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We looked at countless vans when we bought our first one last Autumn - Ebay was useful as you get to look at tons and tons - and you can get old, but good vans for £500.  We looked at a lovely little 1980s van for £500, 2 berth, seemed dry, if you don't expect all the mod cons then you're fine!  It even had a little foot pump to get the water out of the tap, and an old gas lamp!!  But - it had been converted to electric and been re-upholstered.

Old shape vans - the little roundy shape - go for well under £1000. They can also be very light - we have a 1989 Eddis 4 berth and although it would be too heavy for you it is very light - MTPLM barely reaches the 1000 mark!  It's also only 14 foot long which is handy for storage! We use throws and made new curtains, it's easy to spruce up an old van and it's fun too!

Don't give up, try to buy dry - we didn't, unfortunately, but even so, the van'll last a couple of years and if we like it (we do!) we'll splash out and get something swisher!

Or a folding camper might be the way to go.

Quote: Originally posted by edward452 on 21/6/2008

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"The car we have at the moment is a 1.4 and the Mrs doesn't want anything bigger than a 1.6"

Trogg,

You can not safely tow a caravan with a car of that size and someone will report you to the RSPCCars!

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disagree mate as long as you are within 85% of kerbweight you will bo kay and you load the van safely. I tow with an almera 1.5 and have no probs (van is about 950kg in running trim) goes up beattock okay, coped with some of the climbs in scotland with a blizzard and 30mph headwind, okay you have to use the gearbox, even did a hill start in a 1 in 10. no nasty clutch smells or gearbox noises.

caz on here used to tow her freedom with a honda jazz 1.4 so it is do-able

Quote: Originally posted by trogg on 22/6/2008

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Tigerseye, Good to see that someone else has done it.Just want to give it a try, if we enjoy it we’ll upgrade the car/van/caravan.

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Quote: Originally posted by AngieGL on 22/6/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by trogg on 22/6/2008

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Tigerseye, Good to see that someone else has done it.Just want to give it a try, if we enjoy it we’ll upgrade the car/van/caravan.

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We bought a 1981 CI Sprite Alpine 'van for £250 a couple of years ago. Nice & light to tow, it had had damp in one place but had been resealed and we didn't ever have any leaks. It was very 'brown' inside, being an 80's van, pale tan walls, fluffy brown carpet! The cushions and curtains had been recovered. Had a heater, electric, hob & grill, fridge, bags of storage and it was great. We're selling her now as we've decided to carry on with bigger tents and I have to pay for storage otherwise we'd have kept her.  Definitly go with an old 'van at first!

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