Through COVID, the creative juices were flowing with building my own campervan.
How difficult could it be? Surely it cant take that long...
Mid 2021, having sold our VW T6 California camper at the height of COVID, we found a local converter who would get vans from VW for conversion. He would sell a few on unconverted. So we jumped at the chance. We also gave asked him to do a few bits to get us started: add a two tone paint job, fit the skylight, run some external cables, fit the diesel heater.
Once the van was home we set about with the masking tape
First job, off to beef up the stereo. External amp added, stock speakers replaced and sub-woofer under the driver’s seat - only visible addition is the amp gain switch on the dash. Marked difference. Not rattled any fillings out yet
Lets start on the electrics. Scheme put together by Roamer who supplied all the kit and a schematic - we are going gas-less with diesel heating and induction cooking.
100’s of hours of YouTube watched as I built a test rig on the workbench and tried it in the van
The van takes its first “test” trip to an Oak framing course in Wales. Accommodation is a bit basic but all the electrics and heating work
Back from Wales, all first-fix cables are installed, framing starts and we start insulating and boarding, we have ceiling lights
Ceiling is 3mm construction ply base with 3mm birch ply “planks”
Trial electric install removed. Final build commenced. Temporary panel built
Insulating and fitting the rear door storage
Bed beams made from 18mm ply. Hours of work and fettling only to realise that the old Ikea bed frame hack would be much better. Hey ho
Onto the plumbing and fitting the right-hand garage walls and the the rear door outside shower
Next we start building the rear overhead lockers
Bed bases cut strip some weight and to support the Froli bad base system. Door frame carpeted. Wall panels installed with bed light. Bed cubbies made in installed with wireless phone chargers
The kitchen is from a company called VanDerMoon in Poland. It’s aluminum, light and saved weeks of construction. Drawer fridge. Cooking will be on mobile induction hobs that can be use in side or outside the van
So here we are in Summer 2025 and we are camping in it. Still to build the front seats with concealed composting toilet. But the rear half is complete and all the systems are working - water, waste, heat and electric
And the bed is bloody comfortable!!
