Panel Van Conversions

arthur49

Guest
Hi

We have a coachbuilt at present and are considering a PVC next. Looking at buying already converted from a dealer but the mark up is considerable.

That suggests I may try converting a panel van myself. I have pretty decent DIY skills (I believe) but is there a definitive 'bible' on such issues as designs, suppliers of materials etc? Any hints, tips, links appreciated

Arthur
 
arthur49 said:
Hi

We have a coachbuilt at present and are considering a PVC next. Looking at buying already converted from a dealer but the mark up is considerable.

That suggests I may try converting a panel van myself. I have pretty decent DIY skills (I believe) but is there a definitive 'bible' on such issues as designs, suppliers of materials etc? Any hints, tips, links appreciated

Arthur
Click to expand...

Hi Arthur,
Have never done it myself but there are 3 Haynes guides which you can get from Amazon for £32.00. Just go to amazon and type in motorcaravan. They are going to be my xmas present from the kids:)

Richard
 
go for it.

Hello there,i have owned many campers over the years and its all down to what you need. 20 years ago I started with a basic Vw campers and went on to self converting my own vans,i ended up with a couchbuilt and lived in spain for 10 months.With my experience i have now come to the conclusion that unless you are rolling in money or intend to live in the van permanently why bother with a coachbuilt and all that exspence its a lot of money to spend most of the time on your drive or more exspence if you have to put it in storage.i am now converting a Citroen relay,used as my full time drive , 02 plate,50,000,excellent condition,cost 1400 quid and does 40 M.P.G .I will be fitting a bed,cooker ,sink and a few cupboards,total cost max £2,000,a far bit cheaper than £17,000 for the coachbuilt.If you are good at D.i.Y go for it,you can use the kits on offer but at great expence,remember to buy a van that is under a certain weight so it is the same M.O.T class as a car, bigger vans can be a problem to insure, expensive on ferries and to get breakdown cover,all the best shawbags.
 
Self Build Motorcaravanners Club

Hi

You might also want to try the Self Build Motorcaravanners Club: SBMCC ~ Self Build Motor Caravanners Club

I got some useful information from there when I bought a previously home-converted panel van and wanted to find suppliers, etc. so I could make some changes.

Jane
 
Hola 49er, I've done 4 complete conversions over the years and the main thing IMHO is that you have a determined liking for DIY. I don't think you can approach it thinking you will save money, once you have taken all the hours of labour involved.
Many bods start enthusiastically, and then quickly the enthusiasm wanes, eBay has plenty of part finshed examples.
You have to consider that some insurance co's don't insure selfbuilds, and when you sell buyers are going to be thinner on the ground. Unless the van looks professional some campsites and the like might not be keen on your patronage.
A good place to get advice/info is to join the Selfbuild Motor Caravavan Club.
 
best book i know of is ..travel vans ...by john speed . tells you just about every thing you may ever ask .batteries .inverters ,solar. gas . its all in there . he actually runs you through a conversion om his merc 814 4x4 but every thing you need to know is in this book.
cheers alan.
only ever had one bought conversion that was a devon on a vw years ago . always make my own. cheers
 
It is surprising how much the costs can mount up if you really want to make a good DIY conversion, it's true that you can make a pretty decent van for your use at a reasonable cost but some of the good home built vans can cost quite a bit. I have done a couple of conversions cheaply as I could, if I took into account the amount of hours I took I would have been better working overtime & saved loads of time & money. Other things to consider, a DIY conversion can be more of a problem to insure, it will always be a home built conversion & as such will never fetch as much money as a factory built one no matter how good it is.
On the upside it is very satisfying to make a van to how you want it, you get a good understanding the construction of motorhomes & when you look at some of the professional conversions you can see some of them aren't as good as you might think.
 
You can do your own van but they do swallow up far more money than people realise.
If you sat down and costed in that packet of screws that you had to rush down to B&Q&Q or where-ever because you've run out. The odd connector etc you would amazed at how much your simple conversion adds up to.
I have seen some very good conversions; some of them to a far higher standard than an "off the shelf" model. It really depends on your own skill levels
Have a look at Kell's Iveco conversion. It'll show you what can be done
selfbuildmotorhome.co.uk
 
I just took my 5.4m long self build panel van conversion to Bristol and the Wye valley for a weeks holiday. I'm amazed at the number of places we went where a coachbuilt just wouldn't go. I stayed in a tight parking place on Bristol Marina, a grassy muddy CC 5 van site with limited access and on Kangooroo's drive (as in the forum member here). The last being the tightest squeeze, literally if the van had been 6 inches bigger it wouldn't have fitted! Not to mention the parking spaces in crowded superstores in Chepstow and Ross, where I could fit in a single space 2.4m x 4.8m.

When I had Luton conversion or used a coachbuilt I did of course make allowances and found alternative places to park and turn, but I wouldn't want to go back to those times when I was forever thinking ahead of where I could or could not go.

The downsides to a panel van conversion are of course internal space. You have to be that much more organised. But I do have have a garage design with plenty of space where bulky items can be dumped. Also, fitting out a panel van with it's interior curves is a lot more time consuming than other vehicles. Owing to the lack of space, you have to be that much careful with the use of it, and everything tends to be a tight clearance or require ingenious solutions. Don't underestimate the amount of time you will spend on fitting out and finding solutions to fit in what you need. It's taken me a year and I stil haven't finished completely!

Lastly, I have just fitted a couple of mirror glass bonded side windows and a couple of rooflights (midi heki and fiamma turbovent). There's no other clues it is a motorhome other than those, the fridge vents, and electric hook up point. But I haven't had any trouble with being accepted yet, even on the snooty CC sites.
 
I'd go along with much that you've written. If I holidayed more in the UK short term periods then I would definitely downsize to a 5-6 metre PVC. As it is I go overseas in the winter for about 5 months, and a bit of extra space is well worth the sacrifice of greater agility etc.
All down to horses for courses really.
 
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Yes it depends a lot on where you go and how long you spend parked.

On the road you want it to be as small as possible, and when parked up, as big as possible. Never the twain shall meet!

Also consider usage. My van is great for one full time, two part time, and four dining. A large coach-built could handle twice that and more.

I never used the SBMCC though. This forum has plenty enough help and advice should you need it.
 
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