Jim’s VW Camper Project

[jims-terrano]

Well guys I cant promise a great thread like my project terrano but I’ll do my best.
So me and the wife have wanted a camper for a number of years. After my brush wife cancer it put life into perspective somewhat as you can imagine. So my suggested we buy a van and convert it ourselves slowly.
After several weeks searching we found a van with our name on it

I picked it up on the Thursday evening and Friday morning set about removing the bulkhead between the cab and load space. Found a carpet remnant for £20 just happened to be a similar colour as the van.

Saturday we had to take daughter to university and it’s a good job we had a van:doh
Weekend after we slung an air bed in the back and set off to the coast with the nutty Labrador and had a great weekend away even though it was a little basic. We both new this was the right thing to do.
Mods we want to do
Pop Top
Side Windows
Mains and 12v electrics
Folding Bed
Kitchen Pod
Front Seat Swivel Bases
Diesel Heater

I’m sure there will be other things too but it all costs money so it’s going to take a few years to complete. In the meantime we will be using our camper as much as possible to spend quality time together.

Here’s a photo of our van to get the ball rolling

 

[jims-terrano]

Bulkhead removed and carpet fitted.

 

[jims-terrano]

So moving on the next job was sound deadening and insulation. I’ve found a company called Kiravans on the internet who are not too far from me and so far seem very helpful.
Bought a kit from them which included sound deadening, insulation and 4 way stretch carpet along with high temperature spray adhesive. They have some great how to videos so I set about removing ply lining and fitting the sound deadening and it soon became apparent that there wasn’t enough. I doubted myself and watched the video again and noticed the sheets of sound deadening were smaller than shown in the video. Noticed at this point I had an email from them wanting feedback so Victor Meldrew head on and composed a nice reply back to them. To my surprise I got a reply back later in the evening from the director asking if he could call me the following day. He kept his word and spoke the following day. Totally accepted what I’d said and agreed to send me more sheets. I actually wanted more so I could do the cab area too and was willing to pay for this but no they sent me the whole lot FOC. Needless to say I go straight back to them when I need anything.
So got straight on and fitted the closed cell insulation too but I wasn’t satisfied that this was enough so I bought recycled plastic bottle insulation, it’s similar to rock wool but doesn’t hold water.
So pretty much every void is stuffed with insulation along with the roof. Driving the van is a different experience now and it’s much quieter.

 

[jims-terrano]

So one thing I wanted to do was fit mains electric as soon as I could so that I didn’t need to keep running extensions each time I needed mains plus if we wanted to go away we can use an oil filled radiator.
I’d seen a YouTube video of a mains inlet socket behind a plastic trim panel at the back. So I fitted this but I still need to order stainless steel hinges for this to complete it.

 

[jims-terrano]

So made a start on 12v electrics too. Made a small control panel with switches, voltmeter and usb sockets. Of course most of this will need starting again as the van develops but for now it provides a safe way to distribute and control the 12v.
I still need to buy a split charge controller as my vehicle has a smart alternator so a normal relay won’t work.
So far we have twin usb and 12v sockets at each side where we sleep.
LED Reading lamps at each side
6 LED down lighters in the roof lining
14 Coloured LEDs in the roof just for a laugh.
Dash cams front and back that will eventually have a switch to run from second battery.

 

[Wheelie]

So moving on the next job was sound deadening and insulation. I’ve found a company called Kiravans on the internet who are not too far from me and so far seem very helpful.

Bought a kit from them which included sound deadening, insulation and 4 way stretch carpet along with high temperature spray adhesive. They have some great how to videos so I set about removing ply lining and fitting the sound deadening and it soon became apparent that there wasn’t enough. I doubted myself and watched the video again and noticed the sheets of sound deadening were smaller than shown in the video. Noticed at this point I had an email from them wanting feedback so Victor Meldrew head on and composed a nice reply back to them. To my surprise I got a reply back later in the evening from the director asking if he could call me the following day. He kept his word and spoke the following day. Totally accepted what I’d said and agreed to send me more sheets. I actually wanted more so I could do the cab area too and was willing to pay for this but no they sent me the whole lot FOC. Needless to say I go straight back to them when I need anything.

