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Hi all, I have been around a bit but never posted much... so here's a big 'un! 😀
Bought this:
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And put in a LOT of time and graft... Now I have this:
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6 foot long in the back so the bed is long enough, as a 5 ft 6 girl its perfect for me!
Bed folds away when I need to use the full van...
[img] 
[/img] But can be a single bed or bench and pulls out to double when needed 😉 (Bikes then have to be locked up but thats ok).
This was a learning curve!
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But I can proudly say I did all the work myself and it's brilliant! Going on a bike weekender this weekend to celebrate!
Oh, and the outside is also nicer... the bottom of this is how both sides now look (tough to get the adhesive off!) [img] 
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And the top doesn't quite glow but it was a sunny day! [img] 
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God, another bloody camper thread to make me feel envious 🙁
Great stuff BTW!
Vans are great. I need the space in mine so haven't built a bed in it but use it as a bivvy alternative on foul nights.
nice, I like that!
I keep trying to convince MrsMomo that I need a van.
Nicer than MikeD's 🙂
Thanks all! Really quite chuffed with myself! 🙂
Cupra - that's why I designed a fold away bed! £12 Ikea shelf thing came in useful! 😀
Superb work, I shall be stealing some of these ideas. Loving the Marvel curtains too! 🙂
girl
Likes bikes
likes camping
has own van
likes comics
Has awesome DIY skillz
proposes
Good effort that Enjoy it.
Looks really good, think I need to do something similar with mine...
@Junkyard...
girl
LOVES bikes
likes camping
has own van
likes comics
Has awesome DIY skillz
Is into similarly oriented females...
Turns you down 😉
😀
Again, where's the chuffin' LIKE button??
it was all going so well 😉
Is into similarly oriented females...
Even better!
Sorry - I know that was wrong 😉
haha! 😀
I was going to ask about all the pillows/cushions...
as a 5 ft 6 girl
Ah, got it! 😉
Great work! What units did you use for the downlights? I'm considering some IKEA dioder for mine - 2 in the head liner and 2 in the tailgate to downlight when packing up.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70119425/
One thought, though - no ventilation grates or similar? Or do you just leave the window down a bit?
Looks v cool nice one
@gravity yeah, us girls like our comforts! 😉
I was given the lights from someone who works as a coach fitter, so no idea where you would find similar.
@mogrim no, just crack the windows a bit, going to get wind deflectors to aid this a bit, but have used it as a work in progress a few times and it's spot on. Fully insulated with sticky back foam silver stuff then recycled plastic insulation in the gaps, so doesn't seem to get condensate problems. 🙂
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Very nice.
Strap on the battery might be good. If you did have an accident will it fly?
There is a box over the battery Neil, it is secured under the bed/bench, that was an in-progess shot when I was learning all about electricity in a metal box!
It looks spot on. A job well done Miss W! 😉
Thanks Dom... Mr T? 😉
Magic. Bet getting the stickers off was a complete pig of a job.
Yep @ Kona... that was horrible. Ended up using Nitrous Oxide (?) used to fuel wee rc cars to get it off.... Probably the worst bit of the whole project!
Looks great, well done.
nice job - did you put a vapour barrier over the insulation/panels before the carpet? we had terrible problems with our van when we got it as it didn't have a barrier, the sills were ponding with rusty water after kipping in it, even with vents open! it is 28 years old mind... i just used a big roll of sticky back plastic as it's dead easy to stick on
@ gazc I have been told the sticky back insulation I used does that job, I was advised by someone who did similar before me... Should I worry?
The van looks great, well done.
That lawn needs a bit of work, though. 😉
@ chipster haha... not my lawn! Used to live in a converted mansion and that was part of the grounds... bit wild, rugged and Scottish! The sheep and pheasants liked it though!
May I suggest - get some thermal screens for the cab windows. Also get some bike bags so when you bunk up you can put frames in the cab and only have to risk leaving wheels chained up outside.
sugdenr I have one for the front and will make some for the sides.. yes. good idea for the bikes in front! Cheers!
Excellent work that.
I'd be tempted to add one of those spinning vents in the roof, keep the vent open when sleeping rather than breathing in farts and such, also helps keep the windows shut when the bogey man comes knocking.
Also, in winter, don't be tempted to take used (still warm) BBQ's into the van to keep warm.
It's very WRONG and very DANGEROUS.
8)
@bikebouy Thanks!
I will look into that...
I would never do that... van has a heater, a nice, safe, vehicle specific ceramic one. 😀
Also get some bike bags so when you bunk up you can put frames in the cab and only have to risk leaving wheels chained up outside.
