My Ford Transit Hi-Cube Conversion

Buford T Justice

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

NOO!! No matter what you do , they ALWAYS look like an ambulance! And the rear door , and window layout rarely suits a Motor home ..

Yeah, I figured they'd always have the 'look' about them. Never thought about the window positions and layout. I think it was more to do with the fact that the walls are straight lines instead of curves. Would make building much easier, there'd be a sight less scribing to be done.

Also, for some reason I like vans with twin wheel rear axles. They always 'looked' less flimsy to me.

Now as for my ideal conversion wagon, it'd have to be something like this:

dubtom

Savage job you did there fingers. Just back from a couple of days camping and we were discussing camper vans, herself likes the Old VW's, she thinks there cute:rolleyes: I'd settle on a transit and a self build. I was dreaming goodo until you mentioned a change in the law about DIY campers,is that something that's going to happen soon?

Buford T Justice

dubtom wrote: »

Savage job you did there fingers. Just back from a couple of days camping and we were discussing camper vans, herself likes the Old VW's, she thinks there cute:rolleyes: I'd settle on a transit and a self build. I was dreaming goodo until you mentioned a change in the law about DIY campers,is that something that's going to happen soon?

April 2012. Although, the wording that they use is very ambiguous. It can be interpreted as either it needs to be completed by a qualified individual or it just needs to be certified by an NSAI garage.

As an example, it could all just end up being the same as it is now with the certificate getting signed and stamped by a garage. Not 100% sure.

Macy0161

dubtom wrote: »

herself likes the Old VW's, she thinks there cute:rolleyes: I'd settle on a transit and a self build.

But they do! :cool:

Notwithstanding Fingers excellent conversion, don't tie yourself to the transit. The likes of the renault master lwb (and the same vans with an opel and nissan badge - movano and interstar iirc), will give 6ft height clearance in the back with a tin top, and you'll get pretty much 6ft width too. If I recall correctly the Ducato/ Boxer/ Relay will give you the headroom and the width in their lwb vans as well (although they're a bit shorter than the master types).

Also, no reason you couldn't do a self build on a T4 or a T5 VW, or a similar sized van like the vito or traffic, if the missus does want something smaller. You'd easily have them as a daily driver/ second car.

EDIT - visit the sbmcc website, and join even if it's only a serious contender rather than a definite. It's great for ideas, as well as the technical aspects of a self build.

Buford T Justice

I agree with not tying yourself down to a transit. There are other vans with straighter sides than the transit. It narrows at the top and was a pain to build inside.

All depends on budget really, and that was in mine at the time.

meercat

is this the biggest thread on this forum?

Buford T Justice

Not sure, is It? have i beaten the tip of the week? :cool:

Aidan_M_M

If I was doing a van for myself , I'd do either an LT/Krafter , a LWB Ducato , or a Master . And probably most likely the Master , they are very light on Diesel , very "square" inside , roomy , very very comfy , and the Front wheel drive layout makes the conversion easier . No propshaft in the way of tanks etc underneath , and a lower floor than a Rear wheel drive.

Aidan_M_M

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Not sure, is It? have i beaten the tip of the week? :cool:

You've more replies... TOTW has a few thousand more views!

Buford T Justice

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

You've more replies... TOTW has a few thousand more views!

3000 more views, and the TOTW is 3 months older than this one....

Challenge extended methinks.........:D

Aidan_M_M

hahahaah....<nervous laughter....>

Buford T Justice

^^^
Lol

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

If I was doing a van for myself , I'd do either an LT/Krafter , a LWB Ducato , or a Master . And probably most likely the Master , they are very light on Diesel , very "square" inside , roomy , very very comfy , and the Front wheel drive layout makes the conversion easier . No propshaft in the way of tanks etc underneath , and a lower floor than a Rear wheel drive.

Never driven an Iveco, but I like them because of their sheer size. Once upon a time I was working for a fella who had a new at the time (03) master LWB. Lovely machine to drive and was very comfortable. Aren't they known for gearbox trouble tho?

Aidan_M_M

more so the Trafic . Fill the 'box to the higher level, only use good quality synthethic gearoil , and change it yearly , and you don't have problems .

Macy0161

If you are planning foreign trips, the Master comes in under 6m whereas the Sprinters and Crafters LWB don't, and as far as I'm aware there's a price difference on the ferry for over 6 metres.

The Iveco's are massive inside - nearly too big? iirc the mwb ones are nearly as big as the lwb master.

Aidan_M_M

Macy0161 wrote: »

If you are planning foreign trips, the Master comes in under 6m whereas the Sprinters and Crafters LWB don't, and as far as I'm aware there's a price difference on the ferry for over 6 metres.

Have you ever seen them measure a camper going onto the ferry?

Buford T Justice

I got my new log book in the post yesterday..... yaay, I now have a VLC that says its a motor caravan. Getting more and more official as time goes on.

I've insurance arranged with Dolmen, and I left the van in to have an engineers report done for them..............

I'm also downgrading my work van from a transit to a caddy, so I picked up my new (2nd hand van) on friday too. Then they called to say to collect the van.









Things were going so well up until that point.:mad:
List:
R/H/F Wheel Arch needs welding
R/H/F Chassis Support needs welding
L/H/F Chassis leg needs welding
2 Anti Roll Bar Bushings
No inner door handle on rear door
Battery clamp loose on leisure battery
No Side repeaters working on the L/H/S
Headlights need focusing
Tracking needs to be done.
Handbrake is hitting seat.

