Thinking of buying a Commer

SantaHul

SantaHul

0
Last summer me and four mates bought an old Leyland Sherpa Gemini camper van and set off round Europe in it. It was a real shed but we loved it right up until the wheel fell off on the autobahn, massive incident, nearly died blah blah blah.

Unfortunately we'd already caught the camper van bug and I'm trying to rally the old team round to buy a Commer. We lost a lot of money when the last one went splat so I need to convince them that this won't happen again amongst other things. On the journey I had the latest Practical Classics at the time which had a restored Commer which we would read about on the road and all dreamed of owning. In the past month or two we've been talking about getting another camper after unanimously agreeing our holiday in the last one was the best holiday ever, hospital and all. Now I've been reading about JAY in the latest issue of PC and it's set me off again. I'm specifically interested in an Autosleeper but there are a few things I'd like to know about them before I make the argument to my friends-

*A lot of people are doing engine and gearbox swaps. How easy are the engines to work with? I'm specifically interested in a diesel engine. In the Sherpa we got through loads of fuel and could barely top 60mph because we were constantly thrashing a little petrol engine on a 4 speed box. I'd be much happier with a diesel on a 5 speed. I've seen THOMAS for sale which has really piped my interest but it's a bit too soon, there's only 3 days left on him.

*How would one of these like being kept outside? I'd be spending a lot of time with the Dinitrol gun underneath I'm guessing.

*How comfortably would one of these transport and sleep 4 strapping young men?

*How much should we expect to pay for one? We're only really after a runner that can be MOT'd. Don't need a sparkly clean interior or bodywork.

*How good are it's wheel retention capabilities?

*You think the Commer is the right thing for us (4 lads, early twenties, ambitious but crap) or would we mess it up? We really need to run this thing on a budget since it would only be used for holidays and things, i.e. a lot of time standing, not for regular journeys. We're not very mechanically minded but we always like to have a go and don't mind getting our hands dirty.

Bit of a random post with stupid questions I know but I wanted to get the ball rolling.
 
Hi welcome to the mad house :D[}:)]:D Don't do it [:0] you will all become addicted :p
They are usually pretty rusty!they alway's need work!what sort of strapping size are we talking [?]Rugby players?over 6 ft tall?
start with a nice red van high top it's quite cheap under £400 in yorkshire (not mine yet!)if thats any good to you? can't go wrong £100 each share the cost of parts help each other put them on [?]could probably fit bunk beds! good luck GO FOR IT :p

"RAN"the van & N0.1
 
Have you got the ad for this Yorkshire one matey? By strapping I mean around the 6ft mark. We were thinking £200 to £250 each.
 
You could invest in an awning with the change from this one :pI would go for it but I already have 2-3 [:0]
this is 375 ono grab it before someone else does ;)
http://66.129.69.181/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1314
let us know what you think :)

"RAN"the van & N0.1
 
Oh yeah I'd seen that one, didn't realise it was £375 though. The thing is I really don't think it has the charm of a proper Commer. Mainly though it's only built to accommodate two people, no fittings for hammocks and less cabinet space.
 
looks to me to have been adapted for dissabled use ie wheel chair access [?]

I quite like it [8D]cos it's got something! I am not a great lover of the spacevan,but ummmmmmm just think get an awning double the space camp beds etc etc etc
to get a half decnt commer you are looking at quite a bit of money(not as much as the darkside)If you decided to go for this one & decided it's not for you you wouldn't lose a load of money,could see how you get on then buy a better one at a later day!

"RAN"the van & N0.1
 
We're after something to keep (so don't want to buy just any old thing) but we're also up for a bit of coach painting so don't mind a bit of bodywork. If you take off the front plastic bits and replace the bumpers does it look just like a Commer? Also, by awning (and I'm being a knob here) do you mean the lift-up-o-matic on the top, rising roof-a-doo thing? Is that really easily replaceable because I must admit I like the cabinets and things but really want the extra hammocks and stuff.
 
I think you can get the brackets for hammocks from Just Kampers... others must do the same ask Charleycommer
http://shop.justkampers.com/product_info.php/products_id/10559

then you need to make a hammock with poles and suitable fabric.

I think what chris means about awning is actually a tent on the back of the van - we got a universal one for yori and my disco so that we can leave bikes in it and take of muddy shoes etc.

TBH we have had four in the van and to sleep all 4 in there the option would be 2 in the bed, one in the cab and one on the floor or a hammock.

Its more a problem moving around in the daytime than it is when sleeping :D
 
Awning wouldn't be much use to us as we wouldn't really be going to camp sites or anything, it would be more a vehicle for adventure with the sleeping facilities used mainly for overnight stops. At the side of the road (or in Dresden city centre as we did in the Sherpa) we need a bit more security.
 
I used to own a Sherpa heres the pic to prove it.
I did all sorts of other bad things in my younger days, too. Like converting it to diesel and then running it off SVO too. But now I'm older & wiser Ive got a Commer.

DSC02177.jpg


Cheers
Jules

RatSport www.ratsport.co.uk
 
Before and after pictures of our Sherpa

Whilst in Slovakia, repairing the exhaust:
DSC00152.jpg


Then after the roll in Austria (that's me):
DSC00155.jpg



I was never a fan of how it handled, very wobbly, especially as ours was so top heavy. The steering box was very worn too so it demanded a lot of attention to drive. Cos of the low ratio 4 speed box it really worked hard to get motorway speeds too. These are problems I'd want to sort with the Commer. decent gas shocks (Bilsteins?) would be the order of the day for a start.
 
To me that redefines the word "totalled"

Love the curtains blowing the breeze as someone obviously makes a cuppa for the fixers!
 
Oh S**t springs to mind!![:0]
I trust you all got out ok?
I see the Cab and chassis back on its wheels..
I think some 8" wheel spacers should be ordered for when you get the Commer..;)
 
We slid sideways and hit the central reservation which made it roll but luckily landed back on our wheels (the driver, in his confusion in the first seconds after landing, tried to start the engine to get out of the way of oncoming traffic). The living quarters had already detached themselves fortunately and collapsed into the road (at 60mph). I was in the cab (not driving) which rolled but had a seatbelt on and stuff so came out best off. Out of five, the three in the back (where there was no seatbelts) needed medical attention but nothing serious, we were pretty lucky. The cab got dragged there to make it easier to load onto the recovery truck. That's about half an hour after the crash when I finally found my camera in the wreckage.

Not told friends or family we're after another camper as they'd go nuts. I'm dead excited though now my friends are in.
 
We were actually talking about a roll cage! Not a full on one but some kind of reinforcement for when the frankly inevitable happens.

"You were only supposed to blow the bloody tyres up!"
 
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