To buy or to build?

[Pudsey Bear]

The key question ... how wide are the beds? so if the width is 1800mm, take off 400mm for the walkway and leaves 1400mm = 700mm per bed.
2 foot 4 inches per bed is ok I suppose but bit cramped IMO. And if you have a 600mm walkway you are down to a 2' bed. That is definately cramped.

Maybe that is fine, and when these motorhome manufacturers like to quote all the 4 foot beds as doubles, then maybe 2' 4" is considered even spacious? (but I don't regard their "doubles" as doubles personally).

I take your point David of course you are correct but you have to work with what you have, the beds in the van we have now are singles and approx 24inches and we're both in the 17-18 stone range, but ou bed at home even though it's a super king only has two three foot mattresses most of which we don't sleep on so we manage fine, turning over is an art form but not a biggy.

Of course when we built the van we were both more able to clamber over and now and then stop on the way back, but you can see the length in the pictures above and the bed was less than six feet wide, near 5'6'' and why we sold the van as they were just too short as singles.

 

[Vanterrier]

My IH Tio is 6.3M long and the rear lounge can be made up as a transverse double or two singles with plenty space between. The layout and conversion suits our needs perfectly, there's honestly nothing I would change, so it is possible to find your ideal van depending on your requirements.
It would be a lot quicker and simpler to buy a professional conversion and I would think the resale value of a good and well looked after van would be higher than most self builds (obviously I have not seen your workmanship so can only generalise)
Good luck, whatever you decide.
K
See Tio layout below:

Google Image Result for https://www.harbourcreek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IH-Tio-R-layout.png

 

[mark61]

Not full-time. I have the space, the time, and the tools and ability to build one. The main thing is a home built a good plan?

Having the time, space and skills certainly makes the idea of a home build more promising. You get to choose everything, lightweight yet strong materials, make and model of everything needed, bigger choice of base van, I mean no-one gets a Sevel van out of choice. I'm joking.

Wouldn't bank on saving money though, can still cost a small fortune unless you go round hunting for bargains, which can take a lot of time.
A MH from a known convertor will always sell for more, second hand, even if they come no where near to matching quality of a good DIY.

Two single beds no issue, unless you expect a dance hall worth of space between them.

Would still take a good look at the specialist convertors though, depends how much value you put on your time I guess.

Murvi seem to be a firm often forgotten, don't think I've ever met a Murvi owner who has anything but good to say about them.
Some good layouts too.
https://www.murvi.co.uk/

 

[wildebus]

When I think of a layout that I would like with single beds, I picture the van from an ex-Motorhome member, namely an Eldiss Autoquest 185 (think it was the 185?). that had two beds to the right of the habitation door, but importantly (as this is my preferred layout) a walkway in the middle to the rear bathroom.
That layout dictates a minimum width (as it also has to accommodate a doorway to the bathroom.

Fitting in two beds AND a usuable walkway is why I think having those things - and having them usable - is why it is a tall order on a panel van conversion.
if others say you can have two singles and plenty of room in-between in a narrow van, then great but my tape measure says different

 

[Fisherman]

Rr

When I think of a layout that I would like with single beds, I picture the van from an ex-Motorhome member, namely an Eldiss Autoquest 185 (think it was the 185?). that had two beds to the right of the habitation door, but importantly (as this is my preferred layout) a walkway in the middle to the rear bathroom.
That layout dictates a minimum width (as it also has to accommodate a doorway to the bathroom.

Fitting in two beds AND a usuable walkway is why I think having those things - and having them usable - is why it is a tall order on a panel van conversion.
if others say you can have two singles and plenty of room in-between in a narrow van, then great but my tape measure says different

you don’t need a walkway David, just enough space to get your legs in sideways to get out of the bed. As I said in my post with the beds curved at the bottom this offers more space there. Also most of these beds can be folded up on their side when not in use.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Thinking about the OPs posts and reading between the lines, if wanted a regular van and with the sale of the house he could probably buy one or at least put a good deposit on one, I feel he's putting out feelers for a self build and would enjoy doing one.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

So long as he doesn't buy a Transit, Sprinter or Crafter he should be fine if he has the skills and is fit enough, I'm sure as a long time member he's also aware of our sister forum.

Home

Motorhome Builder Home Page

motorhomebuilder.com

 

[wildebus]

Rr

you don’t need a walkway David, just enough space to get your legs in sideways to get out of the bed. As I said in my post with the beds curved at the bottom this offers more space there. Also most of these beds can be folded up on their side when not in use.

you do if you have a rear bathroom

 

[n brown]

bunk beds .

 

[Pudsey Bear]

some PVCs do have a rear bathroom but then the lounge has to accommodate the SLD and so you only get a sofa on one side, Like the Duetto. most self builds I've seen have the bathroom behind the driver opposite the SLD, some also have an internal hatch for the cassette removal but I put mine out the side I would hate to have an internal incident with a full cassette.

