Day camper. Van v Estate v SUV

[airbus330]

FWIW I spent a couple of nights camped out in a Vauxhall Vectra estate a few years back and wouldn't recommend it. Claustrophobic and loads of condensation.
A friend of ours has a Peugeot Partner with a removable conversion which they use for overnight stops driving down to their Spanish home. He's 6' and says its comfortable.
Mazda Bongo as a wild card? Maybe to VW, but smaller footprint.
Personally I'd go for the Caddy Max.

[Fluke]

[quote="Tedx"]I'm looking at an everyday vehicle that can be used as an occasional overnight camper./quote]

A friend of mine bought a Berlingo a year or two ago for this purpose, she had it professionally kitted out as a small camper for her and the dog to go off on adventures. After a while she realised that she wanted to use it as a car from time to time but was stuck with fixtures and fittings she didn't use much and couldn't take out. So she sold it and has just bought a Vauxhall Combo, a van-based people carrier. This time she's going to put a bed of some sort in, like the ones linked to above, a few containers for bits and pieces and just try it out until she decides what works and what doesn't. She mentioned the front seat can be changed so that it swivels to face backwards which would be useful for just sitting comfortably with a cup of tea looking out at the view, rather than perching on the side of the bed or whatever. Importantly though she wants to be able to use it as a car when required.

I'm very interested in doing something like this too, opens up a lot of possibilities for short trips out to the coast.

As a slight aside she also mentioned she uses an app called park4night which is how she selects where she's going to park up for the night.

[9873210]

If you only intend to do this occasionally you might also look at some of the larger hatchbacks. This opens up the field.

For example, if you fold the rear seats and push the front seats forward a Prius has over 2m of length in the back. You'd have to bridge the rear seat foot well, which can be done with luggage or a shaped piece of plywood. The main problem would be lumps and bumps in the not quite flat floor. The sort of details that are hard to generalize about and will depend on the selection of your mattress.

A hybrid also has the possibility of leaving the car on to run the lights, fan, or even the heat or A/C. With minimal accessories you could also use an electric kettle to prepare breakfast. It is quite efficient at turning petrol into electricity, which mitigates the risk of running out of fuel and a flat battery. At least a few hybrids have an optional inverter and a three pin outlet.

[Alaric]

If you only intend to do this occasionally you might also look at some of the larger hatchbacks. This opens up the field.

For example, if you fold the rear seats and push the front seats forward a Prius has over 2m of length in the back. .

I think on the Austin Maxi from whenever the front seats would recline to make enough space.

http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-33 ... index.html

[Fluke]

I’ve been thinking about changing my car lately and am getting into this idea of car camping so ted’s post is timely. If he doesn’t mind I’d like to ask more or less the same question but where the extra sleeping length is not important. So I’m looking at a regular sized car, rather than anything humungous, but which is none the less nice and roomy. Must have decent head clearance when sitting upright in the back for medium sized person. If all could be achieved with back seats folded down that would be ideal, otherwise they’d have to come out. Other requirements would include:

- Automatic
- 3 ish years old
- Petrol or hybrid (probably)
- I suppose the budget would be up to about £15k
- Sturdy, reliable, few bells and whistles so it's fun to drive

There’s just so many out there I don’t know where to start. Suggestions welcome

[Itsallaguess]

One of the big things with conversions is condensation.

A small space, like an estate car or trailer used overnight at (say) a race circuit, will be spitting wet through in the morning unless the windows are vented.

Caravans/campervans tend to have trickle vents.

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I'd toyed with the idea of overnight stops in a car over the years, and the main thing that's put me off has been the well-known issues with condensation.

Given that temperature-comparisons with tent-camping are also likely to be very similar in the main, and especially given that I'd be unlikely to even want to go overnighting in a car during poor weather, then I've tended to consider that any trip that might have involved overnighting in a car might as well incorporate just parking up in a secluded area and trying to pitch a small tent somewhere nearby, with a tent just large enough to provide the space to sleep, which would then remove lots of the in-car issues associated with sleeping in the actual vehicle...

To have the car nearby for storage of all the main gear would then provide what I've always felt to perhaps be a good 'middle ground' wild-camping option, even if the tent-pitch has to be a little further away to gain the wild-camping 'seclusion' required...

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[MonsterMork]

Peugeot Partner with a removable conversion ....
Mazda Bongo as a wild card?

Mazda Bongo is a good call apart from one thing, they are chuffin' expensive as they have a great cult following here in the UK.

I would second the Tommy Tippy*, sorry, Peugeot Partner Tepee - pug van but a proper car version. Then spen a few bob on a proper camper conversion, there are a few specialists out there who do camper conversions for smaller vehicles - ISTR whheeler dealers, wheeler dealers trading up/ wheeler dealers dream car had one on the program.

