LDV Convoy

Casper · 2016-10-26 19:11:49

Anyone got any experience of running one? Preferably the one with the Transit engine. Just thinking ahead for the next van as you get a lot of van for little money.

vaz2121 · 2016-10-26 23:52:56

Close friend of mine, his brother-in law is a school janitor....About 3 yrs ago the school got rid of a 57 plate Transit for £750 because they didn't want the spend of a clutch to get shot 6 month later when new bigger bus was arriving so kept a hold of their 55 plate LDV convoy instead (Transit banana engine). In due course new bus arrived and LDV became available, Both buses were always bothered with steamed up windows, neither had more than 60,000 mls on them......Anyway the LDV had about 3 months test left and I got the chance to buy @ £500.... I assume that It was that they stood about outside doing nothing was their biggest problem as on getting LDV checked over both door steps needed some welding and around rear step and chassis legs/floor was heavily rotten needing lots of work. (could have botched a yr out of it) But I wanted to convert it.....I know the guy that bought it and he has since cut out and welded repair panels in(his previous LDV managed about 300,000mls, So he had one to Rob) and botched up front door steps..... His opinion is Recons back end of bus was sitting over grass for weeks/months at a time and over all No worse than a Transit of similar age only real grip is 26ish MPG (was a 15/17 seater bus, he took out half the seats to throw s*** in)

Have a quick nosey here ....... http://vandogtraveller.com/

Casper · 2016-10-27 07:23:26

Aye the low MPG would be an issue. If i plod along at 60 i want at least 35 closer to 40 so was thinking NWB or even short if i have 9 foot in the back. Transit i would love but the rust is an issue and price. Think i would need 2007 or newer before Ford started to galvanise them. Merc's are out. LDV Maxus are in reach as i nice high mileage one can be had from 1k Other options are 2000-2005 Renault Masters or Ducato, Boxer, Relay from around the same era.

I intend on taking my Expert to Italy next year but when i tuck 1k away i will start looking more as i hope to get 800 back on my expert as it stands as a mini camper. Just so many vans and deciding what is best, long lasting is anyone's business. Another thing that was pushing me to LDV is the post office and a lot of councils used them for long enough.

Yeah i seen that Vandog's web page. I also fired him off a few questions but yet to hear back. Cool looking van though and i like the shower up the back. Dont think i would have the loo though but i think i could use that idea in a MWB.

vaz2121 · 2016-10-27 12:09:05

This trip we just had was for the first time in 14months (12,000mls) of having /using our van (several W/end and mon-fri trips up west coast, 19 day trip to Orkney and associated tour there and back and prior 5day trip to Belgium) I felt I wanted a little more power and space......... Power (obvious).. Total one hit distance and some of the hills to climb (In mid/late 80's early 90's I covered some of the same routes in a 350 and 420hp lorry and struggled on some of those hills), Space wise I think it was the extra junk we carried that just got in the way..... Remember we'd been doing this trip (Spain) in her 306 for about the previous 4yrs and in one yr (12month period) did the trip 3 times... which (one reason) decided us to get A/the van (more space more junk it would seem)....

I have a pretty penny invested in my van so if the opportunity/need came round for a bigger van, to make it worth while I would now want a MWB with medium high roof (standing room)
The Dispatch when I did use Péage got us through as a car (under 2m) and ships on ferry as a car (MPV) also.
MWB van (motorhome) will for those increased costs be same as SWB and much of a muchness in MPG I'd say

On my initial search for a van I ideally wanted some thing that fitted in a car parking space and found that
FWD transits have pretty much Mondeo (2.0 Diesel) running gear in them, not sure of there internal width,
But I'm convinced that a Ducato, Boxer, Relay would take a bed across the way and depending on year a 1.9td, 2.0L, 2.2L or 2.8L D
Also all being equal and available spend don't rule out a 2.3 Iveco Daily.................

