Interior upgrade for my t2

So having learnt loads from reading everyone's posts over the last year, I thought I'd show people what I'm up to! Basically I'm removing the dormobile interior from my 1972 t2 and putting in a new one. Not half as technical as what some of you embark on but a big enough job for me, with limited knowledge of anything DIY or VW! Determined to learn tho and where better to start than here! Will be asking for lotsa advice as well if people don't mind...

 

Here's the bus before....

All up for sale:


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152378348014

 

Look very nice and clean as is!

 

So far I've got everything out....

This took me long enough... especially the bed... that took ages as there were bolts inside the wheel arch that felt like they had 40 odd years of oil and rust stiffening then up!

 

My next job is to scrape off all the old and still very sticky glue on the floor pan... it's all over the bits behind the door card too...

Guessing it needs to come off as there's grit and dirt stuck in it... and I want to paint over it.... so my first question based on reading lots of different opinions... 1) do I scrape it off and put hammerite straight on? 2) what about wax oil...where exactly do I put that?

 

Yup- I took off the black plastic funnel thing that directs the heat into the bus....I'll put them back on once I've cleaned it all up

Ps- clearly I haven't got a clue about technical names for things!! Black funnel things works for me! Feel free to correct ...or just laugh!

 

It sure is - but I'm afraid I'm after a full width bed. I also don't need the sink or cool box. Going for a few more modern practical options. I'm sure some VW enthusiasts will curse me but the only thing that makes me feel less guilty is I know this wasn't likely to be the interior that was originally in the bus - I think a Devon interior would have been in there at the start...

 

what are you going to put in its place................
just thinking of rules and regulations so you don't rip it all out and find you need things, must have cooking facilities, sleeping,seating not sure about onboard water to be classed as a camper or motor caravan. insurance problems start cropping up if it has nothing in as it might be classed as a van not a camper. please check it out so you know what you need.................

 

Thank you - hadn't realised this. I'm putting in a full width bed, and storage units...going to start with a cool box and cook outside. I've not got a Cooker or fridge in it at mo - just an non operational sink. So that's the only thing I'm losing. It's currently insured with hic as a camper so hoping that's ok!

 

There are vehicle and contents insurance and speed limit implications for converting a campervan into a van – which is what you are considering. And if you don’t declare the conversion and your insurance is currently for a campervan it would not be valid in the event of a claim. You need to read this before you proceed. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...756/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motorhome.pdf and http://www.campervanlife.com/building/legal

To be a campervan there must be a table, storage and cooking facilities (fixed to the floor or wall) and a water container.

 

Yes. That looks like a Devon pop top roof up there.

 

Looked like a lovely original interior? Can't wait to see what's replacing it

 

Thank you - I'll call my insurance. The bus currently has no cooking facilities so that's not exactly changing. Perhaps it's been insured wrong all along then! I'm sure I'm not alone with this though and I'm not doing anything that a lot of people haven't done before me!

 

I don't think it's a insurance issue although they may use it

But it is a dvla issue for new conversions but doubt they will be concerned with a historic camper

 

I

I did get asked questions about sink, table etc when I insured mine (a Devon with sink, cooker and table). I get the impression that as long as you talk to them about it you will be ok.
Interestingly the guy on the phone said I'd probably be ok for a while if I stripped things out to restore them but technically removing the sink and cooker turns it into a van rather than a camper...

 

I'm certain you’re not doing anything that a lot of people haven't done before or will do in the future. There are a lot of people using low load rated car tyres too – but that doesn’t make it right and it definitely doesn’t make it legal but no harm is done unless and until there is an accident and maybe someone is injured, or worse. The accident might not be your fault but an insurance accessor could say this isn’t a campervan and it’s not insured as a commercial van.

If the bus currently has no cooking facilities it’s not a campervan and if it’s insured as a campervan it doesn’t have valid insurance. Your insurer may turn a blind eye or may not even know what a campervan requires to be a campervan but you should declare the modification so your insurer knows what they are insuring.

It’s not correctly registered with the DVLA either.