MM


*we have a wonderful collection of vehicle names in the motor trade that the manufacturers would prefer not to hear

[Tedx]

The Tepee looks a decent shout. I've found a couple on the local Gumtree. The only slight issue is they have disabled gubbins installed (a ramp mainly). I've also found a camper self install 'pod' for about 2k delivered.

And the other thing about the tepee is the 3 seats across the front. 99% of the time it's just me and the missus, but once in a while we'll need space for one more. So handy.

Perhaps not the coolest vehicle in the world, but certainly worth further investigation.

[Tedx]

I'm still looking btw, but somewhat offbeat, a Nissan Elgrand has popped up on my local Gumtree. It's not a campervan, but a big MPV which the current owner has used as a campervan.

2004, 53k. V6 3.5l engine, Auto gearbox (which sounds like fun) and all the gubbins. It's in good condition, with no rust (it doesn't say it's an import...).

Bad bits = wheels are showing their age and there is a tiny chip on the passenger side of the windscreen. Mot'd until March 2024

We'd use the wee Hyundai for daily use, so its not going to cover big miles.

Insurance = £200. Tax = £300.

ChatGPT says:

Overall, the Nissan Elgrand 3.5L V6 has a good reputation for being a reliable car. However, it is important to thoroughly research and inspect any used car before making a purchase. You may also want to consider purchasing a warranty or extended service contract to provide added protection in case of unexpected repairs.

I would think a 3.5L V6 would have lots of life left in it @ 53K

He wants 7k ono.

It looks like fun. Anyone driven/owned one of these things?

Cheers

[redsturgeon]

They are all imports from Japan which is not a bad thing necessarily. They are generally well specced and quite luxurious. Big old engine which means low mpg but probably will go on forever if well looked after. If you check on youtube you will probably find some video reviews.

John

[Tedx]

They are all imports from Japan which is not a bad thing necessarily. They are generally well specced and quite luxurious. Big old engine which means low mpg but probably will go on forever if well looked after. If you check on youtube you will probably find some video reviews.

John

Thank John

+ about twenty quid on the insurance for the import status

[Tedx]

Big old engine which means low mpg but probably will go on forever if well looked after.
John

Holy sh*t.

20mpg around the houses (or less!). Maybe 30mpg @ 55mph

I'm just not used to those kinds of numbers!

I've also looked at this one.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/nissan/2005-i ... 1440910153

It's a chunk of a car for 9k. 77k with a FSH, luxury interior 3.5l V6. Compared with similarly priced 2012 partially converted diesel VW Caddy Maxi van which I've also saved in my favs it wins hands down for what you get four your dosh.

I've also looked at a Tepee, but they all seem to be converted to disabled cars and it looks like a fair bit of work to remove it all (going by youtube anyway)

[Dicky99]

Here's another perspective on your problem.......a few years ago I had similar ideas to you. In the end I decided I must be crazy. I can stay overnight in a pleasant Premier Inn or similar quite a few times before I spend the amount of money I am likely to spend on a suitable vehicle and it won't be anywhere near as comfortable as a room.

Seconded. I was on a walking break on the north Norfolk coast last year. One of the days when it had been raining all day and I was sodden and miserable I passed a (tall) guy who was parked up in a sea front car park, laid out reading a book on camp bed in a converted estate with the tail gate open. His situation looked grim and destroyed any thoughts of the glamour of the freedom to roam thing for me. I paid £30 a night for a modest but large yha room all to myself. I bought fish and chips and a couple of tinnies on the way back there to dry out and warm up and wouldn't have swapped situations for anything.

[redsturgeon]

If you are looking at these Japaneses imports then you might consider a Honda Stepwagon. These come with the excellent Vtec 2.0L engine that will be a bit better on fuel but also are quite sporty!

John

[88V8]

Big old engine which means low mpg but probably will go on forever if well looked after.

Holy sh*t.
20mpg around the houses (or less!). Maybe 30mpg @ 55mph
I'm just not used to those kinds of numbers!

I am. So I can assure you that one can become accustomed.
And as you say, it won't do much mileage.
Just avoid driving around houses.

V8

[Tedx]

Just a quick update on this.

We've looked at various options, from NIssan Elgrands (x 2) to large and small vans, so already converted, some not.

Then, as it happens, I guy I spoke to at the end of last year while he was working on a camper conversion for his van in his driveway put it up for sale on Gumtree.

So at the end of the week, I pick up a bright blue ex BG VW Caddy Maxi, already insulated, sound deadened and carpeted. It has thermal magnetic window covers, a fold out bed platform and a set of (removable) seatbelted fold down rear seats installed, all MoT'd and with an updated V5. Since I spoke to the guy, he's also installed a window on the passenger side sliding door.

