BingoBongoBango
Bongo
hI
Hi
I was thinking £3k for the vehicle and about £2k for the conversion, is that realistic?
Hi
I was thinking £3k for the vehicle and about £2k for the conversion, is that realistic?
Buying a camper / live-in van
- Thread starter fat hamster
- Start date
subversplat
writer of wrongs
You could easily get a massive (10 ton) N-reg truck then have it professionally converted for that sort of money.BingoBongoBango said:Hi
I was thinking £3k for the vehicle and about £2k for the conversion, is that realistic?
My little dodge was bought and converted for around £300
BingoBongoBango
Bongo
Sounds like you had a bargain Subversplat!
Can you drive a large truck on a car licence? Problem is I have 2 young kids so need water, electrics and the van/truck needs to keep warm at night. We want to travel for 2-3 months so need to be self sufficient for long periods of time if wildcamping. Also didn't want to moved on to often so thought a later vehicle might look less suspicious if parked up in a layby. I looked at professional conversions and the were loads of money so thought I would do it myself! I was not sure if the figures are realistic
Can you drive a large truck on a car licence? Problem is I have 2 young kids so need water, electrics and the van/truck needs to keep warm at night. We want to travel for 2-3 months so need to be self sufficient for long periods of time if wildcamping. Also didn't want to moved on to often so thought a later vehicle might look less suspicious if parked up in a layby. I looked at professional conversions and the were loads of money so thought I would do it myself! I was not sure if the figures are realistic
subversplat
writer of wrongs
The biggest thing you'll get on a normal car licence will be a dodge or mercedes type truck. Might be a bit of a squeeze for the three of you! If you really need the extra space maybe it'd be worth taking some of your £5k and sitting a 7.5 ton licence (unless you're grandfathered - when did you pass your driving test?).
Water is easy, you can either get a battery powered tap or (my personal favourite and I'm sure your kids would love it too) pump it straight from the water butt with an old real ale style bar pump. Staying warm is mostly down to spending time getting your insulation right (rock wool does a good job) and making sure there are no leaks in the roof. Electrics are dead easy and you can pick up a 2k generator for not much money, as well as have a leisure battery bank dual-charging from the alternator and the generator when it's running.
By professionally converted I didn't mean sending it off and getting it back fitted out like a caravan, that's got no soul
, I meant you could design it yourself and then pay a chippie, sparkie, etc. to come and fit it to professional standards, rather than ending up with sheared out diagonally inserted screws and gaffa taped up mains rings (as I tend to end up with 
).
Water is easy, you can either get a battery powered tap or (my personal favourite and I'm sure your kids would love it too) pump it straight from the water butt with an old real ale style bar pump. Staying warm is mostly down to spending time getting your insulation right (rock wool does a good job) and making sure there are no leaks in the roof. Electrics are dead easy and you can pick up a 2k generator for not much money, as well as have a leisure battery bank dual-charging from the alternator and the generator when it's running.
By professionally converted I didn't mean sending it off and getting it back fitted out like a caravan, that's got no soul
, I meant you could design it yourself and then pay a chippie, sparkie, etc. to come and fit it to professional standards, rather than ending up with sheared out diagonally inserted screws and gaffa taped up mains rings (as I tend to end up with ).BingoBongoBango
Bongo
Like it
Have my licence 20 years, hadn't thought about getting a larger truck type vehicle to be honest. It would make sense as ther is 4 of us (forgot the misses!)
Like the sound of the water pump! not thought of that one and the kids would love it as you say. What kind of insulation thickness would you recommend? Did you use boards or loft stuff?
Have my licence 20 years, hadn't thought about getting a larger truck type vehicle to be honest. It would make sense as ther is 4 of us (forgot the misses!)
Like the sound of the water pump! not thought of that one and the kids would love it as you say. What kind of insulation thickness would you recommend? Did you use boards or loft stuff?
subversplat
writer of wrongs
You should be perfectly legal in a 7.5 ton truck then, which opens up a lot of the Ford Cargo type trucks and the bigger Mercs and Dodges, plenty of roomBingoBongoBango said:
Everyone I've known has just used loft stuff. Not sure what thickness exactly, just whatever B&Q sell cheap
To be honest, once you've got the wood burner going that little box (even massive trucks are only a comparable size to a regular living room) is going to heat up fast. Just make sure you've got plenty of logs around BingoBongoBango
Bongo
Sounds Good!
Sounds good!
Can't wait to have van parked up with a wood burner going
Sounds good!
Can't wait to have van parked up with a wood burner going
BingoBongoBango
Bongo
Good Self Build Site
If anyone is interested in doing there own conversion, found quite a useful site at http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/sbmcc.shtml
Loads of different kinds of vehicles and budgets and links to loads of suppliers
If anyone is interested in doing there own conversion, found quite a useful site at http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/sbmcc.shtml
Loads of different kinds of vehicles and budgets and links to loads of suppliers
Velouria
Long time lurker
OK ... reading all this has made me think and ponder ...
If I get my finances rejigged so I'm not paying £250 a month for a car loan for a car I don't even have anymore (I was silly with it, it's a long story...) I am wondering about doing a conversion.
Do I go for the luxurious but completely impractical (a small bus/coach that I'd never get parked anywhere and would need an HGV licence to drive unless I find a way to exempt it) which would be HUGE inside - but the problem is, it'd be huge in general?
Or do I go for a panel van which has probably been thrashed to death, is rusting to bits, and probably poorly maintained?
Or (the option I am considering) do I go for a 16-or-less seater minibus which I can drive on my car licence before conversion, and which after conversion would become a campervan (and therefore no licence problem)? Minibuses seem to be fairly cheap at reasonably low mileages, and i am presuming that being PCVs they would be fairly well maintained...
Main sticking point is I passed my test in 2001 so can only drive up to 3.5t
A Class C driving course, 5 days, is 700 quid (best price I found so far).
If I get my finances rejigged so I'm not paying £250 a month for a car loan for a car I don't even have anymore (I was silly with it, it's a long story...) I am wondering about doing a conversion.
Do I go for the luxurious but completely impractical (a small bus/coach that I'd never get parked anywhere and would need an HGV licence to drive unless I find a way to exempt it) which would be HUGE inside - but the problem is, it'd be huge in general?
Or do I go for a panel van which has probably been thrashed to death, is rusting to bits, and probably poorly maintained?
Or (the option I am considering) do I go for a 16-or-less seater minibus which I can drive on my car licence before conversion, and which after conversion would become a campervan (and therefore no licence problem)? Minibuses seem to be fairly cheap at reasonably low mileages, and i am presuming that being PCVs they would be fairly well maintained...
Main sticking point is I passed my test in 2001 so can only drive up to 3.5t
A Class C driving course, 5 days, is 700 quid (best price I found so far).
Ground Elder
Well-Known Member
Meant to mention this before - there's a whole load of sexy vehicle porn, vans for sale and useful related stuff to be found over at SJ 
citydreams
on the road again
My refit starts next weekend
brixtonvilla
should be Oslovilla, really
I want one of these bad boys...
In my dreams...
In my dreams...
Ground Elder
Well-Known Member
You need to get those emissions sorted
citydreams
on the road again
They're not emissions, that's me spitting dust. VW poptart on a mission.
How's the spring cleaning going?
How's the spring cleaning going?
citydreams
on the road again
brixtonvilla said:
