I'll be having a think about it after we've built the interior - cosmetic stuff like graphics and wheels are a long way off.
I know someone selling a Peugeot Boxer minibus if anyone is thinking of going down this route. it's top money I guess when you could just buy a van to convert, but correct, I think for what it is. Its a 2016. Redkite conversion minibus. 72k miles. New engine 10k miles ago costing £5k. Electric sliding door with remote. Inspected every 13 weeks. Light metallic Blue £17995. The difference is a bit like buying a panel van or a microbus. It's all panelled out in grey plastic etc. Tidy, reverse camera, electric mirrors. Just in case
Amazingly there was a few dry days before we went back to work after Christmas. Before building the bed we thought it best to build all of the bits under it in the garage. So: Both wheelarches boxed in and battery repositioned on top of one wheelarch. Framework for cupboard in bulkhead between living space and garage. Some holes cut in it for cat stuff A bit of varnish and it all looks good, now for the bed
Remember the faster you go the smaller the vehicle gets so it can fit though the teenyest, tinyest gap
That's what my mate Ian thought when he drove a box van under a low bridge - too late to stop he floored it hoping to smash his way through. lol Didn't work.
The heater is in Use a template underneath to drill the pilot hole as I didn't have a lot of room. You have to grip that drill hard and not force the cut, otherwise it sticks and gives a nasty kick. I borrowed a 127mm hole saw off a friend but he had blunted it by forcing the cut Ended up buying my own hole saw for the job. I used a turret. Filed the edges of the hole and treated them with some paint. It's much easier attaching all of the tubes and exhausts before screwing down the turret. My little ratchet set from Lidl proved useful Screw it down in place and then use some heat resistance/flue sealant on the underside of the turret and around the gap under the van. Tapped into the main fuel tank, which is easy to access via a hatch between the seats. Tapped a fuel sender pipe ont the top of the breather hose - used a bit of decent glue to help the seal. I had taken the breather pipe off to drill the hole, so as not to get bits of drilled plastic in the fuel tank. The fuel pipe goes under the van to the Fuel Pump - didn't take any photos as it started raining Plugged in the electrics and primed the pump - nice and easy, just hold two buttons down for a few seconds. Still lots to do: Build the toilet cubicle; build a bench seat/3rd berth; the kitchen; put rails in for temporary 4th seat; fit double swivel seat.