Devon Conversions.

[Obanboy666]

80W panel, cable, regulator, terminals, tube of Sikaflex 521, aluminium angle, pop rivets, should be no more than £150 plus your time. All available ex. eBay. For £599 Devon must intend fitting a very special panel.

I have a mix of the very best Saturn Space technology solar panels and Chinese. The Chinese are the sensible option, a few % increase in efficiency may be critical in a Space Satellite system, but not likely in a motorcamper/caravan. just make up any real or perceived deficit with a larger panel.

The reason I have the expensive Saturn Panels is because 25 years ago they were virtually all I could get.

Sounds good to me. reckon i will do it myself.

 

[The laird]

Solar panel

Was very wary bout fitting panel etc myself.anyway installed the whole lot in about 3 1/2 hrs.
If you wanted or got stuck there many folks on this forum who will help you and give great advice .
Tezza33 was my point of contact (can't thank him enough for his help ) never had any probs with it and I saved about£350

 

[Deleted member 13543]

kp get tow bar fitted and rear cameraas the disabled space have bar behind{well my tescos does } them it will fit in disabled space tend to overhang slightly mine is short wheel base normal space then the cars next space cant get into ther doors

Thanks, OH, good to know, but luckily it came with a towbar and rear camera! I think ours is a long wheelbase (I'm not very technically minded!) so I hope it doesn't overhang too much in a normal parking space. I like the idea of the sliding door; it was sometimes difficult to get out of Grenville because people will park so close to you!

 

[Deleted member 13543]

Visited Devon today. Impressed with the motorhomes on display and appear well built.
Looking at your photos is yours a Monte Carlo ? The storage under the fixed bed I looked at today was huge !

No, ours is a Monaco, with an unfixed bed! I liked the space under the bed in the Monte Carlo, but Derek would struggle getting up into the bed. We worked out we can get 3 plastic crates sideways under the bed, and possibly his mobility scooter when on a day trip. It was a severe shock going from the storage space of a coach built to a van conversion, as some of the cupboards are a ridiculous size, with a shelf that restricts things further. I think we'll make it, but I can see us moving stuff like the chairs and mobility walkers from place to place at night. Our maiden voyage is on Saturday; wild at Jennycliff for a couple of nights, then off to Yelverton for several, to support a motorhoming friend whose wife will be in Derriford for a cancer operation.



Stupid shelves and the space under the bed.

 

[Deleted member 13543]

The cheapest solar panel fitting I could find in the Southwest was Adventure Motorhomes in Highbridge. They quoted £470 for a 120 watt solar panel. Rest were at least £100 dearer. Hope no-one has used them and found they were crap?? They did some work on our satellite system and i was quite happy with them.

Solar Panels

 

[Obanboy666]

No, ours is a Monaco, with an unfixed bed! I liked the space under the bed in the Monte Carlo, but Derek would struggle getting up into the bed. We worked out we can get 3 plastic crates sideways under the bed, and possibly his mobility scooter when on a day trip. It was a severe shock going from the storage space of a coach built to a van conversion, as some of the cupboards are a ridiculous size, with a shelf that restricts things further. I think we'll make it, but I can see us moving stuff like the chairs and mobility walkers from place to place at night. Our maiden voyage is on Saturday; wild at Jennycliff for a couple of nights, then off to Yelverton for several, to support a motorhoming friend whose wife will be in Derriford for a cancer operation.

View attachment 42874View attachment 42875

Stupid shelves and the space under the bed.

I know what you mean about storage in a PVC versus a coach built, my dining room is full of everything I had in the Swift.
To be honest an obsolescence exercise is required, amazing what I haven't used and obviously not required.
I will make a decision on Saturday when me and my son have viewed the Tempest and Monte Carlo.
Love the storage under the Monte Carlo fixed bed, I could carry everything I had in the Swift especially with the 720kg payload but it's only 18" shorter than the Swift and the seating area is small.
The Tempest is shorter but limited storage as no fixed bed.
It will be a hard decision, let's hope I get it right.

 

[The laird]

I know what you mean about storage in a PVC versus a coach built, my dining room is full of everything I had in the Swift.
To be honest an obsolescence exercise is required, amazing what I haven't used and obviously not required.
I will make a decision on Saturday when me and my son have viewed the Tempest and Monte Carlo.
Love the storage under the Monte Carlo fixed bed, I could carry everything I had in the Swift especially with the 720kg payload but it's only 18" shorter than the Swift and the seating area is small.
The Tempest is shorter but limited storage as no fixed bed.
It will be a hard decision, let's hope I get it right.