Seems faffy, I'd just get a cheep alarmed lock and a chain long enough to go through something subsantial like the suspension uprights.
skillz
well done
@spoon Was thinking about a less faffy option being to get a tarp and lie it on the seats, bikes in with front wheel off, towel between.
Most of the time will just be me and my bike though so not an issue then!
Like the fold down bed idea.
I used to sleep in a Vauxhall Combo and there was no room for me in the back with the bikes (had to sleep at an angle as the back was about 5'5" and I am 5'10"). I could fit two bikes with both wheels off across the front seats with a couple kit bags quite comfortably. I wasn't precious about the front so just chucked them in but a sheet would prevent most damage.
@ gazc I have been told the sticky back insulation I used does that job, I was advised by someone who did similar before me... Should I worry?
yeah that stuff should be ok, it was just a thought a the pics look like there are gaps between the insulation sheets where air can get in touch with the outer skin. only time and sleeping it will tell if a problem comes up, but worth keeping an eye on as condensation trickling down into the sills will not end well! i used to kip in the back of my old peugeot partner which was just ply lined and its amazing how much condensation it had (literally raining on a cold morning even with windows ajar), so in my opinion better to nip in the bud now rather than later.... enjoy your new toy! 🙂
Cheers Munro, will grab a tarp and do that!
Gazc, no the stuff is stuck to the outer skin, the the ply is on top, so there's some gaps between the two layers but not between the outer skin and ply if that makes sense?! 🙂
My insurance company made it very clear I would not be insured if I did anything like this to my connect.
Impressive work on the van, well done.
sazter meet Emsz, Emsz meet sazter 😉
"My insurance company made it very clear I would not be insured if I did anything like this to my connect."
Whys that then? just get a different insurance company -sounds like they dont understand the question so just said no....
Insurance was only an issue for me if I made any permanent changes, as I have said it is all removable, the stove is a coleman camping stove and all my kit is in plastic boxes under the bench. There is no fixed "bed" as this is a bench seat for getting changed 😉 they are quite strict on what makes a camper and this does not meet those requirements.. so I have to adhere to van speed limits and I am happy with that! 😀 Bring on Kirrie and Dalbeattie this weekend! 😀
@ Pigface... ummm cheers... am taken but otherwise that would have been a perfect setup! 😉
It was because they don't want you sleeping in the van without specific certified heating/gas/electric etc in case you kill yourself in it with DIY facilities.
Probably a non-issue, but if its an early Connect, check the inside edges of the front tyres. There was some minor issue which caused them to wear very quickly and we had a few vans on the carcass whilst the visible part of the tyre was hardly worn.
Nice van though 🙂
Great. A girl thats more of a man than I am.
*shuffles off of a cry, some chocolate and a good book*
Nice work.
One day I will own my camper van. Should have just bought one a few years ago when I had the cast I'd lost nothing on it.
Good work - what gives it away as a girls van is the bin. I've never seen a bin in a man van, well unless you count the van.
Absolutely ace....well impressed with your DIY skillZ!
Love it
Spooky - Cheers, I checked recently, not because I knew but because the MIL's car had done that! Cheers though!
Tom... there, there, want a hug? 😉
PrinceJohn... Not the cushions and curtains, no, the bin! It's made from a beer box if that helps my man points?
Cheers all! 😀 Roll on 5.30 when I can get on the road!
Love stealth campers. Wish our (obvious) camper was more hidden as you can get your head down in more free locations without having trouble. Enjoy that.
Great work, sazter!
(I'm a Scottish 'techie' teacher and what you've done is a great advert for equality, diversity and getting more girls to do more practical subjects at school; I've always said that girls are often capable of better practical work than the boys. My best results in Intermediate Engineering Craft Skills (metalwork) in 2013 and National 5 Practical Woordwork this year... both girls!)
Househusband - Thanks so much!
Design tech was my fave class at school, many years ago now! My final year project was a chair made to measure for my wee sis, it is still going strong and my wee cousin now has it! 😀
I plan on re-building the bed in stronger hardwood, probably over winter when I am not using it as much!
😀
Re-post of the original post as my images went AWOL and I wanted to share them.
Bought this:
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And put in a LOT of time and graft... Now I have this:
[img] 
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6 foot long in the back so the bed is long enough, as a 5 ft 6 girl its perfect for me!
Bed folds away when I need to use the full van...
But can be a single bed or bench and pulls out to double when needed (Bikes then have to be locked up but thats ok).
This was a learning curve!
