If I had 43K to spend on a van Will, you know what Id do? I'd spend 20K on buying a van and converting it to my own taste and the 23K left I'd have a bloody good time touring everywhere in it without fear of not being able to afford to use it. Nuff said 😊 BTW, I prefer yours to the soul-less clone you stayed in. Much respect- Kenny
we converted ours in a month but i did all the planning and purchasing for my dad. we ended up with mostly 100mm wool insulation mixed with some of that foil foam board stuff. bubble foil for vapour barrier and then cladding the walls , ceiling. has a shower in it too as well as permemnant single bed with under stoage, chest fridge. stove top and running water - ford h3 l4 van we put the diesel heater under the sink counter and raised it up put windows in the back doors and the sliding door. took the bulk head out and replaced that area with curtains (shower toilet behind the drivers seat) and a maxxvan for ventilation cost around £4000 for the interior - between the bed and a shower theres a kitchen pantry cabinet with a microwave on it and a weird ottoman type thing with arms on the sides but no back on it, but has storage in it (this sits over the wheel well) - good thing about the ford transit l4 we have a full width single between back door and wheel wells then sofa and kitchen cabinets are built around them i am terrible at diy but i'll upload the video i took near completion
Self build every time for me. Though I confess mine is more basic than Mary & was bought already done. Spending a year working out what I really need for mine & how I want it to look before a little renovation. Already love her. Channels like yours are so helpful. Thank you!
I've always said, yours if one of the most beautiful, functional, and practical van builds I've ever seen. And the fact you did it all for 12 GBP? Insane!!! I'll take Mary for the win.
Actually the vote is very subjective and wrong. Few things to take into account, the work he done and seems that was not alone value some money for which in the end the VAN values more than 12k GBP depending on each one hourly rate (in my case would not worth a DIY VAN, as I could buy a comercial one in 2 years and have no additional headache, while with a DIY one based on other experiences you need to do fixes all the time which in the end means more money and possible bad time in your trips. Another very important aspect, the DIY VAN has no warranty, no quality test passed, you can expect everything at any time. The fact the the comercial VAN has a shower is way more valuable than an oven, especially in the winter :P (in both VAN you need an Thermomix to make your life easier) ... entertainment is subjective too, you use the VAN to explore the world not to waste time watching TV / play games ... and if you really want to watch something during the night you can also have an Oculus VR, a laptop or a portable laser projector. Idk how he reach almost the same score with the Fire VAN, objectively talking is far away in many aspects, build quality, reliability, design (the way it looks and montage). Btw, you can bring various customisation to a comercial VAN too, but usually is not required as they are already well designed. Should we talk about ITUV? ... Not sure his VAN will pass it in various of EU countries. Not a hater but a realistic point of view. If you are a mechanic / electronist, is a hobby project and it happens to not have enough money for a comercial one, of course a DIY is the best to go, but for 90% of us which no real knowledge I think if you really enjoy camping then get a comercial VAN or a rulote/caravan (is cheaper).
I've just watched most of your 24 hour videos - great to see an honest view about the pros and cons of each one. We had considered a few of the options featured - Nissan Elgrande/Toyota Alphard, Mazda Bongo, T4 with a pop top etc, and your reviews confirm we made the right choice to buy a bigger van and convert it ourselves. Our LWB Hi-roof Sprinter is 20 years old in a few weeks, has done over Half a Million KMs (313,750 miles) and runs like a treat, nice to drive and enough room for 2 of us - plus we can fit the ebikes in the rear if we want to take them along too. Far too many of the bought vans have very little 'lounge area', when you self build you can prioritise what matters to you most. We've made the most of the slider by building the kitchen half across it, with a sofa/dinette opposite, a washroom/WC and then 2 big 2m long sofa/beds in the back - no bed to make up each night, unless you want one giant bed - but plenty of room. If you can find a ready built van second hand that ticks all the boxes its great, but most have some form of compromise or are far beyond most peoples reach cost wise. Keep the content coming - I suggest you invest in a USB rechargeable bug zapper - they work really well!
Self build every time for me..........I have a Renault Trafic which I spent 6 months converting in 2012...... since then have had over 330 nights in it and has many changes and upgrades over the years.
The main reason we did self build was after looking at a lot of off the shelf vans, nothing had everything we wanted and where we wanted it. The layouts didn't work for us. So after months working on our self build in 202/201 we are very happy with Glo or being in Wales and fans of Gavin & Stacey known as Glo'lar. We did our first long haul trip to Scandinavian this year which was awesome.
We’ve got a self build and we love the manufactured ones way too cramped and specs aren’t that high for the money self build all the way ❤. Great video love the cooking segments ❤
Gotta say, I would prefer Mary over the Fire. Yes, it's new and shiny, but the colours are boring and it looks really cramped. I honestly don't believe you need to spend tonnes and tonnes of money to get what you need. I'd rather spend a little money doing up a van to the way I like it, than spend 50k and then have to fork out more money to adapt it to my liking. Mary gets my vote. Aside from a shower, she has everything you need. Keep up the great work, Will :)
Most of us love your Camper van Mary more than the professionaly built Camper van 💝 And we all appreciate you and your friends effort for building Camper van Mary and giving it a personal and special touch 🤍 Thank you Will 💙 Viewer from Nepal 🇳🇵
I have the manufactured and then added my own things but would love to do my own van as imagine there is something magical for the effort you put into it that it gives you back - so Mary gets the vote from me 👍 Great video as always, have a great week, David 👍
The down side of the offside sliding door is that if you get out of it and your parked on the road correctly you are getting out into the traffic. It built like that because the interior furniture is designed for left hand drive.
