Tim Kelly Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Does anyone have any experience of the VW transporter 4motion or the Mercedes vito or any other 4x4 versions of vans? Wondering whether they'd help me out, don't need it for serious off roading, but more for launching my boat on unmade slips etc where traction fails in my current citroen dispatch. Does a 4x4 version of the vans add significantly to the running costs? Any experience of them would be welcome. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 my father has a sprinter 190 crewcab pick up in 4x4, it's better if there's some weight in the back, it averages around 30mpg, which doesn't sound like a lot but it's huge, as big as his 7.5 t physically, and goes like stink. tyre wear is a bit worse than normal too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Thanks Paddy. Is the 4wd system reasonably competent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted November 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Nobody else tried 4x4 vans as duel purpose work/play vehicles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Nobody else tried 4x4 vans as duel purpose work/play vehicles? My uncle has an ex forestry commission ford transit high top in 4x4, he uses it for his boat and has rigged the back out with kitchen and bed etc, He's had it for years and swears by it, it's a belting bit of kit Atb Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Thanks Paddy. Is the 4wd system reasonably competent? it's permanent 4wd, don't know if that's a help or a hindrance really, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 it's permanent 4wd, don't know if that's a help or a hindrance really, Great avatar Paddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Caveman Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 My uncle has an ex forestry commission ford transit high top in 4x4, he uses it for his boat and has rigged the back out with kitchen and bed etc, He's had it for years and swears by it, it's a belting bit of kit Atb Flynny I travelled in one of these years ago and it was a very capable off road vehicle. I think they were converted to 4wd by County tractor manufacturers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 If a Panel type Van arrangemnet isnt really needed ,have you considered the Van derivative of the Road going 4x4's ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted November 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 The panel van aspect is the most important part as it is my work van. The 4x4 part is for the weekend boat towing and shooting adventures. Thought the transporter or vito might just tick a couple of boxes, but it appears they are virtually unused judging by the lack of responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 It's really hard to find a viable 4x4 van. The nearest I got was a Berlingo XTR+ with limited slip diff on the front wheel drive. I just bought a standard Berlingo in L2 form and shoved a small farm quad in the back. It really works for me and covers all my bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 Drove a 4x4 Ford Transit ambulance. Probably your unlikely to drive it as hard as we used it. Found it to understeer terribly going into bends fast .. it was a disliked dog by whoever drove it. Hopefully its been crushed and turned into chinese dishwashers. There is a 4x4 Berlingo going through its paces on youtube. Suppose it depends on what you intend on carrying, size wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 Transporter 4motion would be my choice. But lack ground clearance of the dedicated of the 4x4 vans that Merc etc offer. Some of the site vehicles built for Water Companies and Power Generating Companies are superb. I've kitted these Vans out in the recant past . ( I'm a Commercial Vehicle Bodybuilder;) ) but their body space differs nothing from a their road counterparts. So I couldn't offer any constructive comparison. Not much help sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 Noticed you mentioned boats! .. if your going to use for lauch/recovery etc .. look for something with high light clusters. You dont want the vehicle lighting being soaked with sea water reovering your boat. You may not intend on putting it that far into the sea, but if you have wind over tide on recovery you might not have a choice (unless you rope it out). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted November 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 Just putting it in the river, but most of the slips you can park anywhere near have either gravel or mud as a base, the concrete slips have no parking. (England eh?) I have done the roping in and out thing for years, but it's hard on the dolly wheel and you have to be constantly worried about lemmings on push bikes or joggers managing to put themselves in danger rather than wait a moment for you to drag the boat out of the way. Much safer to do it with a 4x4. Trouble is the wife always nicks the jeep at the weekend to go riding, so I'm just left with my van, hence the desire for a 4x4 van. Needs to be at least the size of my dispatch, but not as big as a sprinter. Ideally a swb vito/transporter size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 The tax is £400 a year don't forget. The vw is a really capable off roader . You tube it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLondon Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Isuzu do a commercial trooper,which is basically a 2 seater 4x4 jeep/van. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 the merc is only £125 a year tax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 We used to have a VW 4x4 van thing for work years ago when they 1st came out, was never that impressed with it, but it was always loaded to gunnels with gear anyway. Plus we aways had tractor and quads to take the gear off road so it never got abused that much off road. Or no more than the 2wd drive ones never noticed much of a difference as carp tyres on it The problem u have is mpg will drop as soon as u put a 4x4 system in, most vans permanent 4wd so increases wear on running gear, tyres etc. Depending wot size of wheels/tyres u run might not be able to get grippy off road tyres for it. all depends wot u se it for throu the week, if doing high milage i wouldnae bother getting a 4x4 van. Also if u cannae get decent tyres the 4wd might not make a lot of difference, dunno how steep/slippy the ramps are but doubt i would risk getting my work van stuck with a tide coming in. Dunno if u could attach a winch on the inside off van bulkhead so taking the pressure of jockey wheel when towing? Might be a cheaper solution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy.plinker Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 my father has a sprinter 190 crewcab pick up in 4x4, it's better if there's some weight in the back, it averages around 30mpg, which doesn't sound like a lot but it's huge, as big as his 7.5 t physically, and goes like stink. tyre wear is a bit worse than normal too. "Goes like stink" haha I love that saying, I thought it was a north o Scotland one but obviously not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I've been told that Renault and Peugeot both do 4WD small vans but only for the French market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) I run a Mitsubishi Outlander 4Work Van. Payload area isn't like your panel van. But offer great space beit limited on headroom. 2.3 diesel . 174 bhp. 4WD is selectable 2WD 4WD 4WD Diff Lock. Commercial vehicle tax band 45 - 55 mpg in 2WD. Edited December 1, 2015 by RedRobin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 The Ranault Kangoo 4x4 and Peugeot Partner/Citreon Berlingo 4x4 vans are sold in the UK. The deerstalker on here has the Renault, seems happy enough with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 The Ranault Kangoo 4x4 and Peugeot Partner/Citreon Berlingo 4x4 vans are sold in the UK. Got a list of dealers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 The Kangoo had a well deserved reputation for eating gearboxes. Never found any reference to a berlingo or partner with 4WD, only a 2WD with limited slip diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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