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Messages - NickJ83

#1
Have a look at boatmail.com or .co.uk one of them I think. I set up with them but didnt end up using it. They do PAYG and various other packages. You can register van there and driving licence 

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#2
Van Conversion / Re: Advice needed!
June 01, 2017, 06:59:07 PM
Again not sure if you 4k is $ or £

But in the UK a self build doesnt need to be certified for gas and electric etc. You just need to take recomended precautions.

I decided not to use electric hook up. So no need for 240v. I run off a leisure battery with a big chunky switch for a split charge. The switch key is on a lanyard so I cant forget it.

For gas I use an 11kg propane tank. Carried inside my van. Its suppose to be in a gas cupboard with a 50mm lip at the bottom of the door and a floor vent. Propane is heavier than air and will poor out the vent. I'm trying to run my 11kg bottle down so I can get a smaller one that fits. So at the minute I sleep in the same place as an unvented 11kg gas bottle. I turn it off everynight on its main valve.

By all means read regulations. Mirror the standards but unless your planning on hiring out your van or making them for sale all the time you dont need any certs etc.

Buy your van and have fun converting it. Then come here for advice on your build. 😊

For information my van is a SWB transit. Similar to a vivaro. I've lived in it for 8 months.

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#3
Oh and to the door.

Just pilot drill and wood screw the cladding to the door without any battons behind.

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#4
Depends how much space you want to save but I ran some battons from the sills and screwed into metal using self drilling roofing screws.

Its the verticle pieces in the pic below. Leaves you with a nice flat wall once clad.





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#5
Common Room / Re: Hello everybody
March 18, 2017, 11:21:36 AM
For tools and general building materials your better off looking for a screwfix or toolstation. They tend to be lower priced than B&Q etc for many tools.



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#6
Van Conversion / Re: Inverter Cutting Out?
March 10, 2017, 12:37:02 PM
Sorry just read the rest of your post 😊

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#7
Van Conversion / Re: Inverter Cutting Out?
March 10, 2017, 12:36:23 PM
How many watts is the whole set up. Monitor xbox etc. If its more than 500w it will probably only work above that for a short burst.

Just my guess. I've not got round to sorting an inverter yet myself.

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#8
Common Room / Re: Electrical worries
March 06, 2017, 07:33:58 PM
I've been living in my van now for going on 5 months so heres my thoughts.

I dont see why you couldnt run a PC but you'd need a pure sine wave inverter otherwise you could damage your electronics.

Depending on your other electrical needs you could easily run from a bank of batteries and charge with solar but I'd definitely have another way to charge.

Most people use a split charge system. Often using voltage sensing relays etc.

I had one but couldnt get it set up right so I now have a very simple but reliable system.

Basically a live feed straight from my starter battery using the wire off an old jump lead. Between the batteries I have a 60amp fuse and a 100amp switch. When I'm driving I reach down to the switch put its key in and switch it on. When I stop I take the  key out. My rule is when its on its tethered to my keys so I cant forget its on.

Because I have heavy duty jump lead wire I can use it to start my van I think if it doesnt take more that 60amps. I'll have to look that up.

this is my battery I keep it on my doorstep. Thats a little LED volt meter so I can easily see if I need to charge it up.

Condensation on electronics. It will happen. I've picked up my laptop and camera and when they're cold they can feel damp but I guess most portable electronics are designed with this in mind. Insulate your van well and keep it vented and I wouldnt think you'd have too many problems.

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#9
Van Conversion / Re: Propane advice needed!
February 28, 2017, 06:51:33 AM
I cant speak for the heat of mexico but I'm guessing no matter where you are it needs to be stood upright. Especially when its in use. Under the van wont be an option. Plus if your on some rough ground I wouldnt want to risk puncturing the tank under the van.

A locker for the bottle doesnt need to be fancy. In fact a plywood box sealed at the joints with silicon could easily be constructed. The main thing is to have a vent in the floor. Propane is heavier than air. Even in the heat of mexico I think. You dont been to go cutting access door in the side of the van you can just make a safe place in the van for it.

