[spacehopper]

I took me ages (years) to buy a van….
…and then I read the Hyanes “Building / Converting a Campervan” and was re-assured that it can be the hardest task.

The budget went from 4-6k to 8.5k in a week as we realised there was nothing suitable – at the lower price range.

Suffice to say that in the end we managed to blow the whole purchase and conversion budget on the purchase alone.

Luckily we were in a position to do that.

So we’ve had a “day van” for over a year and a half now. Which is fine as we had all the camping gear to utilise instead of converting the van itself…maybe this is an option for you?

The latest addition is to stick a Fiamma awning on the van, so we have more space and we’ve got the whole “privacy room” so we are enclosed / protected from the elements when needed.

Essentially we are still in “camping mode” when we want to cook / have a little space – but we can sleep inside the van on a rock and roll bed. When we are going for a day/night excursion we just “make do” with the van and team making stove.

It’s not quite how we imagined it all…but that has been good in many ways as we have found we have to adapt and plan carefully and living with what you’ve got and working out what you need next is working out well as a “strategy”..

For instance you could go for the stand up awning option which is cheaper than Fiamma – depending on what suits your lifestyle best.

The great thing / worst thing about all this campervan stuff is that you really can tailor what you end up to suit your needs….but you have to make every choice to do that…and there are a lot of choices to make 🙂

You’re at the first one. 🙂

Good luck and just stick with it.

[spacehopper]

I took me ages (years) to buy a van….
…and then I read the Hyanes “Building / Converting a Campervan” and was re-assured that it can be the hardest task.

The budget went from 4-6k to 8.5k in a week as we realised there was nothing suitable – at the lower price range.

Suffice to say that in the end we managed to blow the whole purchase and conversion budget on the purchase alone.

Luckily we were in a position to do that.

So we’ve had a “day van” for over a year and a half now. Which is fine as we had all the camping gear to utilise instead of converting the van itself…maybe this is an option for you?

The latest addition is to stick a Fiamma awning on the van, so we have more space and we’ve got the whole “privacy room” so we are enclosed / protected from the elements when needed.

Essentially we are still in “camping mode” when we want to cook / have a little space – but we can sleep inside the van on a rock and roll bed. When we are going for a day/night excursion we just “make do” with the van and team making stove.

It’s not quite how we imagined it all…but that has been good in many ways as we have found we have to adapt and plan carefully and living with what you’ve got and working out what you need next is working out well as a “strategy”..

For instance you could go for the stand up awning option which is cheaper than Fiamma – depending on what suits your lifestyle best.

The great thing / worst thing about all this campervan stuff is that you really can tailor what you end up to suit your needs….but you have to make every choice to do that…and there are a lot of choices to make 🙂

You’re at the first one. 🙂

Good luck and just stick with it.

[spacehopper]

cooker and comments…
Is that a halogen hob? or just a cover for the gas burners undeneath?

The van looks good , liking the furniture in there.

Rob

[spacehopper]

cooker and comments…
Is that a halogen hob? or just a cover for the gas burners undeneath?

The van looks good , liking the furniture in there.

Rob

[spacehopper]

same idea
i have the same idea with my vivaro…i’ll be waiting till the weather is warmer…

..have you fitted yours yet?

[spacehopper]

same idea
i have the same idea with my vivaro…i’ll be waiting till the weather is warmer…

..have you fitted yours yet?

[spacehopper]

clarifications
when i say water ingress – I mean under the bracket/plate – not into the van past the rivenut.

whilst not ‘necessary’ i think they offer advantages if you need to fit/re-fit panels or swing off the fittings 🙂

[spacehopper]

clarifications
when i say water ingress – I mean under the bracket/plate – not into the van past the rivenut.

whilst not ‘necessary’ i think they offer advantages if you need to fit/re-fit panels or swing off the fittings 🙂

[spacehopper]

sealant not always needed
the rivenut will form it’s own seal.

inside the van I wouldn’t see any issues as long as you use enough rivenuts.

externally, sealant is used as additional bonding and eliminating any possible water traps – as the rivet head will be proud of the surface if you are attaching a bracket, or something else that us flat sided, there will be a gap for water ingress.

I’ve used self tapping inside on the ply up till now so I am very much in the ‘thinking’ stage. I think rivenuts are not ‘necessary’ and quite probably an over-engineered solution..but if you are into MTB you might be inclined to the bombproof solution as well….

I’ll let you know how i get on, it’s gonna be about 3 months before I have to commit one way or another…

All the Best.

[spacehopper]

sealant not always needed
the rivenut will form it’s own seal.

inside the van I wouldn’t see any issues as long as you use enough rivenuts.

externally, sealant is used as additional bonding and eliminating any possible water traps – as the rivet head will be proud of the surface if you are attaching a bracket, or something else that us flat sided, there will be a gap for water ingress.

I’ve used self tapping inside on the ply up till now so I am very much in the ‘thinking’ stage. I think rivenuts are not ‘necessary’ and quite probably an over-engineered solution..but if you are into MTB you might be inclined to the bombproof solution as well….

I’ll let you know how i get on, it’s gonna be about 3 months before I have to commit one way or another…

All the Best.

[spacehopper]

rivenuts
So I have to fit rivenuts to the van for the awning brackets and wondered – why not use them (rivenuts) with some round head bolts to fix the plywood? Longer work but maybe useful if I need to remove and replace the ply.

[spacehopper]

rivenuts
So I have to fit rivenuts to the van for the awning brackets and wondered – why not use them (rivenuts) with some round head bolts to fix the plywood? Longer work but maybe useful if I need to remove and replace the ply.

[spacehopper]

Made sure van surface clean
Made sure van surface clean and completely dry. Applied banding. Ensure banding also moisture free and used spray adhesive for bubble wrap layers. I then found some soundproofing material from B and Q (discontinued – so you’ll need to research that ). Glued that on then taped one layer of bubblewrap before fitting ply with membrane affixed.

For roof, banding, 25mm celotec between boxed sections (as many strips of bubblewrap slid into boxed sections as possible), then fixed 4mm ply with single layer bubblewrap and membrane. Could put two layers of bubblewrap just as easy…but I can do this later if needs be.

I fitted panels on roof sideways, fixing each to a box section and used spare strips of ply to fix each panel to the next.

[spacehopper]

Made sure van surface clean
Made sure van surface clean and completely dry. Applied banding. Ensure banding also moisture free and used spray adhesive for bubble wrap layers. I then found some soundproofing material from B and Q (discontinued – so you’ll need to research that ). Glued that on then taped one layer of bubblewrap before fitting ply with membrane affixed.

For roof, banding, 25mm celotec between boxed sections (as many strips of bubblewrap slid into boxed sections as possible), then fixed 4mm ply with single layer bubblewrap and membrane. Could put two layers of bubblewrap just as easy…but I can do this later if needs be.

I fitted panels on roof sideways, fixing each to a box section and used spare strips of ply to fix each panel to the next.

[Author]

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