LDV Vans Experiences and Caravan/camper van advice sought.

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › LDV Vans Experiences and Caravan/camper van advice sought.

MikeB4

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#270166 26-Apr-2020 14:41

We are currently looking for a Camper Van, Motorhome. There are quite a few low KM LDV based units for sale including new units. I have not had a lot of experience with LDV. What experiences have folks on here had with these Vans.

Mike
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#2473300 29-Apr-2020 12:41

Google rust (in particular) and LDV vans. The stories put me off - and especially for a van that'll likely be parked outside - when it's not being used for camping near salt air etc.

MikeB4

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#2473302 29-Apr-2020 12:55

I will Google that. Rust is something I have not thought about in vehicles for a long time.

Mike
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He waka eke noa

Handsomedan

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#2473364 29-Apr-2020 14:26

Funny - a lot of rental campervans seem to be on LDV platforms and you do read about very happy couriers etc that have had million-km vans with few issues.

Do have to wonder if the less happy are simply quieter...

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan is currently WFH.
Handsome Dan is perplexed...and a little stir crazy.
Handsome Dan is transitioning back to normal life one day a week..
Handsome Dan is trying not to sweat the small stuff..and sometimes succeeds

MikeB4

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#2473410 29-Apr-2020 15:33

Yikes, not flash at all. It would seem that LDV are keeping inline with British cars of 70's where rust was always and extra and as the ads use to the "rust never sleeps". Strike LDV off the list.

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

He waka eke noa

wratterus

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#2473514 29-Apr-2020 16:21

You get what you pay for.

If you're smashing out massive KMs and want as cheap as possible I'd consider one, but if you want to keep it for say more than 5 years, get a Hiace IMO.

Scott3

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#2473543 29-Apr-2020 17:17

wratterus:

You get what you pay for.

If you're smashing out massive KMs and want as cheap as possible I'd consider one, but if you want to keep it for say more than 5 years, get a Hiace IMO.

Hiace is not really comparable. No Cab Chassis variant available, so box style camper-vans are out. No high roof variant available, so custom roof's are needed to get standing height.

Jucy does have a Hiace based camper-van with a shower / toilet room (with custom high roof), but in my opinion the van is a bit small to do that duty well.

For "box" type camper-van's (generally requred to fit any more than three people and a shower/toilet into a van), a cab chaises platform is required. Fiat ducato is the dominant unit in this space. It is a FWD van, where most of it's competitors are RWD. Being FWD means no drive line under the rear, allowing for a lower floor (and hence roof) in the rear. This is quite desirable. The LDV V80 is also FWD, so I assume is favored by builders for that reason (as well as it cheap price).

For "Van" style campervans with a shower and toilet, generally the bigger vans are favored: Ducato, Sprinter, Transit, "Biggest" LDV V80 etc.

Regarding the LDV V80, here are some quotes from anouther message board:

"We have one at work, 3 years old still at 40k.
Agree with the rust, stonechips on the bonnet have rusted straight away, which seems weird.
Other then that everyone I've spoken to enjoys driving it.
I've driven it, was good, went, stopped. Gauges in the middle was different.
No dislikes really.
Our courier has one, swears by it.
We can load 3 full pallets in it, 2 side doors, one rear. Superb"

"What are the uglies with this vehicle and motor and gearbox and diff, driving etc please ???

6spd or 5spd the 5spd had gearbox issues. Both wear clutches quickly they are front wheel drive so diff is in gbox no diff problems motor very reliable no real pdf issues. The euro 4 some get seized egr valves the euro 5 has electronic throttle/egr that give trouble. Radio is sh*t. If you are rough on vehicles it's not for you if you maintain a vehicle it may do you well. The sliding door can have issues but it's more people using the door or hinges/rollers to pull themselves into the van

.....

technically they do not come out in auto. What you refer to as a auto is actually a manual with a magnetic marelli automatic shifter attached to it. Make sure you drive and understand the transmission because it's not a auto"

I have driven a Fiat based campervan, with an automated manual gearbox. Did OK, but very slow to shift, and more challenging for very slow speed stuff than a normal auto. Would recommend driving one first to check it doesn't irritate you (or getting a manual one)

MartinGZ

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#2473659 29-Apr-2020 20:48

Handsomedan:

Funny - a lot of rental campervans seem to be on LDV platforms ....

Yes, but the mainstream rental companies are not looking at longevity. They want the most return on their investment and although I don't know, I'd suggest that by 5 years the van would be flicked on. Generally you are not going to see big issues especially rust problems in 5 years. Private buyers have very different criteria.

Scott3

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#2473701 29-Apr-2020 22:06

Note that the van is sold as a Maxus V80 in other markets.

