Vans...

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174
174
NSW
190 posts
174 174
NSW, 190 posts
1 Oct 2009 4:55pm
About to arrive back in oz so in need of a windsurfing van. Looking at 2002ish Vitos and Transporters. Most have done something like 150-250k, does anything particularly nasty happen engine wise etc around then? Don't want to get a "deal" then have to fork out for something expensive soon after!

Any recommendations for insurance that covers gear left in the van? I'd like to just leave it there 24/7 so I'm ready to go at all times

Most are sold with just the front row of seats, but I'll need a second row occasionally, where can I get these?


mineral1
mineral1
WA
4564 posts
WA, 4564 posts
1 Oct 2009 3:13pm
174 give Reg a call at Windsurfing Perth Phone : 9329 9333 or 93299339
He has an add on his wall with a good van for sale. Think its a later model VW at about $6000. It was in here on Seabreeze, but noticed its now missing, but it was on his wall in shop on weekend.
Here is his web site and email contact.
http://www.windsurfingperth.com.au/index.php/contact

Mineral
Mobydisc
Mobydisc
NSW
9029 posts
NSW, 9029 posts
1 Oct 2009 5:33pm
174, are you moving to NSW or WA? From the posts in the NSW forum it looks like NSW.

174
174
NSW
190 posts
174 174
NSW, 190 posts
1 Oct 2009 5:53pm
NSW - Sydney. (Thanks for the tip though mineral1)
Mobydisc
Mobydisc
NSW
9029 posts
NSW, 9029 posts
1 Oct 2009 7:36pm


Here are a couply of threads about vans.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=54692

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=50563


Make sure you get a white one.

174
174
NSW
190 posts
174 174
NSW, 190 posts
2 Oct 2009 4:48pm
Mobydisc said...
Make sure you get a white one.

It's hard not to!
migosa
migosa
24 posts
24 posts
2 Oct 2009 4:04pm
Hi 174
i am selling my van (moving back to europe). Its a diesel Hiace commuter from 1994 and it comes with bed (plus all the stuff associated). I have transformed it to carry my windsurfing gear, two boards, 5 sails, 2 mast, 1 boom, and a windskate. The plus of my van is that it has a seat for kids (I have two kids).
As I said it’s a diesel, hence cheap to run (9 l/100km) and has all services done. In terms of engine the van is perfect, it has however some dents.
The asking price is 5000 aus. The downside of the coin is that I live in Townsville (`2500km from Sydney), so you would have to come up here to get it. Its not difficult, tough…
Anyway I can send you some pictures if you are interested
Miguel

WindmanV
WindmanV
VIC
825 posts
VIC, 825 posts
2 Oct 2009 6:25pm
Hi, 174,

MB and VW offer a crew cab, which has the seat in as standard. If you can't pick up a crew cab second hand, you'll probably find that the floor of the standard van already has provision for mounting the extra seat. Suggest you Google MB and VW wreckers to find the seat and I’d ask for the seat hold-down bolts too. You may have a problem with the seat belts for the extra seat: all of the wreckers we deal with discard the seat belts in case they have been damaged. In that case, you might have to source the seat belts from a dealer.

Re problems: some dealers will take a high-KM unit and sell it themselves, if they know the unit has been serviced correctly, otherwise they go off to the “trade”. Most units are ex-couriers, so the clutch and driveline will show wear. It’s a question of “how much”. One way to check this would be for the unit to be checked by the NRMA: al least you’ll get an honest opinion re the unit.

Surprisingly, the diesel engines will probably not be excessively worn: the engines are usually running continuously during the day, they are thoroughly warmed up and wear very little. The problem may be in the fuel system. If the owner has used poor quality fuel containing dirt/water, the fuel pump and injectors will fail eventually.

If it were me, I’d have all of the oils, filters and coolant changed and also have the radiator flushed in-situ. I’d also buy an owner handbook to become familiar with the unit.

Hope this helps.
174
174
NSW
190 posts
174 174
NSW, 190 posts
3 Oct 2009 5:21pm
WindmanV said...
Hope this helps.

Great tips, thanks. Definitely worth the NRMA check so I know what I'm getting into!
lee1972
lee1972
QLD
921 posts
QLD, 921 posts
3 Oct 2009 9:00pm
Stay clear of mitsubishi vans, especially with those amount of k's. VW parts are very expensive my advice would be to go for a lwb toyota hiace, bulltet proof engines and heaps of room. Misu vans are way to small, you cant even swing a pussy in there and beleive me i have tried.
WindmanV
WindmanV
VIC
825 posts
VIC, 825 posts
4 Oct 2009 5:53pm
Hi, 174,

Thanks for the kind words.

Had nothing to do today, so took a look around the Mercedes Benz site. If you go to the tabs Pre Owned, vehicle search, tick Vito, then enter your state, Search, some nice units come up. Don't know your budget, but the link might be helpful.

In passing, suggest that you do not consider an automatic transmission in MB, VW or Ford Transits. I have not heard any bad reports about the auto's in the Toyota Hi Ace and Commuter Bus.

Regards,
Phil27
Phil27
WA
194 posts
WA, 194 posts
4 Oct 2009 4:38pm
Has anybody ever owned a hilux surf at all? I surf and windsurf, so they would be ideal for the hard to get to spots, but can a windsurfing board easily fit inside with the seats lying down? My board is around 240cm so not that long. Also is there enough room to sleep in the back?
Mobydisc
Mobydisc
NSW
9029 posts
NSW, 9029 posts
5 Oct 2009 11:09am
I doubt a Toyota Surf would have a tray long enough to fit a 2.4m board in the back unless the back cab window can be lowered. I know a bloke with a Surf who had to put his boards on the roof. He was looking at getting a van. The Surf looks basically the same as a Hilux crewcab so the tray isn't that long. Unless you are quite short sleeping in the back wouldn't be an option either unless you lower the back door and have your feet sticking out the back.

If you want a 4WD vehicle have a look at the Mitsubishi Delicas. There are a number of threads on them here plus there is a good Aussie site devoted to them, delica club. I've got a Delica. Its not perfect but for the price they go for its not too bad.


Supersane
Supersane
NSW
174 posts
NSW, 174 posts
5 Oct 2009 12:17pm
Yeah don't get a surf (import model) or a 4Runner (aussie made model) really weak engines... I had a 4Runner and it's only when stuff starts to go wrong in them that you do some digging. the 92? to 94? (I'm not usure of the years anymore) were actually recalled by Toyota (they didn't actually tell anyone though, just fixed them for free when people started to bring them back). Aside form the probs they are suited to towing, not bad as a 4wd but really heavy on the juice.
174
174
NSW
190 posts
174 174
NSW, 190 posts
9 Oct 2009 2:38pm
To answer part of my original question for people that are interested in future, these guys can do aftermarket van seating www.mobilityengineering.com.au/404


WindySimon
WindySimon
WA
47 posts
WA, 47 posts
9 Oct 2009 2:56pm
just noticed a sexy volkswagen van for sale in the miscellaneous for sale section
174
174
NSW
190 posts
174 174
NSW, 190 posts
23 Oct 2009 10:17am
Ended up with a T4, have given it a service and good to go!
Krisiz1
Krisiz1
WA
331 posts
WA, 331 posts
23 Oct 2009 9:54pm




Make sure it is properly decaled. You don't want to get mistaken for a tradesman!
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