How old is to old for a vehicle

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

How old is to old for a vehicle

TheHeaths · Guru

The age of the vehicle shouldnt be a concern, especially with a recent motor, if it has been well serviced and work done as required.

My concern would be the child seats. They would require correct mounting points to be installed, and I believe they are not allowed to be mounted in the front. That may exclude this vehicle. I suggest you contact the police or registration in your state to check the requirements for the installation of the seats.

bruceg · Veteran Member

Go and stop are probably fine, however transmission and susspension may be very worn, rquiring all bushings and bearing renewed.

Agree with the safety too. What is the crash survival rating for a 30 year old box mover ?

bye.

Bulldozer · Senior Member

Even if every square inch was fully restored, crash protection would be about one star. Not for me thank you.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

TheHeaths wrote:

My concern would be the child seats. They would require correct mounting points to be installed, and I believe they are not allowed to be mounted in the front.

Child seats may be mounted in the front if the rear seats are unsuitable.

The front passenger seat in the OKA has approved mountings and I added approved mountings that allow a child seat on the engine compartment between the 2 front seats.

As far as crash protection is concerned, all vans (old and new) have different requirements to passenger cars. Many older vehicles have more metal than younger ones.

Cheers,

Peter

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 6th of April 2022 05:01:29 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Newer vans will be designed to crumple at better rate.

montie · Guru

Drive any of them into a wall at 80 kph and they'll crumple....and so will you!

Phlipper · Senior Member

In my mind, aside from the actual motor, there are a lot of peripheral components associated with engines like gearboxes, alternators, starter motors, electrics, suspension etc etc etc = always something to need fixing on old cars

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

Thanks for your responses

Jaahn · Guru

Well I have an older vehicle now. And I have done quite a few Kms around the country and up and down it, in the past in old vehicles. I believe I drive to the conditions which also includes the vehicle condition. No need to regard the speed limit as a max goal, rather drive to survive and see the country side.

Those vans have limited crash resistance, we all know that, but careful driving and being conservative will serve you ok to avoid an accident. The reliability can be assessed by a good mechanic if you explain what you need. I prepared an old Toyota camper for a 6mths round trip for a work mate. No problems and they kept it for another 10 years and did another 3mth trip around as well as normal camping.

Do not be scared by the unknown, just do your best preparation and go. IMHO. People on here are good at the negatives and looking for problems but possibly that is what you wanted. Do not take excessive stuff, travel light, and use common sense !

Jaahn

tea spoon · Senior Member

my caravan is a 1967 model still going strong after all the years and my car is a ford fairmont 2003 i go away quite often with this rig i have never had any problems at all ......in van parks i look around and all the vans are the latest ones and the cars are 4x4s............. my rig is good enuff for me it cost 5 grand all up and i do the same as others in there rigs of many thousands of dollars ......in relation to your post go away and enjoy your days .......

Bulldozer · Senior Member

At the end of the day its what you're happy with and what you can afford. When we started caravanning, we stayed in caravan parks, I could not believe the expensive rigs ( car and caravan ) in the park, speaking to people there, they said its nothing to spend $150000-$200000, sort of made me feel a bit inadequate with my $60 odd thousand dollar rig. I think it can be an expensive lifestyle.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

You're not wrong there Bulldozer. I have been in a CVP for a while (My choice, well, maybe Covid's choice) and the amount of shiny new massive rigs, both Tug and Den that come in is amazing. 1,000's of dollars worth and more than likely people that usually head of on the big boats travelling the ocean waves.

I decided to buy new when I started out as was going to be living in my Aluminium Tent until I ride on ahead, at least that's the plan but we all know about plans. I set myself a budget and didn't budge. Definitely not the $$$$$ you mentioned and I tell you that for free. I see all sorts of rigs and people and every one of them love what they have. Good on 'em I reckon.

Keep Safe out there.