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Subject Topic: van or estate car Post Reply Post New Topic
Personcidermush
12/6/2013 at 4:34pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Vango Eclipse View cidermush's Profile View Profile   Reply to cidermush Reply   Quote cidermush Quote  
Joined: 12/6/2013

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Hi all, I'm new here and also new to the world of camping. My wife and I will be buying the vango eclipse with extension in a few weeks as well as everything we need to get started. I'm just wandering whether to buy a family car, estate or something like a vito van. We have 3 kids but my reason for these vehicles is the boot space. I'm tending to side more toward an estate car. Has anyone experienced and overcome this dilemma? Will everything go in an estate I wonder! I'm limited on budget of about £2k so let's no go crazy on ideas lol
Thanks


Personlizzy23
12/6/2013 at 4:44pm
 Location: leeds
 Outfit: Lunar Lexon CS View lizzy23's Profile View Profile   Reply to lizzy23 Reply   Quote lizzy23 Quote  
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we have a van and an estate, wish i had bought the van years ago, it swallows everything, is convenient to get in and put waterproofs on and doesn't matter if it gets dirty, and we have never had a problem finding campsites to take us, even though its a tranny with a caravan on the back


Personparmit
12/6/2013 at 4:53pm
 Location: West Yorks
 Outfit: Outwell Oakland XL View parmit's Profile View Profile   Reply to parmit Reply   Quote parmit Quote  
Joined: 09/11/2010

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Whatever you choose you will always need more room eventually !


Personcidermush
12/6/2013 at 5:42pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Vango Eclipse View cidermush's Profile View Profile   Reply to cidermush Reply   Quote cidermush Quote  
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Hey thanks guys, I hadn't thought about getting changed anywhere other than the tent. Good thinking 👍 I might go for something like the vito providing I can get one cheap enough and also with enough seats for my boys.


Personlamnlw
12/6/2013 at 5:46pm
 Location: derbyshire
 Outfit: yukon river 6 View lamnlw's Profile View Profile   Reply to lamnlw Reply   Quote lamnlw Quote  
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I was looking for quite a while for a way to transport camping gear kids and dog.Ended up with a Mercedes Vito crew van.Plenty about problem is finding a good one.In retrospect a decent sized MPV with the last row of seats removed would probably have done but i like the idea of the bulkhead between me and numerous KG of gear in the back


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Personcidermush
12/6/2013 at 5:58pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Vango Eclipse View cidermush's Profile View Profile   Reply to cidermush Reply   Quote cidermush Quote  
Joined: 12/6/2013

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Yeah I have been looking at those and I might have to save up a bit longer lol

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Dusty👍🇬🇧


Personlamnlw
12/6/2013 at 6:26pm
 Location: derbyshire
 Outfit: yukon river 6 View lamnlw's Profile View Profile   Reply to lamnlw Reply   Quote lamnlw Quote  
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-NISSAN-ELGRAND-3-2-DEISEL-SILVER-8-SEATER-PEOPLE-CARRIER-/251286086404?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a81d16304.Friend has one of these with the last row taken out.It carries all his gear and family.


Personfranbee
12/6/2013 at 6:34pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan View franbee's Profile View Profile   Reply to franbee Reply   Quote franbee Quote  
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I would say go for the biggest you can afford. But remember that big vans can be more difficult to park.


PersonTrekkin Tekkie
13/6/2013 at 10:37am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Trekkin Tekkie's Profile View Profile   Reply to Trekkin Tekkie Reply   Quote Trekkin Tekkie Quote  
Joined: 28/1/2006

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I had a 5 seater swb Vito for a few years. Excellent for camping. Nice to drive too. Easy to park (had really tight turning circle, and would fit in any multistory etc that I came across). Loads of room around the seats, especially in the back, much much more than my current large estate car.

It was partly glazed, partly solid, and we did on 2 occasions have to wrangle with wardens about whether it was really a commercial. Got on in the end though, both times.

We'd probably still have it now but, cutting a long story short, it would have had to become my wife's commuting 'car' and being a van, and with a manual gearbox, she just wouldn't have it.