The LDV Maxus was built using old Daewoo tooling from poland, was owned by the Russians? (Gaz) and now owned by the Chinese I believe....No idea about engines used in them.
I'm not saying there a bad van, ... Things are not always what they seem nowadays

The only other thing I'd say is if your regularly going to Germany (and rest of Europe is bound to follow) and want to visit bigger towns and cites is try for a Euro 4 vehicle at least........(our DW8's are Euro3)

BTW I think your expectation of £800 on your van...... with what you've put into it, with a years test 800 is easily on the low side!

Casper · 2016-10-27 16:12:49

Maxus is not getting good write ups on the Honest Johns web site. Ducato, Boxer, Relay might be the way to go. Transit SWB is just over 5.7 foot wide by the walls not arch and just under 9 foot long. Bed would be front to back anyway rather than across. The kitchen area is going across the back doors with 50/50 access from both sides. Back being a small area for tools and general camping stuff you would need. I have a basic idea/plan of what i want and need but if a get an extra few inches/feet with a MWB then things like TV and more storage would get added.

Must learn how to use the CAD software.

Casper · 2016-10-29 15:10:51

Think i decided. Vauxhall Movano. I think the Renault Master is the same van but plenty 02-05 models from £1.2k.

MWB

5'7" Wide
6'2" Tall or 7' for the jumbo
10'5" and 12'5" for the LWB

looks like the 2.5 is the engine to go for as lots of horror stories about the injectors seizing and leaking. 35 mpg on a rum possibly more. Yeah i was looking at the Iveco also vaz and this will more than likely be 2nd choice depending whats for sale at the time. The Maxis is hot and cold with owners reviews where Movano 2.5 i read nothing bad about.

vaz2121 · 2016-10-30 01:06:22

Casper wrote:

Think i decided. Vauxhall Movano. I think the Renault Master is the same van
looks like the 2.5 is the engine to go for as lots of horror stories about the injectors seizing and leaking.

Your right the Movano & Master are the same van

And IMO also the 2.5D is the engine to go for

(2.2 not so good from what little experience I've had)

Casper · 2016-10-30 23:17:02

Was on the Iveco forum Van and some people are talking 20-26 mpg yikes One is getting 250 to a tank but as far as i can make out its a 70lt tank. This is the 2.8 engine but with those kind of figuers then i thing the Iveco is out. Shame as you can get a six foot bed in the back sideways.

vaz2121 · 2016-10-31 01:31:38

Casper wrote:

Was on the Iveco forum Van and some people are talking 20-26 mpg One is getting 250 to a tank but as far as i can make out its a 70lt tank. This is the 2.8 engine but with those kind of figuers then i thing the Iveco is out. Shame as you can get a six foot bed in the back sideways.

It's an engine (2.8) that my exbro-inlaw got good service out of running down to Italy a good few times don't remember MPG exactly (Avg just shy 28 mpg iirc) but was fully loaded (weight wise) every time we sent it down .....

(Many moons ago "92/93") I did have a Iveco 190-42 TurboStar (Artic) for about a couple months once and I do remember we got 4.5 MPG amongst other S*** results and wasn't worked any harder than any other lorry I had at the time

Iv'e heard reasonable result about the 2.3 in the Daily....No experience of and not sure if it's the same 2.3 that goes in the Ducato but it seems (Ducato) to manage high 30's
(40's if driven like a pram)

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#1 2016-10-26 19:11:49

LDV Convoy

#2 2016-10-26 23:52:56

Re: LDV Convoy

#3 2016-10-27 07:23:26

Re: LDV Convoy

#4 2016-10-27 12:09:05

Re: LDV Convoy

#5 2016-10-27 16:12:49

Re: LDV Convoy

#6 2016-10-29 15:10:51

Re: LDV Convoy

#7 2016-10-30 01:06:22

Re: LDV Convoy

#8 2016-10-30 23:17:02

Re: LDV Convoy

#9 2016-10-31 01:31:38

Re: LDV Convoy

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