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Vangelina has gone to campervan heaven, she is still running but has been stripped of all her comic book loveliness and is a plain old van once more. In my car park now sits Farah, the high roof, medium wheelbase Movano soon to be beautified and made into a home on wheels.
Once I can get the bloody bulk head out... bolts, bolts everywhere!....
Photo number one of many to follow over the coming weeks and months I hope:
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Looks like it's done a few miles. What is the condition of the engine and transmission?
Good question that ^^^.
However, there looks to be a lot more space in Farah than your other van, which is not a bad thing. Are you planning on keeping the stealth look, or going a bit more camper and adding windows and stuff?
If you need awning rail, I have the URL for a place in Essex that sells it by the 5m for a lot cheaper than most people charge.
i hope your pulling all that ply lining out.
looks like its been very damp - if not still soaked.
Twill smell down the line.
It has done a fair few miles, it was the mechanics van for the fire brigade so has been well looked after, like anything I can afford it's a gamble, but it is solid, runs great and getting it checked over tomorrow by my local guys too. The floor looks worse than it should, it is pretty much soaked in oil and grease so looks very dark, that ply is getting chucked asap once I get the bulkhead out.
I am planning on adding one window to the back, ideally at the kitchen and one or two skylights for extra light and ventilation. I am very interested in getting an awning, so that URL would be great, thanks Willard. 🙂
No problem. It's this place: [url= http://www.keder-rails.co.uk/ ]http://www.keder-rails.co.uk/[/url].
I bought a 5m length of their "Caravanne Rail' chopped into two 2.5m sections. That's about the perfect size (minus a touch of fettling) for the awning rail on a T5. As a bonus, it comes in a 3m cardboard tube which is frickign awesome!
I kept telling people it was a new barrel for my target rifle.
Brilliant, thanks for the link, the awning is low down the list after I get the inside looking and smelling nice but def on the list, it's so nice just to be able to stand up straight in the van, will be luxury to get changed in after riding! 🙂
New plylining will improve the interior straight away.... And get rid of that oily smell. Should be someone near you that should supply and fit for around £200.
At least you'll be able to stand up in this one!!
looks ace, can't wait for the build photos 😀
Just out of interest, have you thought about how you'll be doing the insulation this time around? I did the recycled plastic stuff, but would be tempted to go for the rigid foam sort next time.
Also, solar panels... Get them in now, before you do that insulation...
Chrissyboy - am going to diy the ply again, it's pretty simple, I reckon that although bigger this one will be easier than the connect as it is more square and less weird angles, plus I can move about easier in it.
Cheers nick
Willard, am going for the same as last time, Thermoliner stuck to the skin, acts as sound deadening and insulation, and the recycled bottle insulation in the bigger cavities, I rescued all the soft stuff and some of the thermoliner from the old van.
Solar will have to wait until I have cash for now, but It should be straight forward enough to add later, I am doing all the electrics myself, again, a direct transplant from the old van to start, so keeping things simple... and on a mega tight budget!
probably the best thing you could have done with the old van , it have a very small target market and its market worth was not the base vehicle - which was worth quite little + what ever you spent on the interior.
hopefully not too much gets wasted on the transplant.
done right you'll end up with a much more usable and desirable vehicle should you come to sell it.
trail_rat - yes, it turned out to be the best for both vans as I have a head start on this one with a little extra cabling etc and it's a far more useful space, need to do some measuring but hope to have a garage with a bed over it, small kitchen area, seating, storage, basic again but with everything I need.
Mo(vano) Farah? 🙂
Good luck with the conversion,
APF
Yes Alex, that's exactly it! 🙂 Cheesy but fun! Also it will be taking us Farah-Way on bike trips. 😛
Far-Way. Groan 😉
APF
Bulk head out, this is noteworthy as it was a complete bugger to remove, loads of bolts and rivets, used a variety of tools, beast mode and determination to get it out, but we did, at one point I was smashing through it with my feet through desperation, but it worked!
