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Ford Transit camper build

colm_mcm · 2017-07-31 21:01:59

Myself and my friend are converting a SWB low roof Ford Transit to a campervan. It's not going to be the biggest one out there, but will be ideal for festivals, beach trips and short trips away. It started out as a minibus

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#52 13-08-2017 10:20pm

colm_mcm

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So today we said we'd do a small bit and go for a few pints. 8 hours later, still there and no pub

Made a good bit of progress today though. Started out by routering out the edges of the doors and kitchen frame to accept a hammer-in T trim. This will fill the 6mm gap left by the CNC router and put a durable edge on the kitchen doors and frame. Next I made a box to put the gas bottle into. This lines up with the hole in the floor made last week.
We also fitted the drawer and the back panel for the kitchen units, and finished off putting the edging strips on the bed boxes.

It's all coming together, not a massive amount to do.

Drawer front not actually fitted yet, need to glue in the rubber edging and stuff first.

Next jobs will be to make a door for the gas box and fit the bracket to hold the bottle in, do some 230v wiring, and get the doors hung

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#53 14-08-2017 10:11pm

colm_mcm

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Put the door on the gas box today and fitted the first of the sockets. One in the middle is a USB and volt meter.

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#54 16-08-2017 12:22am

colm_mcm

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More bits done this evening.
Biggest job was putting the roof lining up. Supplier ran out of the colour we wanted a few weeks ago so we didn't do it at the same time as the walls. Worked out well I think.

We also fitted the extra sockets, made a top for the drawer, fitted the seal to the gas box, and reinstalled the units.

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#55 16-08-2017 9:40pm

Isabelle Kind Wall
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Love this thread, fair play to you.

Why all the concern from people about insurance? no structural changes have been made and people wont be in the back when driving, whats the issue?

E.G whats the difference between this and taking the back seats out of a punto to put subwoofers in..

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#56 16-08-2017 9:54pm

Quazzie

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Henry Yellow StereoType wrote: »

Love this thread, fair play to you.

Why all the concern from people about insurance? no structural changes have been made and people wont be in the back when driving, whats the issue?

E.G whats the difference between this and taking the back seats out of a punto to put subwoofers in..

You need camper insurance. This doesn't qualify as a camper. Commercial insurance won't cover it because of gas fittings and intended use.

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#57 16-08-2017 10:12pm

Isabelle Kind Wall
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Quazzie wrote: »

You need camper insurance. This doesn't qualify as a camper. Commercial insurance won't cover it because of gas fittings and intended use.

Are you talking mega money for that in general?

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#58 16-08-2017 10:19pm

Quazzie

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Henry Yellow StereoType wrote: »

Are you talking mega money for that in general?

Not sure to be honest. I looked into it a few years back, and was told it had to be both taxed and insured as a private vehicle as it doesn't qualify as a camper. A camper must have permanent toilet facilities, cooking facilities and 1.8M min headroom throughout a large percentage of the vehicle.

I ended up buying a full on coachbuilt camper because of this.

NOTE: This is all from memory and some regulations may have been relaxed etc

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#59 16-08-2017 10:27pm

Nekarsulm

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I think its a requirement yo have a sink and cooking facilities, never heard about requiring permanent toilet arrangements.
I know our old T25 didn't have a permanent toilet anyway.

The Customs officer measured the roof height and glanced at the hob and sink.( Westy hard top) and was satisfied.

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#60 16-08-2017 11:11pm

Alkers

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No requirement for toilet or 1.8m roof anymore for camper tax but some insurance companies look for more than revenue, e.g. walkway from can to living area etc

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#61 16-08-2017 11:12pm

Alkers

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Quazzie wrote:

You need camper insurance. This doesn't qualify as a camper. Commercial insurance won't cover it because of gas fittings and intended use.

This build.ahould qualify as a camper!

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#62 16-08-2017 11:15pm

colm_mcm

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So the RGI lad came today and did a bit of the gas fittings. We got the sockets and RCB wired up too, finished making the frames at the back except for the lids, which we will do tomorrow. Table is cut too, just needs fixing to the floor, door back on the gas box, and more messing around with the door trims

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#63 17-08-2017 1:31am

Isabelle Kind Wall
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Simona1986 wrote: »

This build.ahould qualify as a camper!

TBH lads I wouldnt give a shi5, insure it as a van and if you crash it the absolute minimum they will do is pay out to other injured parties or vehicles which they are required to by law, if it gets wrote off fair enough you lose your cash which youd never get back regardless. even if it was fully comp which no point in doing but once you have insurance they will pay out third parties.

