Buying a van

General chat topics, anything and everything you want or need to discuss
Mussels
Posts: 4428
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 830 times
Been thanked: 1235 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Mussels »

cheb wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 10:59 am It's worth getting the logbook changed, you get an extra 10mph on the speed limit for dual and single carriageways compared to a van.
The speed limit is defined by construction and use regs rather than the tax class, I don't think the log book will make any difference.
Iirc it's about it being more of a passenger vehicle than goods, my combi only failed as there was no window in the rear doors.
User avatar
Druid
Posts: 1008
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:45 pm
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 888 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Druid »

We have a MWB Crafter which I converted to a camper during lockdown. The DVLA have changed the criteria for reclassifying as a "Motor Caravan" and mine doesn't meet the new requirements, seems to be home conversions that are affected, professional conversions seem to be accepted without any problem. However most insurers are happy to insure as a camper if that's what it is irrespective of what it says on the logbook. I've just renewed my comprehensive insurance for £254 a year. As I understand if it is converted to a camper and is insured as a camper then the higher speed limits apply even if it says van on the logbook*.
Up to 2017 the Crafter is identical to a Sprinter from the cab backwards but it uses the VW 2litre engine and a restyled bonnet and grille, a Stage1 remap takes it up to 160bhp - with the standard 109bhp it struggled a bit when it was fully loaded . It's 2.7m high so access to some places can be a problem. I used to use it on my 10 mile commute and it returned about 25mpg, on a longer run I get 30ish

Image

*What Mussels said
cheb
Posts: 4871
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:51 am
Been thanked: 2599 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by cheb »

Thanks. I asked the two ex traffic cops who ran the CPC course I attended about this*. My understanding was based on that. I'm not saying I'm right, I'm inclined to believe the tax class reasoning. Occam's razor applied to government bureaucracy.

*I like to believe they were thrown off the force for being too patronising.
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4324
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7722 times
Been thanked: 2487 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Rockburner »

weeksy wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 10:32 am
Taipan wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 10:11 am For me I'd go camper. The camper is giving you a lot more benefits over the occasional inconvenience of uplift day.
Hmmmm a reasonable point yeah... maybe.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126566691135 ... R_ikqvCkZA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126566691136 ... R_akqvCkZA

This is the sort of thing it'd be.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145899350676 ... R5TUxvCkZA

for (almost) those prices, you could buy new : https://weinsberg.com/en-uk/camper-vans ... ur-outlaw/

(obviously you may need to add extras like awnings etc)
non quod, sed quomodo
Mussels
Posts: 4428
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 830 times
Been thanked: 1235 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Mussels »

cheb wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 12:05 pm Thanks. I asked the two ex traffic cops who ran the CPC course I attended about this*. My understanding was based on that. I'm not saying I'm right, I'm inclined to believe the tax class reasoning. Occam's razor applied to government bureaucracy.

*I like to believe they were thrown off the force for being too patronising.
I read the regs carefully even though I decided it wasn't worth the effort, I'm confident I'm right. They were complex, apart from the rear view the luggage area could be a certain % of the passenger area measured from the bottom of the steering wheel, there was a weight limit* as well and probably more I have forgotten.
However when I went looking for examples, AXA, RAC, Auto Express all gave different interpretations. I think they each went for the lazy option of assuming what the nearest copper told them was true.

* A point that was noted in a couple of places was a Vito could qualify only if it didn't have the luxury seats, they were heavy and took it over a limit.
cheb
Posts: 4871
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:51 am
Been thanked: 2599 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by cheb »

I'll just stick to the lower limits then.
Felix
Posts: 3916
Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:34 am
Has thanked: 477 times
Been thanked: 1417 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Felix »

Like the police care anyway. If DVLA dont give you camper status with a self build they will call it van with windows so god knows what that does for speed limits, insurance, ferry prices.


