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16/4/2016 at 4:26pm
Location: Somerset
Outfit: Murvi Morello
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We are now on our 2nd PVC. First was a VW T4 which was 5.1m long and the current van is a Fiat Ducato at 5.5m long. We've used them as our only transport for over 15 years and have never had a real problem in parking or getting to places, apart from where there are height barriers but you get this with any van except pop tops.
The size will also depend on how the OP will use it. We dislike pop tops due to the fact we camp in the van year round for long periods and feel they are colder when the roof is up and lack the internal space and storage of a high top, but that's a personal choice. Two of have camped all over Britain and Europe for up to a month at a time in both vans but bought the Fiat when we retired for the layout and extra space and the onboard loo as this suits us better for the longer trips of up to 2 or 3 months at a time that we do now.
The fuel usage has been about the same in both at about 32mpg.
The VW was a dream to drive and very well built with the bodywork as good as new when we sold it when it was 12 years old. Mechanically is was sound and gave us no trouble. However a small motorhome based on a VW T4 that we had between the PVs for a very short time was a nightmare mechanically and was the worst vehile we have ever owned (and that’s saying something!).
I see the OP has a Fiat Ducato so is obviously familiar with them. They did have a problem a few years back but this does seem to have been sorted now. Our Fiat is 12 years old. It feels less well built and more 'van like' to drive than the VW but has mechanically been just as reliable. The bodywork, apart from some surface rust around the sills which we are having dealt with next month, is good. Regular servicing on both has, I think, been the key.
Consequently I think the answer to the OPs question is that most of the vans used for PVCs now are much of a muchness. They have their own fans but also have had their own problems over the years and, I suspect, always will so the answer is to find a van, research any known faults/problems with the make and model and then take it from there. I also endorse what Pepe63 says about the style of the different makes and the difference that they can make to the layout and internal space though. There is also cost with VWs and Mercs attracting a premium while LDVs are a bit cheaper.
So far as convertors go there are now companies all over the country who will do it for you. It really depends on what you want and your budget. We looked into it before buying both vans before finding what we wanted in a ready converted van. Google camper van convertors on the net and you will get pages of them. We did this and then made a short list. We looked at reviews etc on the net and then visited them. They were all happy to talk with us and let us see their conversions and workshops so we could gauge their standards etc. and were happy to provide costings. Some even had a choice of suitable unconverted vans already in stock if you wanted to buy them.
Our friends went ahead and did have a custom conversion made but sadly have never been happy with it. I asked them yesterday and they said their advice would be to choose a convertor not too far away from where you live so that you can check on progress, be very clear about what you want, and get the specifications in writing, especially of it's not 'off the shelf' and most importantly agree a finish date and include it in the contract. They didn't do this and the convertor, who was more or less a one man band, decided to take some time off and then made excuses about ‘waiting for parts’, even though these were available from the internet with short delivery dates, so they ended up waiting for over 8 months despite a quote of a 3 month completion time and missed a whole summers use as a result.
Good luck. :-)
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