Minibus to motorhome... anyone done it?

[selectedgrub]

i can get full use out of a van with no changes

if i want to consider more i van use a flatback van like the first one and use expanding tech like in this first video

the side of the van is the roof

When you say "I" is this your design and you in the video ?
Did you make this?

 

[m_c]

I'm pretty sure a large percentage of the contributors on here will have C1 by dint of seniority - it's on my licence which I've had since '81.

There are medical requirements though, so it's something to be aware off.

 

[Wedg1e]

Hmm, liberal selection of responses, cheers.

Take the point about insulation and condensation; as far as blanking off windows I was thinking tinting film, not chipboard, so weight wouldn't be a concern. In fact you see plenty of those 'executive travel' buses where the windows are all blacked-out anyway so it wouldn't necessarily look odd.

The coachbuilt Masters I saw are through-cab so no issues with getting out and back in.

Transverse rather than longitudinal bed was another plus point of the wider body - and I dont think it's THAT much wider than standard, more obviously at the roofline maybe where the standard van tapers inward. The mirrors are still the widest bit.

Don't fancy a Luton as it looks a bit too industrial, and (apart from the Master versions) they're mostly on chassis cab so a high floor to start with.

As regards weight, I can't make out any markings on the buses to indicate their gross weight, but I guess a ten-seater with a wheelchair user could be carrying close to 1000Kg, plus the weight of the seats, handrails, ramp etc. With that lot out there's a lot of scope for fixtures and fittings. Hob, microwave, sink unit, bit of framing, mattress... none of it's cast iron.

I certainly wouldn't be looking in B&Q for Contiplas; there are lightweight specialist panel suppliers like Voehringer.

My parents had a few static caravans, the first one being a 1930/40s ex-showman's van with gas mantles, leaded lights in the cupboards etc. - it weighed so much it had air brakes! Lots of neat design touches like doors which opened one way to access a cupboard but then hinged down to form a table or ironing board - of all the vans they had it was the one that made best use of space. Part of the interest for me would be that sort of design element. Make a pleasant change from designing machines to crack test artillery shells

As Bricol says though: could be an expensive white elephant... and when you have a 'touring' motorcycle, what would the motorhome add when you can just blast to where you want to stay and kip in a comfy bed, not the layby next to the recycling bins...

 

[gaz1]

When you say "I" is this your design and you in the video ?
Did you make this?

my design is totally different uses alot of todays tech to its full adantage so it keeps it light weight yet strong

its insulated and has windows and of coarse a skylight, plenty of storage

shower, toilet cooking area, sink, drainer, basic hanging area for clothes

i wouldnt use a luton its too high a transit or mercedes is low enough and theres a few other vans out there the main issue with all vans is how good there engines are

ive sent my design to wedg1e pointing out alot of things advantages to a certain build its lengths and widths are based on a transit

id rather discuss further within a pm saves others pinching the reference as it will be used

 

[Farside]

There are medical requirements though, so it's something to be aware off.

Yep, the Irish licence I got a while back was returned to me minus my grandfather right to drive 7.5 tonners.
I could have insisted on it, but as you say, I would have to enter the system and play the medical game every year or two.
Not worth it, as I have no intention of using the facility now, but there were times in the past 50 years I was able to make use of it.

 

[AVI_8]

I’ve been looking into a camper van conversion myself to do as a diy project, possibly an ex mobile library, most of them seem to be plated at 7.5 ton though some appear to be 10 ton so presumably might need an HGV, not sure if that would be a parking issue for the op but loads of space and walk through from the cab most already have things like 230 volt supply, toilet etc, and usually not too high mileage, my thoughts are if you’re going to do something like this start off with a good space.

 

[Greeves246]

C1 is removed automatically when you renew at your 70th birthday. Requires a medical from your doctor normally charged for at about £125 to get it back.

 

[winchman]

I'm pretty sure a large percentage of the contributors on here will have C1 by dint of seniority - it's on my licence which I've had since '81.

