|
 Topic: conversion costs
|
Page: 1 2
  |
02/11/2014 at 11:20am
Location: Devon
Outfit: Dreamer(Rapido) D.55 select Plus
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 12/9/2013 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 652
| Site Reviews Total: | 36 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Agree with pepe - good advice. (imho!)
Also agree with screen2 - some vans are illegal when brand new - especially on rear axle loading. 'Quality' vans, especially British are bad in this respect - often it is down to the fact that they have used wood rather than lightweight board in their furniture construction. Also consider seating - if there are 4 belted seats you must consider weight of passengers and luggage!
As an aside - Like Francis we have also looked at new £50K+ VW vans - on the surface looked nice and shiny but further checks by OH ('hawkeye') showed sharps edges and holes in back of cupboards etc! Further research with actual owners on sites said the compressor fridge flattens the auxiliary battery in 2 days! So much for 'loadsamoney' says I!
-------------
The older I get the better I used to be.
|
03/11/2014 at 11:09pm
Location: Southport
Outfit: Adria Adora Premium Yeti 4x4 run about
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 13/1/2013 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 702
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
How about looking for a horse box most are not high milers
lots come with sleep and shower fitted for grooms or riders and usually are renewed by horsey set to keep up with the jones.
the horse side can be converted at your leisure after replacing flooring (horse pee rely stinks and lingers for ever) hence the flooring.
and you will need to get deplated if bigun like rainbow converstion of single decker bus.
Unless you have goods or psv licence to cover
|
05/11/2014 at 10:40am
Location: Hants
Outfit: VW T4 Home conversion
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/4/2013 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 378
| Site Reviews Total: | 7 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I bought a VW T4 2.4 diesel Hi top for £2300 (Ebay).
I fitted it out using good quality used stuff from Ebay, Fridge, combined 4 burner and Sink Unit, Zig Unit and some other odds and sods, as well as a 12 Volt TV/DVD unit, cleaned them up and they look like new.
The Sink Base and side cupboards were Factum Range from IKEA.
I pinched some Kingspan insulation from a Builders skip ! (well they didnt want it), I also got a pile of used Parquet flooring from a skip. Fixed down then sanded off and varnished and it looks pretty cool !.
Wall lining was from Rainbow Conversions.
Wiring from Halfords.
Best deal was 3 used flourescent double tube lighting units from Ebay, £12 the lot.
Bed was half inch ply from Builders merchants and wall unit was Melamine boards from Builders merchants.
DONT fit a Rock N Roll Bed. It wastes space and is incredibly uncomfortable to sit on.
I built a fold out bed directly behind the drivers seatm also using a removeable Box that forms part of the bed.
To support the bed when in Use I used cut down Stainless Table legs and fitted the base hole units into the floor.
When the bed is folded up, one of the Fitted Table base hole units acts as the extra support for the dining table.
We now have a superb walk through camper.
Total cost of the van and fitting out was just under £4k
ESSENTIAL: Battery powered Drill/Screwdriver. Those little plastic fitting blocks from DIY shops or Builders merchants.
Weve had a lot of comments on our camper from people who thought it was a Pro conversion and even been offered £5k for it but I wont sell it yet.
Funny point. My van came with the solid welded in bulkhead behind the front seats. I jigsawed most of it out, but then went around the spot welds with a Brick bolster and hammer. Got to the spot weld near the driver side seat belt fitting and suddenly BANG !! and a smell of gunpowder or something. I firstly thought I was being shot at then realised that my seat belts had explosive Pre-Tensioners. Scared the life out of me.
-------------
Birth of the Universe?
Once upon a time there was nothing. Which exploded
|
06/11/2014 at 9:09am
Location: Rushden Northants
Outfit: Mercedes 614D Conversion
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/7/2011 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 581
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We are on the SBMCC, very good site for the new builder.
We are currently converting a Mercedes Vario 614D minibus, 6 tonnes gross weight and built like a tank, so weight of fittings isn't a problem, we have about 2 tonnes to play with for interior and payload.
We bought a damaged caravan off ebay to source the expensive bits like cooker, fridge, oven, water heater and a lot of fittings and cupboard door in solid wood (or looks like solid wood anyway!)
We are looking at 10 years life out of it, so not building to sell. I don't think anyone gets any significant profit out of a self build when the sell it on.
Peter
|
11/11/2014 at 8:27pm
Location: Cleveland
Outfit: Swift select 164
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 07/4/2008 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 760
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
There's one thing your going to need loads of .... Time
|
12/11/2014 at 3:15pm
Location: Hants
Outfit: VW T4 Home conversion
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/4/2013 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 378
| Site Reviews Total: | 7 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Johnnie Boy on 11/11/2014
There's one thing your going to need loads of .... Time
Around 3 months on and off for me.
-------------
Birth of the Universe?
Once upon a time there was nothing. Which exploded
|
18/5/2015 at 4:03pm
Location: London UK
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 18/5/2015 Standard Member
Forum Posts: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Hi there, for what it is worth, my wife and I are currently converting a VW Crafter MWB (2010).
We budgeted 20,000 GBP and have so far spent 16,000 GBP, including the van, which cost us 8,000 GBP. This also includes custom made furniture and bed.
We took delivery of the van at the end of January and only just took it to the cabinet maker (weekend of 9-10 May). I also took the entire Easter week off work, while my wife took two additional days. The period also included Early May Bank holiday. All in all so far, working 14 weeks by my estimates, we've spent about 470 hours on this project:
130 hours during week nights
80 hours during Easter
260 hours during weekends
This is mainly just to get in lined and insulated.
If you want the whole story, please check out:
http://anton.belodedenko.me/lining-and-insulating-our-crafter/
Hope this helps!
-- ab1
|
|
