Hi all,
I've wanted to build a campervan for quite a while now, so I decided to go for a large MPV for ease of parking and fuel economy.
I bought one of these:
It's basically a Nissan Largo van with 7 seats. 2.3 non-turbo diesel engine, and a hoot to drive (a bit like a Ford Transit actually).
So, my objectives for the campervan conversion:
- What I want is a sofabed. Obviously being a very small van there won't be space for a kitchen or a shower or anything like that. There's a nice sheltered cooking area under the tailgate when it's open, though
- I don't want to make any permanent modifications to the van, and...
- I want to be able to take out the camper bits and turn it back into a normal 7-seater within the space of half an hour. I'm going to secure everything in place with wingbolts to the original seat mounts so it can all come out very easily.
So, without further ado, let's get on with it.
First job was to take the seats out (just a few bolts) and see exactly what I have to play with.
The answer is this:
That rear floor space measures about 1.4m by 1.9m. Should be big enough.
So, first things first - I'm not sleeping in a tip! The front carpet is OK (just needs to be removed and shampooed) but the rear one is knackered - full of fag burns (this car has most definitely been used as a family car). So this weekend I'm going to get some nice plush hard-wearing carpet and fit it out in the back.
I'm also going to get rid of the rear speakers (visible in the picture) which are knackered (and appear to have been wired up using bell wire :laughing). Eventually I'll get round to replacing them with some decent ones, perhaps hidden in the tailgate.
Here is what I'm aiming for with the bedsettee ("rock and roll bed"). I'm going to build the steel frame for it using my trusty arc welder. Excuse the rather crappy paint diagram.
It will basically be a futon type affair. The backrest is hinged onto the seat and the whole thing will pull forwards, so the backrest will fold flat against the steel frame and the seat bit will rest on its own legs, making a double bed.
I'll keep this thread updated as I progress! (I'll do a proper design for the bed tonight with measurements and everything, rather than a rushed one...)
Other things planned are curtains and a half-decent audio install.
I've wanted to build a campervan for quite a while now, so I decided to go for a large MPV for ease of parking and fuel economy.
I bought one of these:
It's basically a Nissan Largo van with 7 seats. 2.3 non-turbo diesel engine, and a hoot to drive (a bit like a Ford Transit actually).
So, my objectives for the campervan conversion:
- What I want is a sofabed. Obviously being a very small van there won't be space for a kitchen or a shower or anything like that. There's a nice sheltered cooking area under the tailgate when it's open, though
- I don't want to make any permanent modifications to the van, and...
- I want to be able to take out the camper bits and turn it back into a normal 7-seater within the space of half an hour. I'm going to secure everything in place with wingbolts to the original seat mounts so it can all come out very easily.
So, without further ado, let's get on with it.
First job was to take the seats out (just a few bolts) and see exactly what I have to play with.
The answer is this:
That rear floor space measures about 1.4m by 1.9m. Should be big enough.
So, first things first - I'm not sleeping in a tip! The front carpet is OK (just needs to be removed and shampooed) but the rear one is knackered - full of fag burns (this car has most definitely been used as a family car). So this weekend I'm going to get some nice plush hard-wearing carpet and fit it out in the back.
I'm also going to get rid of the rear speakers (visible in the picture) which are knackered (and appear to have been wired up using bell wire :laughing). Eventually I'll get round to replacing them with some decent ones, perhaps hidden in the tailgate.
Here is what I'm aiming for with the bedsettee ("rock and roll bed"). I'm going to build the steel frame for it using my trusty arc welder. Excuse the rather crappy paint diagram.
It will basically be a futon type affair. The backrest is hinged onto the seat and the whole thing will pull forwards, so the backrest will fold flat against the steel frame and the seat bit will rest on its own legs, making a double bed.
I'll keep this thread updated as I progress! (I'll do a proper design for the bed tonight with measurements and everything, rather than a rushed one...)
Other things planned are curtains and a half-decent audio install.