Red Dwarf
Forum Member
I see there’s talk about the forum being quiet etc. Well, as a newbie here feeling my way around I guess it’s up to the likes of me to throw in some new content.
The van isn’t far off being finished now. But, before I show it off to the world (ie this forum!) I should give you a bit of background into the van’s conception.
For years I’ve had VW transporters, always part of life even if in the background. While living abroad for quite a few years I kept a T2 Devon pop top in a pals barn and would come back to the uk in the summer and set off in it for a month. Later a couple of T25s and then a couple of T4s. Had it not been for the onset of a bit of arthritis in my hip, I’d still have a a transporter I guess.
Anyway, both the T4 camper and my beloved T2 both got sold on to new homes. I sold the T4 for £6k and decided that this would be my budget for a big van....
About this time a friend was selling his xlwb sprinter. He’d bought it new and done 83,000 miles as a carpet fitter. How could I resist? I’ve no idea if the van was cheap or expensive at £2500, seemed okay and left me with £3500 to do any repairs and converting. I was determined to build as cheap as possible, use as much as I could of materials that were in the shed and lastly, build what I want without any thought of future value.
I suspect we have all spent many hours, day, weeks and months pondering layout and design. I’ve always maintained that you have to have two lists of specifications. These are tradable and non tradable specifics. My non tradable item was a fixed king sized bed, I’m 6’4” and don’t want to start building furniture when I want a kip! So, 50% of the huge van is bed. A waste of space for some, a must for me. The rest of the van is what you need for living. It’s also got 200w of solar, a couple of 110w batteries, a 12v compressor fridge, a shower room and a thetford chemical karzi.
It’s made partly from junk and what was collecting dust in the corners of the shed, make of it what you will. The other thing, it wasn’t going to be grey with grey. No fancy expensive lightweight ply or tambour doors.
And the budget? I calculated it had gone over £7000, then recalculated and realised I had forgotten how to add, it’s at about £6400.
As it’s now 12:40am there’ll be no pics until tomorrow! I know, I’m being a tease, but it is dark out there!
The van isn’t far off being finished now. But, before I show it off to the world (ie this forum!) I should give you a bit of background into the van’s conception.
For years I’ve had VW transporters, always part of life even if in the background. While living abroad for quite a few years I kept a T2 Devon pop top in a pals barn and would come back to the uk in the summer and set off in it for a month. Later a couple of T25s and then a couple of T4s. Had it not been for the onset of a bit of arthritis in my hip, I’d still have a a transporter I guess.
Anyway, both the T4 camper and my beloved T2 both got sold on to new homes. I sold the T4 for £6k and decided that this would be my budget for a big van....
About this time a friend was selling his xlwb sprinter. He’d bought it new and done 83,000 miles as a carpet fitter. How could I resist? I’ve no idea if the van was cheap or expensive at £2500, seemed okay and left me with £3500 to do any repairs and converting. I was determined to build as cheap as possible, use as much as I could of materials that were in the shed and lastly, build what I want without any thought of future value.
I suspect we have all spent many hours, day, weeks and months pondering layout and design. I’ve always maintained that you have to have two lists of specifications. These are tradable and non tradable specifics. My non tradable item was a fixed king sized bed, I’m 6’4” and don’t want to start building furniture when I want a kip! So, 50% of the huge van is bed. A waste of space for some, a must for me. The rest of the van is what you need for living. It’s also got 200w of solar, a couple of 110w batteries, a 12v compressor fridge, a shower room and a thetford chemical karzi.
It’s made partly from junk and what was collecting dust in the corners of the shed, make of it what you will. The other thing, it wasn’t going to be grey with grey. No fancy expensive lightweight ply or tambour doors.
And the budget? I calculated it had gone over £7000, then recalculated and realised I had forgotten how to add, it’s at about £6400.
As it’s now 12:40am there’ll be no pics until tomorrow! I know, I’m being a tease, but it is dark out there!
