So here's the story: Daniel and Marea are New Zealanders based in the UK with work permits that expire 13 April 2008. We'll exit England sometime on or before that date, thus beginning our European Van Tour. Marea suggested 6-8 months, Daniel thinks more like 4-6 months, and we'll have to see what the bank enables. This blog will tell the story, we just have to be home before my sister gets married on 6 Dec 2008 in New Zealand.
We don't currently have much of a plan, the first step was to actually buy our new 'house'. We have purchased it now because a lot of antipodeans are just finishing their 2007 Van Tour and so there is a glut in the market of suitable camper vans. Buying a van now does mean that we have to pay insurance (£600/12 months Walkabout policy with HIC), tax £200 (got this amount knocked off the price to cover it) and we'll still have to get an MOT before we leave. Anecdotally if we were to buy next April, then we could end up paying a lot more for a lot less. The quality of the van setups varies considerably, but we looked at 5 in one weekend and we did have two that we would have been happy to buy.
By the way, if you ever need a carpenter, go look at self converted vans, we met 3 carpenters in one weekend, and they all have mates that are mechanics or are in other trades.
I'd been looking at campers on gumtree and EBay for the last year and I had quite a lot of criteria. We briefly considered buying an empty van and constructing some sort of setup ourselves, but that was quickly discounted when we realised just how much van insurance is (£600 on a £1000 van!) and there was the fact that we wouldn't have a clue where to start!.
High on my list of priorities was:
- suitableness for stealth camping
- Mileage (less than 100000 miles)
- <£3000
- 4 berth (for visitors)
- 3 way fridge
- interior layout
- rear windows
- power steering
- diesel awning
- Long MOT
So I printed out 20 current van advertisements. We rated these based on the above criterion giving them a final score out of 10. Anything below 5 got put at the bottom of the pile. The Red Baron (don't forget to vote on his name) rated highly on mileage, fridge, and price I think it got a 7 or 7.5. I might have knocked off points cause it's only a 2 berth and it's so, so RED.
Our budget was about £3000 and after this one is kitted out with new stereo, and a few other things on my wish list it probably will cost us less than this, so I'm well chuffed.
I must remember to email a few English sceptics who disbelieved I 'd actually get something for less that £5K
1 comment:
however long you take for your trip you need to make sure you're back in NZ early enough that we can get you a bridesmaids dress! That and the fact that you and Fleur have to give me an awesome hens night ;-)
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