So got straight on and fitted the closed cell insulation too but I wasn’t satisfied that this was enough so I bought recycled plastic bottle insulation, it’s similar to rock wool but doesn’t hold water.

So pretty much every void is stuffed with insulation along with the roof. Driving the van is a different experience now and it’s much quieter.

Hi Jim, I have also just purchased insulation for my van, I went for the recycled plastic bottle stuff but I found a different supplier not related to the campervan trade and got it for less than 1/2 price. I have already done most of the sound deadening and run all my 12v cables so this weekend weather permitting I will be fitting the insulation then vapour sealing

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[jims-terrano]

B&Q £16 a roll which aint out of bed for me. :thumbs

Why don’t you start a project thread too?

 

[Wheelie]

I forget to take pics and stuff and I hate typing lol

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[macabethiel]

Impressive Insulation etc

I love the photos of the van interior it will be an interesting build - keep the pics coming.

I purchased a rear mounted spot lamp to use as an optional reversing light on the WK, my plan is to have just one wire from the existing reversing lamp wiring to power a relay in the tailgate cavity behind the trim panel. Should be easy enough to add just one thin cable into the existing tailgate loom.

I will then take the power for the new reversing lamp from the wiper park feed, likewise use existing earth in the tailgate for lamp & relay. Just need some dry and warm weather so it's likely to be next year - 2020.

I will do some photos when I start the job. First conundrum is removing the inside tailgate trim without messing up too many of the endless clips that probably hold it in place. No video on U Tube showing trim removal.....grrr

 

[Jay666d]

Looking Good Jim!

Really looking forward to seeing this project grow! :thumbs

 

[Fez_uk]

I need a bigger van, Would love a VW that size bit they are pretty expensive. Looking good though

 

[elty001]

I forget to take pics and stuff and I hate typing lol

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

Pictures paint a 1000 words:thumbs

 

[Thomas61]

Hi Jim

Have you thought about headhight protectors for the VW? I have a set on my Honda which have proved useful as the headlights are so expensive to replace. This sort thing was what I was thinking.

va6298_vw_volkswagen_t6_transporter_2015_genuine_acryilic_headlight_protector_1035_jb_10

https://www.vanstyle.co.uk/van/genuine-acrylic-headlight-protectors-2015-onward-p-6110.html

 

[jims-terrano]

Yes you could be right and hopefully protect from UV too.

 

[briggie]

got a transceiver in it yet jim ? :naughty

 

[macabethiel]

RR / Bentley Starlight Headliner

So made a start on 12v electrics too. Made a small control panel with switches, voltmeter and usb sockets. Of course most of this will need starting again as the van develops but for now it provides a safe way to distribute and control the 12v.
I still need to buy a split charge controller as my vehicle has a smart alternator so a normal relay won’t work.
So far we have twin usb and 12v sockets at each side where we sleep.
LED Reading lamps at each side
6 LED down lighters in the roof lining
14 Coloured LEDs in the roof just for a laugh.
Dash cams front and back that will eventually have a switch to run from second battery.

Love the roof lights just like on a Bentley only several thousand pounds cheaper!

 

[jims-terrano]

got a transceiver in it yet jim ? :naughty

No Pete, that would give it Vanaerial Disease :lol:lol:lol

 

[jims-terrano]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

For the moment work has ground to a halt for several reasons. Firstly I need to rest up a little and secondly I’m skint :lol
Obviously I have to work outside so at the moment it’s rather chilly so for the moment it’s planning and enjoying the van as it is.

Think the next projects to look at are as follows but maybe not in that order.

Side Windows
Curtains for side windows and rear screen.
Diesel Heater
CTek Split Charge Controller
Fit a Tailgate Release switch in the rear camper area.
Find a ignition live in fusebox and fit a piggyback fuse holder.
Fit a dashcam hardwire kit along with a switch on dashboard.

The last two items can be relatively cheap and easy to fit as they will form part of a system running the cameras from my second battery and will switch on and off via ignition but also have two over ride switches one on the dashboard and one in the rear.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

No Pete, that would give it Vanaerial Disease :lol:lol:lol

:clap:clap

 

[jims-terrano]

Bought us a CTEK D250SE smart charge controller for the van. Comes as a kit with everything needed for the split charge system even down to a drill bit. Another job lined up for the new year.