Now, fair enough with the welding that needs doing, but the sidelights? FFS, they're not even part of the original van design, they're an aftermarket install. Why do they need to work? Why can't he just call them reflectors?

Rear Door Handle? Ah come on!!!!! Half the vans around have the rear doors sealed up, and you're telling me I have to have a handle on the inside of mine? I've a good mind to just bolt the two doors together for him and be done with it (shakes stick) Its about €150 from a stealership for a handle, so not going there.

Handbrake is hitting the lever for rotating the seat. Seriously, just pull the plastic cap off and its not a problem!!!!
/rant

Buford T Justice

Not to be deterred, I got stuck in.

I was too busy to take pictures of the Chassis leg welding, but managed to get some of the front wheel arch. T'was easier to plate from the engine bay

Bye bye rad and grille


Hello my little friend (can you see the rust)



And, Ala Ka ZAM!!!!!! Bye bye rust.



Lookout midlands, we're hitting the road today and heading you're way. Keep a weather eye out......

Suggestions on stuff to do is appreciated btw....

paddyp

Good grief Penfold twas more like collander than a van.

stooge_dude

Job well done Fingers..... looks good

Buford T Justice

And with all that, emails sent of etc etc blah blah

I finally got my insurance certificate in the post today. Wohoo. No more poxy law bothering me when I'm on the road anymore.

Aidan_M_M

thats the shot Ted. I must organise a weekend in SO , and call to see ya.

leblanc

Hey Fingers

Sweet job man!

Tell me: did you insulate the whole thing with Thermawrap General Purpose insulation?

I have a van at the minute but not the funds to convert it properly, however I use it as a camper but have been freezing my ass off even on warm nights! I was surfing in Donegal last November and considered getting my wetsuit on in the middle of the night

cheers

T

Buford T Justice

leblanc wrote: »

Hey Fingers

Sweet job man!

Tell me: did you insulate the whole thing with Thermawrap General Purpose insulation?

I have a van at the minute but not the funds to convert it properly, however I use it as a camper but have been freezing my ass off even on warm nights! I was surfing in Donegal last November and considered getting my wetsuit on in the middle of the night

cheers

T

Ta, and no

For the roof and the floor I used thermawrap. For the side panels I used Rockwool 150mm insulation. Anything is better than nothing, and if you are going the alu-wrap route then go to brooks or the like. Chances are they'll be selling it cheaper than homebase.

leblanc

Sound man

fergal.b

I just got through all your posts, your doing a great job keep up the good work.

Rippy

Just read the lot , start to finish. Well done , some great ideas there.
One day......

xfatherjack

I'v started a project like yours and I just stumbled on your site/post.
What do you mean when you refer to the 'flue',
the 'flue' from what.
I plan on having the 2 vents for the fridge with my Oven just beside it using the same 'air-flow' and 'a 12v computer fan' to assist. Will that work.
I have NO provision for the '3 ring Hob'.

xfatherjack

Oh my God, I must have been tuned into your thoughts at some weird level.;
I've got a pair of Ford-Galaxy Ghia seats that are the same, 180 degree the wrong way.

Buford T Justice

The flue for the gas exhaust on the fridge.

Is it a 3 way fridge you have?

xfatherjack

Buford T Justice

I am new to Boards.ie and I'm feeling-my-way.

My story

I have ended up with a 2001 Fiat Ducato LWB minibus, with about 310cm usable space behind driver.

I decided to start a project, to converting the minibus into a Camper-Van and rather than sell it in order to buy something more suitable for conversion I concluded that 'the devil you know'.. with only 50K genuine miles, to keep it and do the best i can.

I've been scouring the 'net' for ideas.

I bought a 20 year-old Swift-Corniche as a donor, from that I salvaged a Fridge, Oven, Hob, Water-heater, Sink&Drain-Board, Thetford C2 poti, the 12v Distributor - a 2S4V type T, also a Mains Hook-up & & of course the Cushioning.
A friend donated a 24v Eberspacher Heater.
I have swivel-seats & a 'clip-in' seat (with the attachments) from a Galaxy Ghia.
I have...
a 12v to 24v dc-dc converter,
a 12v dc to 240v Inverters.
Fresh & Waste Water-Tanks,
a Gas Tank,
a 22 liter Calorifier,
2 Rad Heaters with fan, link to bus water cooling system),
a E.L.C.B. & several Trip-switches,
12v 100amp breakers,
12v isolation switch,
a 4-way Gas manifold
(6)12v Lights from the Bus and caravan.
I'v silver-glazed the windows, so no one can see in.
I have cleaned out the van to the bare floors and wall.

I'm almost ready to start the actual work on the bus,

I am still resourcing, while researching about the insulation, the I found Bufort T Justice's Ford conversion via some question I posed in the search box .. it's DESTINY!
You are using identical components to what I have, which is my reason for contacting you..

My intention WAS to use 'Kingspan' 25mm on the Floor and Roof, 75mm up to the window level (that is the depth of the paneling from window-bottom to floor) and 50mm from window-sill to roof, 25mm stips over the Cab and the I read somewhere to " insulate over the ribs of the van " and 'HandsomeRover' mentioned " Fitted insulation and vapour barrier behind ply lining on floor, walls and ceiling".
What is, where do I get and how do i fit "" VAPOUR BARRIER"??
I heard of it before, but there are no clues as to what it is, where to get it (in Ireland), or where/how to fit it, under or over the Insulation.
I'm confused.
Help would be appreciated,
Regards,
Jack