The conversions started ....

[Appy]

I had a good start in as much as the van had been lined inside 90%, a Floor installed, 12Volt lighting, and side windows
So here's the van before and after decommissioning

[Appy]

My very first job was getting my Kari Tek kayak carrier on the roof, not as straight forward as I hoped because of the low gutter on the Medium roof.
I needed a low profile solution, with the van standing at 2.4 meters tall I needed to keep the upper height limit to below 3 meters with my kayaks on board.

I bolted 50mm Square Ally tube to the roof on 12mm thick nylon bearers using 8mm Stainless nuts and threaded rod, the nylon bearer on the inside spans the struts reinforcing the roof. All the holes were sealed with sikaflex

with the carrier sliding off and down the side of the van it means I can load and unload the boats single handed


I removed all the lining inside to install Wickes insulation. In short it was perfect glassfibre pre wrapped in a foil sleeve.

And left me with a comfortable interior. In this picture you can see the bed traversing the rear of the van, and the start of the kitchen with the worktop

The existing 12 volt lighting had been disconnected, but not difficult to run new cabling, there is also a roof vent fan fitted which is very powerful at 50Watts. A 2nd battery was installed along with a relay activated by a voltage sensing switch. This works really well with the relay activated some 45 seconds after starting. Concurrently I installed the 230 v Mains distribution board supplying just 1 socket. The second breaker supply's the battery charger and is automatically connected via a contactor when the mains is connected.

Continuing .... I've stuck some board down over the cab roof and now carpeted it

Whilst this has been going on my Eberspacher D2 has arrived and the install has begun.
I have a request out to those guys who can give me a heads up on wiring for the Easystart 7 day timer.
(I have to add that I know there will be a diagram with the control ..... however the supplier that dispatched informs me that royal mail decided to send my timer off to USA, it will be a while before I receive it ! )
If you can help it means I can tailor the loom to suit and get it installed.

Best call it a night ... and hope to hear from you re the Control dia.
Cheers Colin

[sc_BK]

I just fitted my airtronic a few weeks ago, I take it yours didn't come with the manual? You should be able to download it if you search on google, if you're really stuck I could maybe send it over but it is quite a big file!

[Appy]

Thanks for that ... but I do have the pdf install book with the wiring diagrams at the back. (which I think you are suggesting I need)

The control I have on order is the Easystart 7 Day timer. (The one on the right )


Which appears different from the Easystart T 7 day timer

There's no reference to the New ? timer on Eberspachers main website


and the wiring diagrams are for the Easystart T and Not shown for Easystart 7 day



I suspect the changes may just be cosmetic, and one unit can be swapped for the other......

If someone can confirm that, I'll be able to crack on and have the cabling installed ready for when Royal Mail get my delivery sorted

Cheers

[sc_BK]

Ahh ok, sorry can't help you!

Nice work on the van btw, posh roof rack I have a couple of kayaks but they're not worth much so I just chuck them on the bars and ratchet them down

[Appy]

Ahh ok, sorry can't help you!

Nice work on the van btw,

cheers for that .... sort of an industrial look; but isn't that fashionable now ?

posh roof rack I have a couple of kayaks but they're not worth much so I just chuck them on the bars and ratchet them down

its purely selfish...... not the boats welfare but mine ! just looking after my back and shoulders

We are off this weekend in the van for a bit of Kayaking ..... keeping my fingers crossed for a bit of sunshine

[Appy]

It's been just over the year with the van which just went straight through the MOT. The split charge circuit has worked flawlessly and all the electrics function fine.
I had a few issues to sort out
1 the remote fobs not working. I asked Martyn at Vantuner to take a look to see if they needed coding ... apparently not. I eventually discovered the 'Receiver unit' above the headlining in the cab pretty well central and towards the back, stuck there with a piece of velcro. just 3 cables enter the unit + - and Data. I discovered no supply. Following the cable led to a plug that had come adrift under the headlining at the top of the A post..... easy fix
2 Windscreen wipers had mind of their own, starting when they wanted stopping mid screen; Eventually sorted by replacing wiper motor and linkage assy. £30 quid on Ebay

What didn't work was the bed across the van ... I'm just 5'8 and it was too small , on my own I could get away lying diagonally but not comfortable for two.
I still wanted to have a suspended over the floor bed but of Rock n roll style
here's what I came up with . First seat up for traveling

[Appy]

Then with the bed folded down ..

[Appy]

The view from the back with the bed down ;

[Appy]

The front seat is attached to 3 sections of "Unistrut" rail which runs on a set of bearings fitted in some heavy Angle iron and is plenty strong to support 200Kgs when the bed is extended out
This is looking from the front and shows how the bearings carry the 'unistrut' rails

[Appy]

There are three "unistrut" rails on angle iron to carry the bed, the 3 uni struts have three straps brazed on to keep them parallel, then this slide assembly bolts on to 3 square tubes fixed across the van. the Sq. tubes bolted to flat plate.

[Appy]

I drew this up in ACAD , and happy to mail it out for non commercial use, I kept it as simple as I could, and used 18mm ply to avoid making frames for the bed boards.
So there are 3 cross Tubes supporting 3 angle irons carrying 3 unistrut sliding rails I made up 2 pairs of custom hinges and bought 2 heavy duty ones, then fitted a large sliding bolt to lock the seat up

Ive strapped a strong bit of Bugie 'lastic from the front seat to the centre rail, this makes it very easy to lift the bed up into the seat position..... In due course I will replace with a gas strut

[Appy]

I used 41 mm Sq Heavy gauge unistrut from ebay 1x 6m length done the job. (about £22 delivered) the unistrut design is perfect, its supported by the bearings both on upwards and downwards pressure, I took the measurements from unitstruts drawings and bought 32mm bearings, but when my 'copy' strut arrived they were too tight so another order was placed for 30mm they fitted fine

[Appy]

heres a short Vid Clip ............. What I didnt mention was that the bed is now 195cms long ( it suited the old caravan cushions I had but it could be extended beyond that)

[slingshot2000]

Hi Colin,
I am just starting to convert my Transit Connect for dual use, I work as an electrician and would also like to use it for some stealth camping.
I have an ikea sofa bed that I intend installing tight up behind my ply bulkhead and would like to fit a small kitchen between the wheel arches, able to be slid out of the rear doors. I think your use of unistrut and bearing could be exactly what I need. I have access to unistrut, would you please be willing to let me know where you purchased the bearings?

Thanks
Jon