Which arguably they should do anyway, try defining a campervan in court.
Im doing something like this soon and not a chance il be telling insurance its anything other than a van

Not many people know if you have insurance no matter what you are driving and how illegal it is you are covered by them, now they could sue but Ive never heard of that ever. would make the news and once you dont own a gaf what can they get.

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#64 17-08-2017 8:06am

colm_mcm

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This will be registered and insured as a camper.

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#65 17-08-2017 8:23am

Day Lewin

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Henry Yellow StereoType wrote: »

TBH lads I wouldnt give a shi5, insure it as a van and if you crash it the absolute minimum they will do is pay out to other injured parties or vehicles which they are required to by law, if it gets wrote off fair enough you lose your cash which youd never get back regardless. even if it was fully comp which no point in doing but once you have insurance they will pay out third parties.

Which arguably they should do anyway, try defining a campervan in court.
Im doing something like this soon and not a chance il be telling insurance its anything other than a van

Not many people know if you have insurance no matter what you are driving and how illegal it is you are covered by them, now they could sue but Ive never heard of that ever. would make the news and once you dont own a gaf what can they get.

There is a fair amount of discussion about this and related topics over on the "Motorhomes and Campervans" forum.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=884

It's a subject that comes up pretty regular when people do conversions, which is quite frequent of course.
Hint: there are legal specifications for taxing and insuring campers. Telling porky-pies not recommended! Insuring a camper is cheap, but you can't run a commercial van and claim it is a camper - different level of risk, you see. A mattress and a billy-can won't do it - there's a list, somewhere.
The campervan forum repays a read, loads of relevant stuff.

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#66 17-08-2017 11:19am

Tigerandahalf

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A nice finish you are putting to the camper.
Hope you get some good trips out of it.

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#67 17-08-2017 2:16pm

the_syco

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Henry Yellow StereoType wrote: »

TBH lads I wouldnt give a shi5, insure it as a van and if you crash it the absolute minimum they will do is pay out to other injured parties or vehicles which they are required to by law, if it gets wrote off fair enough you lose your cash which youd never get back regardless. even if it was fully comp which no point in doing but once you have insurance they will pay out third parties.

I wonder would they go after you to claim back what they paid out to the 3rd party? After all, your modifications to your vehicle will usually make the insurance void.

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#68 17-08-2017 6:26pm

StupidLikeAFox

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Another consideration (for the "I'll chance it" crowd) is that you will need to get it DOE'd, the DOE crowd won't give you a cert if it has serious modifications like a camper conversion.

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#69 17-08-2017 6:30pm

StupidLikeAFox

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Henry Yellow StereoType wrote: »

Are you talking mega money for that in general?

Camper tax is 102 and insurance about 350

The reason for the strict regulations is apparently to prevent lads doing a basic conversion of their van just to avail of the cheap tax and insurance.

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#70 18-08-2017 12:04am

colm_mcm

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So we are 99% done. Just a few tiny bits to finish but it's pretty much ready for inspection now anyway.

Oh yeah, needs cushions and curtains obviously

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#71 18-08-2017 3:34pm

pryantcc

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Great work here! Any idea how much weight you've installed?

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#72 18-08-2017 6:05pm

colm_mcm

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Nope. Probably took out 250kg of seats out of it though. Didn't use lightweight bird or anything, mostly 18mm.

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#73 18-08-2017 6:14pm

J.R.

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How do the drawer & press doors open...are they on a push / spring release or are you going to fit knobs?

Brilliant job..by the way!

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#74 18-08-2017 9:05pm

shaunr68

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The SWB Transit is deceptively spacious inside, there's even room in the back for a ride-on mower!

Seriously though, impressive professional job.

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#75 18-08-2017 9:35pm

Bonzo Delaney

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Great job Colm
Looks great. I'd just finished paneling out my new transit for tool storage tought i was a great lad and was going to post up pics but after seeing your build here I think I'll keep them to myself
Best of luck with it and all who travel in her

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#76 18-08-2017 11:26pm

colm_mcm

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Didn't get the SQI inspection today, think it's Monday now.

Gave us a chance to finish a few more bits.

Some cute little cubby holes, the lids just drop in.

Abandoned the piano hinges as they were a balls. These ones work way better and hold it upright no bothers.

Have a third hinge for the middle, haven't fitted it yet. Still have to fill the screw holes with plastic wood.

Want to fit speakers too, but they're surprisingly hard to come by these days.

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#77 18-08-2017 11:36pm

colm_mcm

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J.R. wrote: »

How do the drawer & press doors open...are they on a push / spring release or are you going to fit knobs?

Brilliant job..by the way!

These ones

The ones we got aren't a straight fit for the board we have so we will have to adapt them.

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#78 19-08-2017 12:18am

sogood

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Great job. You should be feeling very proud. Use it and enjoy it!

