Going to Look at a My first camper tomorrow

[nevill3]

Hi!! Just read your messages about viewing your first van, I remember the heart breaking feeling searching and having tp walk away!! We're selling our t25 high top at the moment, but I think you said you wanted a pop top. If your interested though we've listed it in the for sale section on here, but it is on ebay aswell so if you are interested, feel free to ask any questions!!

Plus the guys on here are really helpful when buying!! They certainly know wht theyre talking about and hav def taught us some valuable tips!!
Good luck!!
Teresa

Thanks T&T but I was hoping to spend about 2K at first....(thats all that is in the Kitty at the moment) But the longer I leave it the more cash I will have, and it depends on how much I get for my Audi.....

[pionte]

I was in the same boat as you, I wanted a van for me and my little one to use and have some fun at the weekends, I set my budget around the same as yours....Then completely ignored it lol.

My number one most important thing I wanted was NO RUST!
Not an easy goal when looking at vans over 20 years old! But I am a mechanic ( 0r was a long time ago! ) so mechanical issues dont really bother me, i mean most mechanical things are just bits bolted together, so if something breaks you just unbolt and replace.... but rust is evil It can kill a van, and I dont have the skill or inclination to learn how to weld!

So i searched out a van that had very little rust, It had been resprayed a few years earlier but the interior was removed and in boxes so i could check places like behind the cooker area.

As others have said, there are lots of vans out there, try not to impulse buy! i know how hard that is! To me it matters not that mine isnt a top marque westfalia model, im not playing top trumps My budget wouldn't stretch that far sadly, but she is a solid van and a bit of a blank canverse inside so i have decided to refit using brand new custom built interior.

One way of getting a better van for less money is to look for one with a blown engine or some other mechanical problem, depending on how good you are with the spanners! Most garage bills are made up of labour charges, so if you have the time and energy to do the work yourself you could save yourself loads of money, If its not going to be your daily commuter then think of all the fun you will have laying underneath your van .

Happy hunting, and i promise you your first drive in her bringing her home will be memorable, I know mine was!


edited coz i cant spell!

[jed the spread]

I was in the same boat as you, I wanted a van for me and my little one to use and have some fun at the weekends, I set my budget around the same as yours....Then completely ignored it lol.

My number one most important thing I wanted was NO RUST!
Not an easy goal when looking at vans over 20 years old! But I am a mechanic ( 0r was a long time ago! ) so mechanical issues dont really bother me, i mean most mechanical things are just bits bolted together, so if something breaks you just unbolt and replace.... but rust is evil It can kill a van, and I dont have the skill or inclination to learn how to weld!

So i searched out a van that had very little rust, It had been resprayed a few years earlier but the interior was removed and in boxes so i could check places like behind the cooker area.

As others have said, there are lots of vans out there, try not to impulse buy! i know how hard that is! To me it matters not that mine isnt a top marque westfalia model, im not playing top trumps My budget would stretch that far sadly, but she is a solid van and a bit of a blank canverse inside so i have decided to refit using brand new custom built interior.

One way of getting a better van for less money is to look for one with a blown engine or some other mechanical problem, depending on how good you are with the spanners! Most garage bills are made up of labour charges, so if you have the time and energy to do the work yourself you could save yourself loads of money, If its not going to be your daily commuter then think of all the fun you will have laying underneath your van .

Happy hunting, and i promise you your first drive in her bringing her home will be memorable, I know mine was!

Sound advise.

jed

[T+T]

Hi!! Just read your messages about viewing your first van, I remember the heart breaking feeling searching and having tp walk away!! We're selling our t25 high top at the moment, but I think you said you wanted a pop top. If your interested though we've listed it in the for sale section on here, but it is on ebay aswell so if you are interested, feel free to ask any questions!!

Plus the guys on here are really helpful when buying!! They certainly know wht theyre talking about and hav def taught us some valuable tips!!
Good luck!!
Teresa

Thanks T&T but I was hoping to spend about 2K at first....(thats all that is in the Kitty at the moment) But the longer I leave it the more cash I will have, and it depends on how much I get for my Audi.....

Okie doke, just thought I'd mention it. I'm sure the right van will come along for u guys, I know how disapointing it can be when it doesn't work out but it's worth the wait when you finally get the right one!!

Good luck!
Teresa

[nevill3]

I have finally just purchased my first Camper..

Poppy (1).JPG

Poppy (3).JPG

Poppy (8).JPG

The Advert read......

much loved and well maintained T25 with a professionally rebuilt 1600 diesel engine that has recently completed a trip from Norway down through Europe without missing a beat. This camper is fully loaded and ready to go!!


