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Dec 12, 2020 12:01:21 GMT
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Fascinating read and very envious of your 4x4 purchase.
If the van is as good as County tractors, then you will be OK. County themselves saw a slot in the market for tractors that could get the power onto the ground when the major manufacturers were of the opinion that increased horse-power was the way forward.
County used various units, with Ford being the most prevalent. Eventually the penny dropped and major manufacturers bit the bullet and started producing their own 4x4 versions. Basically this was the death knell for the likes of County, who did a lot of the original spade work.
County tractors are de rigueur for the avid tractor enthusiast, with stratospheric prices being achieved at dispersal sales. Lottery win money for the best, larger versions.
Perhaps with your van's transmission being so basic in comparison to modern systems, I wonder with this is in fact a good point, as less to go wrong if used in-line with County's recommendations?
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,220
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Dec 12, 2020 15:49:55 GMT
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Perhaps with your van's transmission being so basic in comparison to modern systems, I wonder with this is in fact a good point, as less to go wrong if used in-line with County's recommendations? Shhhh, I don't want to find out if you're right!  |
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,220
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Dec 12, 2020 16:33:35 GMT
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Pictures, each one should save me a 1000 words!    I'm a tad under 6 foot. And yes, I dressed up for the pictures.  Unusual in having a lift up tailgate, guess it saved time when putting stretchers in!  Very original and clean engine bay, it's been serviced regularly, even though the mileage is very low, something else that makes me think the mileage is genuine, the service history  The money shot.  The bits that show the County Tractor heritage.   Hens teeth, 16 inch single axle Transit wheel. Because the first thing you do with a new project is buy wheels for it, you know it makes sense!  |
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Last Edit: Dec 12, 2020 16:35:45 GMT by andyborris
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,220
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Dec 12, 2020 17:35:24 GMT
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How does it compare to the Delica, I imagine you're all crying? The Delica  Much more car like, very comfortable and very capable off road and I loved it, turned every trip into an adventure, especially when the fuel pump started failing! But, it's too small as a camper, the small rock and roll bed takes up all the space behind the front seats Bed shut  Bed open  And because the bed opened over the side step, climbing out was more a case of falling out, only a matter of time before I broke an ankle! Behind the front seats of the Transit is a floor space of just over 3 x 1.8 metres, versus the Delica with 1.9 x 1.5 metres. So, we'll now have a bed we can get out of without also falling out of the van, space to have a toilet inside during the night when the bed is opened and a lot more storage space. Like the Delica, we expect to live our life outside, the Transit isn't a substitute for a house, as some motorhomes seem to be, it's still a Tin Top Tent, just not a pup tent! |
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Last Edit: Dec 13, 2020 17:10:41 GMT by andyborris
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Kron
Part of things
Posts: 260 
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Dec 12, 2020 21:40:28 GMT
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Jesus, that's a monster. I love it.
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,220
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Dec 13, 2020 18:41:49 GMT
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Think I’ve talked enough about the van, now I’ll talk about the camper. The vendor, who’s a lovely chap, carpet fitter by trade and owner of 2 beautiful German Shepherd dogs, had obviously done the conversion to camper-van on a very tight budget. From a distance, or even with a quick look inside, it looked OK. Dark grey van carpet from bottom to top, patterned grey carpet on the floor, lighter grey MDF cupboards, the only colour being the Union Jack fridge.  However, 3 almost new large leisure batteries, a powerful inverter and a sink/hob unit with running water were nice. As was the large solar panel on the roof. But the gas bottle was inside the van, the cold (no hot) water tap was fed by a 10 litre plastic jerrycan with a very mouldy immersion pump and what looked like radiator hose for plumbing, I didn’t try to taste the water! The carpet that covered every inch of the interior was dirty and doggy, not as bad as the Delica was, but bad enough! And it also seemed to have lots of patches, rather than being cut to shape.  I’m not a fan of MDF in a camper van, too easily damaged by water and the cupboards themselves were too full of gas bottle, water tank and batteries to be useful and lacked shelves. The bed was a cheap metal folding settee, which wasn’t fastened down, it had to be moved into the centre of the van to be unfolded, even a minor bump would see it becoming a dangerous missile, it too was very 2nd hand. Not being snobbish here, but we do plan on living in this van almost full time for several years and a very used folding bed wasn’t up to giving a good nights sleep. The front seats had exhausted seat foam, could feel the frame through it and weren't a matching set.  The dash had lots of holes in it, some probably from it's time as an ambulance, others from wires for a sat nav that was glued to the dash and about 10 years out of date.  The girlfiend just said “NO” and I began the stripping out……..and it was worse than first thought! |
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