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

[madbri]

well if ure into painting as i beleive uve mentioned exerter sea front wild camp is lovly looking at the durasic coast lines with red skys. my fav place

[dachre]

Cheers Madbri, that's one of my fav places as well. 3 things I'd like to do with the van first is, all along the south coast, Lake District and go visit some places in Scotland.


Well, I've picked up an end-of-roll bit of grey carpet from a friend of mine for the van floor. I'm going to use the original beige carpet as a cutting template and I'm also going to get the edge of the carpet sown/trimmed to stop it from fraying. Hope that isn't too expensive, but I've seen that done a few times in a contrasting thread and it looks nice.

Also picket up a potable Fiamma loo. Not going to travel with it in the van all the time but I'll make a box for it to sit in so it can match the rest of the interior. Never know when you are going to need it I guess. I've got a bit of upholstered foam coming for the top of the Fiamma loo box so it shouldn't look too out of place. I imagine it looking like a footstool.








And I've picked up a spare set of seat covers, arm rests and head rests for my cab seats. The plan is to make the new cab seat upholstery with the matching tartan and silver/grey material from the back bench seat using these new covers as templates. That way I can take my time making them without taking the van off the road.

The only snag is that my cab seats only have one arm rest each and I would like to fit these spare arm rests to make them into proper captains chairs and I may have to dismantle the cab seats totally to weld some brackets in there. But If I'm right and Ford made some of these Galaxy chairs with 2 arm rests from Factory spec there maybe brackets already there when I lift up the seat overs on my cab seats..... ...... Or am I hoping for too much?.... ...








Anyway, I do like this Upholstery lark. Its one of the only times I don't get covered in oil, grease or paint whilst working on the van. I'm staying clean!

Cheers Guys......

[rover]

I took a Galaxy for MOT last week, that was a 53 plate and had dual arm rests on both the drivers and front passenger seats

Hope your luck is in!

[supersport]

more than likely they do have holes both sides as it save's having to make a different seat for the ones without arm rests.
run your hand over the bit where the arm rest is meant to go and see if there is a hole already there.

[zegalote]

Truly inspiring your work. Everything is very good.

I'm about to start recovering my swb. And this just gave me more will to start as soon as I can... Today!

Also want to fit a hi roof top. I can't find a donor vehicle so I might have to build one. let's see.

Best regards.

[dachre]

Made the Fiamma porta loo box.... or the crap box as I like to call it.. ..


Simple stainless frame with some ply stuck on it.







Then stuck some wall carpet on it so it matches the rest of the box seats.







The top section is hinged but it's also attached to the front section. So when the top is lifted the front lifts also. This is to gain access to the control parts of the loo which are also at the front.





If I do take the crap box with the camper it can be situated right at the back.







Or behind the drivers or passengers seats.







But I have been waiting for the Foam seats from The Foam Shop to be made. In the entire campervan project these are the only items that had to be made that I haven't fabricated for the camper myself. So I was glad when I got the call to come down to Taunton and pick them up and see what they looked like....


I was hoping that they'd look like my initial drawings and I think they've done a fab job of that.







Its a modular system so all the cushions, arm rests and other bits and bobs can move around.
The arm rests can also go at the back door for a back support, ect.







The small foam square section fits on the little box I just made to create an 'L' shape sitting arrangement.







And if you take the little box out from the back of the van, a walkway right from the back doors to the front of the van is created. This walk-through idea is something that I've always wanted but its taking a lot of work to produce........ I've had to level the floors up, move the handbrake, ect..... But it works great and when the front seats are turned around it makes a nice uncomplicated living area.







The other idea I wanted to create is the largest fold out seat-bed I could. So I've utilised every square inch and kept all the sides of the van as flat and unobtrusive as possible when designing and building it.

From the side of the van to the kitchen unit and from the back of the van to half way up the length of the side door. This gave a size of 4'2" x 6'4" or 1260mm x 1920mm approx.









And the good thing about the modular seating system is that you can do different things with it.
In this example I've left the back seat-bed out and made a large 'L' shape sitting area at the back of the van.






And I think we really are coming to the very end of the campervan build...Its just curtains and a few other bits and bobs left to do.... ....

I've just parked the van up for the worst of the winter so I'll be in no rush to finish.... but then I don't think I ever have been..... .....







Cheers guys.....

[rover]

Superb work as always

[Honey monster]

WOW, What a build,Top quality work,Very nice.
Thats the best crap box cover ive ever seen.

[matthew2riches]

That looks one crappy loo!

I hope you get the use out of it to justify building it

[AndyJ2506]

that looks awesome. Love it

[TIMO]

ive just sat and read all of this thread...fantastic work mate i reckon you could do with a medal both for your hard work and your patience...WELL DONE YOU !!

[andy 63]

brilliant project , fantastic work and effort gone into it. thanks for a great read. regards andy.

[dachre]

Cheers guys.. ... Thanks for the comments...

I'm still looking into getting the front seats upholstered to match the rest, It'll be good when Its all matching.
Also, I'll look into putting a TV of some sorts into there somewhere.

I guess this is the fun side of building a camper, no banging, cutting, welding, oily mess, ect, any more..... just deciding upon upholstery materials and modern campervan gadgets........yeay...... ...

Cheers guys.... ...

[spikefreeway]

Dont forget though if you are off to the Highlands and Islands you will need a DVD player or freesat receiver as there will be no tv signal.
Your van is looking really really good.

[greek]

Class job Dacre, be nice to get out & use it