Recommend a Van to Live in

wittyusername on 12/03/2015 - 21:49

Hi all,

Looking for something like Toyota Hiace that I can travel up and down the East coast in. Ideally I'd do a bit of a conversion in the back, throw in a bed and some cupboards and the like.
I'd like to be able to live out of it for around a month at a time. I know next to nothing about vans and I'm just hankering for some suggestions. Something like the Mitsubishi Delica is pretty attractive due to its 4wd, but 4wd is not essential.

Pretty much the complete opposite of what starofdavid's post is about.

Thanks :)

Automotive

Comments

    • sparkles on 12/03/2015 - 23:38

      This one looks like an ex-Australia Post van maybe? I could live in that van. These type of posts make me want to run away in a little van and be a hippy.

      • mskeggs on 13/03/2015 - 07:43

        Don't we all.
        My current dream is to chuck it all in for a while and cruise around England:
        livingonanarrowboat.co.uk

    • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2015 - 15:59

      Read lots of forum opinions comparing vans. One thing was consistent. Toyota well built. Transit vans tend to fall apart, dont buy. Get a hiace or Coaster.
      Just what I read. And I am looking for a good Coaster bus > 2004 in Perth, and considered a Hiace which from memory have only a quarter of the internal space and fuel use is quite similar (I think).
      Deisel seems to be best.
      Coaster's are very easy to drive but pretty conspicuous for discrete camping which is offputting.

  • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2015 - 22:33

    Toyota Taragos are quite spacious once you pull out all the rear seats.

    Camper examples: http://zenseeker.net/Previa/PreviaCamper-Kitchen.htm (just google image search 'tarago camper'). Converting one of your own design would be fun!

    They are fuel thirsty though, but I don't know how bad other vans are by comparison :P Loved driving one (1996 Glx model).

  • altomic on 12/03/2015 - 22:50

    what's your budget?

    this looks half decent

  • TheAccountant on 12/03/2015 - 23:18

    A backpacker mate of mine used to sleep in a Mitsubishi Verada
    Managed to fit a twin bed in there and practically lived out of it when he moved up to Coffs for work. The car had over 350k on the odo and the bloke swore by its reliability.

    I'd suggest a Nissan Elgrand though. Should be able to remove the last row of seats and fit a mattress and drawers in there comfortably.

    • altomic on 13/03/2015 - 13:03

      when living in Japan i had a 1996 celica and could fit a single mattress in it.

  • BigTed on 13/03/2015 - 00:55

    You should watch the episode of the Goldbergs "Van People" - hilarious.

  • imissbeans on 13/03/2015 - 03:52
    +1

    I have a VW T5 Transporter and it's been nothing but a nightmare with about $4k in repairs over the past few months. Air conditioner failed over summer and still doesn't work. And it's broken down on us twice in the last month. The last time we towed (last week!) to the mechanic and had to replace the clutch with a brand new one for $2300. I don't know whether other people have more positive experiences so don't let me completely put you off but I vow never to get one of these vans again! Expensive parts!

    • RockyRaccoon on 13/03/2015 - 06:33

      The motoring writers love them.

      The problem is they never keep the cars they drive, so they have no idea that driving pleasure also includes time on the road.

  • RockyRaccoon on 13/03/2015 - 06:39

    The Hi Ace is a nice van, pleasant drive.

    Two things that you need to watch with this van, is that they are very heavy on the front tires. I drove one which was used as a courtesy bus and the tires needed replacing every 20K/30K. It also was heavy on brakes, with pads being replaced almost every 40K. The latter maybe due to having multiple drivers, and a lot of stop start driving

    In 2 years it reached 300,000K and apart from the two issues above was extremely reliable

    • Annoying Source on 15/03/2015 - 17:06

      They are only heavy on brakes and wheels if you drive it like that, My father is a tradie and his Toyota Hiace (3 years old - 100,000 kms) hasn't had the brakes changed yet and he gets it serviced every 10,000 kms.

  • Tcm9669 on 13/03/2015 - 08:49

    Ford Transit. They are the widest vans out there.. Giving you good space, fit in a double bed between the tyre bumps on the inside and use the tyre bumps as bedside tables :) handy 12v sockets on the back (2009 model at least) .. Always on even when van is off (excellent for phone charging at night), bloody solid van. VERY VERY ECONIMIC (2.2 turbo diesel), powerful beast, easy to drive.. And the front, you drive like a king! Not cramped up like in some Mitsubishi / Toyota van. Excellent for long distance driving!

    I do this, regularly and simply love it. Mine is a manual, I would suggest cruise control if you can find one. It's a diesel so pedals are a bit harder than petrol (typical for commercial diesel vans)

    Can't go wrong! Also, if you wanna pull a caravan behind maybe in the future.. It barely feels it! Only thing, I wish it was 4wd, love the outback!

  • rompastompa on 13/03/2015 - 13:59

    Volkswagen Kombi. The best way.

  • GaelicAU on 13/03/2015 - 14:09

    Go the Toyota Coaster. Lots of people retrofit these with cupboards, kitchen, double bed etc. You can walk around this puppy and also has side access so you are not having to climb over the seats anytime you want to go somewhere.

    http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-toyota+coaster/k0
    http://www.toyota.com.au/coaster

  • wittyusername on 14/03/2015 - 01:26

    Ahhh amazing everyone! Cheers for all the inputs and ideas. I'll be checking them all out

    Thanks :)

  • UncommonName on 15/03/2015 - 07:33

    Ahh, I wish I could live in a van with my soulmate and do some cross-country drives!

    Oh simple thing, where have you gone?

  • leonheart1 on 15/03/2015 - 08:10
    +2

    Maybe caravans are the solution to Australia's insane house prices. Turn everyone into a redneck.

  • Annoying Source on 15/03/2015 - 17:09
    +1

    The Toyota Hiace is a great van, my father swears by it (he's a tradie) but he does think they are over price (both new and used) and there are better valued cars out there. He has been considering the hyundai iLoad as they are apparently quite good (at least the newer version) but I'm not sure if it would be in your budget.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2015 - 16:48

    I had a dream…
    Buy 15+yo 4wd ex-fire dept water truck with < 25k kms. They're cheap at auction.
    Fill with 12+ months water supply. Bring dry goods, seeds, supplies, and tow small caravan.
    Hire lawyer or friend to manage affairs.
    Go.
    Never see civilisation again, no people, bar maybe, one day every year or two for supplies at Kal or Hedland.
    Comments?

  • kobrien456 on 11/06/2015 - 10:28

    If you want a loo in one of these vans, can you retrofit, or should I buy with it in? Anyone know a cheap secondhand source?

  • Archi on 12/06/2015 - 10:21

    How about one of these

    http://www.renault.com.au/vehicles/commercial/master/van/swb

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