So due to camper threads and transporter threads I thought I’d start another one !!
So thinking of building (not me) a camper, have had a Chevy Astro day van a few years back, and liked it
I drive a transit for work, and have had 3 of them (and 2 transporters) but prefer transits
I thought a SWB esp a transporter will be too small, so stated looking around to see what o could find
I want one that i can use for wild camping some places in England and esp in Scotland, so wanted a discreet colour to blend in (i think this is a great colour for my plans)
I bought this a couple of weeks ago
its just 4 yrs old 62 plate, done 115k with full service history, 135 bhp engine, ex centre parks bus, already has a skylight in roof, headlining, and 4 side windows, so I think it will modify easy. had 4 weeks mot on – took it and got full MOT, so all good
Insured through adrian flux, as a camper in progress
Idea is a section at rear for 2 bikes, U shaped seating turning into bed, 40″ led tv in rear wall, bluetooth sounder and blu ray player
bought a pair of black recaro seats from a mondeo st220, to go on swivel bases, couple of single seats at rear of side door, cooker, fridge, sink etc on offside in back.
that should make an awesome camper…. stealthy, too, as it doesn’t stand out as a campervan.
i reckon that if i had the space and time to go away for longer than a few weeks-month at a time i would look at something this size. being able to stand up without lifting the roof and having a fixed bed that didn’t need clearing in order to cook/get to storeage is a bonus.
main disadvantage with something that size is that it would be as easy to manouvre along some mountain roads. used to shuttle for a guiding comapny using a sprinter and that was abit tight at times, but you soon become aware of your surroundings….
If you’re going to keep it, I’d suggest getting the timing chain/guides/tensioner changed. Timing failure is the main reason transits get written of at my work, and certain companies now want them done at 100k as part of the regular service schedule.
If you’re lucky, it’ll only jump enough teeth to cause starting issues and be picked up then, but it’s more common for them to jump enough teeth to destroy the valve train in one quick move. At which point the value/repair cost for companies usually means they get scrapped.
and yes 8k inc vat
print out of all work ever done, just tyres, brakes, and bulbs, had new clutch a year ago
and its been limited to 62mph all its life, so not been thrashed. Will get limiter taken off to allow better overtaking on motorways
could have got a white one cheaper, but really didn’t want a white/light colour
Looks a nice usable space in there. Always interested in threads like this, I’ve got an old VW T2 that we find a bit small really and I keep thinking of getting a T5 but it’s just as small and when I see conversions like this I just think get something beigger, but I’d need it for day to day driving too so not sure if I’d like driving a bigger van around all the time … somrthing to ponder on, keep up the good work and updates.
1) you end up sleeping on a shelf
2) backs of seats cover more of the windows up
3) you cant sit on it as a bench
This is why I’m having it built, because everyone wants/uses vans like this differently. The only way to get what YOU really want is to get it custom done. I spent a while looking at others on ebay, but couldn’t find what I wanted
Looks very nice indeed, lovely base van (I think the transits are the best looking vans by far and well done for getting it in a nice colour!) and the conversion looks like it’s got loads of room.
Just wondering, where are you sitting to watch the TV? In the front swivel chairs? Probably not a good place to put a TV if watching from the bench seats at the back. I also would have thought a 40″ TV might be overkill if sitting close too.
a few more pics, luton section has been fitted, and fibreglassed to smooth all contours, then re-carpeted to match rest of van. Over head lockers have been trimmed awaiting doors
Liking the cab over head unit. Fancy doing something like that in my bus. How did you fix it to the roof at the front / sides
You ain’t kidding about that ply being pricy I looked at getting a new bit to replace a bit that got heavily watermarked/stained in my van…..It will be sanded down and refinished in situ..