White Van turned Camper Van

The Jackeens · 29 June 2007, 18:38

You come home from work tired after a long week...

Only to find Himself Indoors immersed in Camper Van Weekly or somesuch publication.

He has his eye on a Renault Trafic and wants to convert it himself.

(To be fair he's hankered after one since the windsurfing days).

Any advice on conversions out there?

K (long suffering

)

Nos4r2 · 29 June 2007, 18:45

Go to a caravan breakers for as many internal fittings/fixtures as you can. All those crunched caravans you see on the motorways have fridges, cookers etc...

Avoid diesel Renault Trafics though-they aren't very nice to drive and very expensive for parts. The engines aren't great either.

Jimbo · 29 June 2007, 18:46

There are some really well turned out Mercedes Sprinter camper vans, generally built for the motocross market.

I was considering one myself for dinghy sailing events or when I'm working further afield than usual - do a search for sprinter camper on eBay and you'll find some! Although huge, they looked well put together and eminently practical.

Hugh Jardon · 29 June 2007, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

You come home from work tired after a long week...

Only to find Himself Indoors immersed in Camper Van Weekly or somesuch publication.

He has his eye on a Renault Trafic and wants to convert it himself.

(To be fair he's hankered after one since the windsurfing days).

Any advice on conversions out there?

K (long suffering

)

would you not prefer to purchase a ready made coachbuilt or a class?

PeterR · 29 June 2007, 19:07

i can say i have had more experiance than most and can say their isnt much i dont know about the renault traffic 1984-96.I have had two american La Sharos one of which almost got featured in motor caravan magazine as i changed it from LHD to RHD and refitted it out to uk spec and have owned and broken about 30.They are a good chassis for a camper so depending on your bugget of your base van will depend on wether its worth spending your money or time on it.Just ask if you want to know anything specific

Biggles · 29 June 2007, 19:14

One of these should clog Pompey up.

tcwozere · 29 June 2007, 20:05

One of these should go down a treat in Port Solent..

Spike · 29 June 2007, 20:33

Try,
www.rainbowconversions.co.uk
Mike.

Spike · 29 June 2007, 20:42

Reference; www.rainbowconversions.co.uk
VW TRANSPORTER T4/T5 is one of the cheapest & easy'est to do the conversion to & these boys do the lot at a resonable cost

& the re-sale value is great to

Mike.

Hugh Jardon · 29 June 2007, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

You come home from work tired after a long week...

Only to find Himself Indoors immersed in Camper Van Weekly or somesuch publication.

Thats a bit sad......i cant believe anyone reads motorhome and camper van mags......must be a right saddo!

cough....

my friend has quite a collection if any needed for research.....

Mollers · 30 June 2007, 09:10

I have a guy renting a workshop to convert an '01 Merc Unimog into a mega hardcore camper. He's going to tour China and Mongolia with it. He's a switched on guy, so it''ll be interesting to see what goes into it.

Kernow Buoy · 30 June 2007, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

I have a guy renting a workshop

He's a switched on guy,

The Jackeens · 30 June 2007, 09:36

Biggles and tcwozere excellent !! LOL

Nos, Jimbo,Chris, Spike. The Trafic option relates to a 2.5 L diesel Vivaro 2004 van which he owns. Bit of a recycling effort instead of getting rid. So a low-budget no-choice on make/model option I'm afraid. It's for occasional use also so can't justify an all-singing all-dancing model. Or even anything cool. The VW will remain a old surfer dream

(Also, sadly, he's raring to go with the angle grinder...

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Go to a caravan breakers for as many internal fittings/fixtures as you can. All those crunched caravans you see on the motorways have fridges, cookers etc....

Nos: good idea. Do you know of any breakers in the So'ton/Pompey area?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterR

They are a good chassis for a camper so depending on your bugget of your base van will depend on wether its worth spending your money or time on it.Just ask if you want to know anything specific

Peter,
1) Could you recommend a rising roof option as it's a standard van?
2) Can the front seats be adapted to swivel?
3) Window suppliers? Want something quite neat. Thanks.

Spike. Thanks for that. Good site for accessories.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

Thats a bit sad......i cant believe anyone reads motorhome and camper van mags......must be a right saddo!

cough....

my friend has quite a collection if any needed for research.....

Chris he actually would like to borrow a copy of the following from 'your friend' ahem

Bit of a longshot 'Which Motor Caravan Feb 2004'? Cheers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

I have a guy renting a workshop to convert an '01 Merc Unimog into a mega hardcore camper. He's going to tour China and Mongolia with it. He's a switched on guy, so it''ll be interesting to see what goes into it.

A totally different class of go-anywhere vehicle, Mollers.
Be interesting to see the finished product tho'!

Cheers for all advice.

Will post updates on the project here.

Needless to say it has a towbar

Paul and his unpaid PA/typist

Nos4r2 · 30 June 2007, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

Nos: good idea. Do you know of any breakers in the So'ton/Pompey area?

They tend to be quite hard to find-the only one I know of round here is near Tewkesbury on the M5 and thta's only by word of mouth.

The best way to find one is to buy the local ad-rag and look for someone who's advertising for "caravans wanted-any condition". Either that or go to a secondhand motorhome/caravan dealer and ask them.

Nauti Buoy · 30 June 2007, 10:34

Same chassis though as the Vivaro.

Jono · 30 June 2007, 10:48

http://www.caktanks.co.uk/ ... all you'll need.

PeterR · 30 June 2007, 10:53

It would be well worth your while going to one of the caravan shows at say Shepton Mallet ,Bath or Malven has one you caravan monthly mag should have it in or i,m sure some one here could find the dates.You will see lots of stands for items.I think a man called Mike Oleery is still trading.on the other maters I,ll look them up

Simon B · 30 June 2007, 11:08

Love the unimog, wonder if its any more reliable than the Land Rover...might have just answered that!

Tim M · 30 June 2007, 17:18

I was always under the impression that the vivaro/trafic/primastar were really nice vans to drive. A friend of mine has driven one lots and loves them. I nearly bought one about 3 months ago because of their apparent car-like driving "experience". Still considering one.....

Nos, why didn't you like them?

toby4594 · 30 June 2007, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

I was always under the impression that the vivaro/trafic/primastar were really nice vans to drive. A friend of mine has driven one lots and loves them. I nearly bought one about 3 months ago because of their apparent car-like driving "experience". Still considering one.....

Nos, why didn't you like them?

Tim ,I change the company vans every two years,always gone for vw transporters great vans ,had a visit from the Renault rep and he convinced me to give the Trafic a go ,140 bhp electric pack ,reverse bleepers, air con,and mettalic paint 16k the vw in the same spec 21k,and I have stayed with Renault since ,they are a superb drive ,just like a car and go very well too,40mpg+ when driven sensibly.The first one I had has just done 100k and not cost me a penny,and servicing every 18k can,t go wrong.