Next up insulation, thermoliner to go in for warmth and sound deadening. 🙂
A lot of people doing T5s have just used an angle grinder on the bulkhead. I'm amazed that you stuck with non-destructive* methods.
Are you washing it out first? Filling up bits with waxoyl?
*apart from using your feet.
Feet, crowbars, hammers, spanners, pointy things and swearing were all employed, my dremel died of death and I don't have an angle grinder, though my next port of call was to borrow one, I managed the last 2 rivets mostly through stubbornness!!
Yep, next up is pull that horrible floor out and see what it's like underneath, the chassis is rust free so am hoping the floor is the same, as the ply is soaked in oil and grease thats a pretty good chance! Good clean of all the inside with a few buckets of degreaser and then remove any rust I find, waxoyl anything that needs it then insulate floor and walls and new ply down.
It is in the garage now for a once over, as long as that goes ok I will be doing more work tomorrow. Also thinking of swapping the sliding door for one with a window as price wise it seems about the same as buying a window and fitting it myself and should be easier to swap it than cut great big holes in the side and about half the price of a pro fitted window.
Good idea on the slidey window. The only downside to that I can see is not being able to open a window if you are cooking. I also find that having a window over my right shoulder is good for confirming mirrors when on the road, but that is just personal choice.
Sounds like you are well ahead with both vision and planning. Good work! Chosen carpets yet?
If I get the door I have earmarked then the top bit of the window opens, so still good for ventilation, there is a roof vent already installed which I am keeping, and I will be adding a couple of skylights, one above kitchen and one in bed area.
I am installing a reversing camera and my initial approach is to wire it straight in and not to the reverse light, so it is on all the time, acting as a rear view mirror rather than a parking camera, so that will help with the seeing around the van thing.
Carpets I am unsure of, I have enough of the grey from the old van to carpet the struts so will do that for now, then deciding if we want to carpet the ply or keep it wood effect or do something else to it, the carpet on the struts will stop any rattle for now whilst I save/ decide. 🙂
Currently searching for lino for the floor, colour of walls may be dictated by that!
You're a serial converter. Where will this end? We saw something like this cruising through Dumfries at the weekend:
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Maybe you could get a real fire engine to convert next?
Good luck but rather you than me through the Winter in a van. 😀
That may be next bearGrease! that looks awesome, though may be problematic parking in Glasgow!
As for where will it end... it won't! 😉
Are you keeping it in the end Sarah? I'd suggest a workable van and a tent for sleeping as that'll open up the motor for much more use and a tents warmer.
Best o luck with it all, you've more energy than me!
Dan, I have a plan for the conversion and yes, am keeping it, I will have a tent in it which I can sleep in if I choose to.
I don't have a little person to deal with so have more energy than most parents! 😉
The whole winter thing raises a good point. Have you thought about getting a heater in there now ready for the winter? It might be a lot less hassle to plumb it in whilst the van is in bits rather than when it is nicely fitted out.
Yep, am keeping my eye on a few propex heaters on fleabay, going for propex over eberspacher as runs on propane which I need to use to run the fridge and water heater anyway. 🙂
http://www.wired.com/2011/04/a-peek-inside-a-rolling-mongolian-xanadu/
Some inspiration for you. Built by some of my exparents.
Nice!!
Goals!
On the reversing camera, we had one fitted to our camper, its a god send on 7.5 metres. Bought one of the dual ones from ebay that came with a clip on rear mirror/monitor. When in reverse it dips down and when going forward its just like looking in the rear view mirror.
Just had three and a half weeks around the Alps and Finale, 2200 miles in total. In at the deep end for our first outing.
Sounds like a great first outing! Mine will be North of Scotland this weekend if all goes according to plan!
Looking forward to this!
Good news from the garage I got it checked over at, it's got a very recent engine and brand new turbo. Happy with that! 🙂 tomorrow afternoon I'll be doing a quick fix to get it ready for a trip up north Scotland then I'll be doing the conversion proper after that. Happy days!
[quote> http://www.wired.com/2011/04/a-peek-inside-a-rolling-mongolian-xanadu/
Some inspiration for you. Built by some of my exparents.
