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Original poster

Tips buying second hand camper van

17 replies

AttentionAll · 24/01/2023 00:26

We are looking to buy a fairly cheap second hand camper van, but we have never owned one before. What tips would you give that we need to look out for when choosing a second hand camper van? Thanks.

OP posts:
Brahumbug · 24/01/2023 07:47

That is a 'How long is a piece of string question!😁 How many of you are there, what is your budget? The classic VW camper will cost more but it will hold its value better. Older diesels will fall foul of emission zones (London, £100 a day!), so you will have to consider where you want to take it. They are great fun however and we love ours. They can be a bit of a money pit, but the pleasure you get from them is enormous. Do check for corrosion, particularly along the sills, windows and doors. Double check any that have just been sprayed as this is often done to hide defects and the rust will bubble through in a few weeks.

Shade17 · 24/01/2023 08:22

A cheap camper van can be a massive can of worms. Make sure you have any potential purchase inspected by a specialist before you buy it, it will be money well spent.

FannythePinkFlamingo · 24/01/2023 08:43

Definitely get it checked out by a specialist before buying. We have a 64 plate T5.1 and fortunately don't live anywhere near London or any other big cities to worry about ULEZ at all.

Are you looking for one already converted or planning on doing it yourself? They are expensive to run. We had a £1100 bill just before Christmas 2021 when the clutch slave cylinder went.

But, we love it. We live in the SW so can get away to somewhere lovely less than an hour's drive away. Solar panels are next on the list to give us a bit more freedom.

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Campervangirl · 24/01/2023 08:48

We have a VW, we used a dealer who converted vans.
Imperial car centre, Scunthorpe, couldn't fault them, also used them to make a few mods, great service.
Google their website.
Also join The Dubbed Out Community on FB, you'll get loads of good advice

Strugglingtodomybest · 24/01/2023 08:56

Bear in mind that if you find a cheap one, it'll be cheap for a reason. I second what pps said about getting someone who knows about vans to check it over first. It could look lovely, but be a mass of rust underneath.

Original poster
AttentionAll · 24/01/2023 09:42

We are not looking to convert. We need one already set up to use.

OP posts:
Faircastle · 24/01/2023 09:57

We bought a one year old VW 6.1 which had been converted by a company who specialises in this.

We saved money by:

  • choosing the startline van (basic model)
  • choosing a company who mass-converts using straightforward materials (no custom conversion using reclaimed oak here)
  • choosing their most basic conversion (no bells and whistles)
  • part-exchanging our family car
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 24/01/2023 09:58

For how many people? How mechanically minded are you - can you do quick fixes yourself, with the help of a YouTube video or instructions from helpful online groups?

Look at VW T25s (sometimes called T3). These are the 80s ones, they still have the engine in the back so they have the flat nosed look if the VW bays, but with 80s styling - the are affectionately known as bricks!

You'll get a decent enough one for £15k but you will need to be comfortable with the fact it's a roughly 40yr old van and will need maintaining. And things break at will! But there are a lot of Facebook etc groups out there who will help if you have problems - people will go out of their way to help you work out fixes, but you need a willingness to learn basic mechanic skills or be willing to pay out for a specialist garage - you can't just take them to a normal garage as they don't know what to do with them! Upside, at 40 years old they are MOT and tax exempt 🙂.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295486739846?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=yUnMp4iRRzC&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=brgM_-lURuq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY you can get high tops like this

Or pop tops, which I prefer, like this
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304764362256?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=XfUkh6lAT2G&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=brgM_-lURuq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 24/01/2023 10:00

Neither of those are particularly great examples, btw, but I was rushing! You'd have to spend a bit of time trawling and wait for a good one to come up.

Funf · 05/05/2023 10:09

Really do your home work. Look for Rust and damp, damp is usually well hidden until it gets really bad.
Hire a few to decide whats best for you.
VW T4-6 etc are great but not much room.
Talbots are good workhorses and cheap but need good maintenance and can be painfully slow.
Anything built on a mercedes van is good but often the boys are full of damp. Look at You tube videos on repairing damp and different peoples vans

user1497207191 · 05/05/2023 10:15

Beware that a lot of them will be converted "works/trades" vans so may well have been hammered, not just mileage, but also bad driving.

A neighbour of ours bought one and after a few months found parts of the suspension, wheel bearings, cv boots, etc all needed replacing, costing a few thousand. That was despite it being relatively low mileage and only a few years old.

ComtesseDeSpair · 05/05/2023 11:01

Have a look at a few models and then find and join a large owners’ forum for each - you’ll soon get a flavour of the things to look out for, common pitfalls, and good dealers. As others have said, sill corrosion is really common in most older vans, and a couple of commonly converted models (the Mazda Bongo and the Daihatsu Hijet) are prone to coolant leaks and engine overheating, so you’d always look for one where a previous owner had had this fixed.)

We have a 26-year-old pop top Mazda Bongo and I adore her - and it’s a good job, because keeping her on the road is a labour of love and deep pockets!

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 05/05/2023 11:25

what manufacturer are you looking at?
there is a “scene tax” for Volkswagens. As in, you pay more for the cool aspect of the brand and all the shows etc your buying into (and people waving at you) with one.

T5.1 is probably the most reliable mix of gearbox and engines, but ULEZ will be an issue - however, if you’re outside the zone and are happy to travel there will be some bargains as a result. You are also more likely to get air con than the older ones.

things to check on all vans, if your putting children in the rear seats, you want crash tested seats. Think how you will use it, if you will cook in it or will be cooking outside to save stinking the van up - pods are good for that. These slide in and out the van and the single tailgate are good to protect you from the rain.

averythinline · 08/07/2023 09:36

@Faircastle hi just found this in searching on camper vans … do you mind sharing the name of the supplier you used? I’m interested in doing the same thanks

Faircastle · 08/07/2023 10:32

@averythinline CamperKing

averythinline · 08/07/2023 12:54

Thank you…am trying to reign in my excitement 😀

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