BS: Campervans Self Converted?

Subject: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Toenails John
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 01:08 PM

Hi Folks.
Have been looking into buying a camper, nothing too elaborate, as the budget has a belt on, but have come to the conclusion, that to buy a "van" and do the conversion myself, would be the cheaper option. I know there are STRICT guidelines and regulations, and loads of other red tape to adhere to, but was just wondering if any catter's have done this, and if so what hidden snags are there, or in the long run, is it easier and as cheap to buy a pre converted/factory built camper,

Any thoughts on this from anyone?
Tj

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Kaleea
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 01:18 PM

I have a friend who used her old horse trailer. I'm not kidding! She only uses it to go to places near her home, but primarily for the attending the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Kansas. She started with the bed (just behind the tongue), instrument storage & closet. As she is quite handy, over time worked her way to the door with the shower, toilet, kitchen, skylights. Each year, everybody wanted to see what she'd added. It is very well built. I don't believe she followed anybody's regulations-she just did it. On the exterior, it looks just like a normal horse trailer.

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 02:43 PM

Where are you? Regs vary by gummint.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Mar 06 - 04:14 PM

You might want to take a look at:

Van Camper for festivals, advice?

The thread is old, and posts out of order, so it will make better sense if you click on "printer friendly" at the top to read them in the order posted. (You'll need to use the "to thread" link back to the scrambled real thread for any links to work.)

So far as I could find then, no conversion kit maker will sell to an individual. Without a kit, where the structural analysis has been done for you and the proper reinforcement parts are supplied, you will have a very difficult time "converting" a van to a campervan and getting a safe result, assuming you want a popup top. Whether you can get all the legal paperwork done is less a problem in many (US) places than getting a sound and functional vehicle, but checking first would be suggested.

Restoring a professionally converted campervan that's just a little beat up may make sense, but parts and pieces are expensive enough to make it "iffy."

John

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 05:47 AM

I've bought two home conversions in my time (both from Frog's brother) and I must say neither were very successful and eventually we gave up and bought a car and a caravan.

I now have a 'proper' motorhome and the difference is amazing.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Mr Red
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 10:30 AM

Small caravans are better - they last longer than cars and 1 or 2 are also available in red

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Toenails John
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 01:20 PM

I'm in Ireland, and have the full list of regs for converting van into camper, just wondered if anyone had gone out, bought a van, started fitting out out, then came across anything that made you say, "B****X never thought of that" as often the bits you don't see or think of, make or break a project such as this. Any DIY enthusiast will testify!
hmmm, quite like the horse box idea, actually no i dont, yes i do, no I dont .........

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 04:37 PM

A few US manufacturers offer horse trailers with ready-made living quarters installed. Installations available range from fairly spartan to quite comfy. My "technical assessment" of them is that they are "outside my budget range."

For the "unhorsed," it should be pointed out that horse trailers, as a class of vehicle, come under the heading of #$@%^!! HEAVY trailers, and generally do require a more capable tow vehicle than most "civilian" trailers. I would question the intelligence of anyone attempting to pull a two-horse trailer with less than a 1-Ton rated truck (generally an ~8,000+ lb GVW vehicle) and the majority of 4 - 6 horse trailers will require a "fifth-wheel" hitch and at least a 1.5-T rated tow vehicle. People do tow with lower capacity vehicles, but they're either very careful and proceed slowly and with caution, or they end up in a ditch - or beside the road with a smoked out transmission or a blown engine. I've known a few people, who could answer the intelligence question and justify using a smaller tow vehicle, but that degree of "trailer knowledge" is rare. Don't assume you have it.

Before buying our current "small" (26-foot) camp trailer, I also played with the notion of what's here called a "toy trailer." This is a simple square box trailer on which nearly the entire back panel drops down to make a ramp for loading/unloading your "toys." Toys are things like motorcycles or ATV transports. There usually is a walk-in small door on one side near the front for access without dropping the ramp. Aside from being about twice the price of a comparably sized (volume) utility trailer, the design assumes a "heavy" load located fairly far to the rear, a bit like a "mini-horse trailer; so towing stability with a typical utility load onboard - and no toys - is possibly a little less "driver friendly" than other trailer types. This type can also be purchased with factory installed living accomodations, although they tend to be "compact" accomodations.

The toy-trailer, posssibly with self-installed equipment, was an attractive notion; but only a little study was needed to put it in the "too expensive" category. (I do still like the idea of a built in stage on the back.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Toenails John
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 07:27 PM

As i read this, 4* hotels seem a good bet! ta for the info. Maybe I'll buy a 4ft square trailer and pitch my tent in it????
Tj (smiling)

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 09:32 PM

What about buying a pickup truck and building your own camper for it? That shouldn't be subject to the kind of regs you are describing, should it?

Besides, pickups are damn handy all year round...and you can slide the camper on or off as needed.

But get good springs on it...

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Toenails John
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 12:58 PM

Actually looked into that, but having a camper built on the back of a truck is not too favourable from an insurance point of view, my ideal would be to have a converted van that can officialy be classed as a sole camper, that would pass regs, that way it would be valid for a cheaper tax & insurance rate, which is my whole objective, to get something, and put on the road on a smallish budget. Also for converting a van to a camper in Ireland, I will have to have the Vehicle Re Registerd, which will be a percentage of the resale value.
Ta for the suggestions tho!

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 05:39 PM

Years ago I bought my first camper. An early transit with what I think was a professional conversion When this joined the scrapyard in the sky I stripped everything out and bought a newer version Transit - the 125 front model. After a fibreglas high topconversion by experts, I refitted the old innards with several modifications along the way. The regulations are actually surprisingly simple when you get to it. Side windows, water storage, wardrobe space and sleeping length, being the notable ones. All very sensible and easy to comply with. Sailed through many MOTs until Metal Moth won the argument. Stripped out interior again and purchase VW LT258 luckily already a mini bus with sliding windows. Back in went the well loved interior to my own layout kitchen unit at rear with toilet compartment in corner side single seat double forward facing bench seat etc. A double bed could be made uo and a single along the side and still able to walk about and use kitchen and toilet etc. A wonderfullayout. Having lost the argument with a dashing whit courier one afternoon it was time for change. Recent windfall meant I bought a not very old Peugeot Talbot Express. Proper job conversion by Autosleeper, very happy but still not as comfortable to live in as my own layout in the VW. And who would carpet the bottom of shelves in the kitchen, don't they ever live in these things for real?
My advice. You can save a fortune by home conversion but you have to be pretty handy and versatile and have room to work. I would recomend buying a wreck and taking out the innards. This has the advantage of not only a cheapish source of fittings but it gives you a very good idea of the strenght of construction needed.

Good luck.
I realise as I finish this that it is nearly April 1st but I did send it in March Honest!!

Andy

Subject: RE: BS: Campervans Self Converted?
From: Toenails John
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 05:02 AM

Good advice, Thats the road i'm looking for, only without the metal moth and couriers!
Sound advice Ta!