VW Camper Van

[marie_smee]

Hi, I have been offered an old campervan but it needs work on it, because of that I can't park on road yet and was hoping someone can help? I need a off road space for about 1month.

I am also looking for someone to share ownwership. upto 3 of us so u would get to use the van 4-6mths a year.

I am also wanting to know if it's worth repairing the van as it's 18 years old, Renalt Trafic.

I have family/friend who can fix it, and has said to replace engine with a recon one. Althou the engine is about 10 yrs old and not the original. it's leaking petrol or oil and someone did a bad repair I am told.

Advice, suggestions most welcome.

Thanks

Marie

[Zak33]

just be aware....

Jamies Oliver did the exact same thing. So it's prolly not that cool an idea, or you'll get some "italian chef" jokes from people

[J4MES]

Hi, I have been offered an old campervan but it needs work on it, because of that I can't park on road yet and was hoping someone can help? I need a off road space for about 1month.

I am also looking for someone to share ownwership. upto 3 of us so u would get to use the van 4-6mths a year.

I am also wanting to know if it's worth repairing the van as it's 18 years old, Renalt Trafic.

I have family/friend who can fix it, and has said to replace engine with a recon one. Althou the engine is about 10 yrs old and not the original. it's leaking petrol or oil and someone did a bad repair I am told.

Advice, suggestions most welcome.

Thanks

Marie

sounds great - a part share in a wagon I've not seen, which doesn't go, that can't be parked, which is french, the wherabouts I don't know....

Welcome to HEXUS btw!

[Vimeous]

One of our engineering managers has a camper. I asked for a site with general advice and he suggested the forums section of http://www.justkampers.com/
Apparently the Mexican imports (new) start at £20k and head north of £30k if you play with the options list!

[Rave]

I really wanted one in my late teens- back then you could get a halfway serviceable one for 1-1.5K out of loot. I even had the money thanks to an investment trust my parents had for me that matured when I was 18.

Looks like I missed the boat on that one.

I'd have a Devon/Westfalia pop-top Bay over a Splitty though. I'm pretty sure that splittys had 6V electrics, apart from anything else. Of course you could upgrade them but how much work/expense would that be?

About 6 months after I was born my parents bought a nearly new Leyland Sherpa camper van- and that was our summer holiday for the next 13 years (with my two younger brothers as time went on). They'd load us all in the back, with a big 6-person tent from Blacks, and get the ferry to France. Then they'd set the cruise control (which as I remember worked on some sort of bizarre vacuum system) to 50mph (it got worrying above that speed) and spend a day or two chuntering along to various cool campsites with big swimming pools and decent local sightseeing. Then we'd spend a clasic two weeks swimming, sunbathing and sightseeing in the sun, eating sausage and beans with tinned fruit and condensed milk for pudding, all cooked up on the little stove in the back of the van. Good times.

The van had a fridge which ran off propane gas. You had to light it. I can still remember them always going off to 'light the fridge'. To this day I've never figured that one out.

[joshwa]

Go to Germany and bring one back. Way cheaper than here

[Gr44]

You don't want a campervan.

You want one of these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-BEACH-BUGGY...QQcmdZViewItem

If I had the money I'd totally have bought that! xD

[Vimeous]

You don't want a campervan.

You want one of these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-BEACH-BUGGY...QQcmdZViewItem

If I had the money I'd totally have bought that! xD

No no no you want one of these! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLFGPl1Kdk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XvjVvFdMIY

http://www.race-taxi.ch/gallery/album/slides/70.jpg
http://www.race-taxi.ch/gallery/album/slides/89.jpg

[Rave]

http://www.race-taxi.ch/gallery/album/slides/70.jpg

Right, I've stared at that picture for a few minutes, and it doesn't appear to have any driveshafts?

Just going to www.race-taxi.ch causes my browser to instantly crash, so I can't read about the spec. What's going on? Is it front wheel drive or something?

[Howard]

The site works for me but I can't read German or whatever language it's in

[Gerrard]

It's in German, although I think that .ch is Swiss. I believe it's front wheel drive going by this picture, which is labelled as the front. The rear picture is here.

I've always liked the idea of getting a VW camper van but have 2 big problems with it: -
1. The engine is crap I don't have the tools or expertise to change it.
2. I'm far too sensible and although I don't plan on it, wonder how safe it would be in a crash with very little in front of you. Apart from that though...

[Vimeous]

The pics on the site make it look like the engine is from a crashed 993 Turbo and the pic is part of the build process.
I've read somewhere the engine etc is based on a GT3.
If it looks like FWD it'll be 4wd from the 993 Turbo.
Regardless of the truth if it is pushing 520bhp we like!

[Tink]

Have a great idea for you, know of a great company offering holidays in brand new water cooled VW Danbury Campervans. This way you could try before you buy. Let me know if you want to know more....
Tink

[Damon]

I've had quite a few air cooled VW's and still have a Beetle and 3 Bay Window campers - Just sold my 2004 Brazilian Bay Window (thank god).

My company car is a 2003 air cooled Beetle!

One of my Bay's has a 1700 Alfa Sprint engine - great fun. I've also seen 911 turbos, subuaru, golf TDI and even an old Peugeot Diesel conversion.

I'd recommend to anyone to try a Camper - As long as you get a good chassis and bodywork, everything else is bolt on. Every part is available, usually on next day delivery!

Projects often have unforseens and can sometimes cost you more than you first anticipated.
If you're looking for a Project, I'd say get an aborted project that has had all the welding done. You can pick up some real bargains where a lot of time and money has been nvested already.

You really cant beat the freedom and social side of VWs, although I've had some frustrating times with VWs, I've had some great experiences, met some good people and camped for free at some great spots.

I run a VW show ***removed ** (ZAk edit....what a suprise)
If you want to see some models and have a look around,