[img] 
?oh=72c54eb497aeb8b5fe43bdbc6f3c1692&oe=552EF264&__gda__=1428705051_158d8af4f9297efc72457a13095aeacf[/img]
But I can proudly say I did all the work myself and it's brilliant! Going on a bike weekender this weekend to celebrate!
Oh, and the outside is also nicer... the bottom of this is how both sides now look (tough to get the adhesive off!)
And the top doesn't quite glow but it was a sunny day!
[img] 
?oh=83248971ad058ca173f03ef629dbf656&oe=5521E091&__gda__=1429369735_c73611df34452319674f286b4338f2ca[/img]
All warm and insulated and lined..
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And a door puller-shutter...
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Also has a roof now and lights
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Charging socket for phones etc, Readout for the leisure battery and light switches
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Hey, i saw the post on my thread. Im glad you fixed the links as it was worth it. Loving your work. Especially with the leisure battery. How did you learn to do the wiring as currently i have decided not to bother with one but i am going to put the roof on sides on batons so they can be removed easily if i decide down the line to fit some wiring 🙂
Great work 🙂
Great effort!
Stealth all the way for me too, vans are bloody brilliant! 😀
Maybe of interest
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/berlingo-camperday-van-modular-slot-in-units-stage-1
I bought the kit from ebay for the wiring, it came with all the cables and bits I needed, I just added my lights, heater, battery, sockets and switches and some low voltage cable from Halfords. I will see if I can find the link for you mac
6mtr Split Charge Relay Kit 12v 140a Durite Intelligent Relay Ready Made Leads from :
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/simplysplitcharge?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2754 ]simply split charge on ebay[/url]
Pics gone again?
That's completely awesome and I want one
I can see the pics Cyclelife... in the post above, not the original first post.
mrbelowski, thanks, I love it!
Fantastic, very well done 🙂
Great job and very inspiring too,I`m kinda torn as I would love a camper van project but have a Van provided by work gratis,camped/biked/fished out of it all last Summer but would like a project to individualise like yours.
Maybe I just don`t realise how lucky I am ..
Very Nice OP, missed this first time round, a mate at work is on the lookout for a T5 Combi/SWB or a Transit connect to do something similar with.
Having just joined the masses and buying our first MPV, I'm now mulling over the possibilities for the odd weekend of camping in the boot just me and a bike, this thread just makes me want a van so much more practical really.
Ah well it's not happening any time soon, I quite fancy getting busy with the plywood and lashing up a poor man's [url= http://www.amdro.co.uk/boot-jump-camper-car/boot-jump-with-screens-water-bottle-p-43.html ]amdro "boot jump"[/url]...
Thanks all! I was half looking but this van came up at a good price so I bought it earlier then expected, it needed to be a small van as it is my only vehicle and needs to fit in my space at work, anything bigger would not fit! So far have comfortably slept two in double bed mode, and just me with my bike when it is in single bed/bench seat mode. I have a tarp and windbreak that I set up over and around the doors for a kitchen and I hang a blanket over the doorway to keep midgies out. 🙂 I have also taken out the gear and folded the bed away and easily fit 5 bikes in for a trip to BPW, so it is doing the job it was made for perfectly!
Now I just need to fix the wiper as I managed to unhook the spring, damnit!! 😉
gosh, that looks great. How is it cold nights (below 5'C)?
HansRey It is fine, there is a small ceramic cab heater running from the leisure battery that does a decent job of warming the space, and the insulation holds it well, though in very cold weather I use a sleeping bag rather than a duvet.
That's so trick!!
Want one now. 😈
@sazter, thanks a load for that eBay link. Just bit the bullet and bought the kit. But I'll be blaming you if it all goes wrong though 🙂
No all the pics are opening for me. All i see is the before pic and the battery box. Sounds amazing though.
Brilliant job. I love my Kombi, but a stealth van would be much more practical in almost every way!
Can I ask where you got the leisure battery voltage meter? Was it part of the kit from Split Charge people?
I am trying to fit a leisure battery to my old van, and would like the reassurance of knowing how flat it is....
Thanks
Nickc, thanks!
mactheknife you'll be grand!
tymbian, no idea why, sorry!
madeupname I got it form ebay, just a cheapy number, nothing special and just wired it up to the battery, it did have pathetically short wires, about 20mm or so, so needed extending!
Sazter, I'm trying to find out what rating of wire connects the fuse box to the leisure battery. Can you remember what you used? Sorry to pester you
mac, I can't remember off the top of my head, I will have a look after work, but it will have been in the kit. 🙂
Cool, i have just had a wee visit to www.campervanlife.com and they advised 10mm. But if its in the kit ill be happy 🙂