Beethoven's nearly ready to hit the road

[JohnClimber]

Bought Beethoven..... (as in the 80's little heard of band Campervan Beethoven) about a month back.....

It was an ex plasterers van which someone converted over 90% before handing it to the monkey that I bought it off who's "improvements" set it back to 80% complete.
I'd spent the last few weeks doing the following (and spending a small fortune)

Ripping out the old and not working heating system and electric behind the dash

Fitting a 200watt solar set for off grid living (we hate campsites)

Having the few minor dents and rust spots sorted out

Sorting out a tyre amongst other jobs including a major service, sorting out the flooring and front carpetting

Such as sorting out all the electrics, the cupboard fronts, the flooring, the new mattress, adding more lights, sorting out the gas plus a bit of welding and quite a few other things.

The curtains need sorting, and the permanent double bed is right at the back of the van in the front of these next photos

He's been washed (but needs another)

Archie likes him

He's been named

With one more surprise (for he wife) Beethoven reference to follow next week

This weekends jobs.
Cupboard door catches fitting.
Storage boxes to make.
Electrics to be sorted
A local caravan expert to come around and check over the fridge which isn't 100%
Last light to be fitted
Curtain material to be bought and start to be made
Fixing the water containers in place.
Blacking up the bumpers
Another good clean out.
And I'm sure there are a few more jobs that I can't remember :rolleyes2:

Next Saturday we are having a 2kw diesel heater fitted
The mattress will go in, the curtains up and we'll be out and about in December.

We can't wait.......:drive:

Future jobs.
Fit a removable table then get the DVLA to convert it to a Campervan from a van
Fit the all new front passenger seat which is current;y up in Scotland ready to travel south with a mate.
Tracker to be fitted.

 

[The laird]

Looking good ,keep us up to date John ,will you have a final total cost on completion as it’s a question often asked

 

[izwozral]

Looks great, a credit to you.

 

[phillybarbour]

Interior looks a brill job. Soon to go and have some fun then.

 

[JohnClimber]

Looking good ,keep us up to date John ,will you have a final total cost on completion as it’s a question often asked

We had a 10k budget

6.5k for the 08 plated van and 3.5k on everything else including servicing, tax and insurance.
In the best grand designs traditions we may end up a couple of hundred quid over finishing it off.

 

[alwaysared]

Looks great John, well done :king:

Regards,
Del

 

[exwindsurfer]

Great job John can remember doing mine about five year ago was thinking about doing an other one but it would have to be the extra long one with the extra high top but we’ll see .

Jeff

 

[trevskoda]

Nice bit of kit,remember things like usb sockets for charging phones/tablets etc,volt meters to keep a eye on battery condition,keep the pics coming.:wave:

 

[JohnClimber]

Caravan service guy has been and we have to get the fridge, hob and gas connected but a gas safe engineer.
The fridge needs a better exhaust and sealed in correctly.
Plus a drain hole for the LPG by all accounts.
A split relay needs fitting for the fridge while on the move.

So a bit more money to spend but it's not the end of the world and at least we will sleep safer because if this.

 

[The laird]

John ,great to read some sense when self building a veh,it means you can go to sleep without any worries about what you stated,will they certify when completed and checks done?
Means when you sell you have a paper trail
Credit to you mate well done

 

[Haaamster]

Lovely van but why Beethoven, are you expecting it to rollover?

 

[JohnClimber]

Lovely van but why Beethoven, are you expecting it to rollover?

After the 80's band
Campervan Beethoven
YouTube

 

[JohnClimber]

Hole drilled in the side of the van for the fridge exhaust, longer exhaust for said fridge is now sorted.
A little bit of paint needed plus 2 vinyl strips need replacing.

Gas Safe engineer coming soon to plumb in the burner and fridge for the gas.

Split charger to go in this Saturday to run the fridge while driving. Plus the Planer 2kw heater.
While that's been fitted I've the bumpers to blacken up to make it look like (almost) new.

Mrs Climber is sorting out the curtains. Beethoven diesel cap cover to fit when it's finished.

Sunday will see it get a really good clean inside and flooring re fitted.

Water and tap needs sorting out, mattress, bedding, seat cushions going in.

New front double passenger seat should be with me before Christmas for fitted.

Then it's about time it gets out and about a couple of times in December

 

[The laird]

John mind the old trick for them bumpers,peanut butter (smooth of course) .

 

[JohnClimber]

Planar heater fitted today by Owen of Planar Heaters UK Planar Heaters UK- Home
I went for the 4kw over the planned 2kw as it was only a few pounds more and would be more than I needed rather than just on the limit.

Owen did a great job and helped with a couple of other little drilling jobs. Plus his choice of music while he works is 10/10

Knowing how noisy older mobile cranes and truck diesel heaters can be, I'm amazed how quiet this one is and the heat it throws out is very toasty warm.

I'll be having it running tomorrow for sure while I finish of fitting the split charger wiring, tidying up the rest of wiring, re fit 2 graphic stripes I had to remove while faffing with the fridge, fit the fridge exhaust, fitting the floor tiles, levelling a shelf out while Mrs Climber makes the curtains.
If I get that lot done and it's been given a good clean out before bed time we'll put the mattress and bedding in.

2 more main jobs still to do.
1) Handbrake issues for the garage this Thursday to look into and fix.
2) Plumb in the LPG with rigid copper piping to Gas Safe standards, hopefully this week as well.

Hopefully out first night out will be Friday 8th Dec. :drive:

 

[REC]

Looking forward to seeing the finished result!

 

[JohnClimber]

Most jobs done today, plus some others I found during the day.

Leaving the mattress and bedding until the other jobs have been done.

 

[wildebus]

John mind the old trick for them bumpers,peanut butter (smooth of course) .

I like the heatgun method - did this with my T4 and they stayed black until (and after!) I sold it.

[video=youtube_share;PyOXlZDQFXQ]https://youtu.be/PyOXlZDQFXQ[/video]

 

[JohnClimber]

Today's handy work

Took out the campervans fridge, cut out 2 large rectangular holes, covered with vents, fitted a couple of 4" computer fans to suck in cold air in to the bottom vent, so that the air rises behind the cooling fins on the fridge and blows out of the top vent, re fitted it, sorted out the plumbing, gas supply and electrics.
Jack of all trades.......... you know the rest.

Curtains going in this week along with the mattress, bedding and all the stuff that we've built up.
Aiming to get it ready for a next Sunday (relatives coming around).
Having a local (mid week) night out the week afterwards, then out (maybe Skipton way) the weekend before Christmas.
Then a couple of nights out between Christmas and New Year are planned so that we are ready for Wild Camp A Month 2018

Mid Jan will see the Calor gas bottle replaced with an underslung LPG gas tank to give us more room under the cooker and for safety.

Can't wait

 

[JohnClimber]

And finally.......

I've done enough jobs I wanted to do, and now we have finally put in the deep memory foam mattress, bedding and curtains in to the van ready for it's first outing one night this week, (most probably on the drive just in case of any problems :sleep-040

Here's the inside of Beethoven ready to rock