When you're shopping around for a van, a little knowledge can save you some decent coin and help prevent you from buying a lemon.
Here are five things I'm keeping an eye out for when I'm buying a van to convert into a camper. I have a personal preference for secondhand vehicles because it saves so much money, and I get a thrill out of giving things a new lease on life.
5 Things to Look for When Buying a Second-Hand Van to Convert into a Camper
1. Look for an ex-company vehicle
Ex-company or ex-work vans are usually well-maintained with a solid service history as businesses tend to service their fleet regularly with WOFs and maintenance.
The most recent van I bought was from a swimming pool service company. They had been the van's sole owner since it had been imported into the country ten years prior. While both the interior and the exterior were superficially a mess, it had otherwise been well-maintained mechanically.
2. Buy during winter
Supply and demand, baby. The average price of used vans drops during winter and rises during summer. If you're able, play the long game, and start your van shopping during winter when the demand is lower and as such, prices are lower.
3. High mileage isn't necessarily a dealbreaker
High kms (over ~200,000km) doesn’t necessarily mean it’s near the end of its use-by date. What's more important to check for is it WOF and service history. Brands like Toyota make their vehicles to last. So long as they've been well-looked after, they will go and go and go (and go).
4. What damage can and can't be dealt to
Cosmetic damage such as superficial rust and can be fixed. Focus on structural rust and mechanical condition. Structural rust (especially under paint). Signs of accidents or poorly repaired damage. Worn bushings—these are rubber components in moving parts like suspension, steering arms, etc. Once they wear out, repairs become more expensive.
5. Purchase a reputable brand
My preferred brands are Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi which are known for their reliability, longevity and quality. For larger vans, I'd branch out to Mercedes. LDV is surprisingly decent, they're Chinese made with a German engine.
Other Considerations:
- Be wary of short wheelbase vans or anything without enough headroom.
- Avoid vans that have been in accidents.
- Avoid anything older than ~20 years—post-2000s vans have better safety and build quality.
- Make sure the van has a decent load rating (around 2 tonnes or more), or it’ll feel gutless when fully built out.
- Sort your insurance before you drive it anywhere, and at its market value. Once your fit-out is complete, re-insure it to reflect its new value.
