Cheapest readily-converted campers/similar vehicle types worth buying?

knightstyle

Neighbour had a Mazda bongo for many years, old, reliable and he went away most weekends with it.  Lots for sale £5k upwards.

rollingmoon

lordmountararat said:

When I had a camper van I discovered that some camp sites will not allow self built vehicles. Converted ambulances seemed to have particular issues. 

I ran a converted Renault Master ambulance as my main source of holidays for 10 years; we were Caravan Club members and were never once turned away from any site, either in the UK or elsewhere, in that time.

With regard to the OP's question, if you are handy then self building is the way to go. When I converted the old Renault, ancient and knackered official conversions were running at about 8-10 grand for the sort of thing we wanted. I bought the Renault at a disposal auction for £1850 and converted it for another £1500. The best of that money was spent on an accident damaged 3YO touring caravan, which donated kitchen, toilet, shower, soft furnishings, central heating etc. to the build. When I could afford to replace it 10 years of great holidays later, I sold it for what the van and parts had cost me. 

Obviously this doesn't apply if you can't hold a screwdriver; in that case I suggest you save up for a 'proper' conversion!

rollingmoon

knightstyle said:

Neighbour had a Mazda bongo for many years, old, reliable and he went away most weekends with it.  Lots for sale £5k upwards.

While the Bongo was undeniably a decent van in its day, the vast majority out there are rotters and will need annual weldathons in order to keep them from the bridge. I would stay well away from anything that old.

facade

I've seen a few Japanese micro campers online, for what seemed sensible money. If you can get one that has just been imported and have it fully "rustproofed" with Dinitrol or similar they look a good buy.

(JDM vehicles are not "rustproofed" like Euro vehicles, as most of Japan does not cover the roads in corrosive salt from November to March- hence a Bongo will either be welded for the umpteenth time, or needing welding for the umpteenth time))

forgotmyname

Mine was an old Rover which had been known to lower the electric windows when parked and I first thought
that was the problem but all windows worked perfectly.

Totally stumped but in a happy way.

Grey_Critic

Really depends how much use it will get. My Niece and hubby travel around the country and on the continent around 9 months of the year so bought new.

Someone on the road built his own from scatch converting a NEW van and a very professional job he has done.

At one time old ones fetched silly prices.