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Idle musings of a camper conversion for a family of 4 that probably would never happen due to time constraints.
I keep thinking of buying a large van to convert for a big road trip and so think about how I would do so.
Requirements:
Sleeps 4. I think most of the time the sleeping everyone inside would probably be only when moving on regularly and if stopped somewhere for more than two nights we would pitch a awning or tent with some extra sleeping quarters. I am over 6' and sleeping sideways in a ducato is not possible (I had one) unless added those over priced side extensions.
Bike storage. Got to be 4 bikes probably 5 as I would want a bike for fun as well as the dad bike although the dad / mum bike could be outside.
Not coach built. Self built. West country lanes are too much of a pain. I have a hgv license so if I was going to go with something big I would not restrict myself to a overloaded fibreglass 3.5t.
Not sure about a shower room, probably no as too much space.
I quite like the idea of keeping cooker / hob removable as if weather permits prefer cooking outside.
Not a common set up as most conversions are built around couples with sports gear or families without sports gear. So how would you organise it?, what sturdy base van would you use? (nothing too new as it would be out of budget, no euro 6 requirement) any other cool features.
A caravan is what you need! 🙂
Or you could buy a small horse-box - a lot have living areas already built in.
Man hx60
Man HX60? 😂 Not going to be better on the country lanes than a coach built motor home. They're thirsty. There are only two real seats - the middle seat is not sprung. There isn't a way to access any camping space at the back from the cab.
There are load of them available (in various shades of green or tan) in mileage to suit any budget and then you can take it on safari afterwards.
GOogle to the rescue
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/family-friendly-bike-carrying-camper-build/
A caravan is what you need!
Maybe if I lived in north America or Oz/NZ but not over here.
Man hx60
They look cool but wow! Look worse to drive than a vintage tractor.
Mike_D ran an entiore thread on building the van you describe.
I remember that, closet thing I have seen. I think he is my neck of the woods as well.
Other idea have been adding a pop top but they are £2k for a kit!
He's gone full coachbuilt now I think
Sounds like something racevan-style, high roof with a big garage area, main bed above. Highest roof Ducato/Sprinter etc has enough space to do bikes (front wheel off, dropper down) plus a bed you can sit up in above. Sleep lengthways and you've got a bit of storage space at the front end of the garage too.
You need rear seats anyway, so rock & roll bed. Cab bunk as an option if two kids won't share a narrow R&R bed. Front seats on swivels, option for a table between swiveled fronts and the rear seats. Put whatever else in the rest of the space depending on how long a van you go for - a longer van probably would have plenty of space for a basic toilet/shower room. Underslung LPG tank, portable cooker on a shelf on the unit inside but on quick release connectors so it can be moved outside and plugged in an external BBQ point.
(I've spent too long thinking about something similar)
Other idea have been adding a pop top but they are £2k for a kit!
And the pop top owners I know reckon they're a bit rubbish when it's windy.
You need rear seats anyway, so rock & roll bed. Cab bunk as an option if two kids won’t share a narrow R&R bed.
That's good Idea about a cab bed.
I’ve spent too long thinking about something similar
Lol. Me too similar ideas to you but you've given me ideas.
Adria van conversion with pop top? Sleeps 4 and has garage at the back.
Adria van conversion
Some good ideas in there but holly shit who buys these things! For £80k I would rather some shack on a hill in northern Spain.
I have long ponderd this one
for me it would be a LWB high top transit or similar. Build a platform that extends 4 ft from the back - with a dropdown flap or slide out to give a full double bed along the van - the space underneath becomes the bike sorage space. 4ft off the back would still give room for 4 to sit in it. I would have an on board loo but not a shower. i would also go with anLPG conversion then you can run the heating and stove on LPG as well
with any camper its all about the compromise - the bigger than van the better the camping and the worse the driving
@TheBrick's requirements are very close to what I'd want if I was dipping back into a campervan again. I previously had a LWB T5 van which became a full camper conversion with pop-top, but far too small for family of 4 especially if taking lots of outdoor activity equipment. Currently using a massive family tent combined with a dual-cab van but are missing the short/overnighter trips we used to do in the camper - the big tent's not feasible for short trips in reality.
And @simon_g's post very much matches where my idle thoughts have taken me also. Realistically I'm unlikely to actually do anything due to £££, as much as Mrs a11y and I would love to.
