Campervan base vehicle question

Thinkfun

Just a quick question as I know you folk are very knowledgeable and will be able to help me out. I am looking to get a campervan based on a van conversion. The ones I am looking at at the moment are based on the:

1) Ford Transit Custom
2) Vauxhall Vivaro/Primastar either swb or lwb

For those with van experience which would you say was the best vehicle to go for? I'm looking at new rather than used vehicles.

Thanks,

TF

Iceweasel

If the choice has to be between those two then the Transit has it.

But the Merceded-Benz Sprinter is a far superior vehicle and not that much more expensive.

Good deals too - take a finance deal to get the best discount.

phill99

The sprinter is a good van but a much, much bigger platform than the Custom or TVP. The similar sized merc platform would be the vito.

I have driven both the Vivaro and Custom and thete is little difference in build quality, drivability etc. The TVP platform has a much longer pedigree in the conversion stakes and there is much info out thete, forums eyc, whereas the Custom is a new comer to that market.

bigjl

Without a budget it is difficult to give really accurate advice

You could buy a used Berlingo/Kangoo/Partner (MPV not van) and then buy an Ambro Bootjump for just over £2k and have a decent little camper, one of the above vehicles could cost from £500 to £10k.

The Renault Master is a half decent van and pretty robust.

Many people buy retired Ambulances and convert them, they have the advantage of updated electrics, charging points, isolator switches and they are already insulated to a very high standard.

http://www.amdro.co.uk/index.php?osCsid=bk8e2rig31toctrm3bqhfk7kp1

Gloomendoom

I may be mistaken, but I don't think the OP was intending to convert the van themselves.

Thinkfun

I'm sure you're right about the Sprinter but the converters I've been looking at only do the Vauxhall and the Transit. But I'll certainly have a browse at them and maybe cast my net a bit wider. Cheers.

Iceweasel wrote: »

If the choice has to be between those two then the Transit has it.

But the Merceded-Benz Sprinter is a far superior vehicle and not that much more expensive.

Good deals too - take a finance deal to get the best discount.

Thinkfun

Really good point. Cheers.

phill99 wrote: »

The sprinter is a good van but a much, much bigger platform than the Custom or TVP. The similar sized merc platform would be the vito.

I have driven both the Vivaro and Custom and thete is little difference in build quality, drivability etc. The TVP platform has a much longer pedigree in the conversion stakes and there is much info out thete, forums eyc, whereas the Custom is a new comer to that market.

Thinkfun

Yes you're right I was planning to buy one already converted as I want it to be a car replacement which is why I'm going for smaller ones rather than anything larger. But those bootjump things look great. Cheers.

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I may be mistaken, but I don't think the OP was intending to convert the van themselves.

Thinkfun

I hadn't heard of the bootjump but am really interested now. Going to take a closer look. Thanks for the suggestion bigjl. Cheers.

burlington6

The mercedes are the worst van on the road followed by the transits.

Don't listen to idiots who buy either because of the badge or the fact '' they've always had transits"

Google the transit custom engine problems. They've been failing at a few thousand miles.

When it comes to van, the French are the best along with the makes they share the model with.

Motorhome people hate sprinters and transits. That's why they're all based on the Ducato/relay/boxer

s_b

they all have problems

best buy one a few years old so all the faults are ironed out and the price is slightly more realistic to what it is