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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 19, 2014 20:09:51 GMT
Few photos of my progress, its a bit slow as limited funds but so far I've built a fixed 3ft bed in the back, got rid of one seat in the rear and moved the double over and balanced some captains seats in, to be fitted properly on Saturday hopefully!
Photos of it when I purchased it;
Fixed bed from the back (I have managed to create a mess underneath with all my camping stuff!
Fixed 3ft Bed from the front (more mess underneath!)
and my balanced seats!
Loads to do. I've only insulated the panels at the ends of the bed so I need to work my way round. This is proving hard work as I am having to rip all the carpet off. I am going to fit a skylight then I will make up panels for the ceiling/headlining. I'm using it as it is (and will continue to once I get the front seats fixed in, I only pulled out the original ones tonight!).
I'll update as I make progress but it will probably be slow!
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Post by Firefox on Jun 19, 2014 20:48:04 GMT
Good work with the slats, that is going to be a very comfy bed! Big problem I have with mine is getting up in the morning At least you have Beau to give you a call! Are you going to put swivel seats in?
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 19, 2014 20:53:33 GMT
Yes, the balanced seats in the front are from a VW Sharan so already have swivels built into them, I just need to adapt my seat bases to make them fit. At them moment they sit too high and that's without the box section I was going to put in so need to have a rethink. Probably going to have to do some welding to modify them but it will be cheaper than sourcing new bases and should be as strong if I put some bracing in. It will keep me busy on Saturday! If I can't make it work or don't feel it will be strong enough then I'll have to fork out for bases but so far I haven't found any for a relay/ducato!
Yes, bed is really comfy, tested it once. I need to build a cupboard next to it that I can put Beau's cage on the top. Last time I slept in it she was on the seat but I worry if I can't see her! I usually tuck her up in her blanket and couldn't glance to see if she was still keeping warm. She is a bit spoilt!
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Post by Firefox on Jun 19, 2014 21:12:55 GMT
I found my front seats sat a little high so I ended up building the lounge as a step up, which is quite common in my van. Great driving position though, I can see over all the hedges and read the road a lot better Your van looks quite manoeuvrable, I think it will fit parking spaces quite well. Trick is to squeeze a nice kitchen and lounge. I managed to get three rings and a sink into 700mm and 300mm work top and another 300mm swing up work top, so I was quite happy with my kitchen. It does not have an oven, but I do have a big fridge. Many people want ovens, but I have got used to the stove top dodges for grills and ovens. Looking forward to seeing yours develop!
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 19, 2014 21:24:16 GMT
The problem with the seat height is I can't get my legs under the steering wheel!
Yes, its easily manoeuvrable and fits in parking spaces.
I have the 2 rear seats fitted similar to yours so once I've sorted my swivel seats out I'll make a folding table and that will create a 4 seater dining/lounge area. I've very little room for a kitchen so I'm not sure what to go for yet. In an ideal world I'd like 2 rings, a grill and a small sink, its going to be fun working out how to fit it in!
I definitely need to build some cupboards and I will put some doors on the storage under the bed. I might build some high level cupboards along the drivers side of the van to add storage.
My plan is to use it this summer more or less as it is and then do some more construction next winter in time for 2 weeks on the Isle of Man in June for the TT races! I've already booked the Ferry but it gives me a target to get it finished.
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Post by billieblue on Jun 19, 2014 21:41:59 GMT
Fantastic Ems. Great van. Brilliant job!
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Jun 20, 2014 6:33:34 GMT
Nice job! Keep up the good work.
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Post by Firefox on Jun 20, 2014 7:51:45 GMT
Smev combined units for sink and rings take up very little space. Mine is the smev 8323 700x440 with 3 rings and sink, but they go down to 490x460 and that's still two rings and a sink... Very spacesaving
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Post by n brown on Jun 20, 2014 8:11:07 GMT
if you forget the sink,have a bowl instead,then you can have a camping 2 burner and grill which ,if on a flexi pipe,could be moved out of the way,or cooking can be done outside.my daughter doesn't have a sink in her van and i'm coming round to that way of thinking ! gypsies and irish travellers don't have them,they see them as dirty another idea if you need the access,you can hang the bed,at the rear,from a 25mm flat metal strap bolted above the doors,and get rid of the central leg.
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Post by campervanannie on Jun 20, 2014 8:43:25 GMT
Van is looking great we are not putting a sink in ours we have always washed up outside. I need to learn how to put photos on here.keep up the good work.
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Post by n brown on Jun 20, 2014 8:46:54 GMT
i resize all my pics and they're still too big,i don't understand-it says pics must be less than 1mb ,but they are ! any suggestions ?