Great build ! I did my own t6 and its been great. Away everyweek . Looking to do bigger van now possibly a crafter. But i dont think i would sacrifice my own time to self build again. Its cheaper , but i think about how much fun i could be having getting one already done and not spending probably a good 4 weeks or more to get my own built. You forget just how long it takes to get it done and its still an on-going project! Always new bits to add!
If your in the UK, you want the sliding door on the passenger side,, that's the side you also wanna sleep on,, unless you fancy a 32 tone truck hitting you in the night. Sliding door because when you're driving the park ups are on the left so you don't wanna get in the back from the road side of the van. It doesn't take a year, I did mine in 4 weeks full time. Most of that was planning. Is a toilot worth 30 grand.. I never use a shower as it's a waste of water, can use a flannel and sourspan. Same with washing up sink,, don't bother, park and dump that water. So no grey water.. Most self builds I've seen are far to heavy,, ie too much wood.. Use 5mm ply. Been full time 6 years.
Hey Will........geeze......was about ready to go through Will withdrawal there.......thank goodness you saved me today. Well its too bad you can't throw parts of each one in pile and create another one. Well I guess you could......but to answer your question I would take the new build simply because I'm 5'1....115lbs........and more importantly 70 years old. So I would be fine in the dining table.....rotating chairs....and for sure the full bathroom. The romantic bedroom is not necessary, unless of course Robert Redford was with me. I think you will probably get mixed thoughts on this from people just based on their height and weight honestly. Thank you for making my sunday a bit more interesting and bearable. You are such a dear!
Don’t do yourself down mate, with a factory build you get stuff you’ll never use. I like it, you only put in what you need. Who needs fancy. As for reversing get yourself a tow bar stick it in reverse an wait for the bump, jobs a good’n 💪😎
First time on your channel. Mary is a very nice short van, unique, with the best kitchen unit. Still though, if money was no object, I'd buy from a local professional converter and go as bespoke as possible with them. Then I'd rely on their expertise and warranty to fix what goes wrong during ownership. Hold on... Maybe I would be better off converting a van myself, so that I could fix anything that goes wrong myself. Yeah, diy is probably best.
This is what I’m doing - I have zero van converter skills so employing a builder two hours away whose van designs I love. I’m adding so many tiny details - like perfectly placed coat and dog lead hooks for after wet walks, hidden shower etc. I figured it would cost me a lot more time and money to buy tools, learn skills and pay later for my mistakes 🥴
Sliding door on the curb side of the van is better so you can get in and out from the curb and, when you have the door open, it's not open to traffic driving past the van. So for right hand drive vans, that's the passenger side, i.e. win for your van, not the professionally-built one.
I just bought a van for $7,000 AUD (about 3,500 pounds). It's brilliant, a mercedes with plenty of kms left in it. I've already put a Queen bed in it and a massive 12v fridge! I don't have a lot more room so will have to have some big storage containers on part of the mattress.
I wouldn't give the point to Fire for sliding doors on the drivers side. It's better to have it as is in your van just in case you park by the pavement in a correct traffic direction and easy to access from the pavement. That's my opinion. Also your van is just better value for money.
Great video... I built my own camper from a 5ton Merc school bus.... Compared to the £48,000 campervan... I'm glad I built my own. Especially, the shower and toilet. Mine was far better, as was the kitchen. Definitely sticking to "self-build"... 👍
You know what Will I would prefer your van, the cooking and the sink are better and I do love vans that have a personal touch. Plus the price far outways the price of just having a shower lol. Thanks for a fantastic channel as well, take care Amy x
I always go with the diy solutions. Mary looks much cooler and, as you mentioned, offers more space. A lot of people drive around with 4 seated vans and only use 2 seats and never used their shower. Its very often a complete waste of space...
Hello Will, i love both vans, but if i have to choose, give me Mary!! I followed your channel since the beginning of your build and i love it!! I love your enthousiasm of making these kind of movies! I often get hungry when i cu cook in whatever van you are showing. Keep up the good work, and most important of all, enjoy!!!
As a technician or if u have a friend or family member who is one, you can save so much money by rebuilding everything yourself and it is of high quality despite your own conversion
I'd have to go the "professional" route, ONLY for the bathroom. That's something that could have been added to yours though. Just a personal preference for me. Love Mary too.
I'd prefer the self-build every time (I'm converting an ex-Tesco Iveco) but the main difference in cost is the labour. You took 18 months, I am 24 months in and still about 6 months off finishing. But mine will be exactly what I want, very little compromise will be made when finished. Mine was also £6k but once finished it will probably be insured for around £27k. (The LiFePo batteries were £3k on their own!).
Even though I've always imagined having my own wet room/ toilet in a vehicle and awnings aren't difficult to construct on any vehicle I'd have yours as it seems more spacious and many more personal touches like the media etc which I'd also have..
It amazes me how little originality there is in the professionally produced products. I’ve rebuilt my van four times and am happy now? Went with 5.4m as well because it can fit in a normal parking space. I tried to divide the interior by how much time each activity takes during the day. A permanent shower/toilet space seems to me to be a waste of space - how long does anyone spend on the toilet every day? Conversely, my bed only takes two minutes to make but I’m going to spend eight hours in it. All facilities are inboard, nothing hanging underneath. 70lt water, 50lt waste, 4 burner domestic hob, domestic size sink, big worktop, 80lt fridge, comfortably seats four at the table - could squeeze nine! with swivel seats, 2800kg fully loaded.
