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Choosing A Van For Conversion

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60 views11 pages

Choosing A Van For Conversion

Uploaded by

Lal pun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Choosing a Van for

Camper Conversion
Choosing the right van is like finding a partner - it needs to be reliable, fit your needs, and not make you want to
scream at it every time you spend time together.

The first step in any campervan build is choosing Before launching into your van research, there are a
which van to buy! few admin things to think about first. Notably, it's
important that you check the legal and insurance
Converting a van costs time and money, so you want requirements in your country.
to make sure that you make the right choice from the
outset. Vans come in all shapes and sizes: Tall, small, For instance, some countries require a standing
wide, thin, flamboyant, stealthy, utilitarian, rickety, height of 6ft inside the van, some campervan
cheap, expensive. Finding the right van is an exciting insurance companies will not insure a converted
and fun process. So let’s discover the best van for school bus, and some regions won't tax your van if it
your camper conversion! weighs over 3.5 tonnes. So check your country's
requirements before buying a van!

Imagine the heartbreak if you bought a van only to
find that you weren't able to convert it...

So before doing anything, do these two things:

1. Look up the legal regulations / conversion


standards for your country (a quick Google
search should sort you out!)

2. Research the requirements of the


campervan insurers in your area, ring them
up if there is any doubt as to their
requirements.

A little horror story…

In Ireland, the campervan insurers require 'bodily


access' between the cab and back of the van. Well,
naively, I had finished my van conversion without
consulting a single insurer! During the build, I had
installed the kitchen unit across the front of the van,
blocking access to the cab. So, I was declined
insurance by EVERY insurer... I ended up having to
Sunset in a pop-top; @packthebus
approach an insurance ombudsman to help me get
insurance. I ended up paying nearly three times the
Legal & insurance price for my insurance! Learn from my mistakes, and
do your research first.
requirements
What will you be using the
town. A long, wide van will give you a much more
comfortable night's sleep.

van for? Weather

Stealth If you're going to be travelling to cold or wet places


you will likely be spending a bunch of time inside
Are you a city slicker or country bumpkin? If you your van. Your van will need to be pretty comfortable
spend a lot of time in cities - perhaps you even work if this is the case. You will want room to move around
in an office (I hear lots of the Google crowd live in and stand up inside. Indeed, if you are travelling to
vans), a stealth build may be high on your priority very cold locations (like me) you will need to insulate
list. I have a friend who was living in his campervan your van very well on the floor and roof which will
full-time in Glasgow, Scotland and was broken into detract from the standing height. Make sure to
TWICE while sleeping - luckily he had 'bodily access' consider this - you may want to purchase a van with
to the cab and managed to make a quick getaway! A an extra-high roof.
stealthy van may be less likely to have a break-in and
have an easier time parking overnight (less hassle
from the locals / police). Requirements checklist
Full-time I suggest writing a list of all the requirements you
have for your conversion. What do you want, what
Are you planning on living in your van full-time? You can you live without? How much space will it all take
will certainly want to think about roof height! Being up? Having a clear idea in your head about what you
able to stand up tall in your van will give you better want in your van will give you an indication of the
posture, and make your experience on the road more type of van you need to build. You can use “The Van
comfortable. Try to go for a high-roof van if you can. Conversion Map” from a few pages back as the basis
for your checklist.
Got a partner?

What's your budget?


The depreciation rule

I'm not going to beat around the bush, converting a


van into a campervan can cost quite a bit of money.
As a rough rule of thumb, you want to spend half the
cost of the van on the conversion itself. So, if you
spend €10,000 on your van, you should strive to cap
your conversion spend to around €5000. This is due
to the depreciation of the value of the van as you
clock up the miles.

Determining your build cost

To determine the estimated build cost make a list of


all the things you require in the campervan and price
them. Then, whatever the total amount comes to,
add on 30% wiggle room. That is the spend on your
Two peas in a pod; @OnTheFreeSide van conversion. At the end of this section, you will
find a complete list of supplies for a van conversion.
Are you a solo traveller or have you got a partner? An
important thing to consider is bed width and length! Non-build costs
The last thing you want is to be stuck sleeping in a
foetal position having gotten lucky on a night out in Building your van is one thing, but getting it on the
road is another. Don't forget about the cost of
road-tax, insurance, or vehicle inspection. This can popular van by a long shot. Interestingly, the smaller
easily add another couple thousand to the total cost. VW Transporter took the third spot.

