Looks like your doing a cracking job. It's going to look great.

 

Time for an update...
We've had windows fitted by Ultimate Transporters in Birmingham. They've done a really nice job, I'd recommend them to anyone.

I finished off the insulation on the walls...

Then drew up and cut out 4mm ply panels for the sides.

Then I set about carpeting with Megavanmats silver carpet. I've spent hours trawling the forum for hints and tips, I wouldn't have even thought about attempting this if it hadn't been for this forum so thanks everyone!

The carpeting day was daunting at first but once I got the hang of it I actually quite enjoyed doing it. My knees thought otherwise though!

Today we visited AJC Conversions in Glossop to pick up a 12mm one piece floor. Andy and the other chaps there couldn't have been more helpful and the floor looks great!

Tomorrow I'll be carpeting and attaching the side ply panels and continuing the bed build.

I ran a time lapse while I did the carpeting so here's a whole day's work in two minutes. (I haven't quite sussed out the video software/youtube yet so excuse the poor quality.)

Comments welcome.

Peter

 

Trying again with the youtube link. Not sure why I can't edit my post?

Peter

 

Today I got the back side panels carpeted and mounted. Coming along nicely now.

Peter

 

It’s been ages since I put any photos on here so time for a catch-up.
Firstly the floor had to come out to batton and insulate the floor.

I stuck some acoustic underlay (eBay bargain!) onto the underside of the ply floor.

I had loads left over so we stuck it all over the recesses in the floor. Probably went a bit overboard on this!

Floor back in and screwed down onto the battons. I gave it a couple of coats of yacht varnish beforehand, almost looked too good to cover at this point!

I put Megavanmats vinyl flooring down (used the floor as a template and very carefully cut it out) and the rear threshold strip and kombi step finished it off nicely.

I installed a battery under the driver’s seat, just to power some LED lights.

Then it was time to crack on with the bed build. We decided on an L shaped front to back layout so we’d have plenty of space to lounge out in the evenings while we’re away, rather than being perched side by side as in the usual layout. I designed a pull out section to make a full size double bed.

More to follow...

 

Great build thread! Look forward to seeing more pics!

T:

 

So, the furniture build continues...
I've used Ikea cupboard doors and drawer and scratch-built the frames. The ends of the cupboards and bed are cut down Ikea doors. I've also fitted VanX curtains. They were a bit of a pain to fit but we're really pleased with them now they're up.

I've fitted individually switched LED strip lights and installed a 12V point for phone charging. The lights are a bit bright so we might rethink those when I get around to sorting the ceiling properly. The worktops are cut down Ikea doors.

We bought a foam mattress from Ikea and cut it to size with a bread knife. We picked up a huge pair of fairly heavy curtains from the bargain bin in, you guessed it, Ikea! My sister expertly turned these into cushion covers.

First camping trip was to the Air Tattoo at Fairford

I fitted my Oztent with caravan connector onto the camperesentials bolt-on awning rail. This worked really well.

 

looking good mate

 

The van as it is now...

I've fitted a push-to-latch catch on the drawer as it kept flying open while driving. Cupboard door handles will follow when I get around to it.

On the side cupboard I've fitted wide-opening hinges at the top so that the door lifts right open for access or sits out as a table.

I was planning on a swing out leg to hold the table up but ran out of time so this leg was a last minute temporary fix but it's surprisingly sturdy.

It's not finished yet, it still needs the back doors carpeting, shelves making and the ceiling sorting etc etc. We weren't fussed about having a built-in cooker as we wanted to cook outside when we could. I was hoping for a smart but simple conversion and I think we have achieved that!


Then we set off to the Outer Hebrides for two and a half weeks. Suddenly the hard work and headaches were well worth it. This is what it's all about for us, we're not bothered about the lack of bells and whistles and shiny bits, we just loved the freedom and wildcamped in some absolutely amazing places.

Peter

 

Amazing work! like it. T:

 

Looks great - Highlands and Islands are still very high on our must do trips.

Like the Oztent thing - never seen one like that. Might look those up!

 

Looks really good - like your attention to detail!

 

that is truly beautiful!!! a credit to you and simple , clean, useful. its about one of the nicest ive seen. well done.A:A:A:A:

 

Thanks for the comments everyone, glad you like it!

