[CUMBRIA LAD]

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

 

[Peter345]

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

 

[CUMBRIA LAD]

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

 

[Peter345]

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

 

[mattymc]

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

 

[Peter345]

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!

 

[Sabcat]

Looks really smart Peter.

I heard about this van from your cousin, Paul. Small world

 

[Peter345]

It’s been a while since I updated my build thread, so here’s what I’ve done since I did…

I’ve remade the ceiling with plywood and covered with headlining from MegaVanMats. I’ve kept the strip-lights but shortened them a bit so they’re not quite so bright.

I’ve added drawers in the front cupboard so it’s easier to get more stuff in and access it.

I wanted the lower drawer catch at the side but the handle in the middle so I’ve made this. I think it might be slightly over-engineered for a drawer catch! (Just need to find a shorter bolt to go next to the spring.)

I’ve put in a mains hook-up and split charge system from Travel Volts. I wasn’t sure about doing this myself but actually it was fairly straightforward thanks to the instructions and threads on here. Consumer unit and split charge relay are under the driver’s seat with two sockets on the cupboard behind.

The van is booked in for a diesel heater fitting next week with Vanhaus in Rugeley. That’s one job I didn’t fancy myself! I’ve made a box/shelf ready for the outlet behind the driver’s seat.

Finally a couple of photos of the van in action, firstly wild camping on the Isle of Mull this summer and then camping on the west coast of Ireland back in April.

Peter

 

[adgeforster]

Nice story and nice work. Good to see a departure from the default layout!

 

[ralfsel]

your Ikea cupboards images convinced me to do the same, let's see how it turns out I:
I like your interior, very warm and light colours.

 

[Peter345]

Thanks both, we're really pleased with how it's turned out. Ralfsel, good luck with your build.

Peter

 

[safetygav]

love the colour and good work!

 

[baarp567]

Top work
Nice layout T:

 

[Sam84]

Brilliant van, love the work youve done.