TT


PersonVelvet Kitten
13/6/2013 at 12:36pm
 Location:  Anglesey - Wales
 Outfit: FoST View Velvet Kitten's Profile View Profile   Reply to Velvet Kitten Reply   Quote Velvet Kitten Quote  
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Do you have to change your car ? 

Can you not buy a trailer and then you can put all your camping gear in that and you won't have to worry about boot size.

I also used a cycle carrier - a few times to carry my tent as that took up alot of space - wrapped in a plastic bag and strapped on with bungee cords. Just the job!

 



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Degsy Rowlands is my love, my life and a lunatic!!!!!!!! Louise x


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Personhankakampa
13/6/2013 at 1:20pm
 Location: uk
 Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter! View hankakampa's Profile View Profile   Reply to hankakampa Reply   Quote hankakampa Quote  
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Ford transit van 2.0 diesel - medium wheelbase medium height roof and fwd ( gives more head height than the rwd models) Can stand up inside, put bicycles inside. Thinking of getting an awning for it so gear can go in awning as its got a fold down bed in there too with fridge and heater if ehu available.
Mines lx model with hi axle ratio - economical on motorway, has electric windows, air con, electric heated front screen n mirrors great sound system + armrest for drivers seat.. All comforts of a car. But space in back is fantastic. Can get 40mpg if driven gently as its basically a big empty box.. Or fully laden ( mine has 3000kg carrying capacity ) around 33mpg.

For that budget you ll get a choice of transits, the fwd, 2.0 diesel is economical choice with low floor height at back. High roof is lovely inside but do you really need such a tall vehicle? Standard roof ok can't stand up in it. Medium roof seemed a sensible option. Also be aware of ( for ford anyways ) 4 floor lengths, standard, medium, long and jumbo.

I didn't realise so many options till I started doing my homework & I'm very happy with my medium roof medium wheelbase for my needs.



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Persontrevlunar
13/6/2013 at 10:08pm
 Location: lancs
 Outfit: vango tent Volvo V70 (old man now!!) View trevlunar's Profile View Profile   Reply to trevlunar Reply   Quote trevlunar Quote  
Joined: 08/6/2009

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. Can get 40mpg if driven gently as its basically a big empty box.. Or fully laden ( mine has 3000kg carrying capacity ) around 33mpg.

3tonnes carrying capacity? think thats the overall vehicle weight, 1400kg would be more like for a med wheelbase transit.

trevor


Personcidermush
13/6/2013 at 10:17pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Vango Eclipse View cidermush's Profile View Profile   Reply to cidermush Reply   Quote cidermush Quote  
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Wow, all this advice is fantastic, thanks everyone. I dignity think I'd be able to get a trailer into my back yard as I only have a single gate entry and figured a trailer would be too heavy to turn sideways and lift through. Apparently I was wrong as my neighbour said they aren't they heavy. Looks like I will be taking that option. Thanks everyone, and hope to chat on here again soon

-------------
Dusty👍🇬🇧


Personcbreddie
14/6/2013 at 8:24pm
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: nothing!! just sold my tent View cbreddie's Profile View Profile   Reply to cbreddie Reply   Quote cbreddie Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by trevlunar on 13/6/2013. Can get 40mpg if driven gently as its basically a big empty box.. Or fully laden ( mine has 3000kg carrying capacity ) around 33mpg.

3tonnes carrying capacity? think thats the overall vehicle weight, 1400kg would be more like for a med wheelbase transit.

trevor




Was thinking this myself



Nicely kitted out van though

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Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up


Personparmit
14/6/2013 at 9:09pm
 Location: West Yorks
 Outfit: Outwell Oakland XL View parmit's Profile View Profile   Reply to parmit Reply   Quote parmit Quote  
Joined: 09/11/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by cidermush on 13/6/2013
Wow, all this advice is fantastic, thanks everyone. I dignity think I'd be able to get a trailer into my back yard as I only have a single gate entry and figured a trailer would be too heavy to turn sideways and lift through. Apparently I was wrong as my neighbour said they aren't they heavy. Looks like I will be taking that option. Thanks everyone, and hope to chat on here again soon

We have got a trailer and a single gateway and lift it over the gate no problem



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