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

[Altransit]

Nice work, great pics and a very pleasureable read

[Tran59]

Fantastic work and thanks for sharing. The only thing I'd be worried about is not getting back the hours you have spent on the immaculate interior before the rest of the van packs up. Pity it's not a 1- or 2-year-old Mk7...

[Nadjenka]

Fantastic work and thanks for sharing. The only thing I'd be worried about is not getting back the hours you have spent on the immaculate interior before the rest of the van packs up. Pity it's not a 1- or 2-year-old Mk7...

What are you talking about?? Are you sure you read the whole thread?? Have you seen the immaculate condition of the bodywork he's done before he started with the interior? And the engine - that will be still going strong in 20 years Undestroyable (almost) if you don't let me drive it...

[Altransit]

Undestroyable (almost) if you don't let me drive it...

I'm saying NOTHING

[dachre]

Cheers guys.. ..

I could of spent some money and bought a decent mk6 for the base of the camper build but I really have had a lot of bad and costly experiences with them.... fuel pumps.. bearings... on and on........

The whole idea was to rebuild the free MK5 I had so it would last a good couple of years (6-8 years) without spending much money on the shell.... and spend the money on camper items that can be used on this mk5 and then changed over to a reliable mk7/mk8 or some other type of van later on.

That's why the kitchen unit was made from stainless, so it can be dragged out and slotted into a new van in a day. Same with the seats, roof bed, water tank, air suspension, ect.. that stuff wont take long to fit into another van. I've also designed all the campers 12v electrics independently of the vans electrics so they can be taken out or isolated. For example, the leisure battery's earth doesn't earth to the vans body directly, it has an insulated earth where all the camper electrics earth's run back to. So the complete loom can be taken out and put in another van, ect.

The cupboards have a metal frame that is welded to the van's body so would be hard to get out but not impossible... It's just not easy and I took the decision to do it that way because the cupboards hold up the roof bed so I wanted them strong.


So all the stainless parts that I've built will last a lifetime and as long as I look after the other bits they should last too.

So, I don't think it would take long to build another camper out of the parts from my mk5 in some years to come.

Cheers guys....

..oh,... Nadjenka, you can drive it whenever you want....

[madmark]

mate a big well done its looks so good ,all the work you have put into it ,and made it into a proper camper!!

[madbri]

..oh,... Nadjenka, you can drive it whenever you want....


nadjenka is very busy at the moment and ask me 2 post this reply il borrow it nxt easter 4 7 days many thanks

[G40GES]

HARDCORE YOU KNOW THE SCORE
.............................................................
Mr D ive jusy read your first post and i think i know im going to enjoy this ... but its going to take a while for me, yet untilll then i hope you find your perfect vista!
Regards! Gadge

[big mk5]

really well done on the build.....theres a few people on here who should be classed as the a team ...and you are defo one of em ...nice

[kirk2pac]

Simply WOW

[screechowl]

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.....

Absolutely amazing! So how long did it take you from start to finish?

[Muttley]

Fantastic work, its a really professional looking van

[rachelemily]

Wow looks (better than a) professional!

Happy camping in the summer

[spikefreeway]

looking forward to seeing this van out and about in the Highlands this summer

[madbri]

just done some xmass day reading where you been dachre??? hows ure van??? any up to date piccys??