I have C1 but bought a standard 3.5T van at under 6M as the kids can drive it and its easier to sell in future than a C1 van, also easier to park

 

[gaz1]

a camper van is more for the young at heart than the older end due to wanting more luxury not many want to crawl into bed from the bottom of the bed

even with the old builds of split seats in the middle use the table to join the bed, have a small toilet at the rear of the vehicle with a kitchen there

commer camper
volkswagon camper and the many more earlier builds

go get the measurements of the old 1985 van and play with what can be fitted into them as they was only a swb and can go under the tips height restrictions

side doors whilst lower can cause problems with what can be built or fitted whilst the rear of the vehicle is alot higher the side step is still 2 steps the rear is just 2 , 1/2 steps until weight is on the rear end

whilst they are great for just jumping in them at the weekends parking has become an issue councils have been blocking them camping sites have been blocking them as they want you to buy a caravan instead its part of the reasom we stoped doing it and we was growing up 4 sharing a campervan is not brilliant, police dont like you in wagon parking bays you can be knocked out of bed by police asking why your there they tend to leave wagon drivers alone

even though the police over the years have been enforcing wagon parks to be used to be honest camper vans have near on being forced out of existence due to if your not paying your not having from all the systems out there

camper van sites are hard to find

I think ive seen recently a petition for campervan builds to be blocked unless its built by a company

as goes for the new lwb van your going to have trouble on many sites due to its height while a swb can get under the bar the lwb is not unless you do a roof chop
whilst length of the vehicle is great its still going to be an issue 2 parking bays are needed many dont like paying the one bay charge as it stands

you didnt have this problem with the older camper vans 1 bay was ample enough parking overnight in them is now an issue its been blocked by the council unless designated or has parking ticket info on the car parking site

 

[indy4x]

@Wedg1e

Our normal Renault Master van is not wide enough to sleep across the van and it does limit the layout

The plan is to keep it for a few years and maybe end of next year buy a Fiat Ducato van and convert that while we use the Renault

The plus points with the Ducato is it's 6'1" between the sides so a bed across the van accommodates most people

 

[Wedg1e]

@Wedg1e

Our normal Renault Master van is not wide enough to sleep across the van and it does limit the layout

The plan is to keep it for a few years and maybe end of next year buy a Fiat Ducato van and convert that while we use the Renault

The plus points with the Ducato is it's 6'1" between the sides so a bed across the van accommodates most people

Thanks for that, useful to know. There is a guy local to me with a LWB hi-top Master that looks like an aircraft hangar on wheels. It's an obvious DIY conversion but I can't see inside it to know what's been done. It was previously owned by another local who kept it on a driveway that was too short and most of the cab overhung the pavement (that's sidewalk for our US audience ).
The place that had those blue Master coachbuilts also had a Fiat minibus with a GRP moulding above the cab roof that houses an aircon unit, nice touch.

As an aside, I seem to recall the original Trafic was intentionally built narrow to suit tradesmen working in quaint old French villages.

 

[Wedg1e]

C1 is removed automatically when you renew at your 70th birthday. Requires a medical from your doctor normally charged for at about £125 to get it back.

I've got a decade before I have to worry about that then
...but only a decade

 

[mr haynes]

This is what you're looking for......

 

[minimutly]

Thanks for that, useful to know. There is a guy local to me with a LWB hi-top Master that looks like an aircraft hangar on wheels. It's an obvious DIY conversion but I can't see inside it to know what's been done. It was previously owned by another local who kept it on a driveway that was too short and most of the cab overhung the pavement (that's sidewalk for our US audience ).
The place that had those blue Master coachbuilts also had a Fiat minibus with a GRP moulding above the cab roof that houses an aircon unit, nice touch.

My cf had a double bed across ways...

 

[Wedg1e]

This is what you're looking for......


View attachment 419168

Does he like dags?

 

[Wedg1e]

Likewise, you don't want windows .. around the bed

Several years back we hired a 27 foot motorhome with slideout side for a fortnight in the Canadian Rockies; on one of the campsites (near Whistler I think) there was a couple with a converted bus - think Shearings tour coach! - that had its master bedroom right at the back with windows on three sides - curtains and blinds fitted, of course.
They strategically parked it so that in the morning they could open the curtains and take in the vista before they'd even got out of bed - and being so high up meant that nobody at ground level could see in anyway.
Probably not quite the same effect if overnighting in Trowell Services, but worked fine in that application.

 

[Seadog]

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957K likes, 9,812 comments - vancubic on September 17, 2023: "Este viernes nuestros compañeros montaron otro Vancubic en una Mercedes Sprinter y esta vez tard..."

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[Justme]

I'm pretty sure a large percentage of the contributors on here will have C1 by dint of seniority - it's on my licence which I've had since '81.

Anyone born after 1980 def wont have it. Anyone that took test after 1-1-1997 wont have it.

The number without it is now growing fast compared to those with it.