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#10
Van Conversion / Re: Bus conversion for tall guy...
February 07, 2017, 02:58:01 PM
I've used bubble foil in my van admittedly I may have been slopping in areas but it only works if there is an air gap.

In some places I get condensation on my roof and it has occasionally frozen.

My van usually holds at 2°c above the outside temp.

I'm going to be redoing mine in a few weeks with something more substantial and maybe use the foil in the corners etc where flatter material doesnt fit so well.

Over in the UK there is another foil based material that is quilted with about 21 layers of foil. I think I may try this in the roof. But it is super expensive £75 for 5metres. Not sure what this is canadian.

I see what you mean about wanting to stand up and not crook your neck an inch.

Its not a problem I've really had because my van I have to sit down so I have a good 4inches above my head.

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#11
Van Conversion / Re: Is this a good deal for ldv convoy
February 05, 2017, 10:17:47 PM
How did you get on with this van?

I read your post the other day but I didn't have chance to reply. I'd say it doesnt sound like a bad deal if its in such good nick. Try knock a bit off if you can nothing wrong with that but if its been well serviced for 55k it should do you well.

I bought a rusting transit the same age for £300 the sills were rotten and the wings etc. The gearbox only got 1st 3rd & 5th when I picked it up. Over the course of a couple of months I probably paid more than that to get it all done. But I couldnt afford more than £300 initially.

My van had less than 100k on it and the engine sounded great. I've done the work mostly myself and now have a very reliable van.

Every 2nd hand vehicle is going to be a risky purchase.

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#12
Van Conversion / Re: Bus conversion for tall guy...
February 05, 2017, 10:02:14 PM
Hey there.

How important is it for you to be able to stand up in your van?

Not sure what vans you get out there but my van in the UK is a short wheelbase low Ford Transit. I think my load space is 1.45m +/-. I'm also 6'1"

I cant stand up but my cooker etc is at sitting height. I wont lie it can be a bit cramped but I've been living in here full time for over 3 months now.

Plus smaller spaces are cheaper to insulate and convert and easier to heat in the cold.

Just my 2 pence worth or 2 cents 😊

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#13
Quote from: Carol Bentley on January 19, 2017, 07:33:58 AM
Hello
I have a 2006 Ford Transit van conversion. All doors are locked via the driver's door. I often have problems with this lock - reverting to the use of WD40. At present the key will not lock/unlock the other doors. Any suggestion?
My 2002 ford transit only has key access on the drivers door. So I needed a way to lock mine from the inside whilst I was in the back.

Do you have a key fob?

I bought one off ebay for about £6. You just program it in using the key in the ignition.

I'm probably going to get a couple more just so I have one in the back and a spare.

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#14
Common Room / Re: New preppy
November 09, 2016, 05:31:41 PM
Hey FireStick.

I'm currently converting a SWB transit. I'm midway through but my goal is to move into it full time asap.

My situation is a bit different. I've kind of fallen this way due to circumstances and living in a van is an improvement in my situation.

So far I've slept 2 nights in my van.

My plan into next year when my finances improve is to become a weekend traveller. Whilst living in the van  and working through the week. This was I can afford to live life and take control of my finances.

I went for a low roof SWB becauase it cost me £300 😊

Its taken a lot of work to get through an MOT all which i did myself so was cost effective.

People that know me think I'm nuts but I think theyre nuts working 40 hours/week and paying 50% on a roof to sit under being miserable counting the pennies till payday.

Defo go for a similar van to see how it pans out. Just design it so everything is a seated level. Sit down to cook and you wont get an achy back.

I'll prob post an update with pictures when I have my kitchen fitted.

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#15
Common Room / Re: Table leg woes
November 09, 2016, 05:19:08 PM
Is this any good to you? Probably the type I'll be going for.

Look at this on eBay  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171716462863

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