Hi folks.

uglypeople

uglypeople

New Member
I am new here (as I'm sure you have guessed) and I am hoping for a little information and advice with buying a commer.

it's been a dream of mine for a lot of years to own a little camper van but I have never really been in a position to go ahead and do it. I discovered the commers last year while searching eBay and they are truly beautiful. soooo...here are a few things I would like to know:

how are they to drive? brakes, steering etc.

how much should I expect to pay for a decent model?

are they reliable? I know this will obviously vary with each van and its history but any information helps.

how is the fuel consumption?

does anyone know of any fittable bike racks?

are parts easy enough to come by?

I think that's all for now but if you guys have any info that you think is helpful then I am very grateful. :)
 
Hi and welcome to the Madhouse:D
A very wise decision to opt for a Commer rather than the usual camper choices, if you get one you will not be disappointed:)
You must remember that these first hit the roads 55 years ago so don't expect it to drive like a modern but saying that there are mods and tweaks you can do to improve things quite dramatically performance wise. The steering can be entertaining and can be a little heavy at parking speeds (no power assist) but it is light at speed. The brakes, if maintained properly, are very good and a servo can be fitted to ease the pedal pressure if you prefer. Abain reliability all depends on the level of maintenance but they are tough old buses and are simple to service, everything is just bigger than a normal car. Fuel consumption is around 25 mpg on a run with standard engine and box but can be improved if you fit an overdrive and different carb to 30+. Bike racks would be a problem as most models have rear doors so anything you fit would have to be removed before you could get in the back, just chuck them inside until you get where your going;) Most parts are easily available from a number of outlets but Martin Maltas is our main supplier of these and hand made panels, it helps that he is a Commer nutter like the rest of us:D
Prices are on the up, I know of a couple of really good examples that have gone for £10K + but good useable vans £3,ooo and above. It's a bit of a minefield, as with any old car, but if you get a good one the rewards are so worth it - good luck:cool:
Why not come to Commerfest at the end of July, there will be plenty of vans to look at and enthusiastic, friendly owners to chat to.
 
thanks for your reply and the warm welcome. :) your advice is greatly appreciated...I really can't wait to get my hands on one. these campers have a lot of character...hopefully I can find one that doesn't require much work so I can start enjoying it ASAP.
I did think the bike rack might be an issue with the door being on the back but, as you say, I can chuck it inside. I have never had the pleasure of seeing one in person but they look surprisingly roomy inside and I much prefer the general layout compared to the more common vw camper.
I did have a look at your post for commerfest before I signed up but I'm away for two weeks at the end of July in to August so I will miss it. hopefully by the time the next one comes around I'll have my own commer to swing by in.

thanks again.

Lee
 
I'm building a bike rack at the moment to go on one of the back doors holding the bikes vertically and the current hinges so it all opens with the door itself. Got a clever suction setup onto the second door as security as I don't fully trust my back door latch with the weight on it. I'm sure the door will take the weight as I can hang off it without issue and I'm well over twice the weight of the rack and two adult bikes. Also most of the strain will only be when the door is open.

When it's finished I'll post some pics up.
 
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