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Post by Firefox on Jun 20, 2014 8:52:14 GMT
i resize all my pics and they're still too big,i don't understand-it says pics must be less than 1mb ,but they are ! any suggestions ? Resize them to 640 x 480 pixels.
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Post by Firefox on Jun 20, 2014 8:58:47 GMT
Washing up outside doesn't always work for me eg street camping or tescos car park etc, not to mention the weather. Being self contained in the van for certain wild camping situations is a great bonus.
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Post by n brown on Jun 20, 2014 9:40:20 GMT
i resize all my pics and they're still too big,i don't understand-it says pics must be less than 1mb ,but they are ! any suggestions ? Resize them to 640 x 480 pixels. i have done,still won't have it
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Post by n brown on Jun 20, 2014 9:45:20 GMT
just tried again ,checked pic was 640x480, came up at 144 kb and a message saying -error this forum has exceeded etc
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 20, 2014 10:11:36 GMT
I use photobucket to put the pics up, upload them to there and then past the link across.
As for a sink, ideally I'd like one for the rainy days. I have a washing up bowl in my camping gear from tent days so use that at the moment, I did think about putting it loose into a sliding unit under my bed but not sure yet! I like the camping cookers that have a grill and may get one of those and see how I get on. I could secure it to the top of a cupboard in the van.
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Post by Firefox on Jun 20, 2014 10:51:52 GMT
just tried again ,checked pic was 640x480, came up at 144 kb and a message saying -error this forum has exceeded etc Whooops, sorry that's a forum problem. We have limited on site storage here. I'll fix it for you and create a bit more space by deleting some old big ones. Edit: All fixed now 10mb free. You can attach 69 x 144 kb photos in that space (Also consider using a free off-site image host. I use postimg.org/ now image shack has gone to a paid model. It can resize for you on upload to whatever size you need. You can do the odd one or get a free account, and have access to all your uploads.)
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Post by n brown on Jun 20, 2014 11:46:03 GMT
cheers Vern !
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Post by Alec on Jun 20, 2014 19:28:14 GMT
I use photobucket to put the pics up, upload them to there and then past the link across. As for a sink, ideally I'd like one for the rainy days. I have a washing up bowl in my camping gear from tent days so use that at the moment, I did think about putting it loose into a sliding unit under my bed but not sure yet! I like the camping cookers that have a grill and may get one of those and see how I get on. I could secure it to the top of a cupboard in the van. Hi Ems, I have done 12 weeks this year with this set up in my 09 MWB Relay, its a £30 double burner and grille screwed to kitchen unit which is placed half way across SLD. Currently using lift up work tops, but this may change. Water system, there is no system, just kettle bowl and bucket...........I must be a traveller!!! Almost forgot, have porter shower for hand washingn and showering............. ....Alec....
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 20, 2014 21:55:51 GMT
That's the type of hob/grill I was thinking of getting. I like the fold up worktop idea.
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 29, 2014 18:04:25 GMT
I've finally got my swivel seats fitted, few pics. Only problem is they are a bit high when facing back into the van so I might have to raise the rear seats a bit but that will have to wait for a while.
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Post by Firefox on Jun 29, 2014 21:54:45 GMT
That's a very common problem. I had to raise my whole rear lounge and seats 100mm. I used 4x4 fencing posts. Very robust and cheap. You can always bolt the seats into the posts and bolt the posts down to make everything setbelt safe.
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 30, 2014 19:56:13 GMT
I think I will have to raise them but I don't want to raise the floor. I will probably make up some sort of base for them, going to give it a test run first this weekend! Time to enjoy it for a few weeks!
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Post by Firefox on Jun 30, 2014 20:35:40 GMT
If you don't raise the floor, the front seated people's legs will dangle, but if that's not a problem, you can do it like that What table are you thinking about. One of those freestanding bar tables could be a good bet. You can adjust the height on a gas strut for different occasions.
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jun 30, 2014 21:09:32 GMT
Yeah, I'll have to get a foot stool or two! If I raise the floor I loose head room and its already limited!
I was planning on fixing a table to the drivers side, one that will fold down out of the way but may need a rethink. I have a small camping table to use for now.
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Post by lotusanne on Jul 1, 2014 21:36:23 GMT
LOvely van Ems, look forward to seeing its progress, so glad you got another,are you going to any of the meets?
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jul 2, 2014 8:57:52 GMT
Yes, I'll be at the Brandon meet :-) Looking forward to catching up with everyone and meeting the newbies!
It was worth waiting 6 months to get a newish (in age!) van. I juet need to get it fitted out how I want it, although I'm not really sure what I want, plans keep changing. A few test runs and that will give me ideas for where to put cupboards and if I want to keep the back seats or not, they feel like they are in the way!
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