Speed limits https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits
Sadlonelygit
Posts: 913
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:10 pm
Has thanked: 82 times
Been thanked: 660 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Sadlonelygit »

There's a pre drafted letter available from DVLA of all people which states a van with windows isn't constricted by lower speedlimits.
You may spend some time replying to nip letters though!
Felix
Posts: 3916
Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:34 am
Has thanked: 477 times
Been thanked: 1417 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Felix »

Sadlonelygit wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 10:26 pm There's a pre drafted letter available from DVLA of all people which states a van with windows isn't constricted by lower speedlimits.
You may spend some time replying to nip letters though!
TBF in all my days of driving vans i have never worried about the lower limits. Yet to get a tug from plod and they have been behind me on a few occasions. Probably doing 60 on a B road in a 7.5T is taking the piss but my van is about 3.5T. Camperbus is 4.2t and yet to attempt the DVLA reclassification.
Felix
Posts: 3916
Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:34 am
Has thanked: 477 times
Been thanked: 1417 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Felix »

So why not get a slightly longer van. Buy a kitchen pod. Two Z Beds and a diesel heater https://www.vangear.co.uk/products/blac ... d_source=1

Save a small fortune on hotels. Most camp sites will let you shower for a few quid as well as wash clothing, fresh water and get rid of any portaloo waste.
MyLittleStudPony
Posts: 1133
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 9:28 pm
Has thanked: 604 times
Been thanked: 401 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by MyLittleStudPony »

I'm getting on well with my Tourneo. Ford did replace the wet belt and that seems fine.

I haven't used it a huge amount but last week we went away on holiday and used it. There are seven of us, two adults and five kids (as one of the older ones has a girlfriend now and she came too).

It worked really well. It's spacious for seven and has enough luggage space. There's no way we could have done this in the seven seat Prius.

The van is slightly noisier inside than the Prius but it's not a problem and it's fun being high up. We probably did about 700 miles in the week.
User avatar
Pirahna
Posts: 1934
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:31 pm
Has thanked: 1804 times
Been thanked: 1157 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Pirahna »

Ford have changed the service intervals for the wet belt.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/ford-e ... elt-change
Mussels
Posts: 4428
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 830 times
Been thanked: 1235 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Mussels »

Ouch, that's a bit shitty from Ford.
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23293
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5433 times
Been thanked: 13018 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by weeksy »

Mussels wrote: Thu Aug 15, 2024 9:19 am Ouch, that's a bit shitty from Ford.
Well it's not like it's one a fortnight.

How many people are likely to own a van for 100k miles ?

I'll be on 45,000 in 2 years, maybe more, but even if I keep it till 4 years and 100k in my ownership, it's hard to complain about a chunky service bill.
Mussels
Posts: 4428
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:02 pm
Has thanked: 830 times
Been thanked: 1235 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Mussels »

It's down from 10 years to six years and I'm assuming it's not cheap, not great for a van that was heavily marketed on its cheap running costs.
By changing this Ford are pushing responsibility for their design flaws onto their customers.
User avatar
weeksy
Site Admin
Posts: 23293
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:08 pm
Has thanked: 5433 times
Been thanked: 13018 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by weeksy »

Mussels wrote: Thu Aug 22, 2024 8:00 pm It's down from 10 years to six years and I'm assuming it's not cheap, not great for a van that was heavily marketed on its cheap running costs.
By changing this Ford are pushing responsibility for their design flaws onto their customers.
£800-1200
User avatar
Druid
Posts: 1008
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:45 pm
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 888 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Druid »

My daughter has a B-Max with the 1 ltr wet belt engine. She's been quoted £1200 for a belt change using the updated Kevlar belts. It's a 2 day job and requires a number of special tools, so 1200 is not particularly ott
User avatar
Pirahna
Posts: 1934
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:31 pm
Has thanked: 1804 times
Been thanked: 1157 times

Re: Buying a van

Post by Pirahna »

Just came across this, it's for an F150 but exactly the same design as the 4 cylinder engines.