Pah, get the hooklift model and you can have a selection of pods Thunderbirds style for any occasion (we keep emergency kits in ours, the demolition kit lives in a SWB Zetros).
Quick update - got the van last Monday and was supposed to be going away on Thursday, no pressure then! I had Thursday afternoon off work so spent this time working hard, ended up working into Friday and leaving at 3pm but we had a useable van for the 4 day trip and it all worked out! This was a temporary fix for this weekend away, I will be sorting it all properly in the coming weeks.
She is an ex fire brigade mechanics van so I hoped the damp on the ply was oil and not water.. I was right, it was soaked but with grease, so a bugger to clean but excellent rust inhibiting!
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Finally got all the ply out!
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Sides and roof cleaned and degreased, now for that floor!
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Insulation time - using thermoliner as it is insulation and sound deadening in one, used it in my last van and really rated it so happily using again.
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Quick ghetto conversion - panels from old van (transit connect) screwed in for storage and a bit of insulation, few sheets of ply thrown on the floor and some lino on top to protect it a bit. The ply and lino will be cut to fit properly asap. Looks a lot messier than it was as had to put all the kit in a layer to stop it sliding about too much, the bed is the red thing behind the seats, it is all temporary!
[img] https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNCKZc2xX4Wzzymr9hL9JucC8M2hyBnOXRONKpY/photo/AF1QipPsqGdlh_-DcUSTQBinKzwabNBPhUOHIg9TMauG [/img]
Next up is fitting the floor properly and treating the tiny bit of surface rust on the panels behind the drivers seat.
Images won't work- heres a [url= https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNCKZc2xX4Wzzymr9hL9JucC8M2hyBnOXRONKpY ]link[/url]
I think you're images are set to private. Link gives:
403. That’s an error.We're sorry, but you do not have access to this document.
Is [url= https://goo.gl/photos/5XHhKtkGSwjqstxm6 ]This[/url] better?
Yep, new link works.
Good work on that floor!
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Hmmm... Now they're all sideways! I give up, just turn your computer 90 degrees! 😉
Looks like a good winter project, keep updating the progress. Our next outing is up to the borders for the bank holiday weekend and then the last two PMBA events for Abigale. Its in at the Ford garage today, we couldn't get any air into the cab whilst we were away, had to rely on the windows, turns out it got bonnet vents for a left hand drive which blanks of the right hand drive air intake. it got a bit warm driving back through Italy.
ah, at least you know what it is and sounds like a cheap enough fix. It looks like my new sliding door with window has been delivered so that is next for me!
Nice work on the floor, looks really clean under the gak.What's all the rubbish in the last shot though? Going to the tip?
The last shot is all my camping kit, the white bags are the recycled bottle insulation for the cavities, it was retrieved from the last van, so just chucked in for now. 🙂
We have the same duvet cover.
munro - Ikea, everyone has it! 😉 The mattress cover is an even older ikea one too! 🙂
Anyone have recommendations for heaters? I am looking at second hand propex heaters, my lunatic buddy keeps insisting I need to install a wood burner.. anyone have suggestions for safe heating ideas?
Will most likely be getting a refillable LPG tank so propex is my preference if I can find one I can afford, I am hoping to have an electric blanket too for really cold nights.
Sazter, I'd really say that spending the extra and get and ehberspacher (whateva...) running from the tank might be a better bet in the long term. You'd not need to plumb in an LPG tank and so would not need to have it linked to the cooking bit of your van.
Of course, if you are planning a full-on fixed build with a granite worktop*, then LPG is no bother.
* other worksurfaces also available
I am using a fridge and stove that run off LPG too, so that is my preferred option, after reading up it seems that propex is a bit quieter and cleaner than eberspacher too, and I'd rather run out of LPG than diesel!
My worktop is (in planning) going to be 12mm ply with an alu sheet top layer. 🙂
I would go with a Propex, they are very quiet outside the van whilst an Eber sounds like a mini turbine (especially if you haven't bought a silencer...I have one on my work van). If you are a light sleeper I would install the propex away from the bed, as the blown air noise can be enough to wake you up, I reckon a Y piece so there are two outlets would reduce the noise considerably. Controller near the bed, obviously!
