Does anyone have any advice or experience buying a second hand van?

[Scarscar]

I would like to buy a second hand small van or car derived van to convert into a little solo camper. I’ve got about £2000 plus my car worth about £1000 in part exchange to buy something. I am not able to get any finance so about £3000 to buy the base vehicle is it. It will be my only vehicle.

I am thinking something like a Citroen Kangoo or a Ford Transit Connect, along those lines.

I have no clue about mechanics and don’t have anyone irl to ask. I feel like they will see me coming.

I’ve done lots of Googling on car forums and Honest Johns website and have gathered some information but I am lacking practical second hand vehicle buying experience.

Does anyone have any advice or experience, or even know of any good garages or websites that might help?

Boy do I wish I’d trained as a mechanic!

Try vanmonster.com although only a very small proportion of their stock are car derived vans. I drive small vans at work (Royal Mail) and you definitely should not buy any of their ex fleet vehicles no matter how cheap.

I used to have an astravan. Part of my reason for choosing it was that it was long enough to sleep in. I soon found it wasn’t that comfortable because it was difficult to get level. It was a great vehicle otherwise.....I just used a tent.

Thank for the advice about ex-postie vans that's worth knowing.

Looks like most of the vehicles on vanmonster are out of my price range. To be fair I don't have a problem finding a van to buy, my problem is knowing how to tell if it's a dud or not. If feel like I'm stuck and can't go forward because I don't know what I'm buying. My previous vehicles have always either been new or second hand but from relatives before, so I have no experience buying second hand from a dealer.

How did you go about buying your Astravan?