How difficult is it to convert a van to camper?

Pussyhands wrote: »

Could you learn as you go?

Transits look nice and high, a good size. Would these be the most recommended? Doesn't seem too many available online.

Its not difficult to convert a panel van, every job is doable by competent diyer. Things to consider are
Plan for gas fitting at the start and get a Gas fitter to do the work, this will give you a gas cert which you will need for your suitably qualified person who certifies that it qualifies as a camper.
Try to get a van which will take captain seats because most insurers want front to back access
Standing headroom is important for insurance purposes
Ford transits are good candidates but older ones almost universally have bad rust issues which makes them a poor long term investment.

For me there are no really excellent donor vehicles available apart from Mercedes sprinters or vw crafter's, everything else is lacking in some department.

Shoog

I was looking at the Renaults traffic/master and reliability of the engines seem to be the fly in the ointment.
I would say that the Ford Transit would be top of the list - but that rust free example is rare as hens teeth.
Your right that the Ducato is the goto candidate, but you don't see many panel vans second hand.

Shoog

Pussyhands wrote: »

And where can you learn how to do things? i.e simple things like attaching panelling inside, can you screw straight into metal or how is it attached.

There is a Youtube vid for every task.
make certain that you get the spec that a Suitably Qualified Person will assess your conversion on before you start. There is also a gas fitters specification for mobile homes which will help you think the process of locating your cooker and gas bottle (we came a cropper on this part and it nearly scuppered us)
Finally get an idea of what Dolmen and Stewarts define as their minimum spec for insuring, its not the same as the revenues specification which is now in line with EU law.

if you ignore what makes it easy to get insured then your making a huge rod for your own back.



Shoog

Pussyhands wrote: »

Thank you!

Who assesses it?

You should find a local engineer who has status of been a suitably qualified person, he comes and completes a checklist of the revenues requirements for a reclassification, takes some photos and then submits the paperwork to the revenue on your behalf. Its a very straightforward process but some SQP are much more picky than others so shop around to find one who seems reasonable. I would contact him before you start once you have your vehicle as he will give you a few pointers to save trouble down the line. His fee is around €200., once the revenue have accepted his paperwork they will send out a VRT assessment for the change in value from a panel van to a Camper, VRT is based upon the commercial value of the camper in the current market. We paid €330.00 on our converted VW T4.


Shoog

Pussyhands wrote: »

And where can you learn how to do things? i.e simple things like attaching panelling inside, can you screw straight into metal or how is it attached.

Your first job is to read through a few of the blogs online where people have documented the whole process step by step and supplied a tonne of photos showing all of the detail, considerations, problems, solutions, skill and often downright ingenuity involved.

After an hour or two of reading these you should have a fairly accurate idea of whether your skillset and abilities are going to be enough to make this project an enjoyable worthwhile venture or a frustrating, horrible money-pit where you end up in a shambles of a van conversion with dripping condensation, moody electrics, a potential gas time-bomb and an empty wallet.

For me I know that a nice ambitious plan like this would definitely be biting off more than I could chew - The fun and romance would be killed stone dead by things going wrong, mistakes, confusion, dread, fear....a longing to get my evenings and weekends back.

At the end of it I would certainly not have an end-result I'd be happy with - there would be gaps, creaks, loose bits, wiring given trouble thats long-since been routed to inaccessible crevices....and 101 other nightmare scenarios.

Choose your path wisely!!!!

Colm_McMs Conversion is linked below.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057982003

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

:pac:

Do you walk the walk have any experience using them Shoog?

Could you share what you've found in regards to:

Low-temperature lithium plating preventative charger derating.
Cost per kWh over lifetime in a camper environment?
Memory effect mitigation.
Comparable capacity for cost including BMS and system hardware against an FLA alternative?
Thermal management?
Cell balancing?
Cell temperature monitor with BMS feedback and safety measures.
Protecting internal BMS failure from Inverter Inrush?
Effective usable capacity referenced cycle count at variable temperatures and SOC envelope.
Charger derating and throttling in accordance to battery temperature and state of charge.
Alternator integration with thermal management.
Appropriateness of materials for a volatile battery compartment.
Efficiency deratings associated with heating mats and charger deratings.
A suitable charge profile to keep cells in a 20%-80% SOC envelope as well as recommended hardware to oversee this.
Empirical life expectancy for camper usage?
Low/high voltage disconnect implementation.
Low/high temperature disconnect implementation.
Means to protect charging sources from electronic battery disconnect.
What's the nominal Winter temperature of your battery compartment? How does this effect your charging system using li-ion?


