Transits

[500e]

What to look for in a 57 plate Transit
Friend wants to look at a transit camper she has seen one on FB in Swindon for £4k, I would think it was a dog but she is set on it, whatever I say she will go look not getting involved as it would end in tears.

 

[finyuk2005]

What to look for in a 57 plate Transit
Friend wants to look at a transit camper she has seen one on FB in Swindon for £4k, I would think it was a dog but she is set on it

take a squint underneath, then walk away briskly

 

[Smallfry]

Rusty sills, rusty door steps, rusty front arches......... Then there is the problematic 2.2 or 2.4 engine.

You can buy all the panels, but you just know it will be you getting the job.

 

[DanZac]

Friend wants to look at a transit camper she has seen one on FB in Swindon for £4k

Other than the above I'd suggest that at that price it's not even worth going to look at. My guess is it'll either be a rusty heap, in bits, or a mattress someone's stuck in the back of a builders van.

 

[Smallfry]

That is a good point by DanZac. You see an awful lot of badly done home made "motorhomes", just like this, with an old mattress and some tatty second hand kitchen units butchered to fit, by people trying to maximise the value of their dog eared old van. Some are hilarious !

 

[knighty]

ignoring the rust and obvious

make sure it's cold when you get there

listen carefully for any knocks/ticks from the engine when it's ticking over or revving

pump the clutch up and down a few times, see if the flywheel gives any obvious signs of a problem

check for blow-by

FWD or RWD the engines are junk.... but FWD are more common and cheaper if you need to replace it

check it's a 6 speed.... both engines hate being revved - 110ps or above should be 6speed

 

[DanZac]

I've no further useful advice, but if you do go and look at it I hope it looks like this.

That's the best Transit conversion I've seen and it shouldn't rust. Woodworm on the other hand.

 

[knighty]

That's the best Transit conversion I've seen and it shouldn't rust. Woodworm on the other hand.

that's an Iveco :-p

 

[DanZac]

that's an Iveco :-p

Good spot.

I did say I had no useful advice.

 

[gaz1]

my advice is buy a camper already converted or convert one yourself but that side would lead to it being modified and insurance side of it can be done

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/micro-campers.124236/page-10#post-2135437

the engines of nowadays are very poor compared to what they once was where the engine outlasted the shell

if you do buy an older camper van, it will be strip out and start again as you want a van to last so best sort it while you can

 

[mr haynes]

Mk6/7 trannies do get a bad rep, slightly unfairly, when they run they are actually ok.
I would say everything rusts on all vans not just fords.
Point her in direction of a 2.5Di mk3/4/5/Smiley, still same rust but can fix it on roadside with a hammer and gaffa tape

 

[Bobupndown]

my advice is buy a camper already converted or convert one yourself

So buy one that has been converted already.......or one that hasnt basically?

 

[gaz1]

So buy one that has been converted already.......or one that hasnt basically?

whilst you might think your taking the p your not there is a reason for it

because its already determined as a camper vehical you can strip it out and remake the insides to a better design of use than what was built in there already you can also use newer tech and design to also make it stronger/lighter as well

you dont know the floor condition on an older camper so its always worth considering a strip out and sort it as a barebone structure

since ive built a few of these before the insurance/corporate side got there claws into home made campers its interesting the amount of hopes you have to follow for a change of vehical usage

ive also redesigned enough caravans and also done a rip out and rebuilt them though they are lighter they are better designed for better usage

 

[winchman]

If its a motor home style coach built look for Damp as they can leak and it only really starsts to show inside once the wooden frame has started rotting. If its a converted van have a good look at Gas and electric system as I have seen a few bad ones

 

[James1979]

So buy one that has been converted already.......or one that hasnt basically?

Sound advice that

 

[500e]

Think we have got through to her not a good deal on the 2 she has thought about and really she is not spending enough time V money using it, cheaper to go to mid range hotel for the use she will get out of it.
Also if she uses it as a daily drive the cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance, will frighten her.
Nice girl but not thought through.

 

[Barking Mat]

make sure it's cold when you get there

Words of wisdom, referring to the engine.

Then look for rust, then run away.

 

[GRW]

Transits used to rust everywhere, but the worst bit was the rear spring hangers (but I think thats before the 07).
I have an LDV Convoy (Yr 2000) which has the 2.5di "Banana" Lump & MT75 gearbox. Agricultural & a lot less oomph than the 2.4 Duratorque, but a lot simpler & solidly reliable (LDV's rust lots, but are better (less bad?) than similar era Tranny's).
Dual mass flywheel clutches, and rust - lots of rust. If you find one that's got a tidy body, fair enough.
The Duratorque is capable of big miles (250k-ish) but seems to give no warning or clue when it's going to let go (& it can let go a lot sooner than 250k) - it seems you just get a nasty terminal surprise!
Also heard that the timing chain can jump teeth if you bump-start it (maybe the chain or tensioner has to be knackered first - not sure).

 

[Barking Mat]

I would never buy a transit, I'd go Iveco or something French.

 

[mr haynes]

FRENCH!!????

Only thing worse is german....

We really need a tinworm smiley