The Van Plan [Blog]

[ooznak]

http://www.thevanplan.com

The Van

The van is a heavily modified Mercedes Sprinter with permanent four wheel drive, transfer box (high and low ratio) and 3 sets of diff locks for when things get tough. We have solar panels trickle charging both sets of batteries and providing 240v through an inverter, a hydraulic winch and a snorkel fitted with a sand filter, which also allows the engine to breath in deep water. The chassis is  modified with up rated suspension, torsion bars and sump and engine guards.
Inside there is a fridge with freezer, cooker, proper flushing loo and shower and a double bed. Its fairly tight inside being a standard medium wheelbase but with the two front seats turning round and a collapsible table the space is very functional.



The Plan

Rory and Lucy Macdiarmid and The Van Plan

Adventure before Dementia

Rory and Lucy Macdiarmid

We both love to travel and have enjoyed family holidays in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. We were also fortunate enough to spend many years living overseas and after another short spell in Hong Kong in 2007/08 my wife and I decided to make a real go of it and travel round the world for an extended period whilst we were both young enough to enjoy it.
Initially we thought that a boat was the answer but over a bottle of wine Lucy announced, you can't see the Taj Mahal or Machu Pichu from a boat and the van plan was born.

After a lot of soul searching and a couple of false starts in the UK employment market we decided to put our home on the market in the spring  of 2010, a difficult time to sell and with the additional emotional turmoil that comes with a working water mill reputedly dating from 1460, not an easy decision.  We both felt that now our 3 children were employed and making their own way in the world that the house was far too big and too much work for the two of us. We sold the house over the summer and both of us gave notice at work. Phase 1 is Somerset to South Africa and we are on our way!

[Xaft]

 
3 diff lock?  Es que acaso hay alguna version con bloqueo delantero? Esa, para mi, es la furgo perfecta, asi de claro. 

[llumeta]

 

[ooznak]

ya llegaron ...

[AFRAGO]

3 diff lock?  Es que acaso hay alguna version con bloqueo delantero? Esa, para mi, es la furgo perfecta, asi de claro. 

+1

[ooznak]

me encanta...

[ooznak]

me acaba de responder que la altura interior es 1.98

perfecta!

[Marchoso]

que maravilla,  pero la quiero en naranja.

[Gaizka27]

      Jodo.... Pero difiero en una cosa, para mi no es la furgo perfecta. Tiene electronica... 

[Juarmis]

Qué huevos hay que echarle al tema para plantearse así las vacaciones...me gustaría valer para eso, pero mi canguelo crónico me lo impediría...los envidio sanamente!

Saludos!

[Marchoso]

      Jodo.... Pero difiero en una cosa, para mi no es la furgo perfecta. Tiene electronica... 

pues si es nueva, hoy en dia es dificil que no lleve electrónica.

[Marchoso]

me acaba de responder que la altura interior es 1.98

perfecta!

desde luego por fuera se ve altísima. Pero se han vendido la casa para comprarse una furgo. Me gustaria saber que les han cobrado por prepararsela asi, pues ya sabemos lo carisimas que salen cuando te la prepara un especialista, les he preguntado por curiosidad. Ya me gustaría cambiarme la mia, pero si tuviera la pasta en  el banco constante y sonante. Les envidio en el buen sentido.