Just goes to show you don't need to spend 10's of thousands on a campervan when you can DIY one for nearly 4 times less wonga. Great comparison video. Only 1 point difference yet a massive difference in cost. Happy New Year Will :-)
One of the biggest savings is self build. You don’t charge yourself for your labour. I’ve bought pre built but if I was younger I’d build my own next time round.
I would have to go for that already finished Van because of the toilet and shower. I've never get my girlfriend in a self build Van without one . But value for money definitely the other and the other one is probably more durable
If money and time wasn't an option I'd still build my own (or get somebody to build it for me)! The personal touch has a lot to do with the choice of an "off the shelf" camper as opposed to something you planned yourself, put time and effort into, personally it's that personal touch which would swing it for me.
Really I’m so surprised by this because I was almost certain the Weinsberg was an L3 and it even looked longer on the outside and felt bigger inside because it had more facilities!
I prefer Mary so much more spacious and I just think looks a lot nicer inside and not so "mass produced", although I would have to agree with what you said at the end about the back windows, I think they would make for a good addition to Mary
The door is on our drivers side for the fact they are built for Europe mate, it’s always kerbside for the slide door, it’s cheaper to get all the vans the side and out different dashes in them, for the tv/oven in Europe they are all built for the out door living, and the van used for toilet and bed, they are never in them, our country and the way it is we live more inside the van hence we need more comforts (tv oven microwave etc) for me the DIY wins hand down and Mary is definitely one of the best examples
100% the pro build. Adding a TV is easy and the ability to take another 2 passenger is worth 50 points if, for example, you reckon that a bit of bling in your bedroom is worth a point. The major bonus worth 100 points on your bit of bling scale is that you don't have to take a 💩 in your bedroom/kitchen/dining room.
With this 'bought van' your observation about the seating around the table is really important - there is not enough space. Additionally with the 'bought van' I don't think that they have 'thought through' the bathroom - better if it was 'shower sized' with a cassette toilet that could be pulled out of the wall (from under seating or the bed) when it is needed). I think you made better choices - 'build your own'.
Well, I don't have the option of doing one myself, but I pay others to do the work ... but I would NEVER pay out that kind of money, even if I had it, I go for the cheaper pleasure of finding my own van (recently bought a Vx Combo after two Transits) and started the process of having the rear EXACTLY as I want it. I have bought houses cheaper than £48k ‼️ Like I always say "just because you've got the money, does not mean you have to spend it"
I much prefer our self-build creations - they will never lose the love we put into them and feel 100% more homely and sorry to say but a bit more trendy too...I keep the change for petrol and spend the money to explore sunny Europe.
I think you would notice the difference if you lived in one over the winter since i’d assume the manufacture one would be naturally warmer but you cant beat building to your own spec
Will: Every inch counts. Me too right every inch makes a difference. 😂
7 місяців тому
I prefer a self built van because, first of all, those “commercial clones” are completely soulless. Second, every person is different, so a self built van will cater to one’s needs, taste an priorities far better than a prebuilt “one size fits all”. Last but not least, being able to say to myself “I built this” gives me a enormous satisfaction 😊
You are absolutely hilarious! I truly love your videos & you are my favorite content creator. There’s no comparison. I like your van better. The other one is too cramped.
Don't skip the adverts. If you appreciate Will's efforts and want the channel to continue then help it... I do enjoy a shower, I wont lie, but I'd still choose Mary though. You did good dude. 👍
@WillsWhereabouts I am sure there are times you think of stopping the channel, but I would selfishly ask you to continue. I loved the van build series and learnt from it for my own future build. And your camper showcases are entertaining so I watch them all too. Curently I am working through your travelling vlogs. Happy travels and thank you for the time and effort that goes into each upload.
Money and time IS the deciding factor! If you have no money, but enough time, build your own. If you have enough money, but no time, buy one. If you have both money and time, buy one and improve it. If you have neither money nor time, what do you want an camper for?!?
Uuummm.... Those are both 5.4m long vans, L2H2 variants. Not that hard to notice just by looking at them. The 6m long L3H2 variant has much more paneling between the wheel axles.
Great video, thanks for a good comparison. What would Mary actually be valued at if you were to sell. I'm guessing 12k is what she cost you in total to buy and build? Cheers 👍🏻
Lovely video Will! But are you sure the Fire is longer than Mary? In every angle (of this video) Mary looks longer, bigger and taller. And maybe a silly way to compare but at 1:31, if you measure it with a ruler, Mary is 8.2cm and the Fire is 8cm, so u sure about the 2 feet difference in length?🤣
I could have sworn the Weinsberg Campervan was bigger just from the way it looked in real life and how it felt longer inside the vehicle but I think from the comments I must be wrong 😂
I would prefer the sliding door on the passenger side similar to Mary. As when parked by the side of the road and have to be in and out at least you are not faced with oncoming traffic.
Good video. The lounge area in the pro van looks small, cramped and very uncomfortable. My van conversion has a nice sofa to lounge on - self-build for the win!
1:59 I’d give yourself a point for your can in this round!!! Well for the UK or driving on the left. Parking and opening on the correct side etc… Right sliders were always designed that was for continent. But daft in England really if you wanna stop somewhere on a lay-by with a nice view and make a cuppa ☕️
One thing to keep in mind is crash safety. Talk to a hospital physician and they’ll mention things that they wouldn’t do and traveling around in a homemade diy camper van is one of them. In a crash all that wood moves forward to the driver.
