My campervan conversion

[loocstac]

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Hi all, I'm at the start of a long process of converting a mwb, mhr 130 bhp mk7 van. Bought it a couple of weeks ago with 117k on the clock and history from lex auto lease. I've stripped out the bulkhead and old ply lining and have cut a new ply floor out and installed, insulated it all with some thermoliner, self adhesive foil backed stuff, apparently it's meant to be really good, I'd like to hear some thoughts on this product if anyone else has used it. Is it worth insulating the floor?
I have 2 side sliding privacy windows to fit, little nervous about doing this but will give it a go! I've started cutting and scribing the ply wall panels out ready to fit once I've made my mind up about the electrics and water.

My main question I have is it worth fitting a diesel night heater, they are bloody expensive but I'm unsure if it worth the cost? I will mainly be using the van for weekends away May - September for sailing events.

Thanks in advance for your answers and reccomendations

[sc_BK]

Nice shade of blue on the outside, is that ex Scottish/british gas?

If you're only using it May-September you don't need a heater - that's summer!

[cjm2009]

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My main question I have is it worth fitting a diesel night heater, they are bloody expensive but I'm unsure if it worth the cost? I will mainly be using the van for weekends away May - September for sailing events.

In a word, yes.

I fitted an Eberspacher D2 to my converted van & It's been well worth the expense. This weekend I was the envy of my Karting mates who were slumming it in non-heated vans as the temperatures plummeted overnight. You might find that a decent sleeping bag and duvet will be warm enough for sleeping, but it's during the other stuff like eating and just relaxing in the van on cold days that you really notice the difference.

You will also need a fairly beefy leisure battery to ensure sufficient power to get it started - this is worth bearing in mind. Basically, if you're going to be doing more than just sleeping in your van I'd go for it.

[Appy]

I have to go witb CJM, it really is amazing the difference to comfort, and while you just use it for summer now, after you fit a heater you find loads more things to do and places to go !
I installed mine over last summer, started using the heater around October and last week I took a 10 day trip driving down france Skiing, living in the van.
More noticeable is how much drier the van is inside..... go for it

Colin

[KING OF ENGLAND]

What sort of price are they fitted ?

[cjm2009]

I remember paying something like 650 for mine, and I fitted it myself.

Luckily my van is a converted ex network rail crewcab that already had the fuel tank bowser / pump and a wiring loom in place, so the trickiest bit was locating and cutting out the hole (about 100mm in diameter).

If you're starting from scratch, you will have to drop the fuel tank to install the pump & fit the wiring loom yourself.

[loocstac]

Thanks for your replys, I think I'll go for it, they are a lot of money but I'm trying to do the conversion to the best possible standard, and I feel the cold. There is a flat bit of floor in front of the offside wheel arch where I've seen them installed on network rail vans. Reading up about the ebers a lot of people recommend fitting inlet and exhaust silencers so I think I'll get these as well.
With fitting into the fuel supply can I not just T into the fuel pipe to the engine? Or does the engine supply work on a vacuum system?
Looking at pictures of them fitted, is there any way of mounting the heater on top of the 3/4 ply I've fitted or will I have to take the ply up again and cut a section out so the heater just goes through the metal floor?

Sorry for all the pain in the arse questions...

[cjm2009]

Thanks for your replys, I think I'll go for it, they are a lot of money but I'm trying to do the conversion to the best possible standard, and I feel the cold. There is a flat bit of floor in front of the offside wheel arch where I've seen them installed on network rail vans. Reading up about the ebers a lot of people recommend fitting inlet and exhaust silencers so I think I'll get these as well.
With fitting into the fuel supply can I not just T into the fuel pipe to the engine? Or does the engine supply work on a vacuum system?
Looking at pictures of them fitted, is there any way of mounting the heater on top of the 3/4 ply I've fitted or will I have to take the ply up again and cut a section out so the heater just goes through the metal floor?

Sorry for all the pain in the arse questions...

Ask questions now, save trouble later

I retrofitted the intake and exhaust silencers. They made a huge difference to the noise outside the van. I'm still trying to work out how to quieten the actual heater itself - It's actually mounted inside one of my seat pods & this seems to amplify the noise somewhat. It isn't excessive & since I worked out how to pair up my macbook or ipad to my sony bluetooth stereo it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of entertainment or conversation in the van.

I think you can run a T-piece but it may be just as easy to drill a small hole in the top of the tank. It might also be the case that your tank is already molded to accommodate the inlet pump tube. Research this thoroughly before committing.

And have a look at this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RpFZ3vpIs4

I took a holesaw to the ply and the metalwork and mounted the actual heater on the ply using 4 self tappers. To protect the floor underneath I applied a healthy amount of Sikaflex.

[Appy]

I bought a kit off Ebay firms name Butler Tecnic. there was everything needed for the install for about £650. Buying the bits separate works out dearer. The company is good have helpline where you can talk to engineers who do installs. I have an Aluminium honeycombe track floor system in my van which I hadn't thought about, I called Butler Tecnic and they had a steel 'motor home' mount plate that got over that.

