Anyone got a VW Caddy Maxi? Load length

[nuyorican]

I'm on the lookout for a work van that can double up as a stealth camper for weekends away.

I don't want some huge panel van, narrowed it down to a VW Caddy Maxi. Being 6'4" though, I'm worried I won't fit in the back. Google tells me the rear load length is over seven foot which is good. However, there are two near me that certainly don't look big enough, they don't have anything written on the back though to ID them so they may be the normal Caddy rather than the Maxi.

Can anyone confirm either way whether a lanky sod will fit in the back of a Caddy Maxi?

Cheers.

[Scrump]

Caddy maxi dimensions here:
https://www.ridc.org.uk/features-reviews/out-and-a...
Length of boot with rear seats folded is 1905mm.

If that is the wrong caddy then the RIDC website has loads of others.

[nuyorican]

Thanks. I wasn't even aware they came with rear seats. I best rethink this then unless they can be removed.

[MDMA .]

Maxi just means long wheel base. The one linked is a factory conversion. I have a Maxi at work, but away at the moment. Can measure it in a couple of weeks if you can wait. It’s a Maxi panel van, so no side windows or seats.

[nuyorican]

MDMA . said:

Maxi just means long wheel base. The one linked is a factory conversion. I have a Maxi at work, but away at the moment. Can measure it in a couple of weeks if you can wait. It’s a Maxi panel van, so no side windows or seats.

Yes, that's the one I'm considering, no rear seats or windows. When I said I didn't want a panel van, I meant a full size van.

Thanks for the offer. I've emailed some eBay sellers too so should get the answer before then but much appreciated.

[Sway]

I've got a caddy maxi life (the people carrier version). Removed the third row of seats permanently, and the second row comes out for longer loads easily (even if the bench is bd heavy!).

It's about 6" too short behind the front seats to fit a 8x4 sheet. So I reckon you'll be fine.

[nuyorican]

Hmm that’s good news. Hopefully the Caddy Maxi Life is the same length as the normal Caddy Maxi…

What’s the tax and insurance like?

[Sway]

It's the same car, only difference is the life is panelled out and windows/seats.

Tax/insurance will be different as mine is registered as a car, but watch out for diesel injectors. Utter pain in the arse!

[119]

If it’s a van it might have the bulkhead behind the front seats which may be an issue, although they are only plastic and can be removed fairly easily I would have thought.

[bristolracer]

When i had my Aerial business I had a Caddy maxi. It used to take 6ft Aerial poles in the back with a couple of inches to spare.

[AlwynMike]

My thoughts would be to go for a Maxi Life that's been wheelchair converted. There's loads around and the Vee Dub crowd tend not to want them, so can be cheaper. Get a conversion where the ramp folds back to provide the original floor level (rather than a sloping floor). Practical as the rear seats pull out in seconds if you're strong - the double is around 40kgs!
Generally better equipped.
Cheaper insurance as its a car and being a conversion, is seen as a better risk.
No van speed limits to be concerned about.
1.6 Caddys have a reputation for failing injectors, that are expensive to replace, but its a lottery - I've had one go in 110k.
Drive one. The 1.6 will happily cruise at 80 all day but is dog slow off the mark

[nuyorican]

AlwynMike said:

No van speed limits to be concerned about.

Oh god, I'd not considered that.

So, do you know whether the Caddy Maxi Life is exempt from van speed limits, or just the wheelchair converted ones?

Edited by nuyorican on Monday 19th August 10:12

[Sway]

nuyorican said:

AlwynMike said:

No van speed limits to be concerned about.

Oh god, I'd not considered that.

So, do you know whether the Caddy Maxi Life is exempt from van speed limits, or just the wheelchair converted ones?

Edited by nuyorican on Monday 19th August 10:12

Life is registered as car. Chair converted often have smaller fuel tanks.

[nuyorican]

Thanks for that.

I had initially dismissed the Life as it'll primarily be a work van and I didn't want the windows due to thieves being able to see in for tools etc.

It's a bloody minefield!

[AlwynMike]

Most (all?) Life's will have dark tinted windows - but it's easy enough to cover them.
Remember the Life will have a tailgate rather than barn doors if that makes a difference - you can stay dry when it's raining whilst looking for stuff in the back!
Agree on the fuel tank - but mine has the standard tank, but relocated further forward and tilted, so you lose about a gallon.....but if you're patient, you can get most of that back as the filler pipe is about 6 feet long.
Exhausts are side exit and bespoke...but are usually good for 10 years +
All Life's are cars, taxed accordingly and M1 on the V5.

[redandwhite]

a tell-tale of a maxi is the twin sliding doors (one either side), injectors on the 1.6 are around £350 each.

[nuyorican]

Cheers,

What are the 2L engines like?