Price difference.

Old Tom Joad
Old Tom Joad Forum Participant Posts: 49
edited January 2019 in Motorhomes #1

We are looking to change our camper van, I have a peugeot boxer based van conversion. Can someone tell me why 2nd hand van conversion are more expensive than coach build vans. You seem to get more for your money with a coach build !

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  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #2

    Possibly because they cost more new on a like for like on size basis. Conversion is more difficult - they can’t put the furniture in and then plonk the body on top so it’s more labour intensive. The hab bodies can’t be mass produced and it all adds to cost.

    PVCs are far less prone to damp problems or damage caused by our Cornish hedges. You pay for that privilege. Less is more.

    Look on the bright side, the resale value will also be greater than a coach built. 

    PS. Another thought - converters buy cab/chassis units by the thousands to built coachbuilt backs on so they’ll get them at a hefty discount. PVCs are converted from vans/minibuses and there’s likely to be less of them bought by converters at less of a discount. It reflects in the selling price to us.

  • Old Tom Joad
    Old Tom Joad Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited January 2019 #3

    Thanks Tinwheeler, some good points there.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #4

    I’ve just edited.

    It’s always been the way, TJ. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #5

    I doubt they leak as much as coach builds as well, a major plus!🤔laughing

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #6

    As TW alludes to I suspect it is the initial cost of the bare van that adds to the cost. They still have to be fitted out which is probably not as easy as a coachbuilt where most of the innards are added before the sides and roof. Many builders of coachbuilts will only buy the cab from the manufacturer and add the chassis themselves. 

    David

  • Old Tom Joad
    Old Tom Joad Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited January 2019 #7

    Thanks to everyone. Now time to choose !!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #8

    What are you tending towards, TJ?

    Have you checked out Eden at Scorrier? The current owner was a manager at Marquis and I’ve noticed he often has a fair stock of Autosleepers. Make of that what you will. 

  • BlueVanMan
    BlueVanMan Forum Participant Posts: 382
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    edited January 2019 #9

    Van conversions cost more because they are much more labour intensive to build.

    Hymer built a complete motorhome on the production line in about 90 minutes (with lots of prefabrication having been done) whereas a Panel Van Conversion takes much longer.

    However it is not by chance that self builders call coach built vans  "flimsies"  

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited January 2019 #10

    I have little doubt van conversions have better residual values simply because buyers have a great deal more confidence in their integrity than the savvy have in coachbuilts.



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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2019 #11

    If ?we ever decided to get another camper it would be an Autosleeper,as they are one of the very few manufacturers that the base vehicle is not just a normal panel van coversion, 

    They have real hermetic?glass windows and they also  have a service centre at their factory

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #12

    A lot of the difference is due to the conversion being of a minibus rather than a van. 

    The downside of using the original glass windows is that those in the rear of the hab unit don't open but the rear doors more than compensate for that.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2019 #13

    That is what would be our choice being not so vunerable to scratching with glass windows

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited January 2019 #14

    Does that not really ramp up the condensation issues that would be challenging enough in cold, damp, moist conditions with the compact size of a campervan?



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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2019 #15

    I think Tinny can answer that?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #16

    We've not had an issue with it, Ocsid.

    Here you go, every hab window is 'Athermically treated privacy glass'.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited January 2019 #17

    Smart looking camper Tinster👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #18

    Thanks, Rocky. Been out in it today keeping them wheels a-rolling along. smile

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited January 2019 #19

    Let me guess-a visit to the Cornish pastie shop for a hot Cornish pastie with cold clotted cream on top👍🏻, yum yum🤢🤢

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #20

    Nothing so adventurous today. Just a pootle around the lanes across to Bodmin. Not a nice day at all with thick Cornish mizzle - and, no, that’s not a food😂

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