This leaves space for a rear lounge.

 

[Fisherman]

W

Not saying you are oldish, but a big undertaking, I would not start one now at 65.
I would tend to look for a small ready built camper ready to use.

I agree Trev. There comes a point when your age comes into these things. But if you are doing it for fun, and not in a hurry to get a van, then why not. Horses for courses.

 

[wildebus]

some PVCs do have a rear bathroom but then the lounge has to accommodate the SLD and so you only get a sofa on one side, Like the Duetto. most self builds I've seen have the bathroom behind the driver opposite the SLD, some also have an internal hatch for the cassette removal but I put mine out the side I would hate to have an internal incident with a full cassette.

This leaves space for a rear lounge.

few motorhomes have a rear bathroom, let alone PVCs with one. But .... the discussion was about finding/building a motorhome with the ideal layout - and for ME, that means a rear bathroom (and a PROPER one, not one you can hardly get into).

And for me, this means if I were doing a self-build, it would probably be on a Luton type van for the extra width.

I am not keen on the centre toilet/shower - it makes the middle of the van feel cramped I think and you end up with two sections - front and back - and a corridor to link them together. All down to personal preferences of course. that is just not mine.

bunk beds .

If someone wants single beds, then a bunk bed setup can be ideal

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I agree, we've had two Bessie E745 and a Kontiki all with a rear bathroom, but it is a huge amount of space adding to the length, but in a PVC it's doable, I just think it's waste of space, but if we all liked the same thing they would only have to make one van.

 

[mark61]

Rear bathroom in a panel van. Bigger than many coach builds.

 

[n brown]

few motorhomes have a rear bathroom, let alone PVCs with one. But .... the discussion was about finding/building a motorhome with the ideal layout - and for ME, that means a rear bathroom (and a PROPER one, not one you can hardly get into).

And for me, this means if I were doing a self-build, it would probably be on a Luton type van for the extra width.

I am not keen on the centre toilet/shower - it makes the middle of the van feel cramped I think and you end up with two sections - front and back - and a corridor to link them together. All down to personal preferences of course. that is just not mine.


If someone wants single beds, then a bunk bed setup can be ideal

if you can live with the idea of bunk beds ,and have the room ,then you can have a wider bed ,like 3' or even more

 

[Fisherman]

My personal dislike are bathrooms right behind the driver or passenger. The captains seats are the most comfortable in most vans, and swinging them round to watch tv etc is a must for me personally. Depends what’s meant by a large toilet, but remember the larger the toilet the less space elsewhere. The van we have ordered has a duo space toilet/shower. The toilet for a van is a decent size, if you want when showering you can swing away the handbasin and are left with a smaller shower area. But ultimately if you want a van one foot narrower than a standard Motorhome it comes with compromises, unless Dr Who is involved in the building of it.

 

[Fisherman]

if you can live with the idea of bunk beds ,and have the room ,then you can have a wider bed ,like 3' or even more

Wildaxe do a model with bunk beds. But the use of a ladder may prove difficult for the OP. From what they posted I think ease of access and egress are important.

 

[trevskoda]

My personal dislike are bathrooms right behind the driver or passenger. The captains seats are the most comfortable in most vans, and swinging them round to watch tv etc is a must for me personally. Depends what’s meant by a large toilet, but remember the larger the toilet the less space elsewhere. The van we have ordered has a duo toilet/shower. The toilet for a van is a decent size, if you want when showering you can swing away the handbasin and are left with a smaller shower area. But ultimately if you want a van one foot narrower than a standard Motorhome it comes with compromises, unless Dr Who is involved in the building of it.

Same here with the tv thingy.

 

[n brown]

Wildaxe do a model with bunk beds. But the use of a ladder may prove difficult for the OP. From what they posted I think ease of access and egress are important.

yes ,very inconvenient ,this growing older lark

 

[mark61]

My personal dislike are bathrooms right behind the driver or passenger. The captains seats are the most comfortable in most vans, and swinging them round to watch tv etc is a must for me personally. Depends what’s meant by a large toilet, but remember the larger the toilet the less space elsewhere. The van we have ordered has a duo space toilet/shower. The toilet for a van is a decent size, if you want when showering you can swing away the handbasin and are left with a smaller shower area. But ultimately if you want a van one foot narrower than a standard Motorhome it comes with compromises, unless Dr Who is involved in the building of it.

Yes, that's very valuable space especially in a panel van conversion. I only have the passenger seat that swings round, as I hate people messing with my seat

Another reason I like the Murvi layout with shower/loo at back, but still allows access through back doors, important as with two single beds up front, you probably won't be getting in and out of the side door.