After my beloved t5.1 died a week or so ago, and I really did love that machine, I needed some new wheels.
For a bit of background I live in Wales but don't actually work there, so for the last 6 years or so my van has been my van but also my travelling bedroom, some years spending on 100 nights a year in it. I'd kept the t5 as versatile as possible with collapsible beds and all sorts but truth be told I'd outgrown the space and always wanted something bigger. The dream has always been a lwb crafter (other brands are available) but when reality came into play I had to be realistic and go with a mwb as its my (turns out thirsty) daily driver.
So after a week of some heavy autotradering and steady increase in budget I've ended up with this 69 plate, mwb crafter, 140bhp in white. My least favourite colour van is white. All my vans have been white. I need more money.
Anyway, she ticked most of the boxes (140 so only 1 turbo to go wrong, a/c, decent mileage) but didn't have cruise control which I figured I could retrofitted later on. Turns out I don't think it's that simple but that's for another post.
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After buying my last van in the dark I said I'd never buy a vehicle in the dark again and had a general rule that I'd never buy a rental (rental vans = fastest van you'll ever drive) but because trains are rubbish I ended up buying her in the dark so there were new dents and chips thr day after and after some rummaging around I found a europcar keyring so she's a rental. Either way, I've paid my money, I take my chance.
Plans wise I think I'm done with the versatile van thing so I want to make it camper conversion. I want to do a raised bed platform at the back so I can fit my bikes underneath, some kind of unit down the side with all the usual sink/fridge business, solar on the roof, diesel heater, split charge etc etc. I have approx 17.5 million questions for anyone willing to read/answer them but realistically I'm going to start on it in January. Going to start with the bed, then figure out everything from there. Nothing original but functional with some sexy lighting.
Anyway, at time of typing I'm up in Surrey after arriving late for my works Christmas party so can't join them until later (or not as the case will probably be) so I've stripped out the ply and I'm sat wondering how many packs of silent coat to order to give me something to do for the rest of this month and why she's weirdly listing to port.
![Image]()
If you've made it this far congratulations, I ramble alot.
For a bit of background I live in Wales but don't actually work there, so for the last 6 years or so my van has been my van but also my travelling bedroom, some years spending on 100 nights a year in it. I'd kept the t5 as versatile as possible with collapsible beds and all sorts but truth be told I'd outgrown the space and always wanted something bigger. The dream has always been a lwb crafter (other brands are available) but when reality came into play I had to be realistic and go with a mwb as its my (turns out thirsty) daily driver.
So after a week of some heavy autotradering and steady increase in budget I've ended up with this 69 plate, mwb crafter, 140bhp in white. My least favourite colour van is white. All my vans have been white. I need more money.
Anyway, she ticked most of the boxes (140 so only 1 turbo to go wrong, a/c, decent mileage) but didn't have cruise control which I figured I could retrofitted later on. Turns out I don't think it's that simple but that's for another post.
After buying my last van in the dark I said I'd never buy a vehicle in the dark again and had a general rule that I'd never buy a rental (rental vans = fastest van you'll ever drive) but because trains are rubbish I ended up buying her in the dark so there were new dents and chips thr day after and after some rummaging around I found a europcar keyring so she's a rental. Either way, I've paid my money, I take my chance.
Plans wise I think I'm done with the versatile van thing so I want to make it camper conversion. I want to do a raised bed platform at the back so I can fit my bikes underneath, some kind of unit down the side with all the usual sink/fridge business, solar on the roof, diesel heater, split charge etc etc. I have approx 17.5 million questions for anyone willing to read/answer them but realistically I'm going to start on it in January. Going to start with the bed, then figure out everything from there. Nothing original but functional with some sexy lighting.
Anyway, at time of typing I'm up in Surrey after arriving late for my works Christmas party so can't join them until later (or not as the case will probably be) so I've stripped out the ply and I'm sat wondering how many packs of silent coat to order to give me something to do for the rest of this month and why she's weirdly listing to port.
If you've made it this far congratulations, I ramble alot.
🤪
