Citroen Relay | VANDEE | L2 H2 | 2007 | 97.5K Miles

After a few years of road trips, van life renovations and surf days with Vandee, we’re reluctantly ready to wave him off on his next adventure!

We were looking for a van with low mileage and a flexible layout, to use either as a day van – i.e. surfing, weekends away where we could cook, sleep and relax, or if we ever got around to it, would be comfortable enough for a 2-3 week European road trip. We were also looking for a van that should we encounter any issues in Europe would be easy to get fixed or get parts. Given that my wife and I are both 6ft tall, the head height had to allow us to stand up in the back and be wide enough not to feel boxed in. The van had to be easy to drive, good on the lanes and motorways and also not too difficult to park. After looking at various van manufacturers’ pros and cons, we decided to buy a Citroen Relay L2 H2.

The Citroen Relay seemed to tick all the boxes we needed, so in 2022 we bought Vandee. The van was already converted as a camper, and the layout was perfect but as we found out after a few weeks of owning it after a bout of heavy rain, it was leaking from somewhere in the roof. We managed to trace, locate and fix the leak – which turned out to be 2 small unfilled, unused drilled holes (next to the skylight), after finding that, we decided to strip the whole van back to its shell and redo the interior.

We started with Dodo sound-deadening vibration dampers on all the panels. Insulated the interior using a mixture of 50 mm Celotex thermal boards and eco-friendly recycled plastic insulation. This was finished off with a new 4-way stretched carpet on all surfaces and we added some Acoustic Wood Panels to the ceiling. We also soundproofed, insulated and carpeted the front cab. We replaced the leisure batteries and had the electrics checked, and rewired by the brilliant “Coastal Campers” in Liskeard.

Mechanically we have had a fair bit done to the van to bring it up to a better standard, including a new gearbox, clutch and sump pan installed at 91k miles, front shocks, front brake pads replaced, exhaust silencer replaced, ECU replaced and a high-pressure fuel pump installed. We also have the underside wax coated every year.

Inside the back, the sofa pulls out to form a comfortable double bed that measures 120cm wide by 190cm long. The underslung water tanks can hold 60 litres of water, and a new 12v pump feeds the tap and sink. One single gas bottle located under the sink is used for the oven, gas heating and the 2 gas rings for cooking. There is a 50-litre fridge located below the hob which is great for getting things out mid-cooking. There is plenty of storage space under the sink, and a separate floor cupboard holds the MPPT controller where there is also further storage. There are 3 overhead cupboards (2 cupboards with spotlights underneath) which can be used for food storage or clothing, and also further space above the cab which can be used for storing bedding. The van will also include a Thetford Porta Potty, which came with the van but isn’t something we’ve ever needed to use and can be stored at the back of the van if you are off-grid camping.

The roof light can be opened during the summer, and a flynet and blind are attached. The windows all work well, 1 blind however is a little slow and the flynet spring could do with replacing (the blinds and flynets are spring-loaded) this can be temperamental but has never bothered me. When all the blinds are up the inside is very dark.

Electrics: 2 Platinum AGM Plus Leisure Battery 100Ah are powered by roof-mounted 200W solar panels, and they keep everything ticking over. The Bluetooth-linked monitor on the MPPT is a good way to keep an eye on levels. The shore power outlet hookup and leads connect the van to the mains if you are on a site, and when connected these power the mains sockets in the van. There is an existing Supercharge 151 unit in situ to charge the leisure batteries when you are connected to mains, and this unit needs to be replaced, I haven’t got around to it yet, but I believe they are about £80 and it would be a straight swap.

There are a few scratches and age-related knocks on the exterior, the majority of these were either there when we bought it or have been added from travelling around Cornwall with its narrow lanes. There is a bit of surface rust on the bottom of the driver’s door which can be rectified. I just haven’t got around to that yet. The paintwork is patchy in places but overall, it’s in good condition for its age.

This list shows all the “campervan” additions included in the van:

Wireless reversing camera
2 Renogy 100W Solar Panels
2 Platinum AGM Plus Leisure Battery 12V 100Ah
Renogy 30A MPPT Charge Controller with Bluetooth
Dometic Smev 9222 burner Hob & Cold water Sink
60-litre underslung water tanks
Dometic Smev Large Oven and Grill Unit
Waeco CRX50 Fridge
Propex Heatsource HS2000
Maxxair Rooflight
Flush Mains Hook Up Sockett
Four Dometic S4 Hinged windows—double acrylic glazing and polyurethane frame for excellent insulation. Each window has a fly screen and a blackout blind.
Thetford Porta Potty

Overall, it’s a great van. We have spent a lot of time and energy getting it to where it is now. We have enjoyed our Vandee adventures, but we recently bought a caravan, so it’s time to wave Vandee off on his next adventure.

Please note: the private plate is not included in the sale but if you would like to keep it on the van, it can be purchased at an additional cost. The mileage will also be slightly higher than shown as I’m using the van locally.

Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions