Ford Transit MWB hightop – 2.5 litre trusty ‘banana’ engine – professional camper conversion
MOT – full year – from 01/03/2022 to 28/ 02/2023
2.5 diesel engine – sought after basic and trusty banana engine
5 speed manual gearbox
Engine and gearbox – great condition and great readout of emissions from the MOT – no oil leaks!
Over the years – remember she’s an old lady – there have been as expected, a good deal of attention to the body work – but she is a Ford from a time when monkey metal was standard- but now she’s pretty solid.
There are a few annoying dreaded brown patches sneaking through the paintwork, but nothing major and no obvious rot. She was a converted works van. The pictures show she is still a decent looking campervan.
At some point in her history, after a period of being stored, a previous owner had her professionally converted into a well designed, equipped and comfortable camper.
We have made minor internal changes, so now she’s a comfy 2 berth sleeper.
We’ve had her serviced regularly at local garages – new timing belt ( just in case) in 2019 plus the usual running gear attention.
She’s hardly been used in the past 3 years thanks to covid – less than 50 miles between tests at one point.
We decided to have her undersealed to preserve the new panels and underside work – and that’s been an annoying as mentioned on the MOT advisories.
Another lesson subsequently learnt was that leaving her standing on our driveway without moving during lockdown was not good for bushings and brakes – all sorted now though!
The van is insulated with carpeted walls, doors and ceiling.
It has a rear separate bathroom with a shower and integrated cassette toilet with electric flush. The cassette is easily accessed from the rear of the van.
There’s a washbasin and vanity unit plus shower tray with 2 drains and duckboard. There’s also a decent amount of space too for storage of clothes and towels. Overhead there’s a skylight, light and wrap around shower curtain. The rear bulkhead allows access to the rear doors and storage of additional picnic table and chairs, plus short washing line and storage of the awning winding handle.
Outside is a step for access, plus a towbar and electric socket.
Rear doors open to reveal storage compartments for 2 gas cylinders, extension gas pipe for a bbq and ehu cables and hosepipe for filling the fresh water tank.
The 2nd cupboard is for easy access to remove the toilet cassette when it needs emptying.
There’s a door with a mirror to separate the bathroom from the main living space.
In the main area there’s hot blown air gas heating, 3 way integrated fridge, hot water heater and water pump, separate oven plus 3 burner hob and sink.
As can be seen in the photos, there’s a good sized sofa plus a single seat and this seating can be configured to make a large double bed.
A removable table and 180 degrees twisting passenger seat makes it ideal for eating or working.
The interior is fully curtained for privacy with curtains over all windows. Another curtain can be drawn to separate the cab from the habitation area. There is also a fitted external insulated silver screen which can add to privacy and helps reduce internal window condensation.
There’s over-cab storage with an elasticated net to prevent items moving whilst driving.
Numerous additional low level and eye height storage cupboards allow tidy stowage of food, utensils and crockery.
Stored under the engine bonnet is a main plus a separate leisure battery. There’s ehu and battery conditioner with fuse box and power meter.
Under the swivel front passenger seat is a lockable valuables storage box and storage for the invertor.
There’s rubber matting in the cab and cushion floor plus loose mats in the rear.
The interior is comfortable and warm, however there are 3 opening skylights and side windows plus the sliding door which open for ventilation.
We’ve installed some led lighting plus there’s other overhead lights and 13 amp sockets to use with ehu for a fan heater and blower.
There’s a radio and cd player in the cab and a basic invertor to recharge a laptop and several usb sockets to charge phones and tablets when not on ehu both in the cab and habitation area.
Outside there are underslung tanks for fresh and grey water. There’s an outside water filler, drain tap for waste water, an ehu socket plus a large wind-out awning canopy which is great for sitting outdoors for meals and entertainment in good weather and even rain.
We were able to remain off-grid for 3 days easily using the leisure battery, on board fresh water and the 2 gas bottles for heating, hot water and cooking sparingly. After that it was a matter of emptying the toilet cassette and grey water tank and replenishing fresh water.
NB – Vanda is a good old comfortable van but she is an oldie and there are signs of obvious use. Due to someone else recently pulling out of her sale after taxing and insuring her, and then getting cold feet regarding an MOT, we decided to refund their money and took her in for an early test. Unfortunately we therefore wasted 2 months of the MOT, but as expected she passed with minor advisories and now we have to wait for the new log sheet to go back in our name. This is a very reluctant sale for us due to a complete change of circumstances as we now will become full time carers for our mother. The likelihood of being able to fulfil our aims pre covid and regularly travel is now unlikely.
So ….. please no tyre kickers, only serious new owners willing to take care of her!
We’ve altered the configuration to a large, comfortable double sized bed which goes across the van instead of a smaller set up lengthwise.
This makes access to the toilet and shower easier at night plus it allows the bed to remain in place if one wanted, yet still easily access the rear door and kitchen.
This could easily be changed again according to preference.
Originally there was an over-cab small bed which could be pulled out and extended – good I suppose for little ones, but not great for adults.
This over-cab space is now ideal to neatly store and access all the bedding.
The contact details for this vehicle are no longer available because it has either sold or the listing has expired.
Insurance options are available through our partner, Ripe Insurance.
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