If I was planning on making my own toy box - travelling van - how much should I expect to spend for one and how much would it cost to
make it inhabitable?
Plus, is insurance a problem?
Cheers
Mexican Bandit
Hi Bandito!!
Basically it can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be... Its possible to pick up an old van from about £500, but to get a
decent not too old one expect to pay upwards from £3000...My 'N' Reg LWB semi-high top Transit in good nick was £4000.
For the interior again it depends how 'luxurious' you want it, but it can be done nicely without too much expense...the important thing
is to plan it well in advance.
For mine the cost breakdown was something along the lines of:
Wood £100
Carpet £50
Stove £40
Auxiliary battery £60 (includes relay switch etc.)
Bed £10...I got it from a caravan breakers
Insulation £20
Lights £15
Curtains, tiles etc. £20
So thats just over £300 to do outt he interior, plus LOADS of work..It took three of us three days to do it.....I'm a 'handyman', my
Dads sh*t hot at that sort of thing and my brother is a mechanic!....so expect lots of work if you want a really nice finish...Oh, and
my girlfriend is good at making cups of tea to keep us going and at sewing for the finishing touches.
Of course, its certainly possible to throw it all together and have a functional van for less money and less time.
As far as insurance goes, then the interior alterations shouldn't make any difference. Getting insurance at a decent price for private
use on a van can be difficult though. If you can get it on commercial insurance its a lot cheaper. There are a few companies that will
do you a decent price for private insurance on a van though...I can't remember who at the mo as I have mine on a commercial policy, so
shop around...
Mine (Fully comp, Maximum No claims, legal protection, windscreen protection, and protected no claims) is about £375 a year.
Hope that helps...
keep us informed of the progress with your new 'toy box'
Al.
Try CIS insurance, I was told they are cheap for private insurance.