Progress sofar (lots of pics)

[nutshot]

Ive not put this in self build because I`m only doing some bits then its off to a van convertor to do all the real fitting out.

Spayed all panels with gravitex chassis under seal.


Added space blanket type stuff to roof and on side panels, filled all ribs with recycled insulation from B+Q. topped the sides of with foil covered kingspan .

Fitted a SWB rhino modular rack so solar panels don`t have to be glued or screwed to the van roof

Today had the windows tinted, fitted new wheels and tyres and had the bonnet matt black wrapped.

A few more small jobs to do like fitting a light bar etc then a week on Monday its off to be kitted out with furniture with this as a rough idea of the layout :cool1:

 

[The laird]

Great if you will keep us up to date esp with pics ,well done mate

 

[nutshot]

Great if you will keep us up to date esp with pics ,well done mate

I`ll be visiting the builder several times a week while the conversion is being done to take pictures so I`ll update the thread in a couple of weeks with how its going

 

[phillybarbour]

Coming along nicely, great pics.

 

[trevskoda]

Looks good ,i would remove the rear shuter door and panel in with a steel frame and glass fibre panel to which a window could be fitted,good luck with conversion.

 

[Byronic]

Looks good ,i would remove the rear shuter door and panel in with a steel frame and glass fibre panel to which a window could be fitted,good luck with conversion.

Just my prefence, no window, (a rear view camera perhaps). Panel in with. just a full width hatch door for under bed access.

 

[Musketeer]

great pics is this a 4x4 cant wait to see the finished project :banana:

 

[nutshot]

Looks good ,i would remove the rear shuter door and panel in with a steel frame and glass fibre panel to which a window could be fitted,good luck with conversion.

I thought about removing the roller door but its grown on me. I`m having a garage area in the back to store lumpy / dirty things.
Where the old door hinges attached I`m going to use those holes as mounting points to make a swing out tyre carrier / jerry can rack. That will have to happen at the end of the conversion though as Ive got a lot of working out to do to choose what steel. Needs to be very strong but Ive also got to not go too industrial on the weight. Probably make a steel back bumper too.

 

[nutshot]

great pics is this a 4x4 cant wait to see the finished project :banana:

Yes its a 4x4. Should look quite beefy when its done

 

[Byronic]

How are you going to insulate the roller shutter particularly in the bed area? If you fit a pair of the original barn door hinges you could mount your spare wheel frame from that, it would be a bit tricky to fix the latch/lock point to a roller door though.

 

[brucews]

Hi Nutshot, looks good and we will be keen to see how you progress with the roller shutter back end, it's an interesting concept. Looks like you have the long or medium length wing mirrors, and I would suggest that the short version are less vulnerable and still give a good view on a PVC.
Keep us posted.:cool1:

 

[nutshot]

How are you going to insulate the roller shutter particularly in the bed area? If you fit a pair of the original barn door hinges you could mount your spare wheel frame from that, it would be a bit tricky to fix the latch/lock point to a roller door though.

The back door isn`t going to be insulated. The insulation will go into the bed frame boarding so hopefully a warm living area and the garage bit I don`t care if its cold.

I`m going to make hinges from scratch. I think it will be easier than trying to adapt original door hinges as they are cast so won`t be as easy to weld to as mild steel, Plus if I make them I can do them how I want with travel stops etc.

 

[nutshot]

Hi Nutshot, looks good and we will be keen to see how you progress with the roller shutter back end, it's an interesting concept. Looks like you have the long or medium length wing mirrors, and I would suggest that the short version are less vulnerable and still give a good view on a PVC.
Keep us posted.:cool1:

I think the roller will make it look different. Originally the van was a fire service mountain rescue vehicle so the door is industrial quality. Should look different at leased and by the time the tyre rack is made not a lot will be visible.
I`ll have a look for alternate wing mirrors. I didn`t know there were different types.

 

[Debs]

Fantastic, another one to join the RED brigade....proper colour for a van, just curious about the bonnet wrap, how will it stand up to stone chips etc, wouldn't mind doing that to my van.:goodluck:

 

[Wooie1958]

just curious about the bonnet wrap, how will it stand up to stone chips etc, wouldn't mind doing that to my van.:goodluck:

I was just thinking exactly the same :idea: the bonnet on mine needs something as it`s riddled with stone chips and starting to show it`s age :mad2:

 

[nutshot]

Fantastic, another one to join the RED brigade....proper colour for a van, just curious about the bonnet wrap, how will it stand up to stone chips etc, wouldn't mind doing that to my van.:goodluck:

I had the wrap just for that reason. The wrapper said it will help protect the paint but if I still find it an issue there is some more rubbery clear stuff he can add which is designed just for that purpose. He said its very expensive compared to a colour wrap and can ether go straight over paintwork or on top of a colour wrap. See how this lasts and if its not tough enough I`ll get it re done with the clear on top.

Wooie, one thing to remember with wrapping is it will show all defects the bonnet may have. So if you have a lot of deep chips you would have to fill them first if you want it to look great

 

[nutshot]

Added led light bar to the back , some number plate lights and some side lights to the roof rack.

I also swapped all the pics off my first post from photobucket to imgur as photobucket are knobs and locked all my linked pics unless I pay . Ball bags

Van was dropped off at Vanamize last Tuesday . They ordered some of the stuff to fill it so hopefully thats arrived now and I can get some pics of the conversion in progress this week

 

[harrow]

I think the roller will make it look different. Originally the van was a fire service mountain rescue vehicle so the door is industrial quality. Should look different at leased and by the time the tyre rack is made not a lot will be visible.
I`ll have a look for alternate wing mirrors. I didn`t know there were different types.

I did think that it was an ex royal mail van, but then it did not have enough dents in it :lol-049::lol-049::lol-049:

 

[nutshot]

I did think that it was an ex royal mail van, but then it did not have enough dents in it :lol-049::lol-049::lol-049:

I have a daily royal mail collection so hat made me laugh :lol-049: I think to be a royal mail driver they only employ people who took 20 goes to pass there test :lol-053:

 

[nutshot]

Not super exciting but work has started.

Some wiring run and some paneling attached.