Volkswagen Crafter in Australia

[jets]

I think the crafter looks ugly. Maybe it will grow on me, it's hard to know.
I like the look of the Transit though---only the look.

Rob

[phaeton]

LOL they're so similar though.

Ford Transit, VW Crafter and new Iveco Daily look so alike IMO
Crafter obviously being my pick


and Rod maybe you did see the Crafter it could be one of Solitaire's VWCV reps testing it

[Seano]

Crafter is ugly but it looks better than the Sprinter.

Transit has a better balanced but still mad front end. And it is cheap (but those leaf springs are so 19th century).

But I STILL have a hankering for the Iveco. Particularily the new (yet to be locally released) model. I know it's big and expensive but it is built like a battleship.....and there's the prospect of a proper 4x4 version again.

[phaeton]

I agree Crafter is better than Sprinter in design, IMO I'd rather Crafter than the Daily

Achleitner make a AWD/4x4 (not sure on whether its got the offroad hardware or not, can't access Achleitner site) version for VW as a special order in Germany

I read in one of the local LCV mags VW may offer the AWD/4x4 option here, Mercedes will offer a the same Achleitner kit for Sprinter here, not known when though

[benjackson]

hi guys. All very interesting!

I have a 2004 Daily van, and am looking at getting something newer and better in the future.

I was hoping to get something that is just a bit bigger. The daily van I have was the largest one possible back then.

What do you reckon are the options for larger vans? We custom fit the van to have it seat 7, with a large cargo area for the equipment (we're a touring theatre company).

Any ideas? I was thinking of trying to fit out a small minibus (but larger than a daily), something like a euromidi/maxim or whatever they are called. Don't even know if you can get them here in Australia but it is probably no good because there is no rear door access to unload our sets and equipment.

So a van really is needed but we're running out of room with 7 of us, luggage and bigger sets as we grow, and start touring further afield for longer.

Any comments or help would be greatly appreciated! I'm getting lost on the internet for hours...

[shogun2]

Hi Ben,

I have a T5 Multivan, 7 seater. I do not recommend it, as it is too small, but it all depends on what you have to carry (or is that the proverbial kitchen sink?)
I have seen lots of different vans used for theatrical work and band use, but don't really have any recommendations, as it depends on the gear load. Lights, staging, audio, personal gear - make a cubic meter assessment first.
Couple of suggestions - I would definitely go one of the new diesel engines rather than petrol, and make sure you can stand up straight in the van. I hated loading vans where I had to bend down ...
Cheers,
Rod

[shogun2]

... and put a tow bar on it!

[benjackson]

Thanks Rod

Well the Daily normally has 4560 internal length for the cargo, we've taken off about 1.5 metres for the extra 4 seats and we're left with 3metres length, and the standard width of 1800 and height of 1900. Cubic metre is 15.6.

I'd love it to be at least an extra 500 cargo length and an extra 500 to 1000 extra in the passenger section.

So that's anywhere from 1000 to 1500 longer cargo, about 5500 to 6000 in total.

The T5 is obviously smaller than the larger VW models, including the new Crafter I think. Unless I didn't read the T5 page properly.

We can stand in the daily, that is definitely important I agree. 1900 would be minimum height as I'm about that tall. I think the Daily can have a higher roof of 2100.

So it's really finding something that will accomplish that. We have quite a lot of gear for each show, it's more like the amount of gear in a major musical rather than a band on tour.

I wonder what sort of vehicle with a van style covers the >16m3 range? I can't find anything.

Thanks for your post and I hope someone else has some ideas too.

[phaeton]

Hi Ben ,
The Crafter goes right upto 17m3, the spec is called L4H3 (= Length 4 Height 3) goto www.crafter.nl then click the specificaties(top horziontal bar ) then scan over versions which interest you

LxWxH
7340x1993x2990
Interior Height
2140

car licence = 1015kg payload
truck licence = 2515kg payload
(could be different for Australian spec Crafters )

[Seano]

All the new Crafter, Sprinter & Daily vans have a 17m3 LWB high roof van in their range. However, whether the importers bring them in is another question.

The only one here is the Sprinter and the biggest versions are the 5 tonne vans which is high roof guise have load areas of 4300 long x 1780 wide x 2140 high or 15.5m3.

I think I'd be looking at a smaller van and a trailer in order to get what you want.