I've a Mk 7 and I installed it in the cargo area behind the drivers seat (opposite side loading door) this was where my kitchen unit is sited which is built over the top of the heater. This was a good location for my layout, cold air in from behind drivers seat and heated air out into the centre of the van. Underneath is loads of space for the install. the exhaust goes to the rear and the Inlet with long eber silencer goes forward, ( the end is bent round to face the rear) The inlet silencer was an extra £20 ish ... and I also brought the Mk7 Transit dedicated fuel tank adapter £14 ish When the tank was empty I supported with jack took off the two straps and lowered the tank until I could access the sender unit. I didnt need to disconect anything , a bit tight but very 'do able' theres a plastic extrusion rising out of the tank sender unit, cut off the top as per instructions then insert the upstand and clip into place. 10mins to lower tank, 5 mins to install, 10 mins to refit tank.

If you Tee of the fuel line, (Ive only read that you shouldnt ) theres an outside chance you could run out of fuel. With the Transit fuel kit, the up stand pipe in the tank is about an inch above the bottom, so the heater will stop before you run out of fuel

What I found the most critical was mounting the fuel pump at the right angle, in my install I mounted on the inner sill .

The heater is loud when it first starts, it doesnt last long, the noisiest bit is the pump which 'ticks' but in all honesty I don't notice it now
I used rockwool to sleeve and insulate the hot air tube inside the kitchen box, as it is built in I didnt want the heater sitting in elevated temperatures.


Ive got photos if youre interested, and can help wade through the wiring. I also ended up going for a more sophisticated timer that could also read error codes about £77 from same Co.

ask any questions you like, happy to help

cheers colin

[Van Winkle]

You could fit a separate tank just for the heater and run it on red like canal boats, they do a flat tank that fits up wall side if you look on ebay and that way you wont run out ?

[Appy]

Take a look at Ebers FAQ http://www.eberspacher.com/download-cen ... tml#c22652

there are two types of Red ...... One works , one F***ks your eber

the fuel consumption of an Eber on Low is 0.1 litres per hour, on max is 0.28 litres per hour , the actual diference at this consumption level is just pennies compared with Red !

All road fuel will be good ! plug into the tank, and forget fuel forever, £14 to plumb into the fuel tank or :

£39,99 for a 10Litre fuel tank, eBay listings

then keep remembering to top it up before you go to bed , then make sure you have a list handy of all the dealers that sell BSi Red Diesel (and their opening hours ) then all the mucking about transferring diesel inside the van .....

much easier to plug into the main tank

Cheers Colin

[loocstac]

Thanks Colin, do the eber heaters come with just the wires and you have to make up the plugs as per their diagrams?

I checked out that seller you recommended, thanks for that, ply floor mount, heater and fuel tank adapter thing ordered!

I can't be arsed with a separate tank to run on red, too much faffing around, and diesel stinks if it's spilt inside. If I wanted to save pennies on fuel costs I'd put another jumper on.

I screwed the ply up on the ceiling tonight (loosely) to measure out and mark the lights, now there's a million pencil marks where I kept changing it, also taped out on the floor where I thought everything should be. I came to the conclusion I should have got a lwb! But hey ho I'll squeese it all in somehow.

Just to run all the cabling above the ceiling tomorrow evening, drill all the holes for the lights, I've gone for 4 cool white recessed led's, and thought it will look cool with a row of 8 blue led running down the middle of the van, bit of mood lighting... But the only mood it's putting me in is a bad one at the moment!

My carpet lining is turning up Friday (hopefully). Saturday I plan to cut 2 large holes in the sides for the windows, I've been putting this off but can wait no longer, then start to carpet line it. The videos on YouTube look so easy, bit of spray, wait, put up, stretch, and so on... But I have a suspicious feeling it's a right pain!

Thank for all your help. I'll keep updating as I go along. There's nothing more helpful when you're doing something like this than reading and seeing pictures of others vans.

[Appy]

I got a loom with the kit, in short you get 4 branches iirc its about 5 metres long, one branch to the heater, one to the timer, one to the fuel pump and one to the supply

you also get a wiring dia in the install kit. Once you have decided placement and cable runs, cut cables to length then assemble the plugs on the end of the cables (included) Theres no soldering just plug n play follow the pics. for whatever reason the cable colours were abrieviated in german Red = Rt abreviatiation for rot if your not 100% sure google translate will put you right

the kit came with 2 fuse holders, for the supplies and after fitting the plugs is a simple matter of plugging it all together.

Before starting mine I primed the fuel system by using a jump lead connected to positive and tapping it on the pump + terminal, ( the pump diaphragm is actuated by 12volt pulses from the controller)

I also wrapped some exhaust tape around the Exhaust exit and the Air and fuel inlet to keep heat off these bits. I sealed all the opening with some Hightemp silicon (Gas Engs use it on boilers >>> cheap on fleebay )

for the pump Elec supply, I drilled a 20mm with hole saw and wedged some 20mm flexi conduit in, run cables through this protection and sealed inside with silicon

cheers Colin

[mtbcol]

Hi loocstac

What size thermoliner roll did you get? was it the 1m x 8m? I plan to line my low roof, swb, with this as it sounds good.

Do you plan to add any more isulation over it, or do you think this will be enought?

Colin.

[loocstac]

Yeah the thermoliner is the 1x 8m self adhesive. It seems good, I've not used the van yet so I don't know how it will perform. 1x 8 will be enough for a low roof van, I used about 10-12 sq meters on my mwb mhr. It's easy to put on and moulds round things easily.