Minibus, occasional camper +van

[Deb]

Well, doing the conversion has been an enjoyable project. There's only a few minor things to finish off now but we're not in any hurry to do them, maybe for next season. Yet to do: construct a hinge up draining board/worktop, formica on the sink top, fiddle rail round sink and hob, skirting board round sink/hob unit, fill the hole in the roof lining and fit a pump for the water. Possibly put a bit of grey carpet on the bulkheads if we come across some, not really important though.

So what did it cost us in the end? As you may remember we are on a budget as far as the conversion is concerned so it was all done on the cheap.

We only had to buy the flooring, sink drainer, fire extinguisher, window frosting and the lights - all else we had already or was left over from other projects. so we shelled out less than €60

We are going to tidy up the van bodywork, we think the ol' girl deserves it! So will post pics of that when we get round to it, maybe not before next spring though, we'll see.

Our next 'fun' project before the winter sets in is building a wind turbine, but that's for a different forum

Sorry we didn't get to Transitmania, we'll try for next year, here's why we couldn't make it ... http://www.ftc62.eu/pages/crick-aug-09.html

Anyway, here's the last photos for a while, and thanks for all the inspiration we got from other member's diy conversions.

Debs



The little slide up hatch is so that we can turn the gas on and off from inside the bus.








We decided against a toilet door in the end, so this towel rail will serve as a modesty curtain rail too.

[noobrider]

excellent job, and it does exactly what you want it to do. A well thought out project and something different. Really enjoyed following this one.

[Breakdown Biker]

Yeh good work Deb, you've made a very usable and practical camper
Hope you enjoy using it as much as you did building it

[keljacs gundogs]

thats looking fine that debs,are you off for a test run

[Deb]

thats looking fine that debs,are you off for a test run

Thanks for the comment...

Nothing planned this side of winter, we have family over til end September, then it may not be good camping weather. So probably next spring.

We were in a shop called the Range in Ipswich on Monday and bought two camping mattresses reduced as end of season, we got them for £6 each. These will be ideal to put under the lounger cushions we are using to make it even more comfy. We have also decided that the two burner hob isn't ideal as it really is intended for outside use, so we have bought one of those cartridge stoves for £9.99. We'd seen them before but never realised how useful they are until we bought ours. It looks very well made. How on earth can they make them for the price?

Debs

[SCANIAMAN]

tip-top debs...it looks great will you do mine when i pass when i come camping in france next year i love the pine cladding work......hope the house is coming on too

[Deb]

tip-top debs...it looks great will you do mine when i pass when i come camping in france next year i love the pine cladding work......hope the house is coming on too

Fine on that ScaniaMan, do call in if you are hereabouts. Let me know and I will PM our address.

Debs

[Bemo]

Looking good, it`s good seeing them coming along isn`t it, mine gave me a few headaches but was worth it in the end

[Deb]

thats looking fine that debs,are you off for a test run

Well, in fact we are off tomorrow on a weekender. Up to Ipswich in the morning to drop off a friend who's been here for the last two weeks, then overnight in Bedfordshire (wish we had time to visit the Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre) then on Sunday up to Newark to pick up dad and then down to Folkestone for an early evening tunnel crossing.

Debs

[Deb]

Well ... we did get to visit the Bedfordshire Steam Rally at Old Warden, we found that we had most of Saturday afternoon to spare.

We were picking up Alex's (MOH) father on the Sunday to bring him back here for a few days, then take him home to Newark in our Escort (Mk 5 tdi) But when we were about to book the tunnel to take him home last weekend he asked if we'd mind taking the Transit as he found the journey here more comfortable than a car (must be the way I drive ) Of course we obliged and took him on Sunday. Overnighted at the Cross Keys pub in Pullockshill near Flitwick Beds (brilliant trad jazz Sunday evenings) where they have a nice comfy campsite out back.

Then on Monday morning visited Screwfix in Letchworth and ended up buying a 10" circular saw table and a 55-120amp welder and lots of rods

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We've camped in the conversion now a few times ... is there anything we would have done differently during the build?

Yes, but only a couple of things....

The locker behind the front seats should have been wider (front to back) we plan to double what it is now so that we can get a box of food in and a holdall of clothes. It's just too inconvenient to keep lifting the bed/seat up every time we need a can of beans or a clean T shirt.

We should have gone for the gas cartridge hob to start with, it is much easier to use with a built in igniter, and for us travelling on Eurotunnel frequently it's much simpler to disengage the cartridge for the crossing than it was with the camping gas stove.

----------------------

Couldn't mention it before as would have been difficult to take a photo until in use ... but the reason for the sink/hob unit stopping a few inches from the side door was that sometimes we need to put back the original single seat to transport another person in the back.

Debbie

[Terry]

Hi Debs
The cartridge stoves. I only use mine perhaps once every couple of months and even 'disconnected' it seems the cannister is always empty when I do come to use it, I guess they don't re-seal very well.
Those 'The Range' shops can't make up my mind about them, I have been in the ones in Exeter and Lee-on Solent, and it looks to me like all 'end of line' stuff ? Some of it good, some utter crap.
Did you get to see the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden ?
Have fun
Terry

[skinbar]

hi there
new to forums so have to bear with me.just got a lwb tranny and was thinking along the same lines as your good self but would prefer foward facing seats as for youngsters and partition further forward so too still have a good load space as play in a band the. Your woodwork has given me a few ideas but was wondering about seat belts....

[Deb]

Hi Skinbar,

The single seat you see in my transit has a lap belt. As this vehicle is registered as a 9 seater (reduced from 12 for ease of re-registration in France) the original seats are quite legal.
If you are adding seats to a van I'm not sure that lap belts would do.
I'm sure an expert will be along soon to point you in the right direction

BTW welcome to the forum

Debs

[Deb]

We just had the cam belts and fan belt + oil change/filters etc done.

Now we need to source some body bits but don't know the proper names for some of the bits.

There's holes in the rear wheel arches plus the bottom of the bits behind the arches.
And there's a hole in the bit below the side door (towards the back end of it)

By the way, what's the name of that roll on paint I've seen recommended here?

Any suggestions of the best place to get those bits (and the correct names) would be appreciated (Mk3)

Deb

[h7thl]

its called rustolem you will get it on ebay