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FYI Our van identifies as a camper van, and just because it was built as a Ducato it doesn't wish to be a motorhome... So anything better than a tent counts... We've moved up from a T5, and are trying to keep a similar ethos i.e. wide open side door, shortish (5.5m), open interior without any...

I'm happy with my proposal for one 110Ahr Lead Carbon battery, which according to the spec sheets cope with 100%DOD a 100 or so times (and if that happens once I'd be very annoyed with myself), and a Votronic 30A B2B charger, and solar if we find we stay put more with the new van. I expect...

As far as I can see, every outlet selling Lead Carbon AGM (or plain AGM) prefixes their offer "if you've got a suitable charger". Does this mean "do not use with a smart alternator, as it peaks at >15V"? -thus a trad alternator at 14.4V etc is safe? Or: you don't get the phased charge profile...

Various points here: Yes, I'll get solar if/when we stay in the same place long enough not to charge by driving. Mobile ones are a good idea too that I've seen in use but had forgotten, thanks for the nudge. Its hard to work out what the Victron bluetooth ap actually does. Is there a proper Amps...

Thanks for the replies: In the past I've found that the T5's fridge (Vitrifrigo 39l front loader) might struggle to start up after the second morning. Voltage probably 12V resting, showing 8ish during a failed start up. Some of this may be cable thickness, but I inherited this. I would...

Thanks; @Trev, I'd not clocked that Lead Carbon as an option. the deep cycle ability is good, but how much longer do you need to charge them? Is there a charge rate rule of thumb (like the C/5 for lead acid)? Superficially it seems they may have 50% more useable power, but cost 50% more--- so...

Hi folks, I'm making inroads through the mechanical work of building out our "new" Ducato (2016 Eu5+, thus dumb alternator, tbc), and am now trying to get a shopping list for the electrics. {sorry if this is repetitive, but searching hasn't revealed a answer for a non-max'ed out solution, i.e...

One issue I feel is important, which rarely gets mentioned, is the thickness of the layer of sealant. We assume the joint is going to move, from thermal expansion if nothing else. Non-setting Mastics absorb this by flowing (and hopefully back again). Cast in place elastomers (Stixall etc)...

I'm still having reasonable insulation, I'm just not betting the van's sills on on a dubious vapour barrier having perfect sealing. And we've got lots of roof windows to reduce the humidity, before it condenses.

A few months ago Exploria were advertising their Demo / Show van T6 for £90k (+Vat....!) Ok it had every extra, but it's still half the van a LWB Sprinter is. Are HR / Georges builds £100K or $100K? Slight difference... Even in the USofA there will be some in the US who wouldn't want a...

I now have a plan for wall and roof insulation: I've not seen this done per se, so invite your comment... But before ridiculing please remember this is for camping weather, and we don't mind being slightly chilly for the few seconds from getting out of bed before the kettle goes on. The...

I'm quite pleased I'm not pushing the boundaries on this, and am happy to copy George... -IMO one of the very few Youtube builders worth watching.

with a bizarre stroke of fortune, we've had some steelwork delivered at work today which came using 40mm acoustic foam as packaging; offcut's from this suppliers main product of housings for stationary diesels. All offcuts are safely snaffled and awaiting fitting to a camper! I'm also wondering...

Thanks, I'll certainly be interested in hearing (!) the difference of treating the cab floor & scuttle. As that where we travel, logically it's most important... if the factory didn't try very hard to start with. I remember talk in VW forums that some more passenger orientated T5s have foam...

I think I'm generally aiming for a lower spec build... static caravan rather than bespoke arctic cabin... I've got enough custom assemblies to build, so I'm trying to avoid non-essential extra steps, eg adding a grp process (plus sourcing all the specialist materials). But thanks for the...

the only rust I've found so far is where first users screwed ply lining straight through the wheel well. Thus is manageable, though I've yet to lift a floor panel... but I'm hoping they won't have got quite as wet. Re marine ply: I never got it wet untreated, but I had some 4mm left over from...

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still not sure what to do with the floor, the van is only intended for "camping weather" - and if we do more the ubiquitous diesel heater may be cheaper. The few days a year we'd need heat wouldn't show in power use. Phenolic ply is an interesting option I'd not...

Hi all, I’ve been lurking for a while and looking at old posts on here, but now we’ve taken the plunge and bought the replacement for our aging, much modified T5. So with 5 year old Ducato delivery van sat on the drive I’m going to be asking many nube questions about the finer points of...

Thanks Dave and Phil: We've bitten the bullet and agreed to buy the thing. It's a surprisingly rare option in low roof, with AC. (I think most as bought as ladder carriers for roofers etc, so don't get the AC box ticked). We're being optimistic about be able to go to Europe and relieve the...

to resurrect my own thread: this spring's lockdown prevented us test driving any s/h vans until after the window to "get it finished before the season" closed, so I'm looking again. I keep being drawn back to my original spec of a low roof Ducato (were both shortish so height is less of a...