Camper Van

From: ANT_THOMAS27 Nov 2019 09:49
To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) 61 of 85
Good question. I think possibly yeah, but it could be difficult.
Sitting in the driver's seat I can collapse the end passenger seat which gives access to the back. Could then fold the other seats, unfold the bed extension then get inflating. There's a van ignition 12v socket at the back of the van to use
From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)27 Nov 2019 14:27
To: ALL62 of 85
Why the wooden platform?

[sorry, meant this for Ant, not 'all']
EDITED: 27 Nov 2019 14:28 by DSMITHHFX
From: ANT_THOMAS27 Nov 2019 16:38
To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) 63 of 85
Storage and to bring the bed height up to the height of the front seats when folded, that then allows me to fold another piece over the seats to extend the bed length. I wouldn't fit otherwise (6ft 2/188cm).

Eventually I will turn the storage in to some drawer units to put out at the back. When the doors are open
From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)27 Nov 2019 18:08
To: ANT_THOMAS 64 of 85
When you gonna road-test it?
From: ANT_THOMAS27 Nov 2019 19:23
To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) 65 of 85
I drive it everyday, but do need to take it out for a night soon. Weather has been awful lately, hoping for a crisp winter weekend soon.
From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)27 Nov 2019 20:14
To: ANT_THOMAS 66 of 85
You commute to work in it?  :-O
From: ANT_THOMAS27 Nov 2019 23:39
To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) 67 of 85
Yep, it's my daily driver.
From: Peter (BOUGHTONP)28 Nov 2019 00:03
To: ANT_THOMAS 68 of 85
So is that rear view fitted to a camera yet, or do you just enjoy seeing inside of your van as you drive? :D
From: ANT_THOMAS28 Nov 2019 07:49
To: Peter (BOUGHTONP) 69 of 85
It's fitted to a camera!
Works quite nicely during the day, when it's not raining too hard. Especially useful for reversing, combined with the van parking sensors.

That's the 3rd one I'd bought though. First one broke, second one was absolutely awful, this one is good enough and hasn't died yet. Got refunds on the others.
From: ANT_THOMAS16 Apr 2020 16:47
To: ALL70 of 85
Still not spent the night in it yet (fail)
Been lazy and not really finished it, but been trying to get more bits done whilst I've got nothing else to do.

Next major thing I hope to get done this weekend is a drawer unit that will slide out of the back to hold a camping stove. Then I think to get going just tidy things, some panels to cover the wooden frame. Then eventually cushions rather than an airbed.

RPi van computer installed in the electrics area, along with a bluetooth amplifier



Speakers - not the most ideal spot, but work quite nicely




Switch/control unit

EDITED: 16 Apr 2020 16:57 by ANT_THOMAS
From: william (WILLIAMA)16 Apr 2020 18:25
To: ANT_THOMAS 71 of 85
Where is the 65" flat screen going? And the disco lights?

Seriously, it's looking good.

 
From: ANT_THOMAS17 Apr 2020 09:14
To: william (WILLIAMA) 72 of 85
Telly on the roof. Disco lights around the outside.
From: ANT_THOMAS 6 May 2020 11:00
To: ALL73 of 85
More electronics updates.
USB charger and dimmer switch for lights




Drawer unit with single stove




Tidied up the panels and covered the storage areas. Will make a proper lock/clip for the drawer.




Added some lights




Need a leg/bracket for this

From: ANT_THOMAS23 Oct 2020 09:36
To: ALL74 of 85
About time I did an update....

Loads of photos here
https://www.instagram.com/LittleRedCamper/

    

Bought a twin stove

   
From: ANT_THOMAS23 Oct 2020 10:02
To: ALL75 of 85
Tried to fit a mini fridge but it requires too much power.
It was one of those thermoelectric ones with a Peltier Plate as the cooling method. Unfortunately whilst that technology is nice, it's not very efficient so requires a lot of power. Something like a constant 12V/4A/48W.

Traditional fridges use way less power, but you don't get them in a mini variety.

Next steps will be to tidy up cabling, modify some of the storage to make it more easily accessible, add some sort of inside roof storage unit, then give it a lick of paint! Oh and put something on the floor so it's not just the ply lining.

Been out in it a number of weekends over the last couple of months. Only one night at a time, need to try two nights when the weather gives us two good days/nights. Usually go somewhere later on a Friday or Saturday evening, sleep there overnight then go out for a hike the next day.

Last weekend was the first time I felt cold at night, but that just means I need to actually start wearing pyjamas or something similar in bed.
From: koswix24 Oct 2020 12:50
To: ANT_THOMAS 76 of 85
Looking good.

What's the total weight like, have you had to uprate the suspension to stop it squeaking at night?

And how does insurance etc. work?
From: ANT_THOMAS31 Jan 2021 13:15
To: ALL77 of 85
So, had a crash a few weeks ago. Very steep cobbled street, more snow and ice than I thought. Things went..... downhill very quickly. Crashed into a parked car at the bottom. Could have been way way worse. Thankfully no injuries to my girlfriend or myself.

It went off to the scrap yard in the sky on Friday.

I guess one positive is that I managed to negotiate a good payout from the insurance which will go towards a bigger van. Problem is, van prices are a bit silly at the moment and nearly all listings that I've contacted have already been sold. Remove the bloody listing then!! :@

 
From: william (WILLIAMA)31 Jan 2021 13:35
To: ANT_THOMAS 78 of 85
OH NOs! All that work. I imagine you managed to rescue some of the insides, but obviously not all the custom carpentry etc.?
From: ANT_THOMAS31 Jan 2021 13:41
To: william (WILLIAMA) 79 of 85
Rescued the custom carpentry. Whether it'll be much use in a new van I'm not so sure, but some parts could possibly be cannibalised.

Tried to remove the solar panel, but turns out I used too much (too strong) adhesive and it started peeling the roof paint off. So that has been sacrificed.

Otherwise it's just the insulation and carpet lining that has been left. Stripped all my other electronics.
From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)31 Jan 2021 17:26
To: ANT_THOMAS 80 of 85
Maybe put a crash bar on the front next time. Or not.