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Fiat Ducato camper build

colm_mcm

Myself and my friend decided last year after selling the Transit camper Build thread here that the next one should be bigger and better. The transit crammed a lot into a small space but had a few shortcomings in terms of load space and amenities.

It was obvious that it would have to be a Ducato (or Relay or Boxer) as they have a low floor, wide interior and are the go-to choice for camper conversions.
A wishlist was made in terms of spec, we wanted AC, reverse camera, the face lifted front end and cruise control. This of course made finding ones with all this difficult.
Luckily we found one in the UK that fit the bill,

himself had it brought in and registered as a van here.

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listermint

Looks super clean that a 2017 ?

colm_mcm

listermint wrote: »

Looks super clean that a 2017 ?

Nope, 152. Yes it’s tidy enough alright.

colm_mcm

First job is to take out the bulkhead behind the seats. Reasonably straightforward job.

That’s better.

Dr Turk Turkelton

Can't wait to see this build having been lucky enough to have the transit in the flesh.
Best of luck with it Colm.

thomas anderson.

Subscribed

colm_mcm

The van had been ply-lined from new but it had spent a lot of its life being loaded and unloaded, so dirty boots, spillages etc took its toll especially inside the sliding door.

https://i.postimg.cc/tJnZ5pXR/225-CBF0-B-DBCC-4721-953-E-60737-A266-DEB.jpg
We took the sides off to get the bulkhead down, so the floor was next.

Much cleaning (not by me) later...

colm_mcm

Next thing is more windows. Fixed glass windows for the back doors, a fixed window for the sliding door, and a slider for the opposite side. All factory tinted so no messing.

colm_mcm

With the windows out of the way, next job is to cut a new plywood floor. The old floor made a handy template.

I made some adjustments here and there. Went for 18mm ply.

John_Rambo

Very clean van!! Lovely looking too... Nice grill.

As a non-handy DIY family we bought a Ducato RHD coach built van. The home conversion seems very daunting but fascinating and certainly not an option for us!!! I'm sure you're going to do an epic job!! You've probably checked out vans but if you want to check out our van to see how bits and bobs were done send me a PM. North bay Dublin based.

Thanks for posting, cracking project.

colm_mcm

Next job is making the enclosure for the gas. Last time we just put this under the sink, but this one is going to take a 9kg bottle, so something bigger needed. This will also form some of the support for the bed.

Sealed all the joints with silicone and painted the inside black - just cos.

Rows Grower

Just saw the Transit conversion there for the first time, very impressive Colm.

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this new project and wish you and your friend the best of luck with it even though I have no doubt ye have ye're homework done.

Keep us posted.

colm_mcm

Next up, we got these swivels (which unfortunately also raise the seat height) and some lowered seat bases (which bring the seats back down to regular height again)

Rows Grower

This is way better than that shed your man Lumen was working on, he's still at it.

That van will be finished tomorrow at the rate your going.

pablo128

I've a feeling you're almost finished and drip feeding the posts.:pac:

If not, check out the MAN tge leisure van for some inspiration.

colm_mcm

pablo128 wrote: »

I've a feeling you're almost finished and drip feeding the posts.:pac:

If not, check out the MAN tge leisure van for some inspiration.

Not at all! Last 2 posts have pics from today, still very much early days with a lot to do yet.

unkel

What electrical system are you planning, Colm?

colm_mcm

unkel wrote: »

What electrical system are you planning, Colm?

CBE, no solar.

unkel

I guess I should have also asked what is your planned usage of the camper?

I suppose for a very basic camper only used a few times a year it would not make sense installing sophisticated systems for water and power. Not my idea of a camper though, you might as well camp in a tent. My idea (or I guess I should call it ideal) of a camper is an alternative home. With all mod cons :cool:

Check out Will Prowse on YT.

colm_mcm

unkel wrote: »

I guess I should have also asked what is your planned usage of the camper?

I suppose for a very basic camper only used a few times a year it would not make sense installing sophisticated systems for water and power. Not my idea of a camper though, you might as well camp in a tent. My idea (or I guess I should call it ideal) of a camper is an alternative home. With all mod cons :cool:

Check out Will Prowse on YT.

It will be used for occasional semi long trips away (Europe), Irish campsites, music festivals, occasional wild camping. There will be 2 leisure batteries, a split charger and a mains battery charger installed so that should keep things running plenty long enough without needing solar.

colm_mcm

Let there be light

Makes a huge difference to the brightness in the back. Especially the area behind the front seats where we’re putting rear seating. There’s blinds and cover panels that’ll finish those off once we get the ceiling up.

Mains hookup is also in now, it’s got a magnetic lid so it’s much nicer to use than the one in the Transit.

colm_mcm

I also made up the box for the passenger side rear. This will house the RCD for the mains and will have storage. Just test fitting it here.
These boxes will both be trimmed at a later stage, and the wheelarch boxes sanded down so that the carpet trim will properly adhere.

glic83

Spotted this thread, so had to go back and check the transit conversion, great job, really looking forward to seeing how this build progresses.

thomas anderson.

Can someone link to the transit job please and thanks

Deminiman

thomas anderson. wrote: »

Can someone link to the transit job please and thanks

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?t=2057770094&page=7

listermint

Not insulating the floor ?

colm_mcm

listermint wrote: »

Not insulating the floor ?

Will be. It’s not fully down yet.

listermint

colm_mcm wrote: »

Will be. It’s not fully down yet.

Grand, was concerned . Floor is a huge cold sink especially with it being raised off the ground on wheels and wind flowing underneath. Would be a massive mistake to fail to do it as this stage of a build.

Put in as much as you can. Especially if this is a European trip camper.

colm_mcm

Got a bit more done today.

Dashboard has a common fault where some of the warning lights come on for no reason. It’s a fault with the cluster itself. It’s going to the uk to get fixed.

Finished burying the wiring. Insulation next.

Also relocated one of the interior lights to inside the sliding door.

colm_mcm

Did a bit more work on the cabinet in the back and started the insulation

colm_mcm

Made a few changes to the drivers side cabinet

Test fitting the bed

The bed frame is designed to sit in a bed, but I have replaced the frame with a reinforced homemade version. Halfway through that.