It seems likely OP is looking at something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVSuK0ikpM

(Obviously video's intent is promotional) - from 2016 - a bunch of these used ex-rentals are on trademe.

Main appeal seems to be that the LDV V80 cab chassis FWD, and a little smaller than competing van's that are available in cab chassis format (sprinter, ducato etc).

Just ran a search on Britz (the brand they were rented out under by Tourism holdings). The 4 berth discovery appears on on their homepage (the photo on the homepage is of it built on a Medicares van, but when clicked through to see details, an LDV van is shown), but when I searched to make a booking, no discoveries were available, so it looks like they may be discontinuing that rental product. (perhaps I am reading too much into this). The EV variant of the EV80 camper (2 berth) does show as available.

With regards to comments on rust, my searching didn't turn up much that related to the V80 van, but with a camper house on the back, it would have a lot less body to worry about rusting than a normal van. Also, rust is normally a lesser issue in NZ than other markets like the UK where the roads are salted...

V80 is poorly reviewed here: https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/ldv-v80

But the Ducato (main FWD campervan platform) is reviewed even worse: https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/fiat-ducato

Personally I avoid Chinese brands where they are viable alternatives for ethical reasons, but I find the exercise of an objective comparison interesting.

MartinGZ:

Yes, but the mainstream rental companies are not looking at longevity. They want the most return on their investment and although I don't know, I'd suggest that by 5 years the van would be flicked on. Generally you are not going to see big issues especially rust problems in 5 years. Private buyers have very different criteria.

True, but they do still care about resale.

A camper of the type about would run around $120k-$130k+ new. That's a $40k vehicle to base it on, and $80k of "house" and camper-van stuff on the back. Base vehicle is the cheaper bit of the build... If the base vehicle hits end of life too soon, the investment in the shell is wasted. No rental company wants to dispose of camper vans super-cheap because they vehicle they are based on has a short life expectancy.

MikeB4

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#2473897 30-Apr-2020 10:25

Thank you very much for your replies. Very helpful and informative. Much appreciated. We have decided not to go the LDV way there seems to be a lot gotchas floating especially for a long term ownership proposition. The Model we were considering was the Kea Breeze that has the LDV cab and chassis. Other variants have Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, Mercedes cab and chassis. I shudder at the thought of Fiat as I was silly enough in my youth to own a Fiat which was absolute garbage.

We have started to look down the small caravan way. We were looking at camper van as our 2019 Rav 4 has a low maximum tow capacity of 1,500kg however I have found a couple of nice small caravans that come well within that capacity when fully laden with maximum load. They are the Swift Alpine 2 and the very funky Swift Basecamp. we are quite taken with the Basecamp and with the bespoke Vango inflatable awning it is very flexible.

We used to do a lot of camping in tents before I became disabled and we like to sorta do that again and the Basecamp gives us the best of both worlds however the Alpine 2 has a bit more luxury. Don't you love decision making. I have added some links for those who are interested.

https://www.swiftbasecamp.co.uk/

https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans/swift-sprite

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

He waka eke noa

Handsomedan

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#2473948 30-Apr-2020 11:02

Have you considered these Basecamp NZ inflatable trailer camper if you are now looking at the caravan idea?

Lightweight, quite large when fully erected and inflatable, so easy to use.

Not bad value, too

https://www.basecampnz.co.nz/op4campertrailers

MikeB4

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#2473988 30-Apr-2020 12:39

@Handsomedan that is one awesome piece of kit. The one thing that would stop us looking at those more closely is the lack of proper shower and toilet. Not really into portable toilets and shower tents anymore.

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

He waka eke noa

Handsomedan

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#2473989 30-Apr-2020 12:41

MikeB4:

@Handsomedan that is one awesome piece of kit. The one thing that would stop us looking at those more closely is the lack of proper shower and toilet.

I hadn't even thought of that, to be honest...that would also be something that would make it a hard sell to Mrs Dan...

Delphinus

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#2473991 30-Apr-2020 12:44

What sort of camping are you doing? If you're towing a trailer, how often are you going to be camping in locations where you are not staying at a campsite (with shower and toilets provided).

MikeB4

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#2474032 30-Apr-2020 12:49

As we are not intending to travel overseas for the foreseeable future due to Covid-19 and also a dislike of air travel we intend to see as much of Aotearoa as we can possibly do. We will be using Motor camps, DOC campsites and NZMCA caravan sites. Fully self contained is an absolute must.

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

He waka eke noa

MikeB4

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#2474050 30-Apr-2020 12:57

I have changed the title of this thread to better match what it has morphed into

Mike
Change Management Consultant
The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

He waka eke noa

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