The average (median) cost of the base vehicle for a


van conversion was €9000 per the Roaming Home
2023 Study

Most popular vans; Roaming Home Study

Lifespan of a panel van

Data from a European Commission report indicates


that the expected lifetime mileage for a commercial
van is 224,000 km. The average age of retirement for
According to the same study, the average (mean) cost a commercial van is 13 years.
to convert the van was €8500. Most conversions cost
between €4000 and €10,000.

Lifetime mileage distribution for commercial vehicles1

This is not to say that a van will not outlive those


statistics. Indeed, in our study, we found that many
Choosing your van individuals had purchased vans with mileage way
above those aforementioned.
Now that you've thought through your requirements
and budget, let's discover which van is best for your
camper conversion!

My top pick is the Mercedes Sprinter (despite owning


1
a Ford Transit). It is notably reliable, well-built, and European commission, Improvements to the
comfortable. Though it comes with a higher price definition of lifetime mileage of light duty vehicles,
tag. 2014,
https://climate.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2016-11/l
With that being said, in the Roaming Home 2023 dv_mileage_improvement_en.pdf
study we found the Ford Transit to be the most

3
The spec sheet below showcases the stats and
dimensions of some of the most popular vans for
camper conversion (with a European bias). This is
based on the 2014 L3H3 model of each van. This
should help demystify the selection process!

Note: The Fiat Ducato, Citroen Relay, Peugeot Boxer,


and Ram ProMaster all have the same body sizes.

Panel van size

Mileage on purchase; Roaming Home Study The size of a panel van is denoted by the letters 'L'
(length) and 'H' (height). Its wheelbase can be either
We also found that as of 2023, the most common short (L1 / SWB), medium (L2 / MWB), long (L3 /
year of vehicle was a 2015 reg. This means that on LWB), or jumbo (L4 / XLWB). Similarly, its height can
average people are using a van that is 8 years old. be low roof (H1), medium roof (H2), or high roof (H3).
My van is a long wheelbase, high roof Ford Transit
(L3H3). If you plan on spending any length of time in
your van, I would suggest you seek out a high roof
with at least a medium wheelbase.

Citroen Relay dimensions


Whilst panel vans are the most popular vehicles for
conversions, there are some other vehicles that can
be used - so let’s explore those!

Classic van

A VWTransporter with all the extra kit; @lange.reisen

I owned a small van years ago when I lived in North


America; that little powerhouse took me halfway
through Canada and across the Western States of the
USA.
A very classic roadtrip; @thebusadventure64
The most popular small vans for conversion are:
A throwback to the 50's and 60's, the Volkswagen T1,
T2, and T3 are probably the best known of the ● VW Transporter
classic-style campervans. This style of van is iconic
and intrinsically linked to ● Renault Traffic
vagabond-hippy-van-travelling. Known for their
vivid colours, this van is sure to draw some admiring ● Peugeot Expert
looks.
● Ford Transit Custom
Classic vans frequently come with pop tops which
give a lot of extra room for sleeping; indeed they Some people even convert extra-small vans like the
often come pre-converted. There's a huge VW Caddy and Citroen Berlingo!
community around them for support and even social
gatherings. Motorhome / RV
However, for all their good looks, there are more
than a few downsides…

Classic vans are hard to come by (and expensive to


buy when you find one). Upkeep can be very
expensive as parts are rare and they break down
often. Due to their age, they are very unsafe vehicles
to drive (in case of a crash). Finally, these vans are
pretty much anti-stealth; everyone will know you're
a camper.

Small van
Though a little cramped for full-time living, small
The origins of the motorhome date back to 1910
vans can be a great choice for weekend warriors.
when Pierce-Arrow introduced the first campervan
They can still fit a bed and stove!
at the Madison Square Garden auto show. Before the
vanlife movement kicked off, motorhomes were
typically pre-built by professional companies. For

5
many people, buying a pre-built motorhome is still straight away. You likely won't be able to register it
the best bet due to the simplicity. legally as a campervan though.

