Panel van to 9 PAX Camper

Yeah, that's something I didn't expect at all I mean the van doesn't automatically triple in price just because I've put a few facilities into it. I wonder how easy the appeal process is.

I wonder what would be story with just doing this whole thing as a minibus I can sleep in, instead of a camper when you weigh up insurance and tax costs on that, vs a camper

Had a look at the Mazda Bongo, that'd be way too small for me but thanks for the suggestion

Thanks again for the advice everyone!

I definitely want to make this as practical as possible for my own needs. Ideally, I'd be using this a lot in warmer climates where rain and the likes won't be an issue.

I'm sending the attached diagram to one of the SQI's who said to send it on to him to get some advice.

I think the alternative solution could be affordable enough and won't take up much space in the van so I can still prioritise my own needs with the design and set up. The two images are of ads currently on sale on donedeal. The bench, quick release seats and tracking will be less than €1K, then I'll just need to pay to get them installed/reinforced correctly which hopefully won't be too much.

Once that's done, all I'll need is the windows, cooker, sink, removable table, bed and to do up the over driver cab shelf with some doors for storage. I was actually thinking it'd be great to get a hinged window. This appears to be designed for the sprinter:


Then there's the likes of this: https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/ventilation/caravan-windows/seitz-windows/dometic-s7p-windows, but it wouldn't fit the contour of the side as nice.

The same guy selling the quick release seats is selling a sink/cooker etc too so could possibly get a deal for everything. Get it inspected, registered as a 9 seater camper, insured and then I can upgrade to newer equipment and add improvements and more comfort as I need to.

I posted the below previously Kadman So once I speak to the SQI and get the green light on a plan that they believe revenue will approve, then according to the lady in Stuarts, once revenue are happy with it, then it should be fine to insure. I hope..

cormie wrote: »

Ok, good news, rang Stuarts Insurance in Stillorgan and was told there's no need for a walkway and that as long as the rest of the revenue requirements are met in terms of it being classed a camper, that there should be no prob getting the insurance. I'd still need to send photos etc, but it didn't sound like it'd be a problem at all

Criteria:
full eu license, engineers report, 1.8m height, sink, 2 ring cooker, no walkway needed

Through Aviva ,
open drive for myself and any family member over 25 with full license: 415

Myself and named drivers (can switch named drivers as required) - 335.


So it's looking like it could be a goer now!

I rang parfit for a quote on getting a tracked floor fitted and reinforced, but they are closed until Monday.

Damn, so that means I'd probably run into the same issue with the sprinter shaped hinged window pictured in the post above as it's from the US so probably doesn't have a CE stamp either??

I wonder if the Dometic S7p one has one or not now, no sign of it saying so on the webpage

CJhaughey wrote: »

I have thought about this and tbh the easiest way would be to install tracking and moveable seats, they won't fold up and sideways but you will be able to move them whereever you want within reason.

So I've been looking into my options, and I think this is the route I'll be going.

Install low profile tracking to the van floor and then either get seats with unwin quick release already on them, or get unwin brackets to put on other seats.

I'm hopefully going to get some kind of folding/flip up seats, but finding ones with a head rest and the proper safety markings might be a little trickier.

The plan at the moment is to put 3 single fold/flip up seats directly behind the front passener/driver seats facing backwards, and then have another 3 flip ups that can be positioned directly opposite facing forward.

I might just fit the tracking in the front section of the van, but then again, it might be better just to do the full length even though it'll cost more initially. It'll allow more flexibility later, and I also see on guidelines, that a seat needs to be fixed at least 200mm from the end of tracking, so using a few short lengths to create one length will pose more issues than using a single length. I may also need to extend the tracking slightly into the front cab floor area to allow the seats I want directly behind the front ones, to fit as snug as possible, so there's still the 200mm of tracking behind.

I may also look at throwing together a table top with foldable legs with unwin fasteners on the bottom of the legs that can latch into the tracking between the rear seats and to be used as the table, but not only that, but to then be able to unfold the table to then balance on the seats and create a bed :pac:



The above is already looking like it'll be a lot more affordable than the original plan I had with the double fold against the wall bench, never mind a triple one.

I got some very helpful info which I've attached here. Seems single seats exert less force so require simpler reinforcement than double or triple.

Also, this is the type of label that needs to be present on belts: