franfm Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I have just been advised that a friend has purchased on e-bay a LWB Ford Transit campervan (a newbie to motorcaravaning) - due to view and pay for on Saturday. Carrying out HPI etc. I was concerned that he did not know the name of it and got further details. It was advertised as a professional conversion (no converter, no model name), 2004 registered, with over 130,000 + on the clock - sale price £6,000. All my alarm bells were ringing and I asked him to check the converter - the vendor advised that it was a conversion done 2 1/2 years ago by MacLaren Sport and was an autosleeper. I have no knowledge of an autosleeper conversion called MacLaren, I am not aware that autosleeper would sub contract a conversion to another company, though of course they do do customer specified conversion and presumably would do a customer specified conversion on a customer acquired van - though on a high mileage van????. My questions - is it likely that autosleepers would sub contract to another company to do the conversion? has anyone heard of an autosleeper maclaren is 130,000+ mileage high for a 2004 registered van If he goes up to view - what should he look for on the paperwork to see what is going on with this vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshague Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 dont think autosleepers ever made a mclaren .but there is a company called mclaren http://www.mclarensportshomes.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Sounds like it was a well hacked company van before conversion 5k-10k per year is more normal mileage for a motor home. Provided it's been serviced regularly 130K is not that much for a trany, have a good look for the rust worm high mileage trany's tend to get eaten badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 franfm - 2009-07-16 7:30 PM I have just been advised that a friend has purchased on e-bay a LWB Ford Transit campervan (a newbie to motorcaravaning) - due to view and pay for on Saturday. Carrying out HPI etc. If he goes up to view - what should he look for on the paperwork to see what is going on with this vehicle. Has purchased or hoping to purchase? If bid and won on eBay then a contract to buy has been made, if your friend decides to not complete sale if I was seller I'd not be impressed, unless of cause it was not as described. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAS Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Oh dear....methinks he should have viewed this vehicle BEFORE he put a bid in. 130,000 miles is about 4 times more than the average yearly mileage for a m/h. 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Hopefully the price reflects that the conversion has been carried out on a high mileage base vehicle, if so it should offer a cheap intro to motorhoming. In reality 130k is not that high on a 5 year old trany just high for a motorhome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franfm Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 Thank you very much for all the responses especially for the provision of the link to mclaren sports homes - a firm I had never heard of. As my friend uses a van for his work and has contacts in the motor trade I am less worried about his knowledge of the base vehicle and much more about his lack of knowledge in respect of the pit falls of sub standard conversions. For a van to be advertised as professionally converted, with no convertor named - had my alarm bells ringing. Your responses have been most helpful, thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 My advise would be not to touch it with a very long barge pole ! As regards the rules of bidding on Ebay, retract the bid and suffer a negative feedback, much better than buying a load of trouble, 130,000 miles, they must be joking 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Its £6000, not £60000. 130000 miles is fine for a commercial van as someone has already said. The money payed for it is the main point to take in before making comment on the mileage. Have a look on here http://www.elitemotorhomes.co.uk/ cheapest van for sale is £12000, 10 years old, 90000 miles, and is called a bongo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Itexuk Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 They do conversions see following E Bay add. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PROFESSIONAL-MOTORHOME-SPORTSHOME-RACE-VAN-CONVERSION_W0QQitemZ270422796606QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes?hash=item3ef674693e&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 On the Ford Transit forum you will find some vehicles of under 2 years old have done that kind of mileage. Like one ot two others I would not be that concerned as the price takes account of the high mileage for a campervan which is clearly a conversion done on a customer's base vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franfm Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 Thanks for the link to e-bay - following receipt of the earlier link to them - as both a converter and supplier of motorhome accessories. I checked out their e-bay seller feedback. Twas mainly for gas pipe type accessories - couldn't see a motorhome. I am extremely grateful for the advise supplied - I knew if I came here I would get fast and good responses. My friend has now as much info of what to look for as your responses and my additional research can provide - what he does and what the result I await to hear. My thanks once again. You have all been most helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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