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Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby loot » Fri Sep 21, 2018 7:17 pm

No I was saying that my medium height got me through most places but not all, a fwd medium roof will see you nearly standing up as is but if you do the false floor then a high roof, if you don't mind parking up and walking to where you want to go etc and high roof isn't an issue then it makes sense to do that.

Sky is the limit.

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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby Cider Andy » Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:19 am

I had similar considerations to make when seeking a van to convert into a camper. To fit everything in comfortably (including vertical passengers!) I concluded I'd need a LWB high-roof FWD and then discovered, as someone else pointed out, that they're rare. Another consideration I had was wanting a decent 'comfort' specification, so I didn't have to mess about retrofitting factory options. Also, knowing my budget would point me towards an older van, I didn't want a rust bucket.

Having all those things on my wish list meant finding the right van would be a tall order and that I'd need to compromise. What I ended up with was a 2008 van that ticked most the boxes, ie. it had more pros than cons. The pros:

1. It's a FWD, LWB high-roof.
2. It's a GLX so has electric windows, electric mirrors, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and heated front screen. As a bonus it also has aircon and factory satnav.
3. It's not yet needed welding for the MoT test.
4. It's a fridge van so:
a. it's already heavily insulated (and waterproofed with GRP) in the rear.
b. it already has a mains hook-up.
c. it already has a 140A split charge relay fitted.
d. there's a few hundred quids-worth of cooling equipment to flog on eBay!

And the cons:

1. It's a fridge van! So it will have a bloody great hole in the roof when I strip the cooling kit out.
2. It's a non-runner - I've yet to establish what's wrong with it but at worst it'll need another engine.
3. It's white: metallic paint would have been a bonus but I would have been really lucky to get that as well.

The van was over 200 miles away and [obviously] I had to have it transported, but £1500 saw it sitting on my drive: I'm pretty happy with that.

For the conversion I bought an old caravan as a donor vehicle. The floor is spongy but the interior fittings are all in good order. I paid £300 for it, which will give me:

- hot & cold water
- gas fire
- blown air heating
- 3-way fridge
- hob
- oven
- sink
- mains electricity and charging system
- shower
- toilet
- wardrobe & cupboards
- full legth three-quarter bed
- cupboards, storage and trim
- windows and rooflights with fly screens
- lighting

I reckon I'll need to spend perhaps another £1000 or so in other bits and pieces, plus a lot of time and effort, and the engine is still a bit of an unknown. But if I do the job right I'll have a great van that should be worth the thick end of £10,000.

The Mk6 and Mk7 vans came in a multitude of heights, lengths, interior specifications and drivetrain combinations so, once you've settled on what your needs are, you WILL find the right Transit out there.

In my opinion, for a campervan, the only advantage of RWD over FWD is there is room to fit underbelly water tanks. But that's just my opinion.....
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:17 am

I put the water tank in same place on my fwd as i did on the rwds where the spare wheel was
It's just an inch or 2 not as deep as the rwd one and dangles down a bit :P
Still fookin stinks like 8)
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby Cider Andy » Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:33 am

bigjohnthomas wrote:I put the water tank...where the spare wheel was


Did you dispense with the spare wheel, or stow it elsewhere?
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Mon Sep 24, 2018 12:08 pm

It's the 1990s we don't carry spare wheels anymore :P
Puncturs are outlawed
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby Cider Andy » Mon Sep 24, 2018 2:38 pm

bigjohnthomas wrote:It's the 1990s we don't carry spare wheels anymore :P
Puncturs are outlawed


Heh heh, yeah!

I've fitted wooden wheels and solid tyres.

It's improved the ride and handling no end.....
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby bigjohnthomas » Mon Sep 24, 2018 3:31 pm

:lol: cool
I've Never had one on any big vans on my 3 one now
Only had one puncture about 8 years ago and managed to get it to the tyre shop before it went flat
And my little van ,the custom even ford don't bother fitting a spare all you get is a compressor and some stuff in a bottle
:P
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Re: Mk7 LWB, HR, FWD vs RWD??..... What are the benefits?

Postby GuyT » Tue Sep 25, 2018 2:43 pm

Opposed to quoting your entire post @Cider Andy you make some good points.

I didn’t even realise a transit came in a GLX version as some of the pros such as air conditioning would be a great bonus. I’m not really in a place to be buying a none starter and to some extent it has to be running from day one.

I think penning down a few ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ is a good idea though. High top is probably the priority after it being a 6 seater crew cab and then its ideally lwb BUT I live in West London and driving something so long around and finding somewhere to park it could prove challenging, I have parking at home, its just everywhere else. My existing swb has a roof rack and so I’m used to not being able to get into car parks etc but.... We shall see.

I think I’m off to Blackbushe auctions this week just to see what rolls through and I’ll take it from there.

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