I think I understand TJ's idea of extending the sleeping platform to allow lengthways sleeping but without a permanently-huge sleeping area stealing too much internal space permanently. Bikes inside are essential for me but at 187cm sleeping sideways isn't an option. I'd not go full kitchen integration again: good point made above about being able to move a portable cooker to cook outside. Wired in compressor fridge yes, possibly plumbed in sink, but I'd not bother with integrated cooking facilities again.
4 ft from the back – with a dropdown flap or slide
I like that, I have thought similar but had forgotten.
@a11y good thoughts about a sink and kitchen. I often think these are over speced in lots of builds. My fokes have a camper and it came with a oven and a microwave, they wouldn't have chose it but you get what you can in the second hand market but it seem wasteful in space.
I have hired a variety of campers over the years. the one with the best kitchen and fridge was great because you could cook properly in it. the ones with the tiny 2 burner hob made it very difficult to cook properly.
Horse box conversion, mates have done them self build to live in. VW's etc too small for 4 people I'd say and I'm a big VW fan. I'm looking round for a new second hand <!--more-->van so self build all the way and taking my new VW cash to Spain to see about buying a house in the mountains. Loads more fun than sitting on a UK campsite!
Our LWB Sprinter sleeps 4 in two beds with a 4 bike drawer in the garage, no shower but a bench with a hinged lid in line with the rock n roll for a portaloo.
Me and the wife are 5'8" and under so sleep slightly squiff across the van above the garage, at 6 foot you would have to sleep on the R&R with kids up top. At some point I will add a little cantilvered bed extension so we all sleep lengthways. If you want a look around, drop me a message, we can use Whatsapp.
Currently using a massive family tent combined with a dual-cab van but are missing the short/overnighter trips we used to do in the camper – the big tent’s not feasible for short trips in reality.
we had that problem (not with a van) - the faff of a massive tent meant we didn't go away as much. It was solved by simply buying another, smaller, air-beamed tent that takes <10 mins to put up. We've got one of these, because the layout suited us, and have zero regrets - it works really well. We'll be back in the big tent for a week in france in august, but this one does all our weekends now
This place is good for pod ideas: https://www.vangear.co.uk/
I have the small sink/folding burner in my Ford Tourneo and it's ideal for occasional use. Being able to take it out when needed is really useful (it uses "J" bolts to secure to the seat rails in the floor).
I think when this van dies, I'll probably go for a LWB transit (lined/insulated) with a 3/4 R&R bed on sliding rails with pods along the side and move my tentbox classic roof tent over from my current Tourneo.
Would still sleep 4 at a push without the hassle of a pop top and leave the flexibility to use the van as a van when needed. The bulk of the "camping stuff" can also move from vehicle to vehicle.
we had that problem (not with a van) – the faff of a massive tent meant we didn’t go away as much. It was solved by simply buying another, smaller, air-beamed tent that takes <10 mins to put up
Yep considered similar idea: was looking at a cheaper Bell tent style for short trips and overnight stops on longer trips, something that could be put up and down quickly. Can't have enough tents - is there a similar "N=T+1" rule for tents?
Bell tent style for short trips and overnight stops on longer trips
whilst stylish, I've always thought of bell tents as much more of a ballache than a modern airbeam tent - difficult to put up solo, separate parts, heavy, millions of pegs, have to be dried properly etc..
Interesting @Mugboo. Good to hear other have done so.
Horse box conversion,
Well a lwb hi top large van is between a VW transporter and a horse box. I can see it if you want to live in it but not practical for most trips.
Some good ideas in there but holly shit who buys these things! For £80k I would rather some shack on a hill in northern Spain.
Ha, true. But have you seen the price of ANY off the shelf answer? The Adria is only in line with all the other "silver fox retirement plans" you see out and about.
This place is good for pod ideas: https://www.vangear.co.uk/
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I'll be building my own version of one of these for my Caravelle MTB camper build, mainly because I have a very tight space I need to fill and nothing off the shelf will make full use off the limited space I have.Still, I'm going to be fitting in a 50l fridge, double gas hob and sink, plus a removable table.
A gas hob is a must IMO, even just to be able to boil a kettle for a cup of coffee when I wake up without having to re arrange everything!