About to arrive back in oz so in need of a windsurfing van. Looking at 2002ish Vitos and Transporters. Most have done something like 150-250k, does anything particularly nasty happen engine wise etc around then? Don't want to get a "deal" then have to fork out for something expensive soon after!
Any recommendations for insurance that covers gear left in the van? I'd like to just leave it there 24/7 so I'm ready to go at all times 
Most are sold with just the front row of seats, but I'll need a second row occasionally, where can I get these?
174 give Reg a call at Windsurfing Perth Phone : 9329 9333 or 93299339
He has an add on his wall with a good van for sale. Think its a later model VW at about $6000. It was in here on Seabreeze, but noticed its now missing, but it was on his wall in shop on weekend.
Here is his web site and email contact.http://www.windsurfingperth.com.au/index.php/contact
Mineral
174, are you moving to NSW or WA? From the posts in the NSW forum it looks like NSW.
Here are a couply of threads about vans.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=54692
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=50563
Make sure you get a white one.
Hi 174
i am selling my van (moving back to europe). Its a diesel Hiace commuter from 1994 and it comes with bed (plus all the stuff associated). I have transformed it to carry my windsurfing gear, two boards, 5 sails, 2 mast, 1 boom, and a windskate. The plus of my van is that it has a seat for kids (I have two kids).
As I said it’s a diesel, hence cheap to run (9 l/100km) and has all services done. In terms of engine the van is perfect, it has however some dents.
The asking price is 5000 aus. The downside of the coin is that I live in Townsville (`2500km from Sydney), so you would have to come up here to get it. Its not difficult, tough…
Anyway I can send you some pictures if you are interested
Miguel
Hi, 174,
MB and VW offer a crew cab, which has the seat in as standard. If you can't pick up a crew cab second hand, you'll probably find that the floor of the standard van already has provision for mounting the extra seat. Suggest you Google MB and VW wreckers to find the seat and I’d ask for the seat hold-down bolts too. You may have a problem with the seat belts for the extra seat: all of the wreckers we deal with discard the seat belts in case they have been damaged. In that case, you might have to source the seat belts from a dealer.
Re problems: some dealers will take a high-KM unit and sell it themselves, if they know the unit has been serviced correctly, otherwise they go off to the “trade”. Most units are ex-couriers, so the clutch and driveline will show wear. It’s a question of “how much”. One way to check this would be for the unit to be checked by the NRMA: al least you’ll get an honest opinion re the unit.
Surprisingly, the diesel engines will probably not be excessively worn: the engines are usually running continuously during the day, they are thoroughly warmed up and wear very little. The problem may be in the fuel system. If the owner has used poor quality fuel containing dirt/water, the fuel pump and injectors will fail eventually.
If it were me, I’d have all of the oils, filters and coolant changed and also have the radiator flushed in-situ. I’d also buy an owner handbook to become familiar with the unit.
Hope this helps.
Stay clear of mitsubishi vans, especially with those amount of k's. VW parts are very expensive my advice would be to go for a lwb toyota hiace, bulltet proof engines and heaps of room. Misu vans are way to small, you cant even swing a pussy in there and beleive me i have tried.
Hi, 174,
Thanks for the kind words.
Had nothing to do today, so took a look around the Mercedes Benz site. If you go to the tabs Pre Owned, vehicle search, tick Vito, then enter your state, Search, some nice units come up. Don't know your budget, but the link might be helpful.
In passing, suggest that you do not consider an automatic transmission in MB, VW or Ford Transits. I have not heard any bad reports about the auto's in the Toyota Hi Ace and Commuter Bus.
Regards,
Has anybody ever owned a hilux surf at all? I surf and windsurf, so they would be ideal for the hard to get to spots, but can a windsurfing board easily fit inside with the seats lying down? My board is around 240cm so not that long. Also is there enough room to sleep in the back? 
I doubt a Toyota Surf would have a tray long enough to fit a 2.4m board in the back unless the back cab window can be lowered. I know a bloke with a Surf who had to put his boards on the roof. He was looking at getting a van. The Surf looks basically the same as a Hilux crewcab so the tray isn't that long. Unless you are quite short sleeping in the back wouldn't be an option either unless you lower the back door and have your feet sticking out the back.
If you want a 4WD vehicle have a look at the Mitsubishi Delicas. There are a number of threads on them here plus there is a good Aussie site devoted to them, delica club. I've got a Delica. Its not perfect but for the price they go for its not too bad.
Yeah don't get a surf (import model) or a 4Runner (aussie made model) really weak engines... I had a 4Runner and it's only when stuff starts to go wrong in them that you do some digging. the 92? to 94? (I'm not usure of the years anymore) were actually recalled by Toyota (they didn't actually tell anyone though, just fixed them for free when people started to bring them back). Aside form the probs they are suited to towing, not bad as a 4wd but really heavy on the juice.
To answer part of my original question for people that are interested in future, these guys can do aftermarket van seating www.mobilityengineering.com.au/404
Make sure it is properly decaled. You don't want to get mistaken for a tradesman!