@@paulshackleton3594 it's not so much that but the standards of professional conversions are often higher in terms on securing things, proper cabinet catches etc. Not to say it can't be done DIY, but one of my friends now can't drive ever again after a lose spirit level shot forward and hit the back of his head when he was rear ended in a works van without a bulkhead. A bulkhead would have prevented an injury that has changed his life. Even a pro motorhome with no bulkhead runs the risk of items flying forward, same in cars it is why I rarely carry anything inside my car that becomes a flying weapon in the event of a crash.
Not really a true comparison, when one is bigger. Also, if you don't need the extra 2 belted seats, it's a waste of space, and I've never found those seats comfortable to sit at for any length of time. The reason i went self build is because manufacturers try and fill every space with something, making so many feel cramped inside.
Hi Will, I think the self built vans are better, I love Mary, a lot more space in your, I think those new vans are nice but they squeeze to much in them and you can’t move, the toilet area is better than yours, I think it’s basically the cost of those new vans that puts people off. ..You don’t get much space for the price. You spent £10.000 on Mary, she has space, a lot more airy, it’s much more lighter in Mary, not dark wood like the other van. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s for Mary, ⭐️⭐️⭐️s for the other van. Thank you Will for the video xxxx🤟🏼✌️👍👍
Cath: I've had two transits done and I only spent around £1,500 on each, but no cooker except for camping stove (£15). You certainly don't need to spend £10k ‼️😏😏
Just thought I would drop a hello as iv just stumbled across your channel and watched your van build. Thinking of getting a van myself and converting myself sometime next year. Hoping to document it on UA-cam as well. By the way enjoying the vidios
Self build 100% cos you get to know your van and bond with it XD, and ofc you can make it as how you what! me being so picky I really don't like a lot of the professional vans, don't get me wrong they look neat and fancy but it just not for me. :)
Self build all the way! not only do you save a ton of $$ but also - even though you may struggle at times during the build - the sense of accomplishment is not something that you'll ever get with an off the shelf buy. Also, can't buy MRY's character and uniqueness :)
Im a big fella too 6ft5 so mary definitely takes it for me but if i had to choose a big sprinter kr box van partly for the space and cause id want to travel with a dog
Realistically buying and converting your own van with prices how they are then going through the process of buying everything and fitting it plus extras you don’t add into the cost. plus you would need to change its use and meet the DVLA criteria to register it as a camper otherwise it’s always a panel van and valued as such add onto that mot & insurance may not be as water tight as you’d like when it’s a camper but the logbook says panel van 🤷🏻♂️ . the £’s quickly ad up to more than most would like to admit, it’s not quite a like for like comparison.
for me your van wins, the toilet and shower in the ready made van made the inside claustrophobic , for your van you can easily put rear removable seats in and the shower option would be the same as one of your previous videos
If I had 43K to spend on a van Will, you know what Id do? I'd spend 20K on buying a van and converting it to my own taste and the 23K left I'd have a bloody good time touring everywhere in it without fear of not being able to afford to use it. Nuff said 😊 BTW, I prefer yours to the soul-less clone you stayed in. Much respect- Kenny
U put my thoughts into words! Agreed! 😊
Hah cheers Kenny and yep I would do the same for sure
Soulless clone 🤣
Time is money. Also need to consider resale value
You would be a fool if you do that .
we converted ours in a month but i did all the planning and purchasing for my dad. we ended up with mostly 100mm wool insulation mixed with some of that foil foam board stuff. bubble foil for vapour barrier and then cladding the walls , ceiling. has a shower in it too as well as permemnant single bed with under stoage, chest fridge. stove top and running water - ford h3 l4 van we put the diesel heater under the sink counter and raised it up put windows in the back doors and the sliding door. took the bulk head out and replaced that area with curtains (shower toilet behind the drivers seat) and a maxxvan for ventilation cost around £4000 for the interior - between the bed and a shower theres a kitchen pantry cabinet with a microwave on it and a weird ottoman type thing with arms on the sides but no back on it, but has storage in it (this sits over the wheel well) - good thing about the ford transit l4 we have a full width single between back door and wheel wells then sofa and kitchen cabinets are built around them i am terrible at diy but i'll upload the video i took near completion
Self build every time for me. Though I confess mine is more basic than Mary & was bought already done. Spending a year working out what I really need for mine & how I want it to look before a little renovation. Already love her.
Channels like yours are so helpful. Thank you!
I've always said, yours if one of the most beautiful, functional, and practical van builds I've ever seen. And the fact you did it all for 12 GBP? Insane!!! I'll take Mary for the win.
💯 Agreed me too i love Mary
Actually the vote is very subjective and wrong. Few things to take into account, the work he done and seems that was not alone value some money for which in the end the VAN values more than 12k GBP depending on each one hourly rate (in my case would not worth a DIY VAN, as I could buy a comercial one in 2 years and have no additional headache, while with a DIY one based on other experiences you need to do fixes all the time which in the end means more money and possible bad time in your trips. Another very important aspect, the DIY VAN has no warranty, no quality test passed, you can expect everything at any time. The fact the the comercial VAN has a shower is way more valuable than an oven, especially in the winter :P (in both VAN you need an Thermomix to make your life easier) ... entertainment is subjective too, you use the VAN to explore the world not to waste time watching TV / play games ... and if you really want to watch something during the night you can also have an Oculus VR, a laptop or a portable laser projector. Idk how he reach almost the same score with the Fire VAN, objectively talking is far away in many aspects, build quality, reliability, design (the way it looks and montage). Btw, you can bring various customisation to a comercial VAN too, but usually is not required as they are already well designed. Should we talk about ITUV? ... Not sure his VAN will pass it in various of EU countries. Not a hater but a realistic point of view. If you are a mechanic / electronist, is a hobby project and it happens to not have enough money for a comercial one, of course a DIY is the best to go, but for 90% of us which no real knowledge I think if you really enjoy camping then get a comercial VAN or a rulote/caravan (is cheaper).