You'll see that it's in very good condition for it's age, granted there are a few bits of rust here and there (see pictures of drivers and passenger doors) but nothing serious. The interior is in great shape having recently had all seats re-upholstered, new carpets and flooring put in as well as new curtains. It also has a roll out awning on the passenger side for a bit of shade on those hot summer days!

The engine pulls and runs excellently with no unusual noises etc. Brakes are all fine as are the tyres.

The is also an inverter which basically means you can run all your 240v stuff (kettle/hairdryer etc) from the 12v leisure battery - means you don't need to go near a campsite unless you want to!

Fairly new face-off JVC stereo and speakers as well, has a nice remote control with it so you don't have to move from outside to change the cd/radio or volume! Speakers are also pretty decent.

Load of receipts show that it has been regularly serviced, including steam cleaning of underside and engine bay on a few occasions, and no expense spared on maintenance - too much to list here! Most receipts are from VW specialists.

I'll try and summarise main points:

1600 professionally rebuilt engine - cost £1700:00

Re-upholstered seats (front and back)

Carpets & flooring recently replaced

Rock'n'Roll double bed

Built in gas cooker with grill

Fridge (with small freezer) - 3 way

Zig Unit

Sink with pump

DC to AC Power Inverter

Good tyres with loads of miles left in them

Pop up in excellent condition - no rips/tears/patches/leaks etc

Loads of storage - cupboards/underseat and above the engine bay - yes, it has a boot!!

Original VW hub caps!

I've probably missed something but think that's the main stuff.

The camper will come with all plates/cups/glasses/pot/pans/wok as well as pillows, duvet and a couple of big sink-in cushions, It also has two deck chairs and a table that can be used in or out. So you really can bid, win, pick up and go, go, go!

There's also a two man tent and a tool bag

I have paid my deposit today and will be picking her up next weekend..ish. I cannot wait to get her home so I can start to live a part of a much awaited dream......

Thanks for all the advice I received earlier...waiting was the right thing to do...

[lloydy]

Nice van, just bought one myself about a month ago, kids love it, all their school friends love it and are now hassling their parents to get one!
Hope all goes well with it

[nevill3]

Nice van, just bought one myself about a month ago, kids love it, all their school friends love it and are now hassling their parents to get one!
Hope all goes well with it

Thanks Lloydy I cannot wait to get it home...any suggestions about the best place to get insurance greatly welcomed

[lloydy]

a company called motorcaravan wise, they do have a website. £175 fully comp

[happy camper]

Looks like a good base van there buddy and i recon that with a couple of cans of plasticoat paint for the front grills, mirrors and bumper then a quick lick of silver on them rims and she'll look a million dollars, £40 max, i done mine last year and they still look great

[nevill3]

Went to Edinburgh Yeserday to pick up my New Camper, She has been renamed "Poppy" because she is red and has a Pop Top.

Well the 1.6 diesel engine surprised me on the motorway, I actually clocked almost 80mph at one point, or so I was told by my wife who was travelling behind me. I coudln't actually see the speedo because the light above the speedo was not working!!! .

I only found this out as it got dark and I was already on the motorway so I just guessed my speed, interesting through the average speed cameras at roadworks but I was told that as long as you change lanes between the sets of cameras they cannot legally ticket you!!

Thanks for all the advice and helpful suggestions.

Nev

P.s I will be starting lots of new threads with questions as to how to fix the niggling little faults that I keep finding.

[1664]

interesting through the average speed cameras at roadworks but I was told that as long as you change lanes between the sets of cameras they cannot legally ticket you!!

Oh dear - I believe they ironed out that particular 'glitch' months ago.....

[nevill3]

interesting through the average speed cameras at roadworks but I was told that as long as you change lanes between the sets of cameras they cannot legally ticket you!!

Oh dear - I believe they ironed out that particular 'glitch' months ago.....

Oh Dear Oh Dear...I hope they didn't...I wasn't speeding (I think) but I guess I will be watching the post for a couple of weeks now just in case

[helen]

Well done - it looks a lovely van - maybe I'm biased cos its the same colour as mine
Now go and enjoy it!!!

[eatcustard]

interesting through the average speed cameras at roadworks but I was told that as long as you change lanes between the sets of cameras they cannot legally ticket you!!

Oh dear - I believe they ironed out that particular 'glitch' months ago.....

Yes It was sorted months ago

Speed kills slow down, you are in a 2 ton killing machine