L4 350 Feasibility Check 4 berth conversion

[mesoiam]

Hi All, First proper post here apart from the hello.

Currently in the planning stages for a DIY conversion. Based in Newcastle.
Plan is to get an L4 Jumbo and convert it myself for me and the wife and two kids currently 2 and 5. Was originally thinking the L3 for better mobility/availability but then I looked up how long the toleno we hired was and thought again, I don't want to be scraping around for space.
Probably visiting campsites around UK and closer parts of Europe, no crazy trips to Bulgaria or anything. Aiming for a layout similar to the Roller Team Toleno R, which we hired a few years ago and enjoyed https://lunamotorhomehire.co.uk/4-berth-rollerteam-toleno-r-motorhome-hire/
I've got a decently sized driveway so can do all the work there.
Rough plan:
Remove bulkhead
Rustproofing
Remove double passenger seat and replace with single so we can walk into cab, possibly also a drivers as a few threads suggest drivers seat is easier to get?
Put driver and passenger on swivel to face folding table
Add two second row seats for the two kids
Electrics, plumbing, heating (diesel probably)
Bit of a kitchen, maybe embed a camping stove to avoid need for gas plumbing?
At the back add two double beds, perhaps the low one could be split to give the kids two separate 'rooms'
There must be a toilet as one of the kids has extra toileting needs and don't want to be leaving the van for that, maybe a roller door on this as I saw one and it looked nice.
Not too bothered about a shower, we can do that at the campsite or get a hanging one.
I'm hoping to spend about a year on it and be able to hit the road next summer.

The big questions for me are:
1. Crossways sleeping doable for my height? 5'11 1/2. I guess it depends on insulation and cladding?
2. Adding the second row seats, a few have done it, any legal requirements I need to look out for?
3. I'm going to see a van on saturday that really looks the part 2.0 350 EcoBlue RWD L4 H3, any tips on avoiding getting a bad deal?

The van I'm looking at already has windows and skylights so will save me the trouble and expense. There is also a tail lift but I'm hoping that will be easily removable and someone would buy it. I'm kind of bricking it going to view, what can I ask for test drive wise? Do they let you take it away for a while yourself? What should I be looking for in particular with that model?

Any help and advice would be appreciated, I'm hoping to maintain a proper progress thread when I get started. Thanks!
John

[dumper]

If the van you are looking at falls through and depending on your class of license the 460 minibus is a good base choice a lot come with single front seat power step fully lined out all you need to do is insulation behind it you could remove all the seats you don’t need .
Possible bad point too many windows and some have rear aircon witch may need removing and they do have a speed limiter and a taco witch I did remove on mine when I got it logbooked as a camper

[mesoiam]

Thanks for your reply Dumper, I've just checked https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus
and it looks like I can drive a minibus but only up to 3.5 Tonne MAM. So I think that would rule out the 460, unless there's a way to reduce the Max Authorised Mass on the registration once its converted? I'm not 100% sure on this

[dumper]

Yes you need a7.5. Class license for a 460 as I’m old enough to have that class license already plus a HGV license now I’m over 70 i have to renew every year with a medical and looked a derating my van but it would be close to the 3.5 limit and mine is a very basic setup my previous van was a 3.5 jumbo and sometimes loaded for a weeks holiday it was overloaded that was the other reasonI got the 460.

[mesoiam]

Wow I never considered I'd be hitting the 3500kg. So it's easy to end up adding 1200kg of stuff and people? Thank you for the warning, maybe I'll take it to the weigh bridge when I first get it and keep an inventory of all that goes in.
Do you have a local weigh bridge and are they expensive to use?
Edit: also do you have a thread showing off your jumbo conversion?

[dumper]

I’ve had mine on two weight bridges one didn’t change me and one was about £10 if you just google public weight bridge you will get a list of your local ones .
I don’t have thread on my van but this is how it’s done I use it for marshalling on car raillys it has up front two swivel seats a kitchen unit on the drivers side with hob and sink there is a bulkhead with a door that just In front of the sliding door that leads into the bedroom that has two single beds overhead lockers one each side then another bulkhead with a smaller door to access the rear storage area that has shelves that contains fishing gear and rally equipment it has a 4 m wind out awning on the passenger side .
My set up wouldn’t suit everybody it’s mainly used at the weekend and the odd week in it but it’s built to what I need
It has a night heater that runs off two 125 amp batteries 10 g water tank 3.5 kg gas bottle the dry weight of the van mineable add blue and diesel is just over 3000 kg in comparison the mk6 jumbo with fuel/water would be over half a tank of each and most of what I carry for a weekend trip was 2850 kg most of the difference in weight between the two the mk8 being a heavier base van and the awning on the side as I transferred the mk6 into the mk8 the only difference between the lining and the two bulkheads i.

[mesoiam]

All good stuff, thanks for taking the time to describe it. There's so many possibilities!

[dumper]

If you do a search on here John Porter has done a conversion on a bus as well