I've never owned either of these type vans, but for cost, personal touch and satisfaction, I would have to go with the DIY option 👍
I've just watched most of your 24 hour videos - great to see an honest view about the pros and cons of each one. We had considered a few of the options featured - Nissan Elgrande/Toyota Alphard, Mazda Bongo, T4 with a pop top etc, and your reviews confirm we made the right choice to buy a bigger van and convert it ourselves. Our LWB Hi-roof Sprinter is 20 years old in a few weeks, has done over Half a Million KMs (313,750 miles) and runs like a treat, nice to drive and enough room for 2 of us - plus we can fit the ebikes in the rear if we want to take them along too. Far too many of the bought vans have very little 'lounge area', when you self build you can prioritise what matters to you most. We've made the most of the slider by building the kitchen half across it, with a sofa/dinette opposite, a washroom/WC and then 2 big 2m long sofa/beds in the back - no bed to make up each night, unless you want one giant bed - but plenty of room. If you can find a ready built van second hand that ticks all the boxes its great, but most have some form of compromise or are far beyond most peoples reach cost wise. Keep the content coming - I suggest you invest in a USB rechargeable bug zapper - they work really well!
Self build every time for me..........I have a Renault Trafic which I spent 6 months converting in 2012...... since then have had over 330 nights in it and has many changes and upgrades over the years.
The main reason we did self build was after looking at a lot of off the shelf vans, nothing had everything we wanted and where we wanted it. The layouts didn't work for us. So after months working on our self build in 202/201 we are very happy with Glo or being in Wales and fans of Gavin & Stacey known as Glo'lar. We did our first long haul trip to Scandinavian this year which was awesome.
We’ve got a self build and we love the manufactured ones way too cramped and specs aren’t that high for the money self build all the way ❤. Great video love the cooking segments ❤
Gotta say, I would prefer Mary over the Fire. Yes, it's new and shiny, but the colours are boring and it looks really cramped. I honestly don't believe you need to spend tonnes and tonnes of money to get what you need. I'd rather spend a little money doing up a van to the way I like it, than spend 50k and then have to fork out more money to adapt it to my liking. Mary gets my vote. Aside from a shower, she has everything you need. Keep up the great work, Will :)
Most of us love your Camper van Mary more than the professionaly built Camper van 💝
And we all appreciate you and your friends effort for building Camper van Mary and giving it a personal and special touch 🤍
Thank you Will 💙
Viewer from Nepal 🇳🇵
Not too keen on the Fire but generally prefer a professional build. Got an Adria Twin and love the shower and design
I have the manufactured and then added my own things but would love to do my own van as imagine there is something magical for the effort you put into it that it gives you back - so Mary gets the vote from me 👍
Great video as always, have a great week, David 👍
Cheers David and there’s certainly a bond that’s made during the build process that you don’t get from buying one off the shelf 😃
The down side of the offside sliding door is that if you get out of it and your parked on the road correctly you are getting out into the traffic. It built like that because the interior furniture is designed for left hand drive.
I was just going to mention this but I now don't need to. Safety first 👍
@@darrenbailey27a few UK campsites will not allow 'continental' door arrangements on site.
Yes. First thing I thought when WIll said its handy being on the drivers side. UK vans have the sliding door on the left for a reason.
Great build ! I did my own t6 and its been great. Away everyweek .
Looking to do bigger van now possibly a crafter. But i dont think i would sacrifice my own time to self build again.
Its cheaper , but i think about how much fun i could be having getting one already done and not spending probably a good 4 weeks or more to get my own built.
You forget just how long it takes to get it done and its still an on-going project!
Always new bits to add!
If your in the UK, you want the sliding door on the passenger side,, that's the side you also wanna sleep on,, unless you fancy a 32 tone truck hitting you in the night. Sliding door because when you're driving the park ups are on the left so you don't wanna get in the back from the road side of the van. It doesn't take a year, I did mine in 4 weeks full time. Most of that was planning. Is a toilot worth 30 grand.. I never use a shower as it's a waste of water, can use a flannel and sourspan. Same with washing up sink,, don't bother, park and dump that water. So no grey water.. Most self builds I've seen are far to heavy,, ie too much wood.. Use 5mm ply. Been full time 6 years.
Best not stay on side of motorway anyway
Hey Will........geeze......was about ready to go through Will withdrawal there.......thank goodness you saved me today. Well its too bad you can't throw parts of each one in pile and create another one. Well I guess you could......but to answer your question I would take the new build simply because I'm 5'1....115lbs........and more importantly 70 years old. So I would be fine in the dining table.....rotating chairs....and for sure the full bathroom. The romantic bedroom is not necessary, unless of course Robert Redford was with me. I think you will probably get mixed thoughts on this from people just based on their height and weight honestly. Thank you for making my sunday a bit more interesting and bearable. You are such a dear!
Thanks matey for sure both types of vehicles have there pros and cons and if there was a hybrid out there then I would certainly go for it! 😃
Don’t do yourself down mate, with a factory build you get stuff you’ll never use. I like it, you only put in what you need. Who needs fancy. As for reversing get yourself a tow bar stick it in reverse an wait for the bump, jobs a good’n 💪😎
Self-build for sure. But with a bath/shower compartment. Ace video, thanks!
First time on your channel.
