Hi all. Just signed into this site, as I'm altering the interior of my L.W.B.T350 Transit, but I'm not sure if a 'camper' site's the best place for me to be.? The van was luckily already professionaly lined in thin ply', which was/is in good condition, and I intend to convert it into something pretty much what americans would call a 'day van' I suppose.? That is to say, almost a 'people-carrier' for want of a better description, offering seating round a table, comfortable sleeping for two, {should the need arise} in a partitioned area at the rear, 12v powerpoints, {no 240v} Television, and cupboards & storage places throughout. {A lot of which I am already making headway with} BUT,.....I have no intention of having gas cooking facilities on board, a sink, water,or a toilet, so what would YOU call such a vehicle.? It can't be a camper.? {due to the lack of the above} It will no longer be JUST A VAN, {due to extra seating, and the option to sleep in it} it won't be on-par with a factory built 'DAY VAN', ....so what should it be called.? AN 'OVERNIGHTER' ? A PEOPLE-SLEEPER'.? A TRANSIT 'WEEKENDER'.? LOL. As you will hopefully now understand, I am a bit in no-man's-land with the finished vehicle I have in mind, so whatchamacallit.? Maybe it will simply be a 'custom' van.? Let me know what YOU think, and if you don't feel this is a good site for me to be on, I would appreciate suggestions of sites which might be better suited to my plans.? I've also been told that I may not be setting out with the intentions of the finished vehicle becoming a camper, but once the 'bug' has got me, that's what it will end up being.? ha ha. Well, we will see, but for now, I've got in mind what I've described to you above. Thanks for reading my waffle, and all suggestions will be gratefully accepted. CHEERS FOR NOW. Dave.
Sorry guys....THE REPEATS WERE ACCIDENTAL....computer gremlins.
Hi Dave, no worries about the repeats, we've sorted them out. Cheers for your post. Be interesting to see what others think. It sounds like you are well on the way with a camper. I've no idea when a van officially becomes a campervan but anything you can sleep in would get my vote. Good luck with things.
Thanks for the welcome Campermaster..........I suppose you have a point there, if you can SLEEP in it, "you must be camping" LOL. I've had 2 or 3 Transits over the years from the late 70's up to this one I bought last year, {prefer the space in 'em much more than a car} but I didn't consider those to be in good enough condition to re-style the interior in the way I am doing with this 350. I'm fairly handy with all forms of car/van mechanical work, and used to earn money repairing them, but I didn't want to get into completely 'restoring' a Transit. I just wanted a decent one that was sound mechanicaly & bodywise, which I could simply work on the INSIDE when I felt like it, rather than welding up doorsteps, and looking for decent doors etc: {been there, got the T-shirt} So I found this 350 at a great price, and thought "this is the one". Mrs. wasn't too keen going back to a Transit again, and I got some "Big fat gypsy wedding" and 'Dingles' jibes" {LOL} but now some of the interior is taking shape, I reckon it's growing on her.? The best thing about what I am doing to the interior is, I haven't spent any cash yet, as I had a lot of ply and various sizes of timber in my garage, door hinges, screws, brackets, 12v lighting etc: which being a hoarder, I just KNEW would all come in handy one day. LOL Even the large off-cut roll of grey carpet I stashed, is Transit bound. ! Anyhow, it shouldn't be long now before I'm at the carpet-glueing-up stage, but having said that, I don't work on it EVERY day...{it's also my daily transport} so who knows when it will be COMPLETELY finished.? But it's an enjoyable thing to do, to turn your own 'ideas' into reality with your own hands. Recommend it to anyone who's even the slightest bit handy with hand tools. Really rewarding. Is it possible to upload pics to this site by the way.? As I'm trying to keep a regular photo 'library' of everything I do, and materials I use, and I'd like to share 'em one day when it's done, to show folks that it CAN be done, WITHOUT a fat wallet.? O.K. I'm out of here. More sketches to do for tommorrows ideas. P.S. Another good thing about doing an interior is,....rain doesn't stop play. LOL. Catcha later. Dave.
I'm in the exactly same situation. I have a van. Her name is Xena. And that's it. For now.
I also am not planning to install a sink, cooker, toilet etc. Or 240V. But I want to be able to store my stuff in cupboards and have somewhere to sleep.
I'm starting from metalwork though... there is no flooring or walls yet. And I have no skills. But I have heaps of enthusiasm.
I'm looking forward to getting some design ideas and also more practical advice as I'm keen to get started. Give Xena a well deserved makeover.
Mandy
Hi Mandy. Welcome to the "what on earth am I gonna do with the inside of my van" club.
I may be told I am doing it all wrong after I tell you this, but when I started the inside of my Tranny, I made no 'plan of layout' at all. But I aint saying that's not a good idea. I just had a rough idea of the kind of set-up I wanted/needed inside, {mainly some seats preferably round a table} and somewhere basic to get my head down on the odd occasion. Everything since then, I've made-up in my head as I went along. {usualy by sitting staring at something for 20 minutes first. LOL} It's working out well for ME, but has now evolved into what can only be described at this stage as a custom van interior.? I've unintentionaly began making the inside take on the appearance of an old sailing ship. Some have also said it now looks a bit like the inside of a canal boat.? {loadsa wood, old fashioned cupboard doors and drawers} I didn't want it to be like an old 'out of date' caravan, so I went backwards, beyond old caravans, to REALLY old fashioned, using old pine cupboards, and leaded glass cupboard doors etc: which I scrounged, then stained darker. It also makes it much easier to build to be honest, because you can use materials which are genuinely old, which therefor look right for what I'm doing, and all add to the desired olde-worlde effect. Anyway, I hope you get your project underway soon, and as I've said before, what I'm doing PROVES yo don't need to be 'minted' to do something 'interesting' with your interior.? Good luck anyhow. All the best. Dave.