Vario 4x2 camper conversion - it starts here ...
- Thread starter Arfur's World
- Start date
Arfur's World
Observer
Hi Docka, I'll have a look back through ianc's thread, that does sound like a great idea but maybe it's a stepp too far for me, who knows.
Hi Anton, thanks, I'm pleased with it. I didn't worry about departure angles, as I'm not looking to create a hardcore off-roader, and underneath there is the old battery box and then also the towbar etc. The floor is in 3 pieces, not one. Would never have go it in through the door otherwise. I'll need to seal the joints, but I'll be carpeting it all anyway, later on.
Also, I've just booked the respray ... hi ho silver lining!!
Hi Anton, thanks, I'm pleased with it. I didn't worry about departure angles, as I'm not looking to create a hardcore off-roader, and underneath there is the old battery box and then also the towbar etc. The floor is in 3 pieces, not one. Would never have go it in through the door otherwise. I'll need to seal the joints, but I'll be carpeting it all anyway, later on.
Also, I've just booked the respray ... hi ho silver lining!!
Arfur's World
Observer
Hi Anton, no worries with you asking. I'm lucky that being GlassReinforcedPlywood and Aluminium in construction, I don't have any rust to worry about except for a small amount on the rear light surrounds. This will be taken care of. Other than that, and two small areas on the cab, everything on the cab is in good order so no need for too much remedial work and I'm not having anything done to the chassis either.
As for cost, less than £2,500 for a metallic. That includes the few repairs that do need doing, a full undercoat and then the two-pack paint job. And about a week and half in the paint-shop. Most likely to be a mid-silver, but there is an outside runner in the light-gold/bronze colour scheme ... I need to do some more photo-shop work!
Arfur's World
Observer
Two more questions for you guys ...
Water capacity - what should I be looking at?
And my fuel tank is pretty small, do they come in different sizes from the factory?
Water capacity - what should I be looking at?
And my fuel tank is pretty small, do they come in different sizes from the factory?
Arfur's World
Observer
Ooh and another question ... I have a second row of travelling seats to fix but my floor is wooden. Can I run drop bolts through it and attach them to some Unistrut or similar welded to the subframe underneath? Will that be ok for am MOT?
andylod
Tea Drinker :-)
The standard single tank is i think only 60 litres. There is a twin tank option fitted at factory and you sometimes find these on ebay, the other tank fits the other side of the vehicle in about the same place with pipes over and below the prop. I have fitted second seats to many vans and the mot testers are not concerned as long as they don't rattle when they rock them. This said they, and seat belts need to be fitted properly to the body or subframe.
If you have a shower and intend to frequently use it then i suggest no less than 300 litres and nearer to 500 if possible. 100 litres with normal breakfast and evening meal washing up, cups of tea and usual face hands and teeth, will last 3 days. I have this and wish i had a little bit more... probably 200.
Hope this helps
Andy
If you have a shower and intend to frequently use it then i suggest no less than 300 litres and nearer to 500 if possible. 100 litres with normal breakfast and evening meal washing up, cups of tea and usual face hands and teeth, will last 3 days. I have this and wish i had a little bit more... probably 200.
Hope this helps
Andy
Anton2k3
Adventurer
We have a tank either side, and think its around 80 litres or so total fuel, but not certain. As far as i know, backward facing seats don't requires seatbelts. You also need to be careful in terms of the people capacity on the V5.
In terms of water, we have circa. 400 litres, and with two showering everyday, not being careful about usage, we get around 4 -5 days out of a tank. The more you can fit in, the better I say. You can never have enough water or fuel!
Thanks for the info on the respray.
In terms of water, we have circa. 400 litres, and with two showering everyday, not being careful about usage, we get around 4 -5 days out of a tank. The more you can fit in, the better I say. You can never have enough water or fuel!
Thanks for the info on the respray.
Arfur's World
Observer
Thanks Andy and Anton.
Sooo ... the more water the better, we will have a shower so I guess I'm looking for 400 ish. The caravan comes with a small tank and I believe a pump, so I can join them and just top up the large tank, more to work out
The seating on the V5 will almost certainly need changing, but as I'm going to go for a Motor Caravan vehicle type change, the whole thing is probably going to have to go to the DVLA office for an inspection anyway.
