The Purchase Of A Van To Make An Rv Conversion (A Beginner's Guide)
A panel van purchase for a camper conversion is the very first, and largest, and most crucial step to your goal of creating a home on wheels. It's not something to be over-valued, this is for certain! You'll have a van for a long time if purchase it correctly. If you buy it wrong, your life could be impacted by garage costs and ongoing maintenance.
There's plenty to be aware of.
Top Tips for Buying an Used Van...
The Ideal Panel Van
An empty panel van is the most common vehicle used for conversions to campers. Once you've decided what you want your conversion to accomplish, you can start your search for the right van.
Here are some things to look out for when purchasing a used panel van
Are you eager to find your dream car? Now it's a case of finding the most "perfect" fit within your budget range. Keep the focus on the phrase "closest to perfect". As a result, unless you buy from a new vehicle, there is typically always going to be some quirk with every van that you need to be aware of before you spend your money.
The following list of considerations to consider are arranged alphabetically to make it easier for you to read:
Bodywork
The bodywork of the van can be an indication of its overall condition as well as the amount of stress it has been through in its previous life.
Take a good, close inspection of the exterior of the van. The van should be inspected for damage, scratches or other repairs that look amateurish.
Confirm that the doors shut and open as they should, with the seals and weatherstrips in good condition. They're relatively cheap to purchase, but they can tell if the previous owner was proud of their vehicle.
Personally, I didn't mind that my van had the random wear and tear bumps or scratches. If the vehicle isn't worth a look from the outside, it shouldn't be worth stealing. That's my thought. Here's hoping.
If your budget allows the purchase, stay clear of any vehicle with corrosion. If you see any visible rust in the listing photos, it could be a problem you will need to address after the vehicle has been purchased in order to prevent the rust growing. Even even if the rust isn't immediately visible, there may be bubbles appearing prior to the paintwork peeling off. If you're looking at a van, then take a quick peek to see if there is lots of rust in the wheel wells and undercarriage. It is best to keep the rust as small as you can. After looking through a variety of vans, it will give you a better picture of how much is excessive. The older versions of Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinters are prone to rust.
Mileage
You will need to choose the van with the lowest mileage if you plan to spend a lot of money and time on your new van. It will make sure that your vehicle will last for a long period of time. For me, I was looking at vans that had been on the road for more than 100,000 miles. Anything between 40,000 and 140,000 seemed to be the best price range to my (and most other buyers) needs and budget. If you're thinking of buying an SUV, make sure you check the mileage.
MOT Histories
The results of any MOT online can be checked. As long as you know the vehicle in question's registration number then you can have a look yourself on gov.uk/check-mot-history.
You'll see any advisories you might have received in the transaction. Some advisories can be fixed fairly easily, but there are a few that are costly or potentially deadly. You should, however, try to buy a vehicle with as few advisories passed on as you can. In certain cases you might be able to request that these are amended before you buy the vehicle.
Through this investigation, you'll also be able to determine how reliable the vehicle has been in the past. The van's MOT history will demonstrate how few issues it has faced over the years. This will allow you determine the reliability of the vehicle.
Former Owners
You may find out information about previous owners from the dealership or garage from which you purchase any vehicle. This information is important and may help you make an educated guess as to the previous usage of the van.
You are in luck if the car is called an ex-fleet. This means they were previously owned by a business and were (typically) treated very well in terms of maintenance. The purchase of an ex-fleet vehicle to convert into a camper is a more secure alternative due to this reason. In addition the use of specialist vehicles like ex-AA and ex-Ambulance vans should most definitely be considered because you can be sure that they have all been looked after.
If the owner of the vehicle cannot answer your question about the previous owners, you can examine the average annual mileage to this point. A MOT checker will assist in identifying this. A typical annual mileage of around 10,000. This is a warning signal if the vehicle is driven more than 25,000 miles per year.
Service Histories
A 'service history' is typically a paper book that details any work of maintenance or repair completed on the vehicle. It's not illegal to sell or possess the vehicle without a. So, lots of service history manuals may become lost between owners.
It's crucial to search for a complete or, at the minimum, a partial service history prior to purchasing an automobile. Without any record of the work which has been done, it would be difficult to know how well maintained the vehicle is and what work may need to be done in the near future.
