What would you convert into a camper?

[brewdexta]

On the way home from the pub quiz tonight the missus said that once I've finished renovating the tractor she wondered if I fancy converting a van into a camper. I've had a VW camper before, that's not what she's thinking, something a bit more spacious and luxurious but not a wiinnebago behemoth. Enough for a family of four to tour in.

So I'm thinking of a relatively modern van that doesn't rot and drop to bits before your eyes as a donor vehicle. And something with a half decent economy and strong mechanicals and doesn't wheeze at the slightest incline. I don't want to buy a basket case but something with a bit of work is OK.

Is there anything that fits the bill or have I excluded everything?

Cheers
Andy

 

[redrascal]

Lwb transit. Merchant sprinter. Ive had both. fiat ducato is another decent motor.

 

[optima21]

anything can be converted into a camper, including my mk2 polo, I could even sleep in it

 

[BrokenBiker]

Richard Hammond did something interesting with a defender...haha

on a more serious note, I used to regularly go camping with my father when I was younger and quite often we saw a double decker that had been converted, bedroom areas upstairs etc. also seena few lwb vans, and a luton box van converted too

 

[mike os]

Lwb sprinter might not be big enough for 4... don't think anything lgv is bigger

 

[DanielW]

http://www.towntrust.org.uk/images/minibus1_600.jpg

 

[sardine]

An old Bedford ambulance seems to be the go to camper on the cheap.

 

[the snooper]

some sort of psv type bus with a custom body plenty of space inside

 

[MattF]

Luton or some form of larger vehicle with a horsebox type rear would be my goto, if you're wanting something larger than a camper but smaller than one of the lane hoggers. Personally, I've always fancied one of the older Toyota's, (can't remember the models offhand), with the captain style seat and the moon windows.

 

[Wedg1e]

A few years back I fancied having a crack at converting the early style Renault Master minibus: side door, power step, huge glass, high ceiling... the hard bits were done for you.
Then I saw the prices they went for....! Granted they weren't good-looking but for space they were like an aircraft hangar on wheels.

 

[clift_d]

Or you could get a ready made... either a VW LT Westfalia Florida, or a VW T25 Karmann Coachbuilt. Both are still on a VW base but both have a bit more room for a family.

 

[Kayos]

Renault master or vauxhall movano (same van) would get my vote, I had a lwb high roof movano, 2.8 diesel, loads of roof, plenty of power and still a relatively simple engine as its pre common rail.

They also don't rot and look pretty good for an older van

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I was parked up behind a modern ambulance the other day having my lunch, the rear doors were open and I thought to myself that it would make a nice camper.

 

[CRB]

Enough for a family of four to tour in.

So I'm thinking of a relatively modern van that doesn't rot and drop to bits before your eyes as a donor vehicle. And something with a half decent economy and strong mechanicals and doesn't wheeze at the slightest incline.

Cheers
Andy

The latter two clear out any non-turbo LT prior to 96.....like mine. However as CliftD says the pre 96 Florida is an excellent choice. To be truthful, 'economy' is about 28mpg on a good run, so I am sure that the more modern ones are better, they are certainly faster. There are a good number of us who are well in the 200,000 miles territory and still going strong, some considerably higher. Equally, some are in the 30.000 miles area in twenty years or so!!!

Rust......well, they all come with some, but are based on a commercial chassis, so the tinware is all separate and not integral to the chassis.

Look VW LT up on ebay and see what others have done. There is one in Portugal which is British registered, £3,000, the maroon one. They are non-electronic and very easy to work on, when needed, but thoroughly enjoyable to drive.....and if you like that sort of thing, get waved at by all and sundry.

I have a bunch of links if you want some reading matter.

 

[brewdexta]

That LT35 sounds good but I would have to sell one of the kids

I like the idea of a separate galv chassis and no electronics but the Merc sprinter, Renalut Movano or a modern Ambulance also sounds good and more room.

 

[pedrobedro]

That LT35 sounds good but I would have to sell one of the kids

You could go for a smaller camper then The big brown UPS vans look like a good candidate to me.

 

[clift_d]

That LT35 sounds good but I would have to sell one of the kids

If you're buying a camper now is the best time of year to get a good deal, and LT Floridas do sell for more affordable prices if you're prepared to wait and can cast your net wide. For example:

http://suchen.mobile.de/wohnwagen-inserat/vw-lt-florida-großer-bruder-des-t3-bremen/200443862.html

Get over to the brick-yard forum if you've any questions to ask existing LT owners.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

What about a crew cab pick-up and a (homemade) demountable camper back ?

 

[simplysimon]

So I'm thinking of a relatively modern van that doesn't rot and drop to bits before your eyes as a donor vehicle. And something with a half decent economy and strong mechanicals and doesn't wheeze at the slightest incline.

Cheers
Andy

I've heard tale of such mythical beasts, but I never believed the PRv

 

[brewdexta]

The reason I would have to sell one of the kids was it was a 3 berth A double and a single.

I think the missus has been watching that programme on telly where they convert things into small accommodation, mobile or static, I forget the name of the programme. So I think she wants to build one, not buy a ready made camper. I shall question her some more.