Posted: 13-Nov-2018 | Category: General
More headlining
More panels made and in place - headlining complete.
At the same time as fitting the headlining panels, the blind / cover for the roof light was fitted.
Posted: 14-Nov-2018 | Category: General
Finishing the rear
The rear "shed" is now complete - I had left fitting this out until we were certain that the electrics were all in the right places. I carefully measures and drew up where all the cable are to avoid any mishaps!
This photo shows all the cables and frame
Panelling (5.5m ply) painted and in place.
Steel shelf supports fixed in place, ready for the shelves. The floor of the shed is tiled with self-adhesive tiles from B&Q - not the best things I have ever come across but will do for now. A length of anodised aluminium angle was used to finish the rear edge of the floor (not shown in this photo!)
Posted: 23-Nov-2018 | Category: General
Update
Lots of small jobs being done now, but one major task completed today was the installation of the gas heating. This is a Propex unit, with 2 outlets, which is located under the bed. It mounts on the floor and has a bottom mounted inlet and exhaust that need to be routed under the vehicle to the sill - this dictates where the unit can go. It also has a separate thermostat / control unit.
The Propex heater in place, and the heat outlet hoses run - one to the edge of the bed and the other to the rear washroom.
Close up of the outlet piping - this was subsequently all insulated and boxed in.
Posted: 02-Dec-2018 | Category: General
More boxing in
Boxed in the electrics under the bed and the gas heater, in order to make the storage area more useful.
The electrics boxed in
Propex heater now boxed in
Posted: 03-Dec-2018 | Category: General
Flooring
Picked up some Karndean flooring cheaply that was left over from a job. It is a nice quality product - very robust and normally very expensive. It is pretty straightforward to lay, and if you use the right adhesive, the plywood doesn't need sealing.
Laying out and cutting the tiles prior to sticking down.
The floor is partly done, now applying more adhesive for the next batch of tiles
Flooring finished - just need the door edge trims now.
Posted: 09-Dec-2018 | Category: General
Table
Decided that rather than cut a hole in the floor, would install the table mount in the raised step. Then made a table to suit out of vinyl covered plywood (15mm) and edge trim.
Floor mount in place.
Posted: 22-Dec-2018 | Category: General
Finishing touches
There has been a lot of small jobs to be done to complete the van, not least fitting all the doors. These use push-button catches (available from many places, ours from Rainbow Conversions).
Here are a list of some of the jobs done:
- Fitting LED light strip under kitchen wall cupboards to illuminate work surface
- Adding shelves to the cupboards
- Completion of gas hob pipework and testing
- Boxing in the waste and gas pipes
- Build a unit to hold the plates, etc
- Mirror in washroom
- Installation of a lift up worktop just inside side door
- Towbar installed
I'll try to compile a more complete list at some point, but here are some internal photos:
Posted: 06-Jan-2019 | Category: General
Shakedown trip
Headed off on the first shakedown trip - stayed at the Crystal Palace campsite which was good and very well located. A few minor things need updating (some hooks fitting, that sort of thing) but overall the van worked extremely well - was nice and quiet to drive, and toasty with the heating!
The van sat at Crystal Palace Caravan Park.
Posted: 14-Jan-2019 | Category: General
It's now officially a Motor Caravan
Sent off all the documents and photos to get the van re-classified as a Motor Caravan - helps with the insurance, and means it is now subject to car speed limits rather than the lower van speed limits! Confirmation of the reclassification received today.......
Posted: 03-Jul-2022 | Category: General
It's been a while......
It's been a long time since the blog was updated - in fact 3 years!
During that time we have put many miles on the van, visiting all parts of the UK and Ireland. The place that we were most surprised by was Northern Ireland, which has a stunning coast. The van has worked really well, with no issues found.
We've only made a few changes:
- Added an external gas connection for use with a gas barbeque
- Retrimmed the internal step at the rear of the cab - it was carpeted but this proved hard to keep clean, so now it is covered with the floor tiles.
- Added additional storage options in the rear compartment
- Installed a waste bin just inside the door
We are about to add a drawer unit and add a battery monitor system - details to be posted here.