Mary is a very nice short van, unique, with the best kitchen unit.
Still though, if money was no object, I'd buy from a local professional converter and go as bespoke as possible with them. Then I'd rely on their expertise and warranty to fix what goes wrong during ownership.
Hold on... Maybe I would be better off converting a van myself, so that I could fix anything that goes wrong myself.
Yeah, diy is probably best.
This is what I’m doing - I have zero van converter skills so employing a builder two hours away whose van designs I love. I’m adding so many tiny details - like perfectly placed coat and dog lead hooks for after wet walks, hidden shower etc. I figured it would cost me a lot more time and money to buy tools, learn skills and pay later for my mistakes 🥴
Sliding door on the curb side of the van is better so you can get in and out from the curb and, when you have the door open, it's not open to traffic driving past the van. So for right hand drive vans, that's the passenger side, i.e. win for your van, not the professionally-built one.
I just bought a van for $7,000 AUD (about 3,500 pounds). It's brilliant, a mercedes with plenty of kms left in it. I've already put a Queen bed in it and a massive 12v fridge! I don't have a lot more room so will have to have some big storage containers on part of the mattress.
I wouldn't give the point to Fire for sliding doors on the drivers side. It's better to have it as is in your van just in case you park by the pavement in a correct traffic direction and easy to access from the pavement. That's my opinion. Also your van is just better value for money.
Great video... I built my own camper from a 5ton Merc school bus.... Compared to the £48,000 campervan... I'm glad I built my own. Especially, the shower and toilet. Mine was far better, as was the kitchen.
Definitely sticking to "self-build"... 👍
You know what Will I would prefer your van, the cooking and the sink are better and I do love vans that have a personal touch. Plus the price far outways the price of just having a shower lol. Thanks for a fantastic channel as well, take care Amy x
I always go with the diy solutions. Mary looks much cooler and, as you mentioned, offers more space. A lot of people drive around with 4 seated vans and only use 2 seats and never used their shower. Its very often a complete waste of space...
Hello Will, i love both vans, but if i have to choose, give me Mary!! I followed your channel since the beginning of your build and i love it!! I love your enthousiasm of making these kind of movies! I often get hungry when i cu cook in whatever van you are showing. Keep up the good work, and most important of all, enjoy!!!
As a technician or if u have a friend or family member who is one, you can save so much money by rebuilding everything yourself and it is of high quality despite your own conversion
I'd have to go the "professional" route, ONLY for the bathroom. That's something that could have been added to yours though. Just a personal preference for me.
Love Mary too.
For sure in another build I’ll add a bathroom of some sort
One major thing which your missing out is putting a cost on the time you spent building your van. Those costs can't be cheap 😊
I'd prefer the self-build every time (I'm converting an ex-Tesco Iveco) but the main difference in cost is the labour. You took 18 months, I am 24 months in and still about 6 months off finishing. But mine will be exactly what I want, very little compromise will be made when finished. Mine was also £6k but once finished it will probably be insured for around £27k. (The LiFePo batteries were £3k on their own!).
Even though I've always imagined having my own wet room/ toilet in a vehicle and awnings aren't difficult to construct on any vehicle I'd have yours as it seems more spacious and many more personal touches like the media etc which I'd also have..
It amazes me how little originality there is in the professionally produced products. I’ve rebuilt my van four times and am happy now? Went with 5.4m as well because it can fit in a normal parking space. I tried to divide the interior by how much time each activity takes during the day. A permanent shower/toilet space seems to me to be a waste of space - how long does anyone spend on the toilet every day? Conversely, my bed only takes two minutes to make but I’m going to spend eight hours in it. All facilities are inboard, nothing hanging underneath. 70lt water, 50lt waste, 4 burner domestic hob, domestic size sink, big worktop, 80lt fridge, comfortably seats four at the table - could squeeze nine! with swivel seats, 2800kg fully loaded.
Just goes to show you don't need to spend 10's of thousands on a campervan when you can DIY one for nearly 4 times less wonga. Great comparison video. Only 1 point difference yet a massive difference in cost. Happy New Year Will :-)
One of the biggest savings is self build. You don’t charge yourself for your labour. I’ve bought pre built but if I was younger I’d build my own next time round.
I would have to go for that already finished Van because of the toilet and shower. I've never get my girlfriend in a self build Van without one . But value for money definitely the other and the other one is probably more durable
A toilet and shower seems to be a must for a lot of people and is definitely a nice feature to have
If money and time wasn't an option I'd still build my own (or get somebody to build it for me)! The personal touch has a lot to do with the choice of an "off the shelf" camper as opposed to something you planned yourself, put time and effort into, personally it's that personal touch which would swing it for me.
That Weinsberg isn't 6m long, both vans are 5.4m versions
I was thinking that as I was watching the vid as Will keep saying about his van is longer , but it's the same size Will !
Really what’s making you say this 😂, I’m certain the Weinberg was a L3H2 and mine is a H2L2
@@WillsWhereabouts nope im sure both vans are L2 5.4 metres , gadget johns is a L3 6 metres and mandys is a L2 5.4 metres 👍
Same size L2
I was thinking the same, I even tried checking the plate but it said size unavailable
I think both vans are L2. We have an L3 and the sliding door doesn’t completely cover the rear wheel.
Yeah, these vans are both the same length.👍
Really I’m so surprised by this because I was almost certain the Weinsberg was an L3 and it even looked longer on the outside and felt bigger inside because it had more facilities!
