Sylvie our Mercedes 814d

[Darcar]

This conversion took us ( me & the wife ) about 18 months on and off. Is it finished yet?

We built it, with in mind a extended tour of Europe, so some of our must have items, were a fixed full size double bed, large shower with toilet ( wet room ) full size fridge, cooker, & sink.

 

[wildebus]

Looks handy
The rear doors are now defunct then? replaced or just permenantly locked and sealed?
The Side door - is that from a Caravan? or standard? (do Varios come with a side door generally or depends on what was specificed originally)?
(the photo before the side door one - that was the in-progress shot of the decommisioned slider?)

 

[Darcar]

Looks handy
The rear doors are now defunct then? replaced or just permenantly locked and sealed?
The Side door - is that from a Caravan? or standard? (do Varios come with a side door generally or depends on what was specificed originally)?
(the photo before the side door one - that was the in-progress shot of the decommisioned slider?)

Yeah the rear doors are permanently sealed as we intend to hang a motor scooter on the rear.
This particular van didn’t have a side door at all, varios can be specked with or without a side door and hinged or sliding.
The door I fitted was new old stock motorhome door, it was a bit of a faff to fit but worked ok in the end.
If you want I’ll post some more pictures.

 

[wildebus]

Thanks for reply.
What would be very interesting is internal dimensions Side to Side, Floor to Ceiling and Rear to the start of the cab/Back of seats. (could work out my imaginary (for now!) layout

A hinged side door would be good. It is a bt of a shame there has been a near-universal switch to sliding side doors in vans. I see in the US it is possible to specifiy the Transit with side hinged doors but I don't think that option is available in UK or Europe.

 

[Darcar]

this is the 614d, but all the lwb varios are the same,

 

[wildebus]

it was more the internal dimensions I was wondering about really.

 

[Darcar]

it was more the internal dimensions I was wondering about really.

 

[Millie Master]

All that lovely spray foaming, the very best and most thermally efficient insulation to be used, I can't remember, did you do it yourself Darren or have one of the professionals do it for you?
Phil

 

[Darcar]

All that lovely spray foaming, the very best and most thermally efficient insulation to be used, I can't remember, did you do it yourself Darren or have one of the professionals do it for you?
Phil

I got a guy from the iow, he came to me on the way to another job, it cost £500 ish.
I must agree with you that’s it the single best thing I did on our build. Only took the guys a morning to do, after I did all the masking.
Darcar

 

[Millie Master]

Only took the guys a morning to do, after I did all the masking.
Darcar

The real PITA is the cutting back of the overspray afterwards, it took me forever and a day!!

 

[wildebus]

It is meant to be very good and effective. But I understand a major downside is if you need to do any bodywork involving welding it has to be all cleaned off around the area? (it was this that put me off the idea).

 

[Darcar]

It is meant to be very good and effective. But I understand a major downside is if you need to do any bodywork involving welding it has to be all cleaned off around the area? (it was this that put me off the idea).

Yeah it was a concern of mine originally, Although it doesn’t burn, I tried to set some of the trimmings on fire and it wouldn’t burn.

But Hopefully I won’t have to do any welding on the top sides, and it doesn’t go below the floor level on our van.
I figured that if I’v got to remove the interior fixtures and fittings then scraping off the foam wouldn’t be much more work.
The benefits for us far outweighs any worry about future welding.

I really can’t recommend it enough. The difference between our empty van and the foam sprayed van was unbelievable. It changed the whole feel of the space, it felt much more solid. Even the acoustics were changed, gone was the echoey sounds & any squeaking of the framing I’d put in.

Darcar.

 

[trevskoda]

I did mine with bubble foil and 1 inch loft insulation over it,the foil alone is ment to be as good as 30mm insulation,the big w/screen is where heat and cold cause a problem.

 

[Millie Master]

It is meant to be very good and effective. But I understand a major downside is if you need to do any bodywork involving welding it has to be all cleaned off around the area? (it was this that put me off the idea).

As Darcar so rightly wrote, the efficiency of this, the very best, kind of insulation has to be experienced to be believed.

I do appreciate there would be a problem if you had a prang and wanted to have a panel repaired, and as for the rust problem, if you cure and thoroughly treat any rust before the spray foam is applied and it is applied when the atmosphere is dry, this stuff bonds to a panel like sh*t does to a blanket and furthermore, as it is closed cell (a) it doesn't wick moisture (b) it doesn't burn.

Phil

 

[fast but dim]

Fantastic van!
I searched and searched for a decent t1/2 Mercedes camper after viewing, and just missing out on, a 609 on eBay this summer.

More pictures!!!

 

[wildebus]

I have seen what looks like a very nice 814D LWB on Ebay. Ex Glazers Van in Red and no windows or side door so could do just what Darcar has done with the Motorhome door and windows where you like.

 

[fast but dim]

I have seen what looks like a very nice 814D LWB on Ebay. Ex Glazers Van in Red and no windows or side door so could do just what Darcar has done with the Motorhome door and windows where you like.

It's ok... I managed to get a transit!

 

[Millie Master]

I have seen what looks like a very nice 814D LWB on Ebay. Ex Glazers Van in Red and no windows or side door so could do just what Darcar has done with the Motorhome door and windows where you like.

Can you put up the eBay link for others to see please David?

 

[trevskoda]

It's ok... I managed to get a transit!

Do make sure you have a pedal box as these newish electronic vans vanish at a alarming rate as so easy to open and start.

 

[Darcar]

Fantastic van!
I searched and searched for a decent t1/2 Mercedes camper after viewing, and just missing out on, a 609 on eBay this summer.

More pictures!!!

I’v got loads of pictures is there anything you want to see.