And as for fuel, I think I'll try and swap for a larger single tank, because the area you are suggesting for the second tank it where I thought the water tank may end up ... maybe I need to build an extension :smiley_drive:
Sooo ... the more water the better, we will have a shower so I guess I'm looking for 400 ish. The caravan comes with a small tank and I believe a pump, so I can join them and just top up the large tank, more to work out
The seating on the V5 will almost certainly need changing, but as I'm going to go for a Motor Caravan vehicle type change, the whole thing is probably going to have to go to the DVLA office for an inspection anyway.
And as for fuel, I think I'll try and swap for a larger single tank, because the area you are suggesting for the second tank it where I thought the water tank may end up ... maybe I need to build an extension :smiley_drive:
Anton2k3
Adventurer
Just a couple more points:
We had out vehicle type changed on the V5, I sent a document to them detailing pics of the conversion and the spec, they sent the v5 back as motorcaravan, easy! I know a few people have had problems with this though. I can send you my doc if you need a guide, but theres not much to it, mainly pretty pictures!
400l + i'd say, and i'd also strongly recommend having it in the van. Underslung black and grey tanks are fine, but the last thing you want is a 400l water tank freezing so you cant do anything in the van, not to mention the fact it may burst and leave you with soggy feet. Same with water lines, try and keep them all inside the living space.
Not sure how big your seat boxes are, but maybe split the tank, have 200l under each or something, or build a 'water box' under the bed. Also, depending on the caravan, the standard water pumps can be ****e, is it a pressurised system of mirco switch? If its the latter, i'd recommend getting a shurflow (sp) pressure switch pump. See mine or ians thread for details on those.
Using the existing tank and pump is just added complexity for the sake of using the kit i think, keep it simples!
We had out vehicle type changed on the V5, I sent a document to them detailing pics of the conversion and the spec, they sent the v5 back as motorcaravan, easy! I know a few people have had problems with this though. I can send you my doc if you need a guide, but theres not much to it, mainly pretty pictures!
400l + i'd say, and i'd also strongly recommend having it in the van. Underslung black and grey tanks are fine, but the last thing you want is a 400l water tank freezing so you cant do anything in the van, not to mention the fact it may burst and leave you with soggy feet. Same with water lines, try and keep them all inside the living space.
Not sure how big your seat boxes are, but maybe split the tank, have 200l under each or something, or build a 'water box' under the bed. Also, depending on the caravan, the standard water pumps can be ****e, is it a pressurised system of mirco switch? If its the latter, i'd recommend getting a shurflow (sp) pressure switch pump. See mine or ians thread for details on those.
Using the existing tank and pump is just added complexity for the sake of using the kit i think, keep it simples!
Arfur's World
Observer
Hi Docka and everyone else, hope all your trucks are going well 
Build on Arfur is 90% complete on stage one, we went off and followed the whole of the Tour de France in late June through to the end of July, which was awesome. Check out www.facebook.com/arfursworld for details of how things progressed. It gave me chance to live with the van and work out what else needed doing/finishing/changing etc.
However, Arfur is currently in storage at the workshop, as I am away in Hong Kong until Christmas, and possibly moving out here long term afterwards, so we'll have to see how things go.
Build on Arfur is 90% complete on stage one, we went off and followed the whole of the Tour de France in late June through to the end of July, which was awesome. Check out www.facebook.com/arfursworld for details of how things progressed. It gave me chance to live with the van and work out what else needed doing/finishing/changing etc.
However, Arfur is currently in storage at the workshop, as I am away in Hong Kong until Christmas, and possibly moving out here long term afterwards, so we'll have to see how things go.
Arfur's World
Observer
Arfur's alive 
Here's the pics I sent to the DVLA for the classification change.
4 before in blue ...
And the afters in Land Rover Nara Bronze more to follow in the next post
Here's the pics I sent to the DVLA for the classification change.
4 before in blue ...
And the afters in Land Rover Nara Bronze
more to follow in the next post
Arfur's World
Observer
Here are the rest ... the DVLA asked for the last 2 showing the dining and sleeping areas made up
Similar threads