I prefer Mary so much more spacious and I just think looks a lot nicer inside and not so "mass produced", although I would have to agree with what you said at the end about the back windows, I think they would make for a good addition to Mary
I would always choose a van with a shower, i love them ❤
Count how long you utilize the shower out of a full day. (8) minutes. Lot of wasted space
Even if i was loaded I'd still prefer your van bud, home builds are so much more homely and inviting.
The door is on our drivers side for the fact they are built for Europe mate, it’s always kerbside for the slide door, it’s cheaper to get all the vans the side and out different dashes in them, for the tv/oven in Europe they are all built for the out door living, and the van used for toilet and bed, they are never in them, our country and the way it is we live more inside the van hence we need more comforts (tv oven microwave etc) for me the DIY wins hand down and Mary is definitely one of the best examples
100% the pro build. Adding a TV is easy and the ability to take another 2 passenger is worth 50 points if, for example, you reckon that a bit of bling in your bedroom is worth a point.
The major bonus worth 100 points on your bit of bling scale is that you don't have to take a 💩 in your bedroom/kitchen/dining room.
Self build. Just love the process.
With this 'bought van' your observation about the seating around the table is really important - there is not enough space. Additionally with the 'bought van' I don't think that they have 'thought through' the bathroom - better if it was 'shower sized' with a cassette toilet that could be pulled out of the wall (from under seating or the bed) when it is needed). I think you made better choices - 'build your own'.
Well, I don't have the option of doing one myself, but I pay others to do the work ... but I would NEVER pay out that kind of money, even if I had it, I go for the cheaper pleasure of finding my own van (recently bought a Vx Combo after two Transits) and started the process of having the rear EXACTLY as I want it.
I have bought houses cheaper than £48k ‼️
Like I always say "just because you've got the money, does not mean you have to spend it"
I would choose Mary, because you can choose your own interior style, and still keep it looking like a panel van on the outside for stealth parking
I much prefer our self-build creations - they will never lose the love we put into them and feel 100% more homely and sorry to say but a bit more trendy too...I keep the change for petrol and spend the money to explore sunny Europe.
I think you would notice the difference if you lived in one over the winter since i’d assume the manufacture one would be naturally warmer but you cant beat building to your own spec
My self build is much warmer than my previous commercial one, especially on the floor.
Will: Every inch counts. Me too right every inch makes a difference. 😂
I prefer a self built van because, first of all, those “commercial clones” are completely soulless.
Second, every person is different, so a self built van will cater to one’s needs, taste an priorities far better than a prebuilt “one size fits all”.
Last but not least, being able to say to myself “I built this” gives me a enormous satisfaction 😊
50k van gives "factory made" vibes. i like the DIY for that small inprefection here and there, giving that human touch.
Heyy will I prefer your van because it was built with love,and somethings look much better, the food looked delicious,great review thanks stay safe
You are absolutely hilarious! I truly love your videos & you are my favorite content creator. There’s no comparison. I like your van better. The other one is too cramped.
Thanks Brenda
Self build all the way! great vid
I am looking for a van like this but I cannot find a deal like that 6k gets you a L1h1 Vaxhual with 140k miles on it and MOT next week.
Don't skip the adverts. If you appreciate Will's efforts and want the channel to continue then help it...
I do enjoy a shower, I wont lie, but I'd still choose Mary though. You did good dude. 👍
Thanks matey appreciate it
@WillsWhereabouts I am sure there are times you think of stopping the channel, but I would selfishly ask you to continue.
I loved the van build series and learnt from it for my own future build. And your camper showcases are entertaining so I watch them all too.
Curently I am working through your travelling vlogs. Happy travels and thank you for the time and effort that goes into each upload.
Access door on the passenger side makes more sense, imo as it's generally the kerb side, so it would be safer
Good vidio certainly prefer your van 😅 recognise the camping spot as well a loverly place lol
Those vans are the same size! You can tell because the door sliding rail goes to the end on both models, the 6m Ducato has a gap after the slider.
Professional.
Holds resale value much better.
Others models have oven ect at similar price.
Lower mileage.
Definitely your van, self built campers are better in my opinion
Definitely prefer Mary. The Weinsberg looked very claustrophobic despite being 2’ longer.
Money and time IS the deciding factor! If you have no money, but enough time, build your own. If you have enough money, but no time, buy one. If you have both money and time, buy one and improve it. If you have neither money nor time, what do you want an camper for?!?
👊🏻👊🏻
I absolutely love your videos ❤️. It's so much fun, and it's funny. Love all the way from 🇿🇦
Uuummm.... Those are both 5.4m long vans, L2H2 variants. Not that hard to notice just by looking at them. The 6m long L3H2 variant has much more paneling between the wheel axles.
Great video, still long time no see. After seeing the difference the answer I think would a self build then that way you can have what you want
Great video, thanks for a good comparison.
What would Mary actually be valued at if you were to sell. I'm guessing 12k is what she cost you in total to buy and build? Cheers 👍🏻
Bit of both that van made personal.
Lovely video Will! But are you sure the Fire is longer than Mary? In every angle (of this video) Mary looks longer, bigger and taller. And maybe a silly way to compare but at 1:31, if you measure it with a ruler, Mary is 8.2cm and the Fire is 8cm, so u sure about the 2 feet difference in length?🤣
I could have sworn the Weinsberg Campervan was bigger just from the way it looked in real life and how it felt longer inside the vehicle but I think from the comments I must be wrong 😂
I would prefer the sliding door on the passenger side similar to Mary. As when parked by the side of the road and have to be in and out at least you are not faced with oncoming traffic.
Good video. The lounge area in the pro van looks small, cramped and very uncomfortable. My van conversion has a nice sofa to lounge on - self-build for the win!
