The Van
So, the van we decided on. We went for a Renault Trafic, to keep size down and ease of parking up. As its also the first conversion, we decided on short wheel base and low roof. Keeping it basic, we decided we could also buy an awning type thing to extend our home from home by the side door.
You'll have to excuse the bad picture, my car was the victim of number plate cloning recently and I'm not taking any chances now!
It's a nice size van to begin with, assuming we get it right, then maybe that opens up to a larger van eventually.
We paid £1150 for it, but with very little history for it. Only came with a few invoices etc. The biggest reason we bought it was because of the new clutch and reconditioned engine, both put in recently, and with paperwork to go with it. Because of this, the first thing I set about doing was to service it completely. New oil, new oil filter, new fuel filter, new air filter, new pollen filter.
We then had to spend a little more money on some other things. Both tie rod ends needed renewing, same with the tracking rod ends. That set us back another £270 inc fitting.
Tyres - each one was different and nearing illegality, so again all four replaced for £180 (brand new) inc tracking and balancing.
Finally, all four brakes needed attention, and a rear wheel bearing was shot. £200 for the lot, as we had a friend install them for free. Note for the Renault Trafic, the rear hubs, wheel bearings and brake discs can be supplied as one unit, not separately. You can buy the hub and disc, and then the bearing separately, so long as you have the capability to press the bearing into it, so probably best to just buy the complete kit.
It also needed a big clean underneath, as when the engine was replaced, no one bother too. It looked like it had a horrendous leak, but in fact was just over over spill.
A friend of ours has suggested, and I will do at some point, to renew the timing belt. As we have no history, who knows how old it is. So if you buy cheap enough, you will have to spend some money on it. Ok in our case, as we now have some history for it, and we know what has and hasn't been done to it.
Van - £1150
Insurance - £460 per year
Tax - £130 for 6 months
Brakes - £200
Tie rods and tracking rods - £270
Tyres - £180
All in - £2390
So, after all the initial expense, now we can start working on it! The next post will be our trip to buy bits, and stripping the back out to insulate.
It's a nice size van to begin with, assuming we get it right, then maybe that opens up to a larger van eventually.
We paid £1150 for it, but with very little history for it. Only came with a few invoices etc. The biggest reason we bought it was because of the new clutch and reconditioned engine, both put in recently, and with paperwork to go with it. Because of this, the first thing I set about doing was to service it completely. New oil, new oil filter, new fuel filter, new air filter, new pollen filter.
We then had to spend a little more money on some other things. Both tie rod ends needed renewing, same with the tracking rod ends. That set us back another £270 inc fitting.
Tyres - each one was different and nearing illegality, so again all four replaced for £180 (brand new) inc tracking and balancing.
Finally, all four brakes needed attention, and a rear wheel bearing was shot. £200 for the lot, as we had a friend install them for free. Note for the Renault Trafic, the rear hubs, wheel bearings and brake discs can be supplied as one unit, not separately. You can buy the hub and disc, and then the bearing separately, so long as you have the capability to press the bearing into it, so probably best to just buy the complete kit.
It also needed a big clean underneath, as when the engine was replaced, no one bother too. It looked like it had a horrendous leak, but in fact was just over over spill.
A friend of ours has suggested, and I will do at some point, to renew the timing belt. As we have no history, who knows how old it is. So if you buy cheap enough, you will have to spend some money on it. Ok in our case, as we now have some history for it, and we know what has and hasn't been done to it.
Van - £1150
Insurance - £460 per year
Tax - £130 for 6 months
Brakes - £200
Tie rods and tracking rods - £270
Tyres - £180
All in - £2390
So, after all the initial expense, now we can start working on it! The next post will be our trip to buy bits, and stripping the back out to insulate.
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