You are going to hear stories about all the makes. Some good some bad, spares too dear, service not available everywhere.  A well maintained vehicle is the number one thing when looking for a second hand tug.

There are various forums set up about virtually all of the makes you can buy and are worth checking out first. A friend has a Mercedes van that has done over 500,000K's and was not well maintained but it is still running and has only just been replaced with a new Ford Transit.

I have also heard that  the Fiat Ducato had problems with bottoming out on the front suspension. It was curable with a King suspension upgrade at a price.

Now that the Fiat dealership has been changed for the better I have been told that the vehicle has been modified and is now a better product and has addressed that problem.

Sometimes you are constrained by what is available in your price range.

Hope you sort out what you need and find something to suit.

Thanks everyone. Did like the look of the fiat ducato, but can see there is no real outstanding winner here. Agree I just have to get the one in the best shape- so dealer better than private?

I have an Iveco. Fiat and Iveco are made in the same factory. Some models of each have the same engine.

-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Thursday 19th of June 2014 08:12:56 AM

didi wrote:

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I agree Janette. I would rather get my own fit out too. But finding a good conversion company in Victoria is driving me mad! Also the quote I have had was dearer than a van!

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You would have to ask yourself what is cheapest getting one already fitted out but with a number of kms on the clock or getting a low km van (which I did once) and having it fitted out which is expensive ($25,000 for the fitout in my case).

Would it be cheaper to having a used one already fitted out and fitting a new motor or gear box if you have too further down the track compared with the fit out cost? 

Here are a few conversion companies for various states, not sure which ones are the Victorian ones without opening them though, see;

http://www.rvpages.com.au/listing/results.php?category_id=577&subcategory_id=0

 

 

-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 19th of June 2014 11:15:40 AM

Vic41 wrote:

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didi wrote:

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I agree Janette. I would rather get my own fit out too. But finding a good conversion company in Victoria is driving me mad! Also the quote I have had was dearer than a van!

---

You would have to ask yourself what is cheapest getting one already fitted out but with a number of kms on the clock or getting a low km van (which I did once) and having it fitted out which is expensive ($25,000 for the fitout in my case).

Would it be cheaper to having a used one already fitted out and fitting a new motor or gear box if you have too further down the track compared with the fit out cost? 

Here are a few conversion companies for various states, not sure which ones are the Victorian ones without opening them though, see;

http://www.rvpages.com.au/listing/results.php?category_id=577&subcategory_id=0

 

 

-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 19th of June 2014 11:15:40 AM

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 I totally agree if you want a professional fitout, I converted my Hiace and I've been happy with it except for standing up in it. It is still low mileage with 70,000klms on a diesel motor but don't want to pay $6000 for a pop top. It cost me about $300 to convert it except for batteries, chargers etc which I will likely use in a replacement vehicle when I make the decision. It isn't flash but will take me most places and I'm comfortable in it. Most of the fun is in trying to improve it.

 

Wow. Thanks for that Vic. Good to have more info. But unfortunately NONE from Victoria. But not to worry-I will dig deeper. The Tassie one looked good though. As I plan to be on the road for a few years maybe, I would want a van with a high roof and most of those are already motorhomes, or I get one as part of conversion (more money). And not sure of what a good, low mileage, good nick, fiat ducato/ merc/ toyota van would cost in the first place- if I could find one. So sourcing that would be a task in itself. But I am going to send out feelers now to some of those companies you showed me and ask what my conversion would cost. Cheers Didi

Here are a couple of Victorian Motorhome conversion companies;

http://www.victorianmotorhomes.com.au/html/conversions_______________.html

http://www.aurorarvs.com.au/  

 This was a conversion company in Brookdale, NSW I was considering at one stage when I had my Hi Ace converted, they have a good reputation, see their new and used conversions for sale also;

http://www.frontlinecamper.com.au/ 

I am in WA, and my Hi Ace was registered in WA, so was going to throw a cheap mattress in the back and drive over, have the conversion done there and drive it back and not have to change the rego.   They said they would expedite my conversion as I would be staying at the Lane Cove caravan park (either in my own dome tent or cabin) until it was completed, they would give me transport there and back as needed.  This would have kept my WA registration.

In the end I decided to choose a local conversion company near Perth, (Dove Campervans) and have it done there. I was happy with the result, except like the others it is not a cheap exercise.

http://www.dovecamperconversions.com.au/ 

 

-- Edited by Vic41 on Friday 20th of June 2014 11:52:08 AM

Might pay to give your State motor registry department a ring didi and see what they say, or there might be details online.

A conversion still needs an updated registering if a conversion is done in your own state or elsewhere, with certificates for gas/power and new tare etc, this is usually done by the company doing the conversion if a full conversion, but you would need to check.

 

-- Edited by Vic41 on Saturday 21st of June 2014 08:09:40 AM

I had a 2007 Hi Ace Didi (petrol auto) that had 21,000 on the clock, ex govt health dept van.

Also a 2008 ( diesel manual) Ford Transit from a dealer that had 75,000 on the clock (was sold on consignment).

Currently have a 2012 Auto Petrol  Hyundai Imax with $10,000 on the clock, ex fleet vehicle.

I found the manual Transit too difficult to drive in the suburbs as a run around, especially with the 6 forward gears very close together, great on the open road though.

Have driven manual trucks in the past including crash boxes (no synchromesh) but now would not go past an auto.    

 

 

-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 22nd of June 2014 03:09:07 AM

Glenelg wrote:

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Vic41 wrote:

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I had a 2007 Hi Ace Didi (petrol auto) that had 21,000 on the clock, ex govt health dept van.

Also a 2008 ( diesel manual) Ford Transit from a dealer that had 75,000 on the clock (was sold on consignment).

Currently have a 2012 Auto Petrol  Hyundai Imax with $10,000 on the clock, ex fleet vehicle.

I found the manual Transit too difficult to drive in the suburbs as a run around, especially with the 6 forward gears very close together, great on the open road though.

Have driven manual trucks in the past including crash boxes (no synchromesh) but now would not go past an auto.    

 

 you been drinkin again Vic ,   ( $10,000 on the clock )    must be a good clock,   i have a watch with a lot of K.s on it

-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 22nd of June 2014 03:09:07 AM

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  Hi Vic- Wow havent found anything that low a mileage (in my price range- up to 10000). Also now looking at costs for simple conversion- electrics, cooker, fridge etc and cant find anyone who wants to do simple conversion! Getting bogged down again! Would do DIY but not sure how difficult regs would be. didi

 

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Di..

Iveco was My First choice before I decided on the Coaster Bus..

It all comes down to your Budget..

juergen

Di..
Some simple thing's..

Electric, could be an issue.. if you go for a full 240v system.. Needs to be complied..
- could get away with a simple low voltage rig.. 12 or 24v..

Have a power board to plug in for when you want/need 240v stuff..
Better to spend a Little more than what you think you need upfront so you don't need to spend Later..


Gas.. For Cooking do you need it...?
- could you just use a Portable Cooker like..

 

The Walls and roof of what ever vehicle could be lined for a reasonable Price..

- make sure that you pack the walls and roof with insulation..

 

 

In the end I think to Qualify for a RV you need..

- A Bad..

- A sink/cooking area..

- somewhere to sit..

 

Juergen