab. Being the low loader type it overcomes the height problems and they also have that stonking enormous above cab storage area as well, there are also loads of Euro 6 vans available.
Reliability issues with these are in the main well in the past and you will often see absolutely stella mileages being achieved!

Very much the same goes for the Sevel van in their low loader formats.

Both of the above types can/could when modified by someone of your undoubted skills, they can be made to look almost professional motorhome(ish) which is of course important when touring around Europe.

Phil

 

[SquirrellCook]

Hi mark.
we had it advertised at 25k for about 2/3 months but only 2 people came to see it! ( We weren’t really sure that selling it was what we wanted so I wasn’t motivated to reduce the price! )
The First person wanted it but couldn’t raise the money & the second people bought it.
I dropped to £23,500. As everyone wants a deal & they were very nice people.
Darren

Thanks Darren, I need to get rid of Murky. We are running out of space so it has to go, but where to advertise it?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

All but one of ours sold within weeks on Ebay £20 for a month classified not auction, jsut decide what you want (research what it's worth & find a good description to copy from) add a grand for chippers, take plenty of landscape pictures, write a decent description extolling it's virtues and how much you've enjoyed, don't dwell on any negatives and it'll fly away.

 

[Darcar]

Darren have you thought of either the Renault/Vauxhall low loader luton vans, fully galvanised body and it is quite easy to cut through a walk through from the cab. Being the low loader type it overcomes the height problems and they also have that stonking enormous above cab storage area as well, there are also loads of Euro 6 vans available.
Reliability issues with these are in the main well in the past and you will often see absolutely stella mileages being achieved!

Very much the same goes for the Sevel van in their low loader formats.

Both of the above types can/could when modified by someone of your undoubted skills, they can be made to look almost professional motorhome(ish) which is of course important when touring around Europe.

Phil

Yes Phil.
i‘m very open to a low loader as you say there great for space and looks. However I’ve not been able to find much above 3.5 ton. I’d struggle to build a fairly large camper under that with any payload!
cheers Darren.

 

[Darcar]

Thanks Darren, I need to get rid of Murky. We are running out of space so it has to go, but where to advertise it?

I sold ours through Facebook marketplace! There’s no costs involved with that.

 

[Millie Master]

As you do, I have been thinking about your dilemma Darren, why has your van and the associated build got to be so darned heavy?


If you go for a luton van, the very build of those is so very significantly lighter than your old which of course had a massively heavy steel chassis attached to which was the equally heavy steel body along with acres of very heavy glass.

So from an all together, exceptionally lighter starting point, in a nice, beautifully square body you can build lightweight but still exceptionally strongly with a frame type construction method attached to which you can use lightweight ply, bonding in 25mm Cellotex (or similar) as not only insulation but more importantly as a very rigid stiffening.... (I built my larger panels like this and they are immensely strong).

So Darren why has your build got to be so darned heavy which of course will hammer your fuel consumption?

Only thinking Darren......................

Phil

 

[mark61]

What about the Fuso Canter. Truck like looks but smaller than most 7.5 tonnes.

Not a recommendation by the way, just another option.

 

[Darcar]

As you do, I have been thinking about your dilemma Darren, why has your van and the associated build got to be so darned heavy?


If you go for a luton van, the very build of those is so very significantly lighter than your old which of course had a massively heavy steel chassis attached to which was the equally heavy steel body along with acres of very heavy glass.

So from an all together, exceptionally lighter starting point, in a nice, beautifully square body you can build lightweight but still exceptionally strongly with a frame type construction method attached to which you can use lightweight ply, bonding in 25mm Cellotex (or similar) as not only insulation but more importantly as a very rigid stiffening.... (I built my larger panels like this and they are immensely strong).

So Darren why has your build got to be so darned heavy which of course will hammer your fuel consumption?

Only thinking Darren......................

Phil

Thanks again Phil.
TBH, it’s payload that concerns me the most.
We definitely like off grid camping, our limiting factor has always been water capacity, in our other van. So we‘d like to fit big tanks this time.
We don’t have to fill them all the time but it’s really nice to have the ability too.
cheers Darren.