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#79 23-08-2017 9:34pm

12 element

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Was the SQI expensive? Are there any other charges for changing vehicle type to campervan?

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#80 23-08-2017 10:41pm

colm_mcm

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Haven't done SQI yet, it's in this Friday. Think the most it'd be is €150. Then there's VRT which is a kinda pick a number out of the hat type job.

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#81 23-08-2017 10:43pm

colm_mcm

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We got a lend of cushions for the VRT photos and test.
Finished everything else too.

Having the cushions in makes such a difference. I can't get over how spacious it feels inside for such a small van.

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#82 23-08-2017 10:46pm

colm_mcm

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Oh yeah. Almost forgot I mounted the screen for this and wired it in tonight.

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#83 23-08-2017 11:47pm

12 element

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colm_mcm wrote: »

Haven't done SQI yet, it's in this Friday. Think the most it'd be is €150. Then there's VRT which is a kinda pick a number out of the hat type job.

I've been doing some reading and as you converted from a minibus you might actually be OK on the VRT as the original VRT would have been paid at the higher rate! I might be wrong however as the rules are very confusing.

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#84 24-08-2017 11:11am

Ubbquittious

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Fook it that's a tidy job

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#85 24-08-2017 10:25pm

colm_mcm

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Knew we forgot to do something

We got some temporary blinds until we get the proper ones on

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#86 28-08-2017 11:07pm

job seeker

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That's a fantastic job Colm! Fair play!

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#87 05-09-2017 8:28am

kupus

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Looks great, happy travelling all over Europe.

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#88 06-09-2017 2:09pm

Sleepy

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Any idea of the total cost? Have you been keeping track or just spending as needed?

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#89 06-09-2017 7:20pm

colm_mcm

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Excluding the van itself, probably around €3.5k. Some of that was repair/maintenance though.
Passed CVRT test today anyway, so happy days

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#90 12-09-2017 12:28pm

defike

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Two questions
1.why cant i see the pics .what am i doing wrong.
2. how the tax and insurance pan out.

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#91 14-09-2017 4:00pm

colm_mcm

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defike wrote: »

Two questions
1.why cant i see the pics .what am i doing wrong.
2. how the tax and insurance pan out.

1. No idea, maybe try a different browser!

2. Went perfectly to be fair. CVRT passed then got tax.

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#92 23-11-2017 9:15pm

J.pilkington

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Only just spotted this, great thread. Converting a camper is on my long list of life projects, although I’d imagine it’s a lot harder than ye have made it look, some tidy skills!

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#93 09-02-2018 10:59am

alastair

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colm_mcm wrote: »

So the RGI lad came today and did a bit of the gas fittings. We got the sockets and RCB wired up too, finished making the frames at the back except for the lids, which we will do tomorrow. Table is cut too, just needs fixing to the floor, door back on the gas box, and more messing around with the door trims

Where did you get your sockets from? They’re really nice.

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#94 09-02-2018 3:52pm

iwillhtfu

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alastair wrote: »

Where did you get your sockets from? They’re really nice.

They look like modular systems pick n mix

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Campervan-Triple-Socket-Frame-CBE-Double-3-pin-240v-Sockets-12v-Lightswitch/251317974474?hash=item3a83b7f5ca:g:T0oAAOxy7S5SBiig

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#95 24-02-2018 12:39pm

colm_mcm

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Small mod! Adds 30bhp

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#96 11-04-2018 8:56pm

colm_mcm

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K so it seems postimg.org has shat itself and URLs for pics need to be changed to .cc

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#97 11-04-2018 8:59pm

punisher5112

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How's the build going???

Any finished pics

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#98 11-04-2018 8:59pm

Duke O Smiley

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Pics are working for me

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#99 03-06-2018 10:27pm

colm_mcm

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Very small job today, the van didn’t come with these little rubber strips in front of the windows, they just fill a gap really. Saw some on one that was being scrapped a few weeks ago.

Some 3M tape and she’s good to go!

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#100 23-09-2018 5:13pm

colm_mcm

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Fixing the pics on these as postimg.org had a meltdown so old url is invalid and original posts are too old to edit.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Myself and my friend are converting a SWB low roof Ford Transit to a campervan.
It's not going to be the biggest one out there, but will be ideal for festivals, beach trips and short trips away.

It started out as a minibus

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#101 23-09-2018 5:15pm

colm_mcm

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colm_mcm wrote: »

The first job is to completely strip out the interior of the rear. This wasn't a factory built minibus to start with, so it was pretty simple to get everything out.

Seats unbolted, stuck-on carpet round the windows taken off and side panels removed

Next job was to put some bubble wrap style foil insulation up

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