In my opinion have the lateral door next to the peatonal area is better than had it at driver's one :)
1:59 I’d give yourself a point for your can in this round!!! Well for the UK or driving on the left. Parking and opening on the correct side etc…
Right sliders were always designed that was for continent. But daft in England really if you wanna stop somewhere on a lay-by with a nice view and make a cuppa ☕️
Damn 260k subs lad good job the sister didn't take over the channel when she tried :) Good to see fella
😂😂
Both of these are the same length: 5,4m, both are L2. L3 (which is the 6m one) has a longer plastic behind side door! ;)
Fixed bed and shower toilet is a must, would not consider a van without
One thing to keep in mind is crash safety. Talk to a hospital physician and they’ll mention things that they wouldn’t do and traveling around in a homemade diy camper van is one of them. In a crash all that wood moves forward to the driver.
And this is why you keep the bulkhead in place. Complete safety still
What happens when you crash the professionally done van.. do the laws of physics work differently? :)
@@paulshackleton3594 it's not so much that but the standards of professional conversions are often higher in terms on securing things, proper cabinet catches etc. Not to say it can't be done DIY, but one of my friends now can't drive ever again after a lose spirit level shot forward and hit the back of his head when he was rear ended in a works van without a bulkhead. A bulkhead would have prevented an injury that has changed his life.
Even a pro motorhome with no bulkhead runs the risk of items flying forward, same in cars it is why I rarely carry anything inside my car that becomes a flying weapon in the event of a crash.
Not really a true comparison, when one is bigger. Also, if you don't need the extra 2 belted seats, it's a waste of space, and I've never found those seats comfortable to sit at for any length of time. The reason i went self build is because manufacturers try and fill every space with something, making so many feel cramped inside.
Feels like you have a new editor for this video and I love their style. If I'm right keep this person on if I'm wrong I'm an idiot lol.
I’m sorry to say I’m the editor 😂
Loved it, quite a good video and thank you for the short shot. Keep it going❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Cheers
Prefer your van mate
😊
Na
Hi Will, I think the self built vans are better, I love Mary, a lot more space in your, I think those new vans are nice but they squeeze to much in them and you can’t move, the toilet area is better than yours, I think it’s basically the cost of those new vans that puts people off. ..You don’t get much space for the price. You spent £10.000 on Mary, she has space, a lot more airy, it’s much more lighter in Mary, not dark wood like the other van. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s for Mary, ⭐️⭐️⭐️s for the other van. Thank you Will for the video xxxx🤟🏼✌️👍👍
Cath: I've had two transits done and I only spent around £1,500 on each, but no cooker except for camping stove (£15). You certainly don't need to spend £10k ‼️😏😏
@@joline2730 I was only comparing Will,s van with that other van, I only spent £2.000 on my own campervan. I have no cooler in mine either.
Thanks Catherine you’ve hit the nail on the head, for me I’ll always preference space and not trying to fit to much into a small area
It's not longer!!! Both are L2 versions, look at the door rail ;) so Mary should get one more point! Otherwise great video as always
+1
I think I got this wrong 😂 I could have sworn that the Weinsberg was the bigger vehicle
Self built as you hsve had the pleasure and experience of building a unit 👍😁
Just thought I would drop a hello as iv just stumbled across your channel and watched your van build. Thinking of getting a van myself and converting myself sometime next year. Hoping to document it on UA-cam as well. By the way enjoying the vidios
Weheee….the clumsy Will has improved his cooking skill!!!!
Hah just about
Self build every time.
You get to choose the layout, features and colour scheme.
Your van for sure and save a bunch of money that you can use to make another 3 cans you could rent out
I much prefer Mary as it's much more spacious, I don't like them too crammed in, maybe you could fit another window to look out off in the mornings?
I like the manufactured one. With a few tweaks, it could be perfect. I am less than handy or I'd go for doing it myself.
Jahan: why would you pay that kind of money only to find it's not what you want, and have to still do 'tweaks' ❓
For sure you can always add things to these vans to make them more characterful
Self build 100% cos you get to know your van and bond with it XD, and ofc you can make it as how you what! me being so picky I really don't like a lot of the professional vans, don't get me wrong they look neat and fancy but it just not for me. :)
Self build all the way! not only do you save a ton of $$ but also - even though you may struggle at times during the build - the sense of accomplishment is not something that you'll ever get with an off the shelf buy. Also, can't buy MRY's character and uniqueness :)
Im a big fella too 6ft5 so mary definitely takes it for me but if i had to choose a big sprinter kr box van partly for the space and cause id want to travel with a dog
Realistically buying and converting your own van with prices how they are then going through the process of buying everything and fitting it plus extras you don’t add into the cost. plus you would need to change its use and meet the DVLA criteria to register it as a camper otherwise it’s always a panel van and valued as such add onto that mot & insurance may not be as water tight as you’d like when it’s a camper but the logbook says panel van 🤷🏻♂️
. the £’s quickly ad up to more than most would like to admit, it’s not quite a like for like comparison.
Sounds like many of the pro's for the professional version mainly stem for picking a beter base vehicle.
For 40k I can do 5 years of airbnb all over the world.
That’s exactly the point my partner and I always get to when we think about camper vans. That and the hygeine aspect. Still want one though 🤔
Well but of an exaggeration
100% choosing Mary the layout and space in Mary is far better and in my opinion feel alot more homely.
for me your van wins, the toilet and shower in the ready made van made the inside claustrophobic , for your van you can easily put rear removable seats in and the shower option would be the same as one of your previous videos