I was watching for second hand but ended up buying brand new, I think a tatty old one was £300 from ebay, versus brand new with all the fittings for £420. And unlike a woodburner, they are completely safe as room sealed.
I have an LPG tank which is another big ticket item, but you could consider a Gaslow style refillable bottle, benefits are cheap LPG from petrol stations, and crucially, only need one tank as you don't need to empty it, swap over to the spare and then exchange the empty. You would just need to budget for the fill point as filling stations don't like you filling at the bottle directly, as the travellers have dodgy adaptors to allow standard propane bottles to be refilled from the pump which is very dangerous as they have no protection against being overfilled.
Spooky - that is exactly my plan, Propex heater, might have just got myself a 2nd hand bargain so we will see. Good call on a splitter and 2 outlets, will see how that fits once I start planning the layout. Refillable LPG was my plan, with a filler port on the side of the van to make it easy and looks like am just filling the on board tank. Away this weekend riding and marshalling in Peebles so hopefully get the electrics sorted next week in the eves and floor finished as soon as I get my saw back. Happy with progress so far though. 🙂
Got a new door which resolved the central locking issue and added a window, saved a couple of hundred quid too!
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Got the ply and lino sorted for the floor and have the bed location sorted, need to get the wood this weekend to build the bed.
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Looking nice and the insulation job is looking tidy too!
Are you going to stick with the 2+1 up front, or replace the double with a single?
Willard - for now keeping the double as it's not too uncomfortable and I like the ability to take 2 people with me, might upgrade to two comfy seats in the future but that's waaaay away, for now we can *just* squeeze through the gap if we need to get in the back when it's being all Scottish outside so thats fine by me.
Oh and before anyone mentions it, the lino is not yet stuck down so its a bit wobbly, I need to fill a few floor holes then glue it all down, so it's just plonked in for now. The bit behind the seats will be trimmed down to the step height once I have it all sorted and in place properly. Tonight I am untangling the existing wiring and making a start on that, hopefully the battery (later to be two) will fit under the passenger seats, freeing up the bench seats I will add later for storage for bulky stuff.
Pulled all the dead-end wiring out of the nooks and crannies last night, lots of it for the old beacons and equipment... now the van is dead... oops! I can get it working by bridging a 500A fuse, so need to check that it is indeed redundant as I believe and get rid of it. OOPSIE!! 🙂 Love learning stuff me!
Also removed the seats and had a good clean up and located a home for the leisure battery under the passenger seats.
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very cool!
Thanks konabunny!
This weekend I fixed the problem I created when messing with the electrics, phew! Also took the opportunity to change the front 12v socket to a twin usb instead, will install the socket I removed into the back doors for my bike wash. Got the leisure battery and split charge all hooked up, small cab heater (temporary until propex arrives) and rear lights running off that. Reversing camera set up on a switch so I can have it on when I like and not just in reverse.
Going to install a 12v socket, twin usb and a 240v in the bed area and the same in the living area. Have run a decent amount of cable along the length of the van to use for this and powering the kitchen when I get to that. Ordered fabric swatches for the curtains and seating. Got the wood to build the bed. It's all happening here!
Great stuff, very inspiring...I just need to sell the car & find a van!
Fantastic. Keep the photo's and posts coming.
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Sorry, good work, looking forward to seeing the end result 🙂
Sazter, I've updated the earlier Trafic thread with shots of my van, finally back on the road:
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/traficvivaro-swb-as-a-camper-will-i-regret-it#post-7147162
Wanna meet soon for a coffee and I'll demo? I saw you on the vmx/jump bike heading down Elderslie St the other day, going quickly 🙂
Hey Gary, That looks ace, very clean and pro! That 24" bmx is my commuter machine, 2 miles each way, well good fun! 🙂 Will have to sort a time to see your conversion, pretty busy just now on my conversion, just got the funds which allow me to get a propex heater, skylight and refillable LPG tank. 😀
I now have van envy... For all my previous plans, I have settled for only a fixed storage unit/half bed and a removeble table in mine. That leaves space for bikes, dogs and random kit. No heater though.