Take your time to make your mind up don't let the heart rule the head,good luck hope you enjoy

 

[Deleted member 13543]

We have got in what we think we need.....just have to remember where on earth we put it!! Know what you mean about your dining room being taken over; it seemed to be the whole BUNGALOW with Grenville's contents! We have culled quite a bit, but probably need to do more; just hope we haven't culled the wrong things!! My father always used to say that a comfortable chair and bed were the most essential things when camping; our chairs are fine, but I'm not too sure about the bed, as I have the single bed made up out of bits and seats. Didn't sleep well when we had a trial run on the drive, so I have invested in a 4ft wide, 1 inch deep memory foam topper, which i shall use double. Derek's double bed at the back is going to resemble the bed in the Princess and the pea, as during the day all my bedding will be on it...just hope he doesn't pinch my topper, as it is just the right size for his bed! Tomorrow I shall be trying it out at Jennycliff!



Good luck with your decision!

 

[oldish hippy]

well mr brown fitted mine there where two fitted at the fix it meet in devon last time it was on not a difficult job to do the worse job is route ing the cables and with it being a pvc do you have the room for a panel i didnt had to go flexi panel route stuck down over the hump

 

[Obanboy666]

Visited Devon Conversions this morning with son and decision made and deposit paid.
Tempest 2 berth on a used Renault Master base vehicle sport. Aircon, alloys, satnav, metallic paint and Only 15,000 miles on the clock.
Comes as standard with 11kg Gaslow refillable, Truma combi 4, Smev 2 burner hob and oven / grill combi, Thetford C402 with 17 litre waste tank, full led lights, 110 amp battery & Dometic 3 way bridge. Will struggle to fit second battery but not bothering with Sky through an inverter so will see how it goes regarding the battery.
Didn't bother with solar panel so will fit one myself or use Detroit solar who are appreciably cheaper than getting Devon to fit one.
18' long and narrower than my Swift so should be able to access places that were out of bounds in my Swift.
Saved over £13,000 by going for a used 2 year old van with 15,000 miles on the clock. Delivery approx 6/8 weeks but may be sooner.
I can visit them any time to view progress so will post photos when I do.

 

[Fazerloz]

That's one expensive solar panel they fit and doing it on a new build it couldn't be easier as the hardest part is running the wires in. I would have been tempted to walk away if they hadn't come down on the panel price. Look into air suspension bags for the back. It will transform the way the van drives and rides bumps. Hope you enjoy it when it's done. Look at all your old stuff and if you haven't used it in the last 5 trips throw it out.

 

[Obanboy666]

That's one expensive solar panel they fit and doing it on a new build it couldn't be easier as the hardest part is running the wires in. I would have been tempted to walk away if they hadn't come down on the panel price. Look into air suspension bags for the back. It will transform the way the van drives and rides bumps. Hope you enjoy it when it's done. Look at all your old stuff and if you haven't used it in the last 5 trips throw it out.

Yes going to do that, reckon half of what I carried in the Swift never saw light of day.

 

[Fazerloz]

We spent years touring by motorcycle before we got the van and it does teach you how to travel light.

 

[Deleted member 13543]

Glad you have found your conversion! Now for the fun trying to fit all your worldly goods in it! We are getting there but an awful lot has not gone back, and there is more to go! Still need to fit a solar panel but have managed OK so far by going for a short drive each day. Really love it, and so much easier to get around.
Happy travels with yours, Rob!

 

[Obanboy666]

Collected my new Devon Tempest conversion Wednesday, I've spent 2 days lining cupboards and shelves with anti slip matting, putting in 80% of what I had in my Swift C class and familiarising myself with the appliances etc.
Amazed how much kit I've managed to Get in, not far short of what I carried in my Swift c class.
Build quality in a different league to my Swift and amazing how much quieter it is when on the road.
Booked in for a cat 1 Thatcham alarm on Thursday so going up to Cumbria Monday PM for a Couple of nights wilding to familiarise myself with van and to check how I manage with 1 X 110 amp battery.
New Avtex tv and the Status aerial spot on, up and running with great reception in no time at all.
The tv is their latest version not yet on their website with both sat view and free view receivers built in, as a bonus when I called Devon last week to tell him to fit this latest tv he didn't realise it's more expensive then the original to the tune of £50.00, naughty me !

Will post photos when I get time.

 

[RSD7a]

..... a few years later

After sniffing around Devon Conversions for a while, we're off to visit again to check out a 1 year old 10k miles Citroen Relay on Friday and assuming it's ok we will set the ball rolling for it to be converted into their Arizona model. I'm impressed with their Arizona front lounge design, with no furniture to clutter the view from the side sofa through the open sliding door. Its taken a while to find an affordable similar design to replace our trusty and brilliant Murvi Morello which are now out of our price range. The Devon offer of putting new conversions on nearly new vans gives exceptional value in my mind.
I'm also wondering how Obanboy666 has fared with his Devon since purchasing it.

 

[Deleted member 5816]

He has sold it and bought a Pilote Pm him

Alf