Chloe - The van purchase

Home Background First Steps Purchase Start Conversion Mock Up Seats Cab Floor Electrics Reversing Camera Fridge Floor Cooker and Sink Toilet walls Walls Roof Cab Step Bed Awning Wardrobe Insurance Bike rack Windows Costs Conclusions Links

We spotted three LDV Convoys that we thought interesting at the same time on eBay. Two were 2000/2001 and one was a 2002. I went to look at one of the older ones that was nearby and decided to bid on it. It was OK, but sluggish to drive, had a large dent along the side and a broken silencer. We decided that since we had had the opportunity to see it and drive it, it was more valuable than one at the other end of the country and so to bid up to �2,500, but.... ... at the same time we saw one in Yorkshire that looked similar and ending a couple of days later and one in Cardiff that looked in better condition and a year younger. So we held back from bidding and negotiated sight unseen with the Cardiff man. In the end we offered him �2,750 (having just seen the more local, older and more battered van go above our limit at �2,650) So we drove to Cardiff on 26/9/07 and bought our van. It was very much as our seller had described it and in this case, at least, we think we had an honest seller and an honest buyer, both wanting to do a good deal and both doing what they said. One possible snag (we're not sure!) is that the roof is made of fibreglass rather than the metal roof seen locally. It is lighter this way, which is nice, and it will be easier to cut holes in. But it means a join with the metal body and my experience is that joins can cause problems. Basically it was more a surprise than anything else and we're not sure we've thought through for any snags. But what the heck, too late now!

Welcome to your new home, 'Chloe' (inspired by registration!). Not too sure about the bright yellow at first but it amid the thousands of white vans, it's certainly going to be easy to find in car parks and campsites (tho' can be a disadvantage, of course, if we should want to keep a low profile! Even find her 'chunky' nose quite endearing now, like an old dinky toy!)

Attacking the bulkhead

The Master Builder - his smile changed a little when the lady of the house realised how much lower the overall height of the sliding door was (as illustrated here and above) as a result of the interior floor being higher than most vans while the top of the door was still standard height, access before purchase having been denied by her post-op knees and lack of an intermediate step to enable her to get inside. Dennis had hopped in, but not thought anything of it. Not too problematic getting in, perhaps, given the natural tendency to lean forward anyway, but trickier getting out, especially when carrying things as well. This set her thinking of having the use of the back doors, which are full height ... could the fixed bed become a folding bed, packing away into its own cupboard (mattress and bedding intact), so easier access? It would mean forfeiting the central underbed storage (tho' this could be allocated to eg, the water/waste containers, awning, etc, which would be out in use when we're camped anyway) but cupboards at either end could stay and serve as supports for the bed base board, while still giving more space to move during the day. Time would tell with the mock up.

Bulkhead minus ply - good source of metal for making the new seat fittings!