Got a bit more construction sorted this weekend. Holes in floor filled (Left by equipment used by previous owner) then ply and lino are stuck down and sealed round the edges. Constructed the bed properly, 3x2 with 110mm bolts through each end right through the horizontal strut of the van, so very solid, recessed the bolt heads into the wood for a flat finish then some 10mm slats to finish the bed base, these are supported on the three 3x2's so I used thin material for a bit of flex and comfort. Full size double mattress on top of this. Made a start on the garage, bottom shelf for spare wheel then my bike wash and tools above and still room for a top shelf for lighter stuff if I need it. Carpeted the wheel arches using scraps as will be hidden anyway but better for insulation and sound deadening and ply lined the sides above the arches up to the bed with extra insulation stuffed in the cavity.
There was a small bit of rust where the holes are in the drivers side behind the plastic rubbing strip so took that off, wired brushed and sanded it back to bare metal and painted it with zinc paint before replacing the plastic strip.
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In the last week have had lots of stuff delivered, so this weekend is build time again. Need to finish the sofa and start building cupboards and my bike store. Have a gaslow system to install which will then run the stove, propex heater (which also arrived) and fridge (which I still need to test as bought 2nd hand). The job lot that I got the fridge with had the 12mm ply I have used for the garage so far and some cushions, removed the covers from these and they look decent underneath so just need some nice fabric to recover them. Got the fabric in for the curtains which has a retro pattern so just getting a colour match to a solid colour for the seat covers (probably red). As most stuff is running on gas I am hanging fire on adding an extra battery and solar panel for now and see how I get on with the single 110A battery I transferred over from the last van.
Should be lots of photos after Sat! 😀
Looks great
Looks great.
Are there any good resources where I can learn to do this sort of thing myself?
Excellent.
Looking forward to Saturdays pics.
Thanks all!
Rich, I just keep looking up various sites and searching for the job I need to do as I go, but I found Van Dog Traveller to be a fantastic resource, he also has a book, though most of the content is on his site, the book makes it easy to find the bit you need, it was £10 and I am very happy with it. Has given me the reassurance that I probably won't die when I install the gas system! 🙂
That's brilliant.
Thank you Sazter.
Nice going! The bed and storage looks properly solid an useful. I'm impressed.
I have no actual idea what this thread is actually about and I probably don't care.
Nevertheless, the title word is reminiscent of vagina, or vagazzle, which is somewhat unnecessary.
Can't wait till the thread disappears entirely. 😐
Well that has been said before, but it was my van name based on Angelina and Van... and I didn't think it sounded rude until people like you pointed it out... but since we are now discussing it that means it's here to stay for a bit... oops!
If the mods feel it polite to stop upsetting people I don't mind if the title be changed to something like "My van conversion" or whatever, but I think it's a bit silly really to be bothered by it as it not actually rude or meant to be in any way and there are far worse things to worry about IMO.
Nevertheless, the title word is reminiscent of vagina, or vagazzle, which is somewhat unnecessary.
Probably says more about how your mind works than anything.
Can't wait till the thread disappears entirely
I bet you're a right little party animal.
Great thread and inspirational to many, including me, as I'm now considering getting a van to convert.
Keep up the good work sazter.
Thanks Captain! 😉
I have no actual idea what this thread is actually about and I probably don't care.Nevertheless, the title word is reminiscent of vagina, or vagazzle, which is somewhat unnecessary.
Can't wait till the thread disappears entirely
I'm amazed you managed to put your Daily Mail down for long enough to type that. How can you possibly be bothered or offended by that.
Can't wait till the thread disappears entirely.
So posts on the thread and helps to keep it on the front page 😆 🙄
Never entered my head, don't think the title needs changing. Keep up the posting, may even see it on the road when we are up further north.