Motorhome customisation advice

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Hi all,

not sure if this is the ideal forum but here goes,

i'd love to be able to buy my own 3-4 berth motorhome, but they are extortionate prices.
So....i'm also looking into the idea of buying an appropriate vehicle which can then be customised to suit our needs.

I don't really have any idea where to start....or what possible budget we have.
So i'm open to all advice. This is just a tentative pipe dream right now, but something i'd really like to do in the future.

First things first, what vehicle should i look for so that i could customise it.

A friend mentioned a volkswagon T5 for a few grand could be a worthwhile purchase, then a couple of grand for customisation?

Any advice much appreciated. :)
 
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You'll be surprised how much you'll spend on the conversion.  For example how much is one single, nice, tinted window, and how many are you fitting? - there's your first grand blown easy.  Are you fitting a night heater system?  There's at another one or two grand.  Do you want a raised roof so you can stand up in it?  What about "captain" seats, or at very least an individual passenger seat instead of the factory twin one?  An awning?  Some flooring?  Insulating the sides and roof?  Nice paintjob and stripes?  You get my drift.

VW Transporters seem popular so would probably make a good base van.  I'm a bit outa touch on prices but I think you're looking at a shed load more than a few grand for a decent T5.  You might get a shabby one but nobody buys a van for the sake of it - they've all worked, so lots of the bits you'd expect to be perfect in your car (or camper) will be worn. ie door ingoes, seats, fuel filler flap, dash etc etc.  Also the Transporter isn't very big inside, so it would be quite cramped with two in it, never mind four.  Remember it'd still be a van on the V5 too, so it won't be worth anything like a pukka camper.

The cheapest way would be to buy a mini bus or something already with windows, then sell the bus seats to start with.  Source a written off camper or caravan and buy the interior from the scrappy, complete with cooker, fridge and sink.  Modify it to fit as necessary.  Don't under-estimate the time involved.  For example it'll take you a day easy just to strip the stuff out the one from the scrappy, then you need to transport all the bits, and have somewhere to store it all.  Fitting one single thing like a fridge could take a whole day too.

I'm not trying to be overly negative but I have dabbled at similar projects.  Do the conversion well and you'll end up with one great van.  However do it badly or half-hearted and it'll end up like all the other crappy diy campers you see around.

Hope this helps :)
 
Well, this is the kind of advice i'm looking for, so thanks for that.
It would be kind of a long project if i was to tackle some of it myself.
I'm fairly adept at diy, but know zilch about cars, be it under the bonnet or bodywork etc. I just know how to drive one.

Because its been a pretty long-term dream of mine for years, i'm willing to do all the research i can and not consider it just a fad idea.
In it for the long haul as long as i can work out approx costs.

In 3 years i finish paying maintenance for my son.
Another couple after that we hope that the step-sons (twins) will have moved out (better frikkin have), then we'll probably move to a cheaper place that will suit us for the rest of ours days.....and we look forward to doing some travelling.....in our motorhome. :)
 
If you will have some spare cash in your monthly budget it might be an idea to consider buying one on HP. They don't seem to depreciate much so, if chosen wisely, you could probably get back what you paid for it - even after a few years. Enjoy days out IN it instead of days lying UNDERNEATH it. And enjoy things working properly instead of "watch that fridge door honey, remember it jams your fingers when the drawer isn't closed properly" scenarios.
 
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Having spent time recently on the overhaul and upgrade, I have to recommend the Jap import Mazda Bongo......superbly made, all parts are available and a very high spec.
This was the eqivalent of a 1995 model, not a speck of rust anywhere, automatic, 4x4, mileage to the moon and back a few times......which has to show its a reliable product.
A really active members group too!
John :)
 
As has already been said, it's a lot harder (and more expensive) than it looks, to get a decent vehicle. The Transporter is a good base vehicle, they have a reputation for being well-built and durable, but as Alan pointed out, a cheap van will probably have been worked into the ground.

Remember that unless the vehicle is over 10 years old, you'll probably end up having to go for an Individual Vehicle Approval inspection when you send the registration document off to the DVLA asking them to change it from a goods vehicle to a camper van (passenger vehicle). VOSA will then subject it to a one-off inspection. The hardest bit of that is likely to be the seat belt anchorages. If you alter the vehicle structure in an area likely to affect the strength of a belt anchorage (e.g. by cutting the roof out over the cab and weakening the tops of the B pillars) they might get a bit snotty. Similarly if any of the rear seats can be used whilst traveling, they'll need belt anchorages and that's not for the faint-hearted - they have to be very strong! A lot of people simply don't bother telling the DVLA it's not a goods vehicle any more, but they run the risk of insurance problems if they then try to make a claim.

I wouldn't want to put you off this, but it's worth going in with your eyes open.
 
I have seen someone take an ordinary van and try and convert it.

It looked like poo.
 
I have seen someone take an ordinary van and try and convert it.
He'll be envisaging this

Interior%20small.jpg


but it will end up like this unless he's got £20K up his sleeve.

FN21VR6FA190M9O.LARGE.jpg


:mrgreen:
 
I had a friend who did a merc sprinter into a 2 berth camper, took him 4 years in total from bare van to finished product, but it did look pro, not a cobbled together.
The biggest problem they had was insurance, there are only a few insurers around that will touch a homebuilt camper, DVLA were fine, it didnt need a check or anything as they hadn't modified the cab, or added extra seating, they just sent photos to show it was now a camper and not a commercial.
 
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