Jim’s VW Camper Project

[terranosaurusdoug]

Wow, your Merc was an eyful :thumb2

 

[macabethiel]

Our R129

Wow, your Merc was an eyful :thumb2

Thanks I try my best to keep it in good condition we bought it in 2003 it's done around 65 k miles, no winter use and rarely gets wet as we use it for sunny days only.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Oh you've still got it?! I bet it turns some heads aye

 

[macabethiel]

Thanks - fit blondes seem to look until they see it's driven by an OAP.

Oh you've still got it?! I bet it turns some heads aye

When the hood is down it gets some glances by passing vehicles. Following vehicles seem to be surprised when I raise the roll bar as I leave a 30 mph limit. It's motorised with a manual switch and locks when fully up. I wouldn't want to test it but if the bar is down and you crash the bar is fired into the upright position by an explosive charge that is triggered if the electronics detect a situation where a roll over is likely.

 

[jims-terrano]

Had chance to get some more work done on the camper conversion whilst locked down.
Windows down both sides but the drivers side rear quarter panel is a false window as furniture will be going up against it.

 

[jims-terrano]

Interior

So planned the window fitting carefully.
After cutting the holes I started the carpet lining, used one sheet to cover the whole interior side. But the plywood panels I covered separately to allow me to be able to remove for maintenance but you see the photos.
Trimmed the carpet around the newly cut window apertures and then fitted knock on trim to cover the edges which made a nice neat finish as the trim fitted over the carpet.
Bought a set of curtains along with the tracks for top and bottom. Keep the light out nicely for the lighter mornings.

 

[jims-terrano]

Interior again, I like how the 4 way stretch carpet moulds into the contours of the panels like the wheel arches.

 

[jims-terrano]

Not quite in the correct order but the split charger controller or to give it it’s proper name “battery to battery charger”, box of electronics as the modern alternators are smart.
Fitted a isolation switch at either battery so it can all be isolated safely for maintaining or worse an emergency. There’s also a nice chunky fuse at each end too.
The habitation battery to give it the correct term is mounted under the drivers seat but as the build progresses will be moved into the furniture pod above rear axle. No photos of that for now.

 

[jims-terrano]

The B2B kit

 

[jims-terrano]

Lighting

So now we have a 12v system it was about time to start making use of it with lighting being a good start. Got 6 flat down lighters in the roof panel which are also dimable and they are bright with a capital F.

 

[jims-terrano]

At the rear I have 2 LED reading lights, both individually switched.

 

[jims-terrano]

Sockets

I have several USB and 12 v sockets dotted around but again until furniture is fitted only one permanently fitted at the side of the sliding door.

 

[jims-terrano]

I’ve hard wired a pair of dashcams with a switch on the drivers side B post, eventually I will wire a relay in so that I have the option of cameras on with ignition or permanently running from the habitation battery.

 

[jims-terrano]

Had to put this one up as I’m pleased with how neat the cable comes out of the carpet and grommet.

 

[jims-terrano]

The sliding doors a little bit of wasted space as the factory card is just a flat door card. So Kiravans.co.uk where I buy a lot of the kit from supply a Door Store which is basically a hard plastic panel with pockets in. As I’ve heard a lot of people report that things rattle around I set too with off cuts of the carpet lining and it doesn’t look too shabby.

 

[jims-terrano]

The tailgate threshold is only a short one on panel vans so as my next task is to fit thicker plywood on the floor I got the full width threashold which finishes it off nicely.

 

[jims-terrano]

Whilst fitting the battery feeds I noticed the plastic panels above the footwells have a cut out for a curtesy lamp for the footwells. So eBay I went and bought a pair of lamps again with LEDs.
VW never fit extra wiring in their looms so I had to find my own wiring. Did a little YouTube searching and found the best way of wiring these lamps, basically people wrap wires around the roof curtesy light bulb holder terminals. I don’t like simply wrapping wires around so I removed the lamp unit from the roof and soldered a pair of wires on to the terminals.

 

[jims-terrano]

Back of the lamp from the roof. You can see the Blue and Black wires that I took the feed from.

 

[jims-terrano]

So next on the agenda is a folding bed for the rear, we had been hoping to go to self build shows this year but pretty much everything has been cancelled. Have looked online at different options and the prices. The popular type is “Rock N Roll” bed but with this type you sleep on the seating sides so you get the seatbelts which can be uncomfortable and also the seats are flat not shaped in anyway. This type is popular and usually cheaper. We are looking at RIB beds which are more costly but seem to give far better comfort. The seats are shaped so a lot more comfortable for passengers or even just relaxing on them. They fold flat in a way that you sleep on the flat back panels so no seatbelts digging in you. I’ve seen a company in Glossop that seem to have a good reputation and and will supply and fit the unit we want. We want this seat/bed professionally fitted so that we get a safety certificate useful for the insurance and in the event of an accident.
The brightside of Covid is that we have been able to save a surprising amount so should easily be able to get this seat fitted.

So that’s pretty much it for now.

 

[Jay666d]

You ever thought about doing this professionaly?

It looks amzing! :thumbs

Keep those pictures coming!