New “car” thread - Phase 1

[duncs500]

I like the idea of campers, but realistically it just wouldn't get used enough to justify the price.

[Rich B]

i wouldn’t bother buying a full camper - i’d be up for making/buying something to make a bed in mine - but i have no interest in lugging around a crappy little kitchen for the rest of the year.

[simon_g]

Yeah, the traditional poptop/rock-n-roll bed/side kitchen thing baffles me.

Bed that's barely wider than a single, cooker in just the right place to trap steam and cooking smells in the van, sink so small you can barely wash up a mug. Then go to a campsite and put up an awning that is just a tent but with a baggy extra bit to attach so you have some living space. Which of course takes up the tiny luggage room you have left

Ovano or similar make much more sense, space for bikes and other things, bulkhead if you do need to fill it up to the roof, big comfy bed if you do sleep in it.

[duncs500]

Not heard of Ovano, but yeah, makes sense. I imagine you can get some sort of tent thing for out front and that bed thing for the van, then you can put it all away for the other 99% of the year and you've just got a van. Save yourself £££ and have more versatility.

[jamcg]

Anything van related holds its value at the moment. My 2016 Vauxhall vivaro at work was bought in 2019 for 10k including vat. If we sold it now we might loose 1-2000 on it, if anything. Van market has gone crazy

[Sundayjumper]

Does that apply to smaller vans too ? I’m wondering if a nice Caddy might fit @Gavster’s criteria.

[Gavster]

It's an interesting idea, but I really want something that's a bit more refined for a long cruise

[Sundayjumper]

But you could be Rich's mini-me !!

[mik]

But you could be Rich's mini-me !!

Now I am imagining Gav squeezed into a small van, with a Harrington Retro Racer as his smaller-than-elise fun car.

[Rich B]

i weird coincidence today!

i drive past an awesome van haven blue T6.1 van in guildford most days that has lovely wheels on it. i actually stopped today and took some photos to find out what they were/ what size/etc…

i searched online to see if i could find some for sale and found a british T6 forum…with a set for sale…. in guildford…on a blue van…the ones i took a photo of this morning!

[DeskJockey]

If that isn't serendipity telling you to get them bought, I don't know what is. What are they?

[Rich B]

Judd 311r in gunmetal grey. This is the wheels/ride height i want:

[DeskJockey]

I like them.

[jamcg]

Have you started waving to other transporter drivers yet?

[Rich B]

Have you started waving to other transporter drivers yet?

Ha! nope, but worth noting - M2 drivers do that!

[Rich B]

I like them.

good - i bought them!

Interesting story behind them - i was slightly confused how/why he had a photo of the wheels in boxes with no tyres on them when i’d seen them on his van that morning. Turns out, his is a camper with a water tank under the rear. the wider rear tyres rubbed on the water tank so he went back to the wheel manufacturer to order some slimmer rear wheels. they advised him the paint colour may have changed so he ended up buying 4 new wheels and taking the old ones off.

[DeskJockey]

Excellent purchase. What tyres are you putting on?

[Rich B]

not sure yet, i’m checking out camskill at the moment to find the best combo of brand/size/load index/diameter. the guy i got them from had a size on the fronts with a load index that wasn’t enough imo. they need to be 101Y at least for my weight of van so that limits the sizes available.

[Rich B]

i like!

i need to find a garage who can fit some H&R springs - 40/50mm lower will be perfect when i fit these.

[Gavin]

Very nice. I do prefer the look of the VW to the Transit or Vauxhall alternatives.

Is that replacing your M2? Or the family 3 series 320d (If you still have one/have ever had one)

Edit - Just spotted EOTR for teh M2.