[funkyfish]

We are looking for a new car. We did have a Freelander which was fab until it died. We would nto have got through the winter with out a 4x4 due to the snow and floods.


Have been looking at many 4x4s- they are either way to expensive, very high milage or a 3L engine. The ongoing running costs of a 4x4 like tyres/fuel etc would be very costly as well.


We looked at getting a van a couple years ago, but got the 4x4 instead.


Is there such thing as a 4x4 van?? have seen a couple of 4x4 people carriers- but can't remember which make they were-or if they are any good on ice etc?


Basically we need something that can take 3 big dogs and all our field kit- wellies water proofs etc and a couple bales of hay. Get us to the field (25 miles away) in all weathers and do more than 25 miles to the gallon!
Any ideas??

[colliewobbles]

We have a VW T25 camper van - they are based/converted from the VW transporter vans and I have seen pictures of 4x4 T25 campers.  So, extrapolating that, I guess the vans must be 4x4 too.

I am sure someone will come along to tell me otherwise though.   

Donna

[funkyfish]

oooh a VW would be amazing!! LOVE them. a bit £ tho for us...

[colliewobbles]

oooh a VW would be amazing!! LOVE them. a bit £ tho for us...

Our camper cost £4K - old B reg and lovely condition.  It's the older, bay front that are more expensive.  Still fab though.   

[Hassle]

There was such a thing as a 4x4 transit a lot of the utility compainies run them

[spandit]

I was going to say Pinzgauer but then I saw your 25mpg requirement

Would a 110 Defender not fit the bill?

[tizaala]

Have a look on ebay or gumtree, ( or for Yorkshire ebaygum ) for Transit , toyota , hilux ,landrover 110, defender is still the best you can get for your needs, subaru forester can fit 6 hay bales in ,Issusu trooper are very good off roaders .  the only thing you will struggle with is the consumption of fuel requirement, they all get thirsty in 4x4 mode, fit a trailer to any of them to carry more kit

[the great composto]

I have an old shogun and took all the back seats out - its now a 2 seater instead of 7 - all the room i need and you would be surprised how much weight i removed - bound to help with the fuel consumption.

[Alistair]

I've got a peugeot partner, it's 2 wheel drive but good in the snow, put winter tyres on it, snow chains and a load of huskys in the back just in case you need a tow, what more?

Honestly though, I'm yet to get stuck & I know an electrician who has the same van who was out and about in his in the lakes last weekend who didn't get stuck?

I just think vans are better in the snow

Donna - there was a 4x4 vw van, dead dead rare though.

[ballingall]

I'm not aware of a 4x4 van, though there must be some.


We have a transit van which we bought 7 years ago now. We inadvertently bought one that was top spec, so has traction control. It's actually brilliant in the snow. Obviously, it wouldn't cope with 2 foot of snow, but I have driven ours in more than 6 inches of snow, untreated roads, and it's fine.


In 2010, when we had our horrendous winter up here, we had a 4x4 and the van. The 4x4 ended up clonking out because its battery couldn't cope with temps of -18 every night. We used the transit for everything- including getting my sister from her house to the hospital when she went into labour! Out of us, and both my sister's families, only the transit of all of our 5 vehicles between the three families got us places.


Beth

[funkyfish]

Thanks guys!

Sounds like a van is the way to go!! We already take out any back seats to fit everything in. Did look at a forester but it had done over 180 thousand miles and was petrol.

Forget about winter tyres. Will definitely help.

[HappyHippy]

Subaru legacy estate 

They have 4WD (and a low ratio box for really bad conditions) and with the back seats folded down you can fit a bath in them, so plenty roomy 

I had one that managed through a flood that had stalled a discovery too 

We used to pick up old battered ones for around £400 (cv joints will need replaced around 120K miles  ) which lasted for years  And the other good thing is being a car, rather than a jeep, the handling is superb and given they are scoobies you just want to go faster  My mum is currently running an old automatic one - and it's just as well ! Without it, we'd have been stuck with all this snow !
HTH
Karen

[henchard]

VW Transporter vans are available in 4WD. They are known as Volkswagen Transporter 4motion

Fairly expensive though.

[colliewobbles]

VW Transporter vans are available in 4WD. They are known as Volkswagen Transporter 4motion

Fairly expensive though.

That will be what the 4x4 campers are based on then 

[deepinthewoods]

nice van.