Buying a VW T25
The Vanagon is a good first camper if you’re on a tight budget, and they’re often restored to cutomised designs. You’ll enjoy some cheap camping and the summer festivals.The VW T25 is larger than the earlier VW campers and can be bought cheaply and were made over ten years from 1980 to 1990.
So if you’re on a budget, or if it’s your first foray into buying a camper, it’s a good model to look out for.But they are all nearly twenty years old – so check with care and be prepared to do more maintenance than you would with a more modern camper.
Do Your Research
They are quite straighforward to restore – both the mechanics and the interior. You do need to look at a number of VW 25 campers before buying. Get knowledgeable – check out a number of vehicles. It’s an opportunity to become more knowledgeable and you can walk away from a big mistake.
The owners should tell you what the camper has been used for and they may know something about its history. Watch for vehicles that have been stored for long periods, or looks like an amateur van conversion.
Check the Bodywork
Take some time to really have a good look around. Look over the gutters and the roof and the pop-up mechanism. You’l want to see it working.
Bumps and waves along the sides can be a sign of damage and filler. Most rust will start between the Vanagon body panels, can be serious and needs to be checked thoroughly.
The battery tray can hise problems and also the steps – carefully look over both the front and back steps. You’ll also need to check the fuel tanks as they can rot on the TOP!
Check the tyres. Are they all the same? What condition is the spare in? Tyres must be van tyres, normal car tyres are unsafe. If the camper has low profile tires as these may be car tires.
Engine Checks
Listen to the engine and check how it starts. Dirty smoke from the exhaust and oil on the engine are warning signs. Are there any smells of petrol or diesel that could indicate the tank is rusty? You need to know what the engine is, how old it is and what mileage it has done. Ask about maintenance, oil changes and other service history.
Does the engine start straightaway or does the starter motor struggle? They can pack up without warning. The Vanagon had a range of engines. 1980 to 1982 were air-cooled. The smaller engines lack power, but are easy to work on. Later engines (1982 onwards) are water-cooled diesel and petrol.
OK – now it’s decision time. Is this a great budget bus, a good Vanagon, VW t25 camper – or will you be letting yourself in for a lot of hard work and heartache?
Related posts:
- Marine Diesel Engine Servicing A conventional marine diesel engine produces its power by hot compressed air igniting fuel which has been sprayed under very...
- Second-hand Scuba Gear Gives You Quality Equipment At A Great Price Anyone who takes up a sport always wants to get the best equipment they can afford and I love my...
- How to Choose a Great Backpacking Tent If you want to have a rewarding and safe backpacking experience, then choosing the right tent should be on top...
- Basic Mountain Bike Maintenance If you’re a mountain bike enthusiast it’s a benefit to be able to do your own mountain bike maintenance as...
- Advice For Buying A Pre-Owned Go Kart Go Karts are once again gaining in popularity. With all the variety of go karts on the market, it’s not...