Second-hand motorhomes frequently have low


mileage on the clock, they come pre-built, and can
Luton box van
often be bought at quite a good price. You also don't
have to deal with the process of re-registering the
van as a campervan.

However older models are frequently upholstered to


look like your granny's house; sun-aged decor, awful
lino and raw ply. You may fancy pulling some of the
interior out and doing your own job on it. Similarly, if
the motorhome has been around a while it is not
uncommon to find mould or wood rot. Maintenance
on these vehicles can also be tricky and expensive
because they are custom built.
At home on the road; @jelly_living

Skoolie These vans are ginormous and perfectly box-shaped!


They make great vans for camper conversions.
Though you should beware of their height for low
bridges / entrances and the vehicle length for ease
of parking. You should also beware that due the
vehicle classification you may need a different type
of licence to be able to drive one.

Bus / Coach

Into the Wild; @theskoolie

Like Christopher McCandless from Into The Wild,


you too could live in Alaska in a school bus. They
make just about the coolest van builds going. They
are super spacious, come in all sorts of different
lengths, and give you unlimited options for your
conversion. However, parts and repair can be
expensive and they don't make the best stealth
builds. They are also tricky to source if you live in
Europe. You should also beware that due to the
These guys own a pair of goats in their bus! @doubledeckerhome
vehicle classification you may need a different type
of licence to be able to drive one.
RVs are very common in the United States, but you
almost never see them in Europe. Buying a pre-built
Minivan RV is one thing, but building one yourself is another!
Some of the best and most luxurious conversions you
A minivan is quite a broad term, but essentially, it is a will ever see are converted coaches. The room inside
hatchback high-roofed car.. You can buy conversion is unbelievable and they let in lots of light. When I
kits for this type of vehicle to get you on the road travelled Norway with my van I came across a group
of 30 old rockers who were in a convoy of converted
coaches. It was one of the coolest things I’ve seen! Buying your van
Needless to say, parking of any kind is a There are three options of where you can purchase a
head-wrecker, and you will definitely want to check van from:
the legalities in your country for converting this type
of vehicle. Similarly, you may also require a different 1. Online
kind of driving licence.
2. Used car dealerships
Action Mobils 3. Van dealerships

If you have the cash lying around, it can be nice


knowing that you have a brand new van which will
last you a long time. No inheriting other people's
problems.

Though according to the Roaming Home 2023 study,


only 6% of people buy new vans for conversions.

Ultimate overlanding; @action_mobil_theoriginal

Finally, there are Action Mobils. The campervan of


your dreams. I’ll take two please.

My van ‘Beans’
I have a long wheelbase, 2012 high roof Ford transit
(L3H3). I bought it with 190,000 km on the clock. It is
my pride and joy - we’ve had so many beautiful
adventures together - and hopefully there are many
more to come!
New vs. Used vans; Roaming Home study

If instead you chose to buy your van online or from a


used car dealership, make sure to do your due
diligence!

In my element

7
How much should you
spend on a van?
The 2023 Roaming Home Study gave us some
excellent insights into how much people are
spending on the base vehicle for their conversions.
Unsurprisingly, we found a tight correlation between
the age of a vehicle and its cost. A work van reduces
in cost by about €2000 per year. Though it should be
noted that the cost of a van that is two years old or
less is quite a bit higher. The best value may be found
around the three year mark. I'm going to let you in on a secret…

It is better to spend a bit more money up front


buying a van that is in good condition rather than
one of questionable quality. I spent €7000 on a 2012
Ford Transit with a fair bit of wear and tear and a lot
of mileage on the clock. In the four years since, I
have spent nearly €10,000 in maintenance. In
contrast I have three separate friends who bought
2014 vans around the same time I did; they each
spent about €11,000 on the base vehicle, but have
spent practically nothing on repairs since.

On the flip-side, my Glaswegian friend


(aforementioned, who was broken into twice) spent a
We also found a correlation between the odometer meagre £3,000 on his van. Within a year it was in
reading and the cost of the vehicle. 30,000km such disrepair that he gave up on his vanlife dreams
appears to be the best value for money - the sweet and ditched the van. The poor lad had a tough time
spot at which the cost drops dramatically. of it…

So don't cheap out at the beginning. Spend a bit


more money on your base van and enjoy it for years
to come!

