Buying a van

[Mussels]

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.

[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



*What Mussels said

[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.

[Rockburner]

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)

[Mussels]

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]

I'll just stick to the lower limits then.

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Pirahna]

Ford have changed the service intervals for the wet belt.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/ford-e ... elt-change

[Mussels]

Ouch, that's a bit shitty from Ford.

[weeksy]

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]

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.

[weeksy]

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

[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

[Pirahna]

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