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So I am taking the plunge and am goign to convert a Mercedes Vito into a camper van for mountain bike trips and surf trips.
Let me see you layouts, know your thoughts as to layouts and things you did wrong the first time round!!!
Cheers
N
Singular Sam is in the process of doing one
My T4 is designed around kitesurfing and mountain biking.
Basically the cupboard at the back has all the cooking equipment in 2 metal ages on rollers.
The rest of the unit is storage and seating - the double ply on the top flips out with screw on legs to make a double bed (8x4)
It works really well for biking as there is plenty of room for a couple of bikes bungeed to the passenger side wall behind the side door.
There is loads of storage space inside the bed unit.
Laminate floor is excellent for sweeping out the mud and sand.
I'm not very proficient with the internetz so let me know if you can't see my photos! This is my Sprinter MTB touring wagon. Toilet, shower, regular bed, hot + cold running water, central heating, 12v + 240v, etc.
It is also my full time home so I can say it is fully tested and well used![url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/57817731@N07/5320297936/ ]can you see this?[/url]
Have you seen this site ?
[url= http://timbrassey.web.officelive.com/campervan.aspx ]Campervan[/url]
I haven't got a layout pic for our 6m lonf Ducato, but it's got a double bed across the back, small firdge / sink/ cooker unit, bathroom, dancefloor and seating area. The front seats spin.
milky - that's very impressive. Struggle to fit my T5 out like that though
Also, I meant to say, if you want any advice then feel free to ask!
[img] http://www.flickr.com/photos/28670397@N05/5477084311/ [/img]
the deck is padded and insulated and the box acts as a suppport to allow its use as a bed. All removable too.
[img] http://www.flickr.com/photos/28670397@N05/5477084981/ [/img]
Milky,
RESPECT.....
Milky, that is fantastic!
Milky, you live in there? Is it on a site? if not, Where do fill and empty?
Cheers guys!
Oh, nickcutter85, you may want to get a mobi wash if you're sleeping in the van with the bike. I'm a tart for keeping a gleaming bike but I assure you that even non-pungent sheep poo clinging to the knobbles of you tyre tread will brew an ambience to turn your stomach by the time morning comes around!
Milky Agreed, thats also what the big bike lock is for as well!
CharlieMungus - Yeah, I live in there.
Nope, not on a site. I'm free-range!
Fill and empty? I assume you mean fresh, grey and black water? Black (being toilet waste) every couple of weeks the wheeled cassette gets emptied down a public loo. It's all very civilised. Grey (being sink and shower water) goes down storm drains. Fresh water is the hardest to find commodity for a travelling man! Many different places. I have been living in vans for over six years so have become quite canny in the art.
Milky and Moses = awesome.
Would love to something like this!! Oh well..
couple of weeks!!?
It does look like the ideal life, though i imagine you crave space occasionally
Ha ha! Yeah, it doesn't smell, even when it get's emptied!
Crave space, no. The world is my garden and I spend nearly all my time riding my bike round my garden! The van is quite spacious and I wouldn't spend the whole weekend just sitting around at home anyway so it's nay bother.
I always liked the Amdro fold up beds shown here
Haven't got the space/money for a van but if I did something like that which folds up seems sensible
Milky's van is AWESOME. It is my dream van.
Hi Milky,
I'm very impressed! I have always wanted to spend a year or two living in a van but could never figure out how i'd pay for fuel, food etc to make it sustainable. I suppose doing something web based, like being a designer or similar would work. what do you do? (if you don;t mind me asking!)
Thanks for all the nice comments on my van guys!
Scottidog - Nah, I don't mind you asking! Ask what you like. As far as work goes I'm a MOT tester and farm myself out to garages that need cover for sickness or holidays and the like.
I stopped work at the end of March though and have decided to have the rest of this year to myself for riding. Van living can be very cheap so if you do it right you don't need to work full time hours or even very often!
Where are you know? Got 2 cars due mot and I'm paranoid something will fail. Shouldn't but I'm worried. If in central Scotland how much would it cost to cast your eye over them?
Good stuff mate, it makes me really happy that someone is doing it and pulling it off. All the best!
Anyone got any pit falls to warn me about when deciding on layout?
Nick
Here's mine:
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I'm not too keen on having expensive bikes on external racks so in this they go into a garage area that can take quite a few bikes, or even a motorbike.
It works great as a MTB transport as it's got a decent shower and toilet and plenty of water & battery capacity (plus I've got one of the little Honda generators) so it's not really necessary to use campsites. It's also got a big double bed over the garage as well as another one above the cab area, so it's pretty comfy.
One day I'll own one one day, if I ever can resist urge for nice cars.
epicsteve wins.
Want one 🙁
Chrisdb:-
Is your van registered as a camper? if not do you have any hassle with insurance, sticking to 60mph and campsites that say it's not a camper so you can't sleep in it?
Epicsteve - where did you get the wheel stand from?
The stand was just one from Halfords. It works well with MTB tyres (although wider ones need a bit of a shove) but not so well with narrow road bike tyres.
Cool - thanks!
campsites that say it's not a camper so you can't sleep in it?
He appears to have windows in the sides, that's good enough for campsites.
:wink:Milky - Total respect to you, bud... You are now my own Personal Jesus™. You're living the dream that the rest of us have, but very few pursue.
As others have said that is the dream Milky! Well done 🙂
Nickcutter85 -
You need to start with working out what you want to put in your van. What you want may determine the base vehicle you choose. Beyond that you need to think about the wiring and plumbing layout at the point you start working out where you might want to put the furniture and appliances. Having a look at the interior structure of a van without ply-lining will show up problems that you may come up against with toilets or water heaters or such that needs to meet the outer skin of the van. Blah, blah, blah, loads more, etc. I put my email in my profile if you want to drop me a line.



