Van choice

[Rodeo]

Hope this is ok to put here.
Our transit minibus budget conversion i did a while back has served us well,we like it,but find we now want to source another (larger) van to do.Ive converted ambulances and all sorts over the years,but feel a panel van is better for us,as when we move house we may have to park on the road,and a reasonable looking van wont draw as much attention as a guirky Ambo or similar.(personally I love 'em) Also it will be our only vehicle.So...my plan requires a van 6 ' wide to be able to sleep acrossways comfortably on a permanent bed,and 14' long from doors to rear of seats to accomodate shower etc etc.Ive only found one van that has this size,which is a extra lwb Sprinter.Anyone know of any others with same sort of size? And also am I going down the right track with choice? We want a comfortable van to drive (transit fits like a glove!)Any comments appreciated please.

 

[hextal]

If i'm reading the stats correctly, the Iveco Daily has a load length of up to 4.5m (14'9") and the VW Crafter goes up to 4.3m (14'1"). The crafter appears to be 1.78m load width (same as the Sprinter), the Daily appears to be 1.8m load width (so slightly wider).

I got the stats of the 'anchor vans' site as it lists them all in one place, though they may not match exactly the manufacturers dims.

 

[GRWXJR]

LDV Convoy. Ok... maybe not. But mine is 6' wide and the right sort of length. Don't have a shower in mine cos I want storage in the back for other stuff, but there's enough room. But too old and performance and handling would put most off - too dated.

I fancied the idea of a LWB Iveco Daily Hi-Top. Nice engines with plenty of go, solid separate chassis and oodles of space for sensible money - not too complex either if you get a mid-noughties one.

I see one as a natural progression from an LDV which has many virtues in its simplicity IMO.

But then again... I DO own (and like) my LDV... so perhaps my opinion is not to be relied on !

 

[Rodeo]

Hextal..I will suss that site out,couldnt find any info,thanks.
GRWXJR..ah ,another biker!.I seem to recall you talking about the LDV last year? Yeah,tbh,I wanted a newer van,as I cant be **sed with bodywork etc anymore,and I dont really want a complete project,just an interior project,lthough I may be tempted if summat takes my eye!

 

[n brown]

widest vans are the Ducato/relay/boxer-no idea how long

 

[GRWXJR]

Hextal..I will suss that site out,couldnt find any info,thanks.
GRWXJR..ah ,another biker!.I seem to recall you talking about the LDV last year? Yeah,tbh,I wanted a newer van,as I cant be **sed with bodywork etc anymore,and I dont really want a complete project,just an interior project,lthough I may be tempted if summat takes my eye!

I did actually mention that I would quite fancy an Iveco Daily LWB Hi-top if and when poor ole Sully turned up his toes ( cant see me parting with him till that happens tbh).... must have got buried in all the LDV references:dance: The Iveco seems rather like a more modern LDV in many ways, putting function and basics ahead of frills - a good honest workhorse if you will.

 

[Rodeo]

Lol,yes,I see now after re read! Mustve got some of them nuts of yours lol! Wonder what a big van woulbe like towing a trailer with a trike on? Juicy i reckon.

 

[GRWXJR]

Lol,yes,I see now after re read! Mustve got some of them nuts of yours lol! Wonder what a big van woulbe like towing a trailer with a trike on? Juicy i reckon.

I've never been drawn to trikes. They do look funky and all that, but to me anything with handlebars that doesnt lean into a corner is just wrong! Plus you get stuck in traffic like a car, but get rained on to boot. So I never quite 'got' trikes.

Mind you I have some different but simple rules about food too that not all would agree with (but work for me). E.g.

1. Don't eat things that scuttle! If it has more than 4 legs it scuttles, and I ain't meant to eat it!

2. Dont eat things that are otherwise 'anatomically incorrect ( in other ways to 1. above). So something like a whelk or a mussel..... how can you have a creature that has only one foot, and not even one leg for that foot! For sure you shouldnt try and eat that!

Same goes pretty much for stuff crunchy on the outside, n mushy on the inside ( i.e. insects and crustaceans [see 1.] and Shellfish [see 2.] ).

As for frameless squidgy things (octopi, squid)..... NOOOOO!!!

Trikes (in my world) fall in the vehicular equivalent of category 2. above. Not for me. :rulez::rulez::rulez::wacko::wacko::wacko:

 

[Rodeo]

Yup,may contain traces of nuts.pmsl! Trike riders rule number 1...Never filter!

 

[GRWXJR]

Yup,may contain traces of nuts.pmsl! Trike riders rule number 1...Never filter!

I got followed by an Italian local while filtering through Turin rush hour traffic a few years ago.

Nothing unusual in that you might think... Except while I was on an XJR1300 bike, this enterprising commuter was in a Fiat!

Anyways sorry for going totally off piste - I hope you've picked a base van already!

As for towing a trike... Shouldn't be too bad? Weight isn't hideous, nor rolling resistance? Don't they elevate the f wheel so it pivots around the headstock and then only the rear wheels are on the ground?

 

[mark61]

Bear in mind payloads with any of the extra long vans. If they are based on 3.5 tonne models they may have a payload of less then 1000Kg, will leave you a bit short of payload by the time it's converted.
The model number will give the GVW usually, and all will be available with 4.5 T or 5 T options.

 

[exwindsurfer]

I would go with Mr Brown on choice of van as we sleep across the van and have 6ft 1in and they lend them selves to converting very easily I found.

 

[Rodeo]

Lots of food for thought,thanks guys.

 

[Anne Daynes]

We have the Sprinter and you only have 5' 9'' cross over the back , a lovely van to drive we love our's and as we are both under 5' 9'' it works for us spot on

 

[Rodeo]

Thanks for the comments.We have now returned from our 3 week trip to Spain,and have been talking to owners of converted panel vans out there.I think we will go for the Iveco daily lwb,high roof.Also ,because we may have to park it on the street when not in use,I think a minibus with tinted windows will be better ,to give an overall less obtrusive appearance,as I think a panel van with campervan type windows may attract the local yobs etc.I can then panel over the windows inside,and cut openings in the panels for windows wherever I want them.Thats my present plan anyway lol.

 

[hextal]

Thanks for the comments.We have now returned from our 3 week trip to Spain,and have been talking to owners of converted panel vans out there.I think we will go for the Iveco daily lwb,high roof.Also ,because we may have to park it on the street when not in use,I think a minibus with tinted windows will be better ,to give an overall less obtrusive appearance,as I think a panel van with campervan type windows may attract the local yobs etc.I can then panel over the windows inside,and cut openings in the panels for windows wherever I want them.Thats my present plan anyway lol.

Just be aware that converting minibuses can often be more of a chore than adding windows to a panel van when it comes to the insides. Also, as they are often single glazed they can also impact your insulation effectiveness quite signifcantly.

Don't forget, if you don't like seitz type windows you can get bonded windows, they are cheaper (and I suspect more secure) than the seitz type, the trade off being they are only single glazed. But you can also have them tinted for stealth.