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Hi everyone, hope all is well. I was regularly popping in the forums last year when i was building my van but then when it was finished I just got out an used it

It's off to a friend for some extensive welding at the end of the month, I managed to find a second hand awning recently which will make it a little more roomy when it it's raining. I found last year that once the wood burner was fired up cooking tea you had to have the door open otherwise your head would boil

I've also got to fix my electricity yet again as that seems to have given up. I would probably start using the van again from the end of February

As far as I know, it's the same as transits I used to run for business

the plastic housing unscrews and you replace the insert and o-ring, to unscrew a wrench/grippers or a 36/38mm socket will do it

it shouldn't be all that tight, when you put it back, wipe a bit of oil on the thread

Problem 1 - Van engine destruction/MOT failure

Solution - Build outside the van and then move in, screw things to the floor/battens etc run cables through conduit etc. If the van dies its all easily transferable into a new van. If you've built inside the van you feel obliged to keep it running  at any cost

Problem 2 - Cutting Windows/drilling holes etc - Don't they leak , they rust, they weaken the body and they rattle

Solution - Use a minibus or crew cab van, they often have a better floor and some sound deadening too

Problem 3 - Environmentally friendly sources of energy - I've got solar panels which work some of the time( but I've also got a charge relay which works all of the time)  Wood burner is fun but only usable in conditions below freezing  and wind turbines are noisy and complicated for little output

Solution - extra blankets, propane

Hi,

I run these vehicles for business so I am able to offer you good advice: A LWB sprinter will have a payload (what it can carry) of about 1100kgs the XLWB (which aren't very common) will be less. A MWB sprinter will be slightly more at around 1250kgs

I have my vehicles weighed on a weighbridge (scrap yards, aggregate supplies and councils wil,l for a small fee weigt your vehicle) My vans are weighed including a full tank of fuel , the driver and his sandwiches

Front wheel drive vans with a lower floor such as Fiat, Renault etc will have a higher payload sometimes up to 1500kgs. I have just built a MWB low roof sprinter , everything is wood and by the time I get the wife and kids in there who probably weigh 100kgs between them and then my 90kg in there plus all the pots and pans and bits and pieces i'm knocking on my weight limit.

Most of weight when in cladding the walls and ceiling in wood I reckon! When you get your van and strip her down ready for the build take her to weighbridge before you start

Over loading a vehicle by 5% is unlikely to get you stopped or make any difference to handling or braking but much over that and the fines and points are hefty

That van is awesome, no European van is as cool as that!

Ta! Da!

Water supply..

Hello again,

I've been busy over the last week as the van is going for it's first proper trip next weekend. I've started building our pull out bed, and this will be complete within the next few days.

I have wired in a solar panel, which I guess is not entirely necessary as the split charge will almost certainly give me enough power for a couple of days. I just fancied it, and thought it would be interesting for the children. It's a very simple thing to fit, the guide on here should see you right.

I bought a big spray bottle from a garden centre as I've seen them mentioned here, it's the type used for weeds etc I guess.  I can pump it up and get a nice spray or quick jet of water from it and I can take that and the sink bowel out of the van with ease.

I also made 2 clipboards out of old pallet wood and drilled some holes in a block of wood to hold pencils (I need to round the edges off!) inside their bunks


My photos are too big! I'll be back ...

Thank Camper_Dan, I started to look into it and then opened a beer....I'll let everyone know if/how i fix it

I have just set up my 12v system. I have a 100W solar panel and a split charge system for the other 364 days a year. I have a couple of USB sockets, 2 lights running off a 3 pin switch and a cigarette lighter type socket. All these run off a marine type fuse box and bus bar, fairly standard stuff

Everything works as it should except when I plug my 12v fridge in via the cigarette socket, when I turn it on the lights go off. What have I done here, have I overloaded the circuit somehow and how would I fix it?

I've never really wired anything up like this before so apologies if it's obvious!

There probably is a size difference as Ford introduced the Jumbo on the "2000" models I'm guessing the smiley front's were SWB MWB and LWB and the transit LWB was slightly less long to encourage purchase of the Jumbo(if that makes sense) the Jumbo has a massive rear overhang if tat's what you're after

Well anything is possible, take a look at Citroen Belingo type conversions

Welcome MrShoeShineMan,

I have to agree that a window van is a much nicer thing to have for although reasons above plus if you did fancy cutting a hole it's not as easy as people suggest...well it's easy to cut a hole its just not very easy to stop leaks/rust in a used vehicle

I slept in my van as soon as I insulated it, before I had built anything into and it was freezing, I might as well have not bothered. Its not something I would bother with next time, I'll just ramp up the burner and get a thicker blanket

Don't be put off by lack of service history on a van, I carry out service and regular maintenance on my vehicles and I do it often and to a good standard but I keep no record. Likewise I run a fleet of delivery vans, these are serviced and inspected every 12 weeks but if I sold a van there would be no "service history" as such

All vehicles can have problems regardless of mileage age or history but I would avoid anything showing signs of rust. Welding is quite a skill and you will pay heavily for welding work, once rust starts you never really stop it, it just moves on to the next tasty piece of steel.

If going for a transit, I'd recommend a pre-2003ish 2.5DI but that's just my preference. If you are planning on travelling to Europe you may want to consider a French or German vehicle

Thanks Dan, I'm going to google the HELL out of vertical turbine motors right now...I also generate power as I drive which you correctly point out is actually the most efficient way of charging,but I've got to say it is less fun 

Is anyone running a wind turbine on their van?

I quite fancy building one for fun, as I don't think its a viable power option (perhaps I am wrong?) I imagine you need clean air to get them to spin enough power to make a difference (hence them being at sea or open land)

What's the noise like? Have you got yours attached to the van or a separate pole away from it? How did you build it? What have you used for blades? I am OK with the motor, but I'm stuck on blades

I've clearly got too much time on my hands