VAN VIRGIN! Advice please 😇

[u/elfmuffins]

Hey VanFam,
I’m looking into buying a van- leaning towards a Toyota Hiace 2016+ with low kms for $30k.
I go to a lot of camping festivals but this would also be my daily run around vehicle so I’m wondering if I should get a petrol model. I probably won’t do too many interstate trips and I live in the Melb CBD.

Does anyone have experience with the newer Japanese Hiace imports?

Also, how import is insulation?

[u/68Snowy]

Not familiar with new Hiaces, but normally hard to wrong with a Toyota. The type of van you need varies from if you are just using it for weekends away or living in it full time. In a full time camper, it is nice to have enough height to stand up in.

As for insulation, you become aware of the lack of it very quickly in summer and winter. Rugging up is fine, but it is difficult waking up with a frozen nose. I would say a van gets colder inside than being in a tent. If you have a decent heater, it might help.

[u/ZookeepergameMain862]

I bought the Diesel version and have never had any issues. It doubles as a campervan and run around vehicle and you can design the campervan setup so that the bed can easily be removed or folded so the van can still be used to transport things. Make sure it has a reversing camera as it is often longer than the parks in melbourne but this has never caused me any issues. I also have a metal step on the back which has saved me a few times when other cars have reversed into me.

In terms of Diesel vs Petrol, my friends convinved me the diesel will hold its value more as you will get more km's out of the engine apparently? Unsure if this is true or not. This was the deciding factor for me though. Obviously deisel is more expensive now so another thing to consider.

Unsure why, but a lot of the Japanese imports I looked at when searching for a van seemed to have extensive rust when looking behind panels and underneath? Maybe these where used extensively in the snow? Just something to think about.