Camper van

[cobblers]

I'd say go with a T4 if you can afford one - A pal of mine converts them, and they make lovely campers. Nice and civilised to drive compared to a similar aged transit, not rotten like a Vito/Sprinter or on their 3rd gearbox like a Vivaro/similar would be.

Getting hard to buy cheaply though nowadays - My mate really has to work hard to get hold of vans to convert. He turns them out as very tidy fully converted vans (Rock and roll bed, sink/cooker, electric hookup etc) with all the bodywork done, lowered on 18s with cambelt and a full service for 8 or 9 large depending on the age (usually around 2000-2002 vans).

[10mpg]

TRANSIT all the way the origional and still the best, compared to any of it's contermoraries at any given point in it's history it is always, the best handling, best loadspace, nicest to drive, most comfortable and cheapest to run..

Sprinters are complete dung, especially the post 2000 CDi ones, before that they lasted well enough but were still horrid to drive and rusted terribly, got a completely dead 51 plate one in my yard that's not worth repairing at 140k miles...

Masters are just about the worst van ever made imho, esp the 2.2 common rail, awfull thing in almost every way

Citroen Realy's are surprisingly good if a bit fragile, nice square loadspace willing engines (except the non turbo 2.8 which is a thirsty slug) 1.9 in a swb and 2.8 TD in a lwb both good lumps if you have to go cheap and fwd then this is the best choice though I'm not a fan of the HDi lumps which i believe they fit to the later ones and gearboxes can be trouble

VW's are ok to drive, but terrible value for money hard to work on and no more reliable than say a Sprinter plus the load space is small and an odd shape, I'd not bother with a T4 or an LT..

Maxxus's are ok nice enough to drive, reliable enough and well specced usually, but quite thirsty (esp with the HD back axle) and quite hard to get parts for.

Hi ace might be a leftfield choice never spent much time with them but that's mainly because I've never had one in for repair, only servicing, which must say something for them, seemed nice enough to drive and well built...

I have a last of the line top spec smiley face Transit (mk5) as my workhorse/workvan, best cost/comfort/practicality/reliability compromise imho, great on fuel good load space, can be driven like you stole it even fully loaded dead comfy and well specced, though for big miles I'd have a mk6 one for the higher cruising speed and lower noise levels..

[montythemole]

My mate is after doing a conversion soon. He wants to keep it stealth, so no windows in back etc so it still appears like a van. That way you can park up wherever and just kip/live in it whereas a lot of campers are moved along if parked overnight etc.

I did point out would be f-ing dark in the back with no windows!

[popuptoaster]

Put big skylights in it, can't see them from the ground, i'm 6'7" and can't see the roof of most vans.

[mattc]

My mates just done 2500 miles round europe in his converted Fiat ducato, only cost him just under £3000 I think for the van and making it a camper. got back sold it for just under £5K.
Result

[ironmighty07]

Won't comment on the choice of a Relay as I've never tried one, but they look plenty big enough.

Had lots of thoughts about a medium camper recently, '97 on Hiace is whetting my whistle currently - RWD, spares available everywhere in the known world(downside of the Delica sadly) and locking differentials using Hilux spares possible so you should just about be able to take one anywhere if carefully driven(90% I probably wouldn't need 4wd, and then it would just be that little bit more traction required)! Just can't decide on the 2.4 or the 2.5 anyone got any direct experience on these?