Self built vehicles

In 2006 I bought this empty Mercedes Sprinter van [G2:59] and converted it into this camper van [G2:49]

Read about what I did and why I did it.

• Photos of the conversion
• Summary of Darren's 2006/2007 European trip
• Photos of the trip
• Darren's blog (of the conversion and the trip)

Why build a camper van?

I never actually set about to build a camper van. In 2005 I started surfing. I have always lived in Cornwall in England, where surfing is popular, but never really got into it until 2005. I quickly became hooked. I used my BMW 318i car, but it was less than ideal. I couldn't fit my mini-mal board into the car, so it had to go on the roof via soft roof racks. If you've every owned or used a 318i you'll know that whilst they are a pleasure to drive, you can't fit a lot in them as they are saloons. Volkswagen vans are very popular amongst surfers, and the thought of owning a van appealed to me greatly. As did the idea of travelling with my surfboard. I have always loved travelling, and especially like road trips, after having spent a year driving around Australia in 1998. As the summer of 2005 ended and autumn started the weather got colder. After surfing I would change from my wetsuit into my dry clothes are various locations around Cornwall's beaches, and always in the increasing cold. I always wished that I had a van, so that I could change in the van, and have a warm drink afterward. I injured my finger badly whilst chopping firewood at the end of 2005, which bought my surfing to an abrupt end for the year.

Best bits

1. People - I met so many people from so many places in the world.
2. Weather - lovely and warm
3. Food - cheap and tasty (especially tasty in France)
4. Surf - varied and good
5. Views - from the green mountains of Northern Spain to the massive dunes of France

Worst bits

1. Getting an infection and seeking hospital treatment in Santander (the hospital staff where excellent thought)
2. Spanish mountain roads - having to drive up one mountain, down the other side, then up another mountain, and down the other side, just to go to a town 5km from where you started :-(
3. Portuguese minor roads - really bad quality, and constantly shaking my van. The roads are worth taking though, to reach the beautiful countryside and beaches that they lead to.

My favourite cities

1. Paris - France

   Great sights, great museums, great food and a great street vibe. Paris was better than I was expecting. The Eiffel Tower was my highlight, and the L'Ouvre close behind.

Here are details of people self built camper van conversions. To have your self built camper van or motorhome listed here contact us.

Darren's Mercedes Sprinter

[G2:49 class=g2image_float_right]I bought a Mercedes Sprinter Van and then coverted it into a camper van. I then went to Western Europe, intending to stay for 2 months, but stayed for 9 months! I loved the whole experience so much I made this website.