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Learning About Your Suitability

For some time we looked at various vans in pursuit of the right one. We walked away from many and then started to get the sinking feeling that we were being too picky and walking away from some really good deals. We spoke to private and trade sellers alike, and you can learn a lot about the advantages and disadvantages of different vans. Also, talking to mechanics that fix vans can be a good source of information. 

Van Sizing

Vans sizing can be a little confusing and vary slightly from make to make. I will try to keep this simple. The sizes are generally based on the following classes: 

• Microvan. This is basically a car that has no back windows.
• Small van. Think Vauxhall Combo (small postie van).
• Medium Van. Citroen Dispatch or a Ford Transit for example.
• Crew Cab. This is when there is a second row of seats fitted so that more people can be transported. It will more than likely have side windows already fitted too.
• Large van. This is like a Mercedes Sprinter.
• Each class of van will also have a variation in size. The lengths are usually defined as; short wheelbase (SWB), medium wheelbase (MWB), long wheelbase (LWB), and extra long wheelbase (XLWB). The heights are H1 (normal height), H2 and H3 (high roof).
• Then, there are the Luton vans. These are the big box vans.

Height and Width Of Your Van

When looking at the size of the van you want or need, you will need to consider that the bigger it is, the harder it will be to find parking. Don't do what I did and forget the height, then drive into a multi-story car park with low clearance! I had to deflate all four of the tyres then get some helpful people to stand in the back to get it out again. The damage was already done, and I had broken some ribs across the roof. 

Make sure you’re aware of what class of van you can drive. This can be found on the back of a UK driving licence. Beware of vans that have a twin axle, as you may not be legally allowed to drive it. My advice is to always double-check before you buy.

Your Wants And Needs

The first thing that you need to do is work out your wants and needs.

Consider things like:

• How many are you? We are a family of three. So we need to think about the number of seats with seatbelts we need, and how many beds are required.
• How tall is the tallest person? For our little clan, 6’2” (1.88m) is the tallest.
• Are you part-time, seasonal or full-time? The intention is to go full-time. So with three of us, one of them being quite tall, H3 LWB or longer is what we feel we would need.
• Casual camper or off-grid? We are looking to go to some very remote locations so it's off-grid for us.
• What terrain do you want to be able to tackle? Ideally, we would want a 4-wheel drive, but they tend to be a little smaller.
• How much are you taking with you? The more you want to take, the more space you will need. This will also influence the design of the interior.
• What is your budget? The bigger it is and the fewer miles it has done, the more it will cost. The model will also impact this.

Due Diligence

Just remember that the less you spend on the van now, may result in spending more in the long run, these vans generally have a shorter lifespan. If you are buying used, then you need to know how it was treated and what it was used for. If it was badly treated, you may end up spending a pretty penny trying to repair it. Always do your checks, just because a van seems reasonable, doesn't mean it is. Refer to our ‘buying a van’ guide to help you in your search.

Time To Think Space

Most other things that you want to consider, are subject to the sacrifice of space:

What toilet are you going to have? If it's a full cubicle (usually with the shower), then you will sacrifice a lot of space but you will get privacy. Having a toilet means emptying it, and having no toilet at all means you will always be reliant on public toilets, however, you get more space by not having to carry more water (clean and waste) or the toilet itself. Think about your set-up and what impact it will have. You will have to live in it, even if it's just for a couple of weeks at a time, you want it to be comfortable and as spacious as possible.

Once you have answers to these questions, you will probably have an idea of the size of the van that you will need.