Self builds

monkeynut

Guest
Im just interested to know how many on here have done there own conversions and what route you have taken?
keith
 
self build

Hi, did one years ago, based on a ford transit. first thing I did was work out what was inportant to me, Well believe it all not it came out this way.
size of bed, seating area,storage,washing,heating,cooking,wc.
The van had to take two people, and in the evening have someplace bar the two front seats to relax, eat, and just talk. I like a good nights sleep so the size of bed was important, The rest just fall into place. There are a few sites on the web dealing with self builds, just search for self build campers, motorhomes.
terry
 
Diy....

We converted an LDV minibus a few years ago, the base vehicle was a local authority community minibus complete with underslung tail lift for wheelchairs.
We used the vehicle for about two years until we realised we needed more space and sold her.
The following images give some idea of the conversion

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/Layout3.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/Layout2.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/F99D2543.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/F99D2542.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/F99D2539.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/F99D2535.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/virgiltracey/F99D2528.jpg
 
dan dare

hey virgil, when you passed on the LDV i hope you kept the dan dare pillows (first citizen of the space age) do you have one with his side kick algy on or even the dreaded MEKON ) !!!
 
muppetry

i just did it again !!! its virgil and tracey aint it !!!
 
wads said:
Hi Terry, have you visited the SBMCC website?
Click to expand...


No, give up selfbuild years ago, but the transit was a great base van, and we did 10s of 1000s of miles he it. I have a Hymer B455 these days, but miss that transit a whole lot. the hymer makes me feel so Bloody old.
terry
 
monkeynut said:
Im just interested to know how many on here have done there own conversions and what route you have taken?
keith
Click to expand...
I currently have a self built camper on an Iveco 35/10
My instructions from 'er indoors' was that we were to have a rear lounge area and everything else was built from that basis.
 
im on my second van but third build ,My first was a bedford rascal panalvan to sleep two over 6.3 and have someware for two to relax and eat your meals !!(used folding front seats as intierer lounge chairs ) and storage/ water tank/gasbottle/ had a folding gally in the back
now im on with improving my rough rushed conversion in my VW type t25
 
ours is a iveco 35/10 too but im looking to go for the longer version and have the bed longways at the back and permently down as its a pain to put up and down all the time ,also the van is just not wide enough.cant complain about anything else as we did 33,000 miles last year with only a broken altinator as faults.
 
paulamy said:
ours is a iveco 35/10 too but im looking to go for the longer version and have the bed longways at the back and permently down as its a pain to put up and down all the time ,also the van is just not wide enough.

Our van is only a two berth, the double bed is made up across the van 5 ft 11 & just over 4ft wide taking just 30 seconds to make up, (ok that doesn't count getting the bedding out ect).

However I helped a friend of mine convert an extra long 35/10 (just over a metre longer than mine) and he has a permanent 5ft 10 x4ft bed at the rear, a fold down single bunk and a pull out six foot double we designed it specifically to be able to sleep 5.

I think if I ever get around to building another one it would be on the ELWB with the bed lengthways but still based on two seat benches as it is now but enabling us to use them as two singles or to have a siesta without having to make up the bed
Click to expand...
 
paulamy said:
ours is a iveco 35/10 too but im looking to go for the longer version and have the bed longways at the back and permently down as its a pain to put up and down all the time ,also the van is just not wide enough.cant complain about anything else as we did 33,000 miles last year with only a broken altinator as faults.
Click to expand...
Ever thought of fiting a VW rock n roll type bed in your van you can buy the hinges from justkampers( little pricy though) i have made my own version that pulls down in less than a min
 
Self builds.

Once youv've built one you soon realise what you should have done!!!
Our second one was definitely better than the first!!
Decide on what you need,go to motohome dealers and look at other vans, for ideas.
Our latest one is a LDV.Fairly easy to convert,straight sides for putting in cupboards. A comfy bed was our prioity, so we bought a slumberland bed settee.Cupboards were from Band Q cut down to size
 
Never done it myself but anyone thinking of it should get hold of an excellent book called 'TRAVEL VANS' by John Speed. Covers everything for the builder and user ! Essential for anyone into camping out in converted vans/trucks

Get it from here -
http://www.travelvans.co.uk/
 
iv,e done four first was in 1969 was a ford thames 15cwt kept for 4/5 years
with a lift up roof 2berth no tiolet.
second in 1975/6 was a sherpa same layout 2 berth lift up roof
third was in 1983/4 Frieght rover sherpa again 2 berth high top and tiolet (porta potti)i loved this one kept for 4 years till some b******d thought he deserved it more than me and it was nicked one night (my avatar)
the forth and current van was in 2004 it is an LDV 40 convoy high roof long wheelbase 3 berth tiolet/shower, electric hook up (never used),all the usual stuff.

they were all used vans the dates are when i built them not the year of the van itself the first two vans were free given by my old gaffer he would let me use the workshop at weekends (coachbuilders)an give us old windows/cookers/trim. from old stripped vehicles. the old feller died then his son took over thats when he lost most of his coachbuilders me included
this last one was done on my drive.
 
I turned an old Merc 307D into a camper (the alternative was to get rid of it as we didn't really have a use for a van at the time) we'd never had a camper or any interest in one but got to enjoy it so much we then bought an old transit coachbuilt.
Had lots of fun with the merc,sadly eventually it just couldn't be kept on the road any longer.
Lots of memories,lots of fun.
 
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