Hi, just posting my MK5 2.5D SWB HI-TOP camper build.

[jnwferguson]

excellent job as usual quick question do you use a mig to weld your stainless steel is it as easy as welding mild steel?
cheers jim.

mk2 camper
mk2 4x4

[dachre]

excellent job as usual quick question do you use a mig to weld your stainless steel is it as easy as welding mild steel?
cheers jim.

mk2 camper
mk2 4x4

Cheers Jim, I dont often use a Mig to weld stainless as i use a Tig for that.

Yeah, the steels are about the same to weld when using the same welding method. So, stainless or mild with a Mig is similar and stainless or mild with a Tig are similar. Just make sure you have the right gas.

Cheers.

[camperconvert]

hi

i have finaly found the time to read about your build from the start and all i can think to say is:-
Absobloodylutely Fantastic

im now so ashamed of my rushed and amaturish efforts that im now thinking about my next attempt at a camper build..... and i started with a relativly excelent base mk4 tranny compaired to what you started with.....

What can i say

Terry

[dachre]

Cheers Terry, thanks for that... ..


Haven't had much time to build the van lately.

But i have got on with the odd job. And the best bit is that the fold up roof bed is now finished.

I put the bed in... connected all the springs/base and mattress... folded it up once... then folded it out once... climbed on it... bounced around without braking the bed and falling to my death... then took all the steelwork apart for painting. So I'm hoping it will all go back together with no problems later in the week.

It did look good tho.... ....


So, i thought id finish the rest of the insulating, ply lining and carpeting above the cab area before the bed goes in.

I used the white eco insulation to fill the gap between the other insulation and the ply panels.

The black strips of cloth that are going around the roof bars are a security measure that will stop the roof bed from landing on my head whilst I'm driving. They're actually old seat belts which i will cut to measure, then re-sow the seat belt buckles back on. So when i want to unfold the bed i'll just release the two buckles first.






I've also put a metal bar with fixings which is the main bed support when folded up in the roof. Although firstly I did spend an hour or two making fancy brackets that tuck out of the way when not in use instead of the metal bar but i came to the conclusion that nothing beats a solid lump of steel which goes from one side of the van to the other.

The grey lights I've used are LED, swivel types which will work when the bed is up or down.






Then i have just put the ply panels back up and then bonded the grey carpet on.

The next step will be to bolt the fold up bed in then finish the upholstery.





I'll take some photos of the bed in place later on in the week....

Cheers.

[ake]

Top work as usual

[Paul 1]

The folding bed is a brilliant idea, great to see it almost complete

[dachre]

Ive had a bit of time lately, not too much..... .... but enough to get some things done on the camper. ...



Finished off the fold up roof bed and chucked it in.





The two seat belt buckles came from my old donor MK3 Transit. Glad i didn't scrap that old wagon cos ive taken so much stuff from the old gal.





To unfold the bed first i have to undo the buckles and the take out the metal cross support.





The bed comes down from the roof and sits on the steel work.





The bed has been folded over itself three times when packed away so its pretty easy to undo. It almost unpacks itself.
This photo shows the second unfold.





And then the next fold will open the bed fully. There's a fair bit of room in there. I can move around without touching the roof and its long enough for me to lay down without the pillow falling off and im six foot... ... so, all in all its probably going on seven foot in there. Its also pretty comfy as most sofa beds are.





This is what it looks like from underneath. There's still a fair bit of room, its easy to drive with the bed down in the unfolded position as there's the same sort of head room as a standard height transit roof..





Im Glad the fold out bed has worked as it was the main reason why i chose the Transit to make a camper in the first place. The next best vans would of been the Mercedes or the VW but both had narrower roofs in a Hi-top and i think smaller all round. I just don't think i could of done the fold out roof-bed modification in those.





Next step was to go for my ICE upgrade........ ( ..Always wanted to say that... ....).

Although it isn't a very big upgrade as i only bought some small basic Sony speakers to fill the standard speaker holes in the Transit.





In the front of the Transit im not fitting them into the doors as they are insulated now so i'll stick them into the plastic panels by the foot wells.





Don't know how good they will sound down there but im sure they'll be ok.





And in the back they will of course fit into the rear window surrounds.






So that's it for the moment. The next thing that im doing is the electrics.

Cheers for everything guys.....

[ake]

That bed is an engineering masterpiece

[dachre]

That bed is an engineering masterpiece

..Haha.... .... All i can say is that im glad its done.... and i can move on to finishing off the other things cos it was becoming a pain..... I thought it was going to be a lot easier... who knew the bed would become the most difficult thing on the whole camper project to build...... .....

Im starting to understand why those new proper professional campers sell for thousands.... its the build hours that go into them i guess...


Cheers ake...

[lostpaul67]

ideas crafted with skill and precision, well impressed with that bed
Gotta see this baby when it's completed

[dachre]

Cheers LostPaul, im still hoping to get it done soon so i can give it a good driving around the UK this year and hopfully some Transit meets.... .....

Cheers....

[Paul 1]

That bed is a fantastic idea, As of the rest of the van youve made it it perfectly aswell

[Luke]

That bed is an engineering masterpiece

not half

[Ucof]

Any update on this?

[jizm]

Excellent thread, looking forward to the next installment....