Peter

 

I really like this, you have done a great jobA:

 

Brilliant, clever touches and what looks to be carried out to a high standard Nice job

 

Yes, I agree also. Simple but very stylish and practical build.
Well done A:

 

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your kind comments T:

 

Hi There, Beautiful coloured bus and great conversion. Your attention to detail is spot on! A quick question about the bulkhead removal. I'm just starting out on my project. The first thing I need to do is remove the lip left on the floor from the bulkhead bracket. Do i have to take the seats out for this? I was going to borrow an angle grinder, but I've never used one before. So you managed to remove it without a power tool?
Love the varnished wooden floor. Thinking of glueing narrow strips of ply to the existing ply lined floor then varnishing.

 

yes, very smart & clean looking interior, the material colour & stripes increase the feeling of space & light
like the little ideas like the table/mug mat etc, we love our little personal features like non-slip on the work surfaces as we're a lot less tidy

any irritations with sliding the bed in & back? what bed length did you manage in the swb with that front unit?

glad you're into wilding & enjoyed the OH, better then to be self contained esp if weather turns, but how did you cook/wash up etc?
do you find you've enough storage space?

GL, the hard work done so yes enjoy all the opportunities you've created

 

Black Betty,
Yes I took out the bulkhead frame without power tools. I removed the frame between each weld with a hacksaw and a junior hacksaw then I used pliers to wiggle each remaining vertical part (above each weld) back and forth to fatigue it until it broke off, leaving only the welded metalwork in place. I filed any sharp edges/burrs off and hammerited it to stop it rusting. The floor and B-pillar trims cover it all so no-one will ever know it was there!
I'm sure using an angle grinder would've been quicker but I haven't got one and I'm not that brave!
Hope this helps, good luck with your build.


Cumbria Lad,
The bed works well, it can be a little stiff to pull out but at least that means it doesn't rattle. If I were doing it again I think I'd look at making load-bearing drawers that slide out on runners, then clothes etc could go straight into the drawers rather than than shoving bags of stuff into the under-bed cupboards. That might be build mark 2 in few years...
The bed is a full size double so about 133x190cm, with the corner cut out so it goes right back to the back doors. The front cupboard is 40cm wide.
We've been camping in a smallish tent for years so we weren't too fussed about facilities inside. We cooked on a camping stove on the front cupboard or outside. Even if we had a built in hob then we'd need the camping stove as we do like our fried bacon and sausage and there's no way we're cooking that inside the van! I'd rather have a built in sink, that's something I want to look into at some point. Currently it's a case of a washing up bowl on the flip-up table.
I guess storage space is always going to be an issue but with careful packing we managed absolutely fine. The only thing we didn't have space to stow away was the duvet and pillows, which must be pretty standard I should think!

At the nec show last week we surprised ourselves by being quite taken with the Leisuredrive high roof. We're not too concerned about being trendy and the extra space this brings looked brilliant. The pop tops look cool but I think they're ridiculously expensive for a completely un-insulated single skin canvas addition with no extra storage.
I see you have a high top on your van, any thoughts regarding this? I like the current inconspicuous look of mine and it's a daily driver but I can't think of the last time I went under a car park barrier so I'm in two minds at the moment.

Peter

 

thanks.
the mrs had the stand up problem in tents, esp if backpacking
would never swap from a hightop (is a leisuredrive), so much permanent storage at a convenient height, esp great as you get older & less supple & you can stand normally. + a greater feeling of light & space, warmer & more secure for wilding, much of which you don't get with a pop-top.
we've had very few problems with height barriers or effect re wind or mpg, so fine for us as a daily as well.
actually feel good being somewhat different, & fewer "it's a van" associations when wilding (or suspect on sites) as fairly obviously campers

 

Thanks for that, certainly something we'll have a think about.

 

Peter, the van looks amazing! Truly am loving it. Hope you don't mind but I'll be using your video and an idea or two from you when I get to carpeting and kitting out my van. Very inspiring T: :clap

 

Thanks Matty, I hope thread will be of some use in your build.

I've been looking out for a single passenger seat for a while now to replace the uncomfortable double, and last week I won a seat and base on eBay. I was planning to put a new cover on as the old one was badly stained with some sort of oil.

I set about stripping the seat and cleaning all the plastic parts, then decided to wash the covers with some Vanish powder and carpet cleaner just to see what happened. Amazingly they came up completely clean!

A few photos...

Before and after...

In the van now with a Sportscraft swivel, it's really opened up the interior and of course is way more comfortable than the double seat!