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Messages - kryten

#1
Common Room / Re: Hello van lifers !!!
June 18, 2017, 05:13:43 PM
Nice van interior. Enjoy your travels, no doubt you will meet up with other vanners during your travels.
#2
Van Conversion / Re: Driving license - large van
June 18, 2017, 03:56:37 PM
According to dov.uk you wpuld need a DE licence for a bus over 750Kg a a large van is over 750kg. I would email dvla for confirmation whether a bus licence counts as a van licence
#3
Common Room / Re: Hello all I am MrShoeShineMan
April 18, 2017, 11:25:48 PM
Hello and welcome to the forum. Good luck with your van search, hope you find a suitable van.
#4
Van Conversion / Re: Progress on my conversion
April 06, 2017, 07:52:02 PM
Some good work there mr_elijahgardner
#5
Common Room / Re: hello all
April 06, 2017, 07:46:03 PM
Hello and welcome. A shower in a van is always a nice to have but they use a lot of water and gas so many vanners go for the sponge bath approach or join a gym just so they have access to a shower.

There are different options for toilets. A Thetford or some other similar make work well or a bucket with a toilet eat attached is a cheaper option. Keeping 1's and 2's separate is the ideal way to do it. Some vanners pee into something like a laundry detergent bottle which they can empty every day or so..
#6
Hello and welcome. If you are using an lpg gas bottle then you will need access to it when it is empty and a door gives you access, in case you need to turn the gas off and also hides the bottle when in the van. You could make a simple door or a curtain. Remember to vent the area where you place the gas bottle. The ideal place for a gas bottle is next to a rear door or side door so you have access from outside as well as inside.

Are you using a fixed water tank or a container that you can carry? If it is fixed then filling from the outside or an outside door means less chance of spilling water on your floor. If you use a portable container then easy access and removal is needed since you will be filling up with water every few days.
#7
I don't know much about second hand van values in the US but I can see that $6000 for a 1978 van is way over the top.
#8
Hello and welcome. gogglet72 lives full time in his converted ambulance, check out his youtube channel. one awesome inch lives in his van full time but he is in Canada. he is converting his while living in it, he also has a youtube channel.
#9
Common Room / Re: Electrical worries
March 06, 2017, 07:30:18 PM
A laptop would be better than a desktop. With solar you shouldn't have any issues with running a laptop. A desktop will use up your batteries and you would need some power for lighting and other electrical appliances.

Make sure your van is well insulated and also well ventilated, a roof vent would be ideal, especially around your cooking area. Also keep exposed metal to a minimum or completed covered if possible.
#10
Van Conversion / Re: Luton Van Home Conversion
March 06, 2017, 07:21:32 PM
Hello and welcome. All the best with the conversion.
#11
David, the guy in the middle photo at the top of the article and his dog Billy, have an excellent youtube channel.
#12
Hello and welcome Kat. It looks like your going for a more luxurious conversion, at least with the electrics. To answer your question(s), if you find you haven't installed enough batteries then you can always add them later, just plan this into your build with maybe a storage box next to your battery bank which you can expand into. You can plug into 240v power if your controller allows this. I would suggest buying Mike's book to go along with extensive internet reading a youtube watching. Everything your trying to do has already been done so you should be able to find instructions online.

All the best with your build.
#13
I think the law in England and Wales means you are only allowed to stay on campsite for 28 days. After that you have to leave, I think for at least 24 hours before returning. The law in Scotland might be different. I would suggest rotating between 3 or 4 campsites in the area you need to be in, stay in each one for 4 weeks at a time, You might get a discount from the sites owners for staying for 4 weeks. Always keep looking out for deals, especially during the winter months. Some campsites also close during the winter months, so be aware of that.
#14
Common Room / Re: Bedford CF2
February 09, 2017, 02:45:34 PM
Since the van is old then the engine should be fairly basic and easy to repair. The engine was Vauxhall engine so parts should still be available, second hand part outlets would be a good place to go. If there is a Vauxhall/Opel owners club then that would be a good place for sourcing parts. The fibreglass body will just require extra insulation but at least it won't rust. Your only concern will be the chassis so crawl underneath and take a screwdriver so you can have a poke around. Since this was a camper then check for water damage where the sink is/was.
#15
Common Room / Re: Bedford CF2
February 08, 2017, 11:46:20 PM
If the van is mechanically sound and the bodywork in good condition then you look to have found a good van. Once stripped you have a blank canvas. Good luck with your project.