What exactly they can do that an alternative can't?

I am using them in a eBike battery. Simple fact is they have a charge cycle life of 4000 cycles which equates to 10 years in normal use. At the end of that they still have about 80% of their capacity left. They have 80% of their capacity available on each charge cycle. They do not sag until they reach 20% of charge, and they do not sag significantly when cold. All issues are addressed by using a BMS and an appropriate charger which can be had for about €50.00 combined.

Shoog

How difficult is it to convert a van to camper?

I am certainly no master craftsman but I can use tools and have a reasonably good understanding of DIY, even if I am a little rusty in the actual skill department.

I was a complete novice to van conversion and in the Spring I converted a VW Transporter almost entirely myself, and did what I believe to be a reasonably decent job on it.

What I learned, starting as a complete novice converter:

1. There's a video for everything on youtube. I like the Kiravans ones because they are very clear and don't go in for all that funky music and lifestyle spiff that a lot of the (particularly VW) guys seem to go for.
2. Broken down, each task is not at all as daunting as the entire project and most are not as hard as they seem at first. Take your time and set small goals.
3. Know your limitations and get help if you need it. I got someone to cut out the window opes as I wouldn't trust myself to do it well. I also got an electrician mate to wire the power hook up, and will get a specialist to do the leisure battery etc. when the time comes
4. Start jobs on areas that won't be seen. For example I started the carpeting on the drivers side wheel arch because I knew it would be covered with a fitted unit. But the time you get to the visible bits, you have learned what you need to know.
5. You can buy really tasty, professional looking modules so don't worry if you don't have the skillset to build a fitted sink. I just bought a module and bolted it to the floor. There's no way I would have the skill to make anything as nice myself.
6. Everything takes longer than you expect


It's incredibly rewarding though.

One path to success is to buy an old Caravan and use the components for your fit-out. Old caravans tend to be reasonable especially in the North.
Ebay is no longer the home of UK bargains since the advent of Brexit - but direct from China can supply a lot of sockets and control items.

Shoog

Kickhams wrote: »

Is there a backlog in Revenue in Wexford?
I converted a van a couple of years ago and got a reply from Wexford within 3 weeks with VRT liability after sending in the paperwork.
It's been 6 weeks since I sent paperwork for latest conversion and have heard nothing.
Has anyone any idea what the wait time is at the moment or is there a way to contact them?

6-8 weeks and more!

I waited 6 weeks when I did mine! That was 2 years ago.

Covid, the camper bandwagon and brexit (all vehicles re-regged via Wexford) are all adding to the delays.

Aidan Harney wrote: »

Much of the discussion around the work is to 'pass certain standards' to get a van classified as a camper.
What if an average family car was to be sold and an average driving van was to be bought and used as the family vehicle.
It would need the 5 seats.
Then build away to high standards, gas safety, sink, frame out for sleeping..
Would there be much benefit to be had from changing the classification to a camper van versus keeping it as a van that can 'be camped in'?
Grma.

You will find it all but impossible to get such an arrangement insured.


Shoog

Tomal wrote: »

Hi,

I would be grateful for advice on converting a t5 bus with windows and floor already in place. Need to get an interior sorted keeping the floor and windows. Really looking for a company that can work around whats there already. Does anyone have any ideas who might do this. Thanks for reading. Regards

Years ago I had an old motorhome and wanted fixed seat belts in the back. Went to a place in Louth. Ardee coach trim. They fitted a frame to the chassis and a few seat belts to it. Have a Google of them! May or May not be of any use to you.
Best of luck either way.
A

My apologies. Thanks for advice but I think my message was a bit amiss. What I would like to know is converting a VW Transported bus to a camper van and who could work around the fact windows and floor in already. Sorry for confusion. My bad!