We're off on a trip around Europe for a couple of weeks mountain biking so we need a van. Does anyone know which vans are good?

Theres 4 of us and 4 bikes plus camping gear and all that. So it needs to have side windows really.

And what is needed to put a couple of crew cab seats behind the drivers seats? Do they need to be bolted to the axle or something?

what ever you do dont bolt the seat to the axel

Do NOT get a Renault van, they are shocking. Transit or Transporter? Make sure its turbocharged :-)

It can't really be a transporter, too pricey!

But dont seats have to be fitted in a special way to be safe and pass mot?

Well give a budget would start you off!

I can get you a Transit.

2 n 'alf...

Get a transit, yeah, might be a bit crusty but they're cheap and bloody dependable. They have reinforced sections in the floor for mounting rear seats from the factory.

Merc Sprinter will be quick as well

And can get them from factory with the rear seats

Edited 26 June, 200917 yr by Po*Low*

The budget is up to £4500

If the van hasn't got seats in already how would we fix them in? Sorry i have no idea about this kind of thing!

fiat ducatto , they cant make cars but fiat make good vans suprisingly or , camper van = bike rack

Edited 27 June, 200917 yr by vee-dub

£4500 i'd defo play it safe with a Transit, should get a decent size one for that...

you can get a transporter for 4500 quid and a decent one with windows @ that if u know where to look

Get a transit, yeah, might be a bit crusty but they're cheap and bloody dependable. They have reinforced sections in the floor for mounting rear seats from the factory.

x2

realistically you're not going to get 4 people and 4 bikes in swb transits/transporters unless you have a decent roofrack or bikerack.

Mercedes Sprinter Van.

I drove one everyday for 6 months, doing around 230 miles a day (not on the motorway)

All I can say is, we were given a newer transit van whilst our sprinter was being serviced, and it was quite possibly the slowest, least comfortable thing I have ever driven.

Fuck the transit van route, go for a sprinter van. You will NOT be disapointed.

eBay 1 just remove the seats you dont need.

or

eBay 2

Edited 27 June, 200917 yr by Matt Mk3loon

If you've got that to spend, it's another story, I was picturing a low-buget road trip.

one of my mates did this with some of his friends in a t4, they had 2 extra seats in the back and room behind for all their bikes etc

careful not to excee 3.5t or you'll need another liscence in the UK if you sat yours after a certain date...

we use transits at work, an they are dog slow, but take alot of abuse...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-54-REG-FORD-TRA...93%3A1|294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-FORD-TRANSIT-LW...93%3A1|294%3A50

^that kinda thing

Edited 27 June, 200917 yr by Jackblack

Yeah my uncle has a sprinter and loves it, good on fuel too. But for us i think they're too big really.

Had a look at t4's and they get snapped up so quick and you don't get as much for your money. We will keep looking though.

Hoping to go and look at a riot van this weekend

I had a Mercedes Vito 110 CDi in '98/'99,was an S reg,and it was great to drive around. I used it for bikes but it only had three seats so a couple of people often stood up in the back,holding the semi mesh/frame bulkhead.

Had its weaknesses though - i shattered two clutches and killed a grands worth of steering rack. Seemed to me that its based on car parts.

vito 's^ are poor build imo and my 07 cdi engine only lasted 17k and died?! my 55 and 56 hit 50 k and werent to good either plus driving quickish werent good on fuel either i;d got lwb t4 as no one wants them so you get a bargain ! 2.4 or 2.5tdi tho

Blinkers firmly off.....

The Germans don't do vans as well as they should. Ford's aren't worth spending big money on.

Be proud to be British, get a Vivaro, they're the best van anyones making at the minute.

For example

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/v..._keyword=vivaro

What's not to like?

End of discussion.

The Movano also ain't bad if you need a bit more space

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/v..._keyword=mavano

Vivaro's are nice to drive, feel alot like a car

But if I'm honest, i think it all depends on how hard a life the vans had,

Iv drove a good vivaro, and a horrible vivaro,

And what youve got to remember is, nissan have the primastar, and renault have the traffic, are they english companys?and there all identical, who made it first tho..i dont know?

Id like abit of info on the mk2 caddy's if anyone knows what there like?

Cheers

Ok it's been a few days of us looking around and our budget has lessened to £2500. We've just been to look at a Peugeot Expert, all our stuff will fit in it but its a bit of a ballache to unload and make sure everything goes in alright every few days. It had bad history as well.

I'd love a T4 but again they get snapped up and we need to sort a van out quickish.

I've heard LDV's aren't that great...anyone back that up?

We're also considering MPV's so if anyone knows good ones and ones to avoid then let me know!