Low loader conversion.

suffolkjames · Mar 20, 2024

Hi all. I have been looking at a peugeot boxer low loader to convert.
I've been looking at one that has had a box placed on the back of a chassis.
The bulkhead has the small window and seems to have bars across which I'm guessing are to strengthen the cab? Or am I wrong?
Has anyone cut thru the back of the cab of one of these?
Cheers all.

Pudsey Bear · Mar 21, 2024

The cabs are an extra part as they do a chassis cowl for the likes of Swift etc so the whole back is surplus, but you can always put strength in, it's only welding.

The low loaders tend to have larger wheel arches in them which would compromise where you can put stuff so you need a plan to work off before going that way I should think.

suffolkjames · Mar 21, 2024

Pudsey Bear said:
The cabs are an extra part as they do a chassis cowl for the likes of Swift etc so the whole back is surplus, but you can always put strength in, it's only welding.

The low loaders tend to have larger wheel arches in them which would compromise where you can put stuff so you need a plan to work off before going that way I should think.

Thanks a lot for your reply. That's great. I had hoped that was the answer. I had the thought of adding a few strengthening bars across top and bottom.
I'll check out the chassis cowl.
Thanks again!

Millie Master · Mar 21, 2024

I think you will find that the vast majority of professionally converted Motorhomes that use the Sevel built cabs don't have a Sevel built chassis, instead they leave the factory in Italy as purely a unitary construction cab unit that is then bolted onto an ALCO galvanised chassis frame onto which the fully finished luxury body is mounted.

The chassis that comes out of the Sevel factory with the low loader van body on it is not to the same strength or quality as can be seen by the amount it flexes.
Quite a few people have been able to make a walk through from the cab, however they can never be to the full width of the cab as in the professionally built conversions. People have overcome the problem by building in a somewhat ugly gusset, allowing a shoulder width doorway.

I looked into undertaking a conversion of one of these low loaders myself and ended up staying with a standard panel van.

Phil

Pudsey Bear · Mar 21, 2024

Of course, I am not a structural engineer and I don't have a chassis cab to inspect so make certain in your own mind that it is safe to proceed

Pudsey Bear · Mar 21, 2024

The Sevel cabs used to be delivered as back to back bolted together units with no chassis at all for the variants that were getting the Alco chassis, but a lot also arrived with the Sevel chassis as did ours for the shorter versions, not sure how the "low loader" ones were delivered.

pmnewross · Mar 23, 2024

suffolkjames said:
Hi all. I have been looking at a peugeot boxer low loader to convert.
I've been looking at one that has had a box placed on the back of a chassis.
The bulkhead has the small window and seems to have bars across which I'm guessing are to strengthen the cab? Or am I wrong?
Has anyone cut thru the back of the cab of one of these?
Cheers all.

pmnewross · Mar 24, 2024

I have done a conversion with a walk through on a Movano low loader, the only issue I have with it is that it is too high!!! at 3.2m. See attached pics,

Millie Master · Mar 25, 2024

pmnewross said:
I have done a conversion with a walk through on a Movano low loader, the only issue I have with it is that it is too high!!! at 3.2m. See attached pics,

That is one utterly brilliant conversion, truly amazing!

pmnewross · Mar 25, 2024

Thank you Millie Master

Millie Master · Mar 25, 2024

pmnewross said:
Thank you Millie Master

Is there any kind of structural sway/shift/movement between the cab body and the rear parts of the van at the joining point?

Phil

trevskoda · Mar 25, 2024

Small amount yes, hence a rubber type seal to allow flex would be a good idea.

pmnewross · Mar 25, 2024

No movement on my van. I just removed the van bulkhead and cut out the fiberglass from the body. The body is securly fixed to the cab at both sides, no need for a seal as it is completely enclosed.

eanp · Apr 17, 2024

pmnewross said:
No movement on my van. I just removed the van bulkhead and cut out the fiberglass from the body. The body is securly fixed to the cab at both sides, no need for a seal as it is completely enclosed.

Hi
The mh looks brilliant...!
Can you explain (photo would be good) what the vehicle was like when you started and why you ended up with it so tall?
Also where or how did you make the overcab and corner transition pieces please and finally can you go into greater detail re the method of joining the habitation to the cab and to the chassis....I lied....is the chassis a standard one or an Alko type bolt on and if the latter did you fit it or was it fitted?

pmnewross · Apr 17, 2024

Im sorry, but I don't have any pictures of the van before the conversion.
What I can tell you is that is was a standard low loader luton box van bolted to a standard chassis.
The overcab and corner transittion pieces were there from when the luton box was originally bolted to the chassis, if you look at low loader vans online you will see that this is a standard fit.
The reason it is so tall, 3.2m from ground to rooflin is because whoever built it speced it at this height.
The only thing I would change if I was to do another build, would be to buy a luton low loader with a lower roofline.
That said, when you are in the van or driving it, you do not notice and I would rather have the head height, than be bent over in a VW.

Low loader conversion.

suffolkjames

Pudsey Bear

suffolkjames

Millie Master

Pudsey Bear

Pudsey Bear

pmnewross

pmnewross

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