Well, we've only gone and done it. We've got a bus. We are going to live in it full-time, so there's a bit to do first.
First problem: it's converted already, as the interior pic shows, but it's not insulated, so before we do anything else, we've got to do that. Agreed?
Although the finish looks OK in the pictures, it's not, really - it's thin veneer type stuff that's stapled on, and we really want proper tongue-and-groove wood, so this is our thinking:
1) strip it all out
2) Insulate floor, ceiling and walls: the body is fibreglass, not metal, which I think is a good thing. Is it?
3) Wiring & plumbing. There's only 12v, but there are leisure batteries. We were thinking of putting 240v in from an external hookup initially (for computers) and keep the 12v for lighting. We don't need a fridge. We can use mains water on the site, so don't need enormous tanks. We are taking out the cassette loo, but might put a shower in later. There is cold water from a little tank, but no hot.
4) Vapour barrier, then final wood finish
5) Woodburner and associated stuff - need advice on safety - not setting things alight or killing ourselves with carbon monoxide, fitting a flue etc. We have the wood burner itself ready to go.
5) Framework for the partitions, raised bed area with storage underneath, fold out table, office type work area, a bit of seating, kitchen more or less as is.
6) Finish off and make it nice inside
7) Sort the outside out - just cosmetics I think.
We are not really very practical people, so any advice would be enormously appreciated.
Are we thinking straight with our list of priorities, and are they in the right order?
Hope to get some useful suggestions...
Declan and Suze
Hi guys,
Cool van. Looks like it will make a wicked home. I'd say definitely insulate if you can. A fibreglass body has it's advantages, it is not as conductive as metal and also should be lighter and potentially easier to repair, although the downside is it will probably dent/crack more easily. Not sure about the electrics (my boyfriend did all that in our van :o) - what your suggesting sounds alright though. I guess the main thing with the wood burner is making sure any surrounding surfaces are fire resistance (so plasterboard, fire cement etc or the like) although it's not something I've done. I'd keep it well away from anything flammable e.g. stove gas and just think about where the petrol tank is i.e. you don't want the stove right above it! Wood burners in homes have a minimum clearance for safety (round the sides and top) - would be worth applying the same in the van. Another thing could be to get a design which is on legs as this helps disapate heat form underneath. I'd maybe get some advice from a local tradesman. You'd want it as safe as it would be in a house and they can probably advise exactly how that would work. As for the furniture, cupboards, bed etc you don't always need to use big chunks of wood, well constructed frames can support quite a bit of weight without being too heavy themselves. It really depends whether you're going to drive the van much and if so, the lighter the better. Only other thought is try to work out all the things you might need to drill into the van frame for and do these first (after you've stripped it out), partly because it will be messy but also access will be easier to things you ultimately want hidden e.g. electric cables. Take the chance when it is empty to have a good look round the shell too and just check it out. Sorry, that's all abit random, hopefully something might be useful. Anyway good luck...
thanks for all the information, and for the welcome....
Found a bit of a nasty today...
I took those kitchen units out yesterday and found the rear wheelarches underneath, and when I'd cleared everything around them away a builder friend of ours, who can see such things, immediately noticed that one of the wheelarches was straight, but one drooped away towards the sidewall. Straightaway he got under the bus and found two steel cross members cracked.
So, instead of amateur carpentry next week, it's trying to find some box section steel to straighten it up again with. Oh, and while under there, he found that the floor isn't steel at all, but plywood - which we think is probably good news, even if we have to take the whole floor out and put new ply down - because you can screw anything you like into it without all the worries we had about piercing steel.
and so the plan changes again - I suppose that's the nature of the game now...
the Pwincess and the Coin Collector
Sorry to hear you found those problems, although always better knowing I reckon. Afraid, converting is a bit like that. Make a plan, find something doesn't work / needs fixed, change plan :o). A plywood floor will be easier to fix stuff to but you might want to try and make sure it's got a good waterproof covering (on the underside). Boat varnish is a pretty good bet.
Cool Van...
I was thinking of converting one of those...or similar size anyway.
I'm just starting the research stage as I want to do my conversion from scratch.
A few questions, if you don't mind...?
Fuel
Diesel I presume...
How much does it take to fill the tank?
How many miles do you get to a tank?
Law
Do you drive it on a normal driving licence? or as it's an old bus, do you have PSV entitlement?
I presume you have re-classed it with the DVLA as a motorhome and as such it only needs a normal MOT...?
General
How does it handle ?
I suppose the weight of your interior is somewhat balanced out against the weight of the removed seats...
If you have finished the refit, how did it all go? what about the insulation? What did you use in the end?
As usual, there is loads of different conflicting advice on lots of different conflicting forum's...
Thanks in advance for your feedback
Ade