Vans?

danlightbulb

Hi all.

Technically not MTB i guess, but seeing alot around lately and it seems a good number of MTB'ers do own these.

Where / what / how does one get a cool blinged up van from? I believe they are VW transporters but do you buy them pre made like that or are they modified after? Are they useable as an everyday vehicle? How much do they cost?

Show off your vans if you have one.

Ta.

doomanic

www.transporterland.com

Fill your boots. And empty your wallet...

iwilldoit

Depends on what you want really a posh bling VW and a empty wallet/ bank loan, we race and spend money on our racing so we bought a Renault Master and converted it myself, all in all cost me around £1800 to £2000 inc the van, in my opinion the Transtorters are to cramped inside anyhow.



Folding Bunk Beds.







Removable cooking unit.







It's still a bit of work in progress but we have a fab time at the races we go to, even at this weekends Pearce Cycles Brindgewood DH race and if you went you will know wat I mean what a weekend.

danlightbulb

Hmm. Im struggling to see how these vans are convertable between having seats for family duties, load space for carrying bikes and beds for sleeping in / camper van style. Am I missing something?

Your van above, sleeps 2 and can carry bikes but can only drive 3 people in the front.

I'd want something that is a family car by day but also a van and a camper. Is that possible?

The Rookie

You'll need a crew cab style van with double row of seating but you'll struggle to create a family size camper out of it.

danlightbulb

I guess my thinking that these blinged up vans were a do everything vehicle is wrong then.

lostboysaint

danlightbulb wrote:

Hmm. Im struggling to see how these vans are convertable between having seats for family duties, load space for carrying bikes and beds for sleeping in / camper van style. Am I missing something?

Your van above, sleeps 2 and can carry bikes but can only drive 3 people in the front.

I'd want something that is a family car by day but also a van and a camper. Is that possible?

Not really, no. Only way is to keep the bikes on the outside or get a very, very large van.

Having been through all the options I have a California with a bike rack.

PhilipPirrip

You can make a van into a do-everything vehicle but it's likely to take time and imagination for a self build or a fair bit of cash to have someone do it for you.

I've a swb van (Ford Freda) with rack on the back that is currently set up as a camper for two but I can take the side facing bed/box seat out and reinstall the middle row of seats to make a 5 seater or take all the units out and you've got a decent sized van with 2 seats or 5 seats with a huge boot.

It's not an always there do-everything vehicle but converting configurations takes me 10-15 minutes on my own.

JGTR

danlightbulb wrote:

Hmm. Im struggling to see how these vans are convertable between having seats for family duties, load space for carrying bikes and beds for sleeping in / camper van style. Am I missing something?

Your van above, sleeps 2 and can carry bikes but can only drive 3 people in the front.

I'd want something that is a family car by day but also a van and a camper. Is that possible?

Yes, VW do a Kombi that has a removable rear seat or you get a sliding/removable seat fitted. If you get the LWB you’ll have quite a bit of room. You’ll have to be imaginative and make some compromises but it can be done. Other option is a Crafter or similar, but then you’re getting into LGVs.

danlightbulb

Hmm not really practical as a daily vehicle though. Think Ill give up on the idea. Just seen so many of these around lately i thought there must be something to them. Must be mostly owned by singletons no kids.

sniper68

There's the extendable VW Transporter camper but it aint cheap.....£55k+
I don't want the camper option but with 2 kids,dogs,bikes a crew-cab is the way forward for us.I've driven Transporters/Vitos/Transits/Vivaros and the Vivaro and Transit feel most like a car for me as they have a bulkhead behind the rear seats.I quite fancy a Tranny Custom M-Sport but at £35k!!!!!???? I need to think about it!

danlightbulb

Id be wanting to spend a few grand on a used one. Its not doable then.

cougie

Get a van and throw a tent in the back. Bikes secure inside. Sorted.

JGTR

danlightbulb wrote:

Hmm not really practical as a daily vehicle though. Think Ill give up on the idea. Just seen so many of these around lately i thought there must be something to them. Must be mostly owned by singletons no kids.

I had one as a daily for years, best daily I’ve ever owned. Drove like a car, great for families, loads of room and really user friendly, just so b****y expensive.

sniper68

danlightbulb wrote:

Id be wanting to spend a few grand on a used one. Its not doable then.

Define a few grand.
£10k gets you an old VW(2009)van/crew cab a camper would probably be £15k minimum for that year then there’s the conversion costs.
You would have to compromise somewhere and to do what you want it wouldn’t be a great everyday vehicle as you’d need something like a Sprinter or Tranny Jumbo and they’re huge.
A crew-cab with connecting tent would fit the bill.

phz

Like do-it-all MTBs, do-it-all vans require some compromises.

Determined to avoid the VW scene tax, we went for a SWB Vauxhall Vivaro (Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar are the same van) that I use as a daily driver. Bit thirsty on fuel on an urban cycle, but not much bigger than a family car to drive/park and actually a fairly nice place to be (elevated driving position, etc.). Quite relaxing to drive on a long journey.

It has some day van/simple camper conversions - swivelling front seats, insurance certified king-size rock-roll-bed, electric hookup, TV, leisure battery and inverter.

With a drive away awning it does us (me, my wife and the dog) great as a camper - three week road trip last summer and the same planned this year. When in camping mode my bike comes along (in a bike bag that slides nicely under the seat/bed). With the seat/bed in 'seat mode' we have a six seater bus or a van that will take three people and at least three bagged bikes and kit on a day's biking trip.

We bought it with the conversion already done. Next time I'd buy a similar base van and spec or build the conversion myself - 3/4 width bed instead of a full width one to allow for more storage and possibly built in water/cooking facilities.

So, we have a vehicle that will work as a car / bus / van / camper, but does none of those things quite as well as a dedicated specialist vehicle. For me the upsides outweigh the negatives though.

Just about to reconfigure the cupboard storage for this summer and fit a folding table.