Can I Pick Your Brain?

[Funky Farmer]

Hi

I have an old Renault Master van which someone has converted to a camper. It's ok. Well it has to be, coz it's all I could afford. Anyway I digress.

When they converted it I think they put the sink and cupboards in first then the bed. The result is a bed about 5'6" square! I'm 6' 2".


My idea is to do something incorporating the rear doors which look like this

(not my van}

and then extend the bed out.
Has anyone any ideas or have you done something similar? Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[maingate]

Seen as how I am the only member who actually has a brain, I suppose I should answer this.

It is possible to have a rear extension on a panel van. A google might throw one up but some converters are doing this now.

You would have to work out how to make it watertight so I suppose something like an awning will solve that (I may have even seen a photo of one on here). An extending platform with legs would work but you may have to do some internal re-arranging first, depending on your layout.

It would be cheaper to bend your legs and stay as you are. :banana:

This brainwork is giving me a headache, I wonder if Whisky will get rid of it?

 

[rach82]

Have a whiskey maingate.....

I would just curl up - a cheaper option!!:dance:

I dont have to though - I am only 5"2:dance:

 

[Funky Farmer]

Seen as how I am the only member who actually has a brain, I suppose I should answer this.

It is possible to have a rear extension on a panel van. A google might throw one up but some converters are doing this now.

You would have to work out how to make it watertight so I suppose something like an awning will solve that (I may have even seen a photo of one on here). An extending platform with legs would work but you may have to do some internal re-arranging first, depending on your layout.

It would be cheaper to bend your legs and stay as you are. :banana:

This brainwork is giving me a headache, I wonder if Whisky will get rid of it?

Thand for your reply maingate.
I am considering putting a couple of stretchers between the doors and boarding out with ply at the same height as the one in there. I know I will have a problem storing when dismantled. My main concern, as you point out , is making it water tight. I tried Google but I'm obviously asking the wrong questions

Oh yes. The bed is inside the rear doors

 

[vwalan]

hi .yes lots have done it .the early vw,s used to have two full two berths down stairs with what was called the back pack .it slide out from above the rear engine and you clipped a tent around ther tail gate .
there is a system now based on the vw t5 .but its expensive.
there was might still be a caracamp or something that clipped on vans and estate type vehicles . cant be that hard .gutter mount for the top press studs around the sides .could even be made so you could drive off with it open if you had to. might have to park the rear wheels on a bit of wood so rain doesnt try to get in too easily .it would run forwards in the side gutters .

 

[maingate]

Google Khyam Tailgate XL. It might do you.

Conversely, sell your van to Rachel :idea-007:........ she is only 5' 2" you know, bless her little cotton socks :angel:

 

[Firefox]

Hi

I have an old Renault Master van which someone has converted to a camper. It's ok. Well it has to be, coz it's all I could afford. Anyway I digress.

When they converted it I think they put the sink and cupboards in first then the bed. The result is a bed about 5'6" square! I'm 6' 2".


My idea is to do something incorporating the rear doors which look like this

(not my van}

and then extend the bed out.
Has anyone any ideas or have you done something similar? Any ideas gratefully received.

If your bed is truly 5 6" square, diagonally it will be something like 7 6" So sayeth pythagoras in one of his more lucid moments

Therefore sleep diagonally perhaps using a memory foam topper and you will have no need to curl up or mess around with rear extensions.

If someone else needs a bed, cab seats with a board and topper can make a nice bed up for a person up to 5 10" or so.

 

[n brown]

i would use the time and effort in volved rearranging the interior so your bed is inside the van.it can't be that hard as you have everything in there,just in the wrong place.if i could see it i'd come up with something.don't think i'd fancy sleeping with my feet sticking out for any passerby to tickle,too tempting

 

[Deleted member 951]

Don't forget the insurance requirements when converting a van like this! There are threads about this on the forum.

 

[Viktor]

Your probably looking at the cheapest option which is to carry a caranex entension.

Car awnings, car tent, camping accessories - Caranex

 

[AuldTam]

I converted a Renault Master SWB low roof and included a 6foot double bed with an end kitchen...If you look further down the thread you will see photo's of how it looks today...in my first conversion I used heavy plywood and a worktop for the kitchen unit and 18mm MDF for the bed/sofa but I changed this to 6mm birch plywood over framing for the kitchen and 12mm plywood for the bed/sofa arrangement and it made a huge difference to the weight and fuel consumption. It's made in three main sections which can be unbolted and removed so I can get full use of the van over the winter months. DVLA registered it as a Motor Caravan within two weeks.

Her'e the link to my photo's thread,

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/photo-gallery/14630-my-master-camper.html

Good luck with your conversion!


EDIT: Forgot to mention earlier, If you have swivel seats in front that can add quite a bit onto the bed.

 

[Bigpeetee]

When I had a yacht, the feet end of your berth went under the cooker or chart table, depending on which side you slept!!

 

[Russtic]

Would'nt it be possible to raise the units just enough to get your feet underneath saving loads of hassle?

 

[Funky Farmer]

Thank you

All for taking time to reply. Seeing Auldtams splendid efforts, I think I will leave things as they are for now and gut and redo in the winter. For now I will buy an airbed and put it in the awning. I know this will put a stop to wilding for this year but I don't really see much option.
Thanks again every one. Much appreciated

 

[David & Ann]

Can I pick your brain?

Sure, why not. Whatever is left of it. ☺☺☺

 

[Firefox]

All for taking time to reply. Seeing Auldtams splendid efforts, I think I will leave things as they are for now and gut and redo in the winter. For now I will buy an airbed and put it in the awning. I know this will put a stop to wilding for this year but I don't really see much option.
Thanks again every one. Much appreciated

So why isn't sleeping diagonally on 5 6" x 5 6" an option... or was it not 5 6" wide too

 

[snowbirds]

Rear tent

Hi Jonas,


Take a look at the way Dormobile extend the back of the old Bedford H A based van with a canvas flap, that will work.

Snowbirds

Hi

I have an old Renault Master van which someone has converted to a camper. It's ok. Well it has to be, coz it's all I could afford. Anyway I digress.

When they converted it I think they put the sink and cupboards in first then the bed. The result is a bed about 5'6" square! I'm 6' 2".


My idea is to do something incorporating the rear doors which look like this

(not my van}

and then extend the bed out.
Has anyone any ideas or have you done something similar? Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[n brown]

All for taking time to reply. Seeing Auldtams splendid efforts, I think I will leave things as they are for now and gut and redo in the winter. For now I will buy an airbed and put it in the awning. I know this will put a stop to wilding for this year but I don't really see much option.
Thanks again every one. Much appreciated

i just saw one for a 6foot2 bloke and his short wife,same thing a 66 inch bed,so i made him a box same height as bed,lightweight but strong and he just places it at the end of his side of the bed.i suggested he upholster it with the same thickness foam,takes his side to 78 inches

 

[Funky Farmer]

So why isn't sleeping diagonally on 5 6" x 5 6" an option... or was it not 5 6" wide too

Because there are two lumps. Me and da Missis

 

[Funky Farmer]

Hi Jonas,


Take a look at the way Dormobile extend the back of the old Bedford H A based van with a canvas flap, that will work.

Snowbirds

I can't find any images of that Snowbirds. Is there one?