It's got 80k on the clock, but with a pretty complete service history, including the cambelt/water pump done 7k ago. It's also had suspension and brake parts replaced 1-2 years ago and a new turbocharger 3 years ago (BG vans were well serviced, but well thrashed!). It's got 4 fairly new tyres on it.

I need to get a Jackery type power station for it, which is what he was planning to do.

Now the VW Tdi Caddy motor can have issue with it EGR valve and it's injectors. I'ts had one injector replaced to my knowledge, but the seller is conviced it's had 2 done and will double check his paperwork.

....but I can live with this and the price I got it for leaves a bit of room for replacement injectors. It's primarily going to be a vehicle for parking up at the foot of a hill on the odd summer weekend and a backup second car if needed. I'm not taking it to Italy or anything and I can't see much more that 5 or 6 thousand miles a year being done. I will also make sure that I have a decent breakdown policy in force. My local mechanic cut his teeth on VW's and his rates are very reasonable (although going by youtube, replacing an injector doesn't look all that difficult. The seller also said he used another local garage on the other side of town with good results). The injectors themselves can be expensive though. I shall adjust my monthly car expenses account accordingly.

We just need some warmer weather now.

[bungeejumper]

Now the VW Tdi Caddy motor can have issue with it EGR valve and it's injectors. I'ts had one injector replaced to my knowledge, but the seller is conviced it's had 2 done and will double check his paperwork.

Has it had the dieselgate fix done? That was a bit of a learning curve for VW, because the fix prompted a massive wave of EGR and DPF failures. But these days I think those worries are probably in the past.

What the dieselgate fix did was to put some extra stress on the engine systems, and that extra stress was enough to call the death knell on thousands of EGRs etc that were already damaged, but which hadn't played up yet. You might say that it flushed out all the weak animals in the herd. Not that the fix was intrinsically bad in its own right.

Which is another way of saying that if the EGR etc on your van didn't break then, it probably isn't in the queue to break prematurely now that eight years (?) have passed.

There's a lot of supposition in that argument, but it's very hard to generalise. We refused the diesel fix on my wife's Golf, but her EGR went down anyway at 60K through ordinary bad luck. And our local indy fitted a remanufactured valve for less than half of what VW would have charged, and it's been perfect ever since.

Good on yer, Tedx, and have fun.

BJ

[Tedx]

Thanks BJ. I'll look through the paperwork again for evidence of this. 8 years ago though I'm reasonably sure it was still a British Gas owned van (then again, I'm not sure after what time period BG sold on their vehicles - would they keep them for 4 years?)

As you say though, it's 8 years on, so (touch wood) you'd think the EGR is ok. the part itself doesn't seem to be too expensive @ £200 ish. It's the pabour (apparently) that stings.

I have to say there are several excellent VW Caddy forums out there. One suggestion is:

Just put a blanking kit in and get it mapped out, never have to worry about it again.

I know what a blanking kit is and I know what remapping an engine is, but I have to admit I'm not sure how the two interact in this case.

Not to worry though - it's not showing any symptoms of an EGR failure. In fact it runs great. Very reminiscent of my old 220,000 miler Golf Tdi

[redsturgeon]

Thanks BJ. I'll look through the paperwork again for evidence of this. 8 years ago though I'm reasonably sure it was still a British Gas owned van (then again, I'm not sure after what time period BG sold on their vehicles - would they keep them for 4 years?)

As you say though, it's 8 years on, so (touch wood) you'd think the EGR is ok. the part itself doesn't seem to be too expensive @ £200 ish. It's the pabour (apparently) that stings.

I have to say there are several excellent VW Caddy forums out there. One suggestion is:

Just put a blanking kit in and get it mapped out, never have to worry about it again.

I know what a blanking kit is and I know what remapping an engine is, but I have to admit I'm not sure how the two interact in this case.

Not to worry though - it's not showing any symptoms of an EGR failure. In fact it runs great. Very reminiscent of my old 220,000 miler Golf Tdi

Basically if you take out the EGR then you have to tell the engine it is no longer there by remapping the ECU.

John

[Mike88]

Sleeping in an estate car is not great. I did it a lot in my youth. Lots of condensation, get woken up early by the sun and getting comfortable are the main issues I experienced apart from the fact it gets freezing cold at night even in the summer.

I agree with the earlier poster that £60k cars come with expensive parts if anything goes wrong (trust me I've owned a Range Rover) but if the OP must do it I guess a Zafira is as good as anything as they are very underrated, cheap and reliable at least the one I owned was. Forget about the van idea. Done that also but that again was a massive fail as it was cold and the condensation was horrendous and uncomfortable as well as being unhealthy.

PS. I should have read the entire thread before posting.