Questions to ask before


buying a used van
Stop! Before you hand over that cash to buy the used
van you've been looking at, there are a few questions
that you absolutely must ask first. Let’s find out what
they are…
Finally, we looked at the relationship between the
vehicle’s age and its odometer reading. And whilst “Do you have the logbook?”
the correlation here is quite spread out, it is one of
the most useful datasets we have. This question is vital. If the vehicle does not have a
logbook, this should raise alarm bells.
We found that the average work van clocks up
13,940km per year. Accordingly, you should seek out
a vehicle with a lower mileage per year than this - a
sign that your van has not been overworked.
Ensure the logbook credentials match the van A van with an MOT certificate is a very good thing.
(registration number, owner's name, vehicle
classification) “Has the van got an up to date tax disc?”

“Do you have the service history?” If the van doesn't have a tax disc you will need to put
your hand in your pocket to pay for this year's tax
A prudent vehicle owner should always keep a (and potentially back tax!)
service history for the vehicle. A vehicle with a
service history is more likely to have been cared for. “Is the used van registered in a foreign country?”

If you can obtain the service history you can see If the van is registered in a foreign country you could
when the last service was (if it was a long time ago, be in for a hefty tax bill for importing it when you
you may well be in for a nasty surprise). buy it (Vehicle Registration Tax). Better to buy local.

“What did the previous owner use the van for?” “Can you reduce the price?”

Most used vans will be retired work-horses. ie. “Hmm, the van looks really nice - I'd love to buy it,
construction, carpentry, electrician, etc. but the price is too high for me unfortunately… The
max I could afford is X”.Background checks before
Understanding what the previous owner did can help buying a used van
you know how much love was given to the vehicle -
was it a sole trader or larger company?

Ideally you want a van that drove longer distances


(across counties / countries), rather than shorter
stop-start distances in cities. The more a van
stop-starts, the more wear and tear is put on the
vehicle.

“What is the mileage and age of the used van?”

These two things are intrinsically linked. A new van


with a heap of mileage will have been put under far
more strain than an older van with the same mileage.

As a general rule of thumb, try to source a van with


<100,000 km on the clock.

“Why are you selling the van?”

Are you buying someone else’s problems?

“Has the van ever been in an accident?”

A bad crash can have a lasting impact on a vehicle.

“Has the van got it's MOT or equivalent (Mandatory


vehicle inspection in Europe)”
Ready for adventure; @advanturing
This is very important. If the van does not have its
MOT, you will have to put your hand in your pocket There are a few mandatory background checks you
to pay for it yourself. It will also be very likely that should do before buying a van for conversion. Most if
repairs will be needed in order to pass the MOT not all of these checks can be done on a website like
(which you will also have to pay for) AutoCheck.com. To do a thorough background check
on Autocheck you will need the vehicle registration

9
number and the VIN (vehicle identification number). How many previous owners has the van had?
You will need to ask the vehicle owner for the VIN.
Figuring out what a vehicle has been used for by the
If everything checks out (and you're using previous owners will help you get a feel of the
AutoCheck), you should see a message like this current state of the vehicle.
appear:

Get an auto-mechanic to
check the van
Get an auto-mechanic to check the vehicle before
Has the van got any finance on it? you buy it! I received a very detailed report from a
mechanic who went to check out my van for me. The
Take care here! There could be an unpaid loan on the inspection cost about €120 - it was well worth it. I
van which you are about to purchase. That loan will brought up some of the issues with the dealership,
become yours to pay if you buy it. and they got their mechanic to fix the problems
before I bought the van.
Is the van stolen?
Ideally before you get the mechanic to inspect the
Don't buy a stolen van. Obviously... You will lose the van, you will have headed over and looked at the
van and all the money you spent when the police vehicle yourself - but that is not totally necessary.
come knocking.

I spent a lovely few days with my van in Grindelwald, Switzerland - ogling up the infamous North Face climb on the Eiger (in the background)
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