Purchase A Van For The Camper Conversion (A Beginner's Guide)
The first step in your dream of owning a house on wheels is purchasing the van's panel to convert your camper. This is not something to undervalue. You'll have a van for many years if you purchase the right vehicle. If you make a purchase that isn't right you could be impacted by the cost of garage repairs and ongoing maintenance.
There's plenty to keep in mind.
The Top Tips for Buying the right used Van
Picking the Right Panel Van
A panel van that is empty is the most popular base vehicle for camper conversions. Once you've got a clear idea of what your conversion ought to be able of, you can begin looking to find the perfect van for your needs.
Here are some items to keep an eye on when purchasing a used panel van.
Are you eager to find your dream car? It's now a matter of finding the closest to a "perfect" vehicle within your budget. Keep in mind that the focus must be on the words, "closest to perfect". Because unless you are buying from a new vehicle, there is typically always going to be a flaw with every van you must be aware of prior to deciding to make a purchase.
To help you make the most of your time For your convenience, the below list of points to be considered. It is ordered alphabetically:
Bodywork
The state of the van's bodywork is usually a sign of its overall condition and the amount of strain it's suffered in the past.
You should take a close look at the van's exterior. Look for any marks or dents that are not professionally repaired.
Verify that the doors function correctly, and that the seals and weatherstrips remain in place. They are fairly inexpensive to purchase, but they will indicate if the previous owner was pleased of their vehicle.
My van was scratchy and was wearing. If the vehicle isn't worth a look from the outside, it shouldnβt be worth stealing. That's my thought. Here's hoping.
Do not buy vehicles that are rusty when you can afford it. To prevent rust spreading If you see obvious rust in the photographs, you'll have to address it once the van has been bought. Although the rust might not be visible immediately bubbles may form before the paintwork is removed. If you're in the vicinity of a van, then take a quick peek to determine if there's much rust on the undercarriage and wheel wells. The less the better and you'll eventually gain a better insight into what is considered to be excessive once you've looked at more and more vans. Rust can be particularly bad for older models of Mercedes Sprinters and Ford Transits.
Mileage
You should select the van with the lowest mileage if you plan to spend a lot of time and money on the building of your vehicle. It will make sure that the van will last for a long period of time. Personally, I was searching for a van that could reach the 100,000-mile milestone. I realized that anything ranging from 40,000 to 140,000 was the ideal range that met my (and other buyers') needs and budget. If you're considering a van, double-check the mileage.
MOT History
The results from any MOT can be found online. 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.
There are any advisories that you may have received during the transaction. Some advisories can be resolved fairly easily, but not all advisories are expensive or potentially dangerous. You should, however, try to buy a vehicle with the least amount of advisories that are passed on as you can. You might be able to request these modifications prior to purchasing the vehicle.
Through this investigation You'll also be able to determine the reliability of the vehicle been over the years. The less information that's been noted on the MOT history, the less issues the van has caused previous owners (and probably you, too, in the near future).
Previous Owners
You can find information regarding previous owners at the garage or dealership where you purchase any vehicle. This information is important and could help you to make an educated guess about the vehicle's prior use.
If the car is described as "ex-fleet" then you're fortunate. It is a sign that the vehicle was previously owned by a firm and maintained properly. Ex-fleet vehicles are better for conversions into campers. Specialist vehicles like ex-AA and ambulance vans that are ex-issued are worth considering since they nearly always have been taken care of.
If the owner currently cannot determine who they were before, then at the very least, determine what the van's annual mileage has been up until this point. This can be identified with an MOT checker. The average annual mileage is thought to be about 10,000. If the vehicle is driven for more than 25,000 miles per year then this isn't an acceptable option, but rather a potential warning sign.
Service History
A "service history" is typically a paper documenting any maintenance or repair work that has been carried out on the vehicle. It is not illegal to sell or possess an automobile without one. Therefore, many service history books can disappear between owners.
When purchasing a van, it is crucial to confirm that the vehicle has a complete or, at the very least, a partial, service history. If there is no record of the work that's been done, it would be difficult to know how well maintained the vehicle is and what maintenance work might be required in the near future.
