Fenlander!!! (1 Viewer)

GEOFFREY

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The penny has just dropped about the webbed feet post on the welcome forum. I suspect that living in the fens we are all expected to have "pointy heads and and webbed feet"!!! Not so many like that left now - I blame the motor car! Anyway, I am not a true yellowbelly as I have only lived here for 44 years, and that doesn't count (Essex boy - probably worse).I am now going to attempt to post some piccies that I have just taken. The blue lumpn under the bed is the calorifier which does have an immersion heater fitted. The white lump fitted on the sidewall under the table is a radiator heated by the engine. It is my intention to connect this up to the calorifier to supply hot water from the engine on days out when no hookup is available. On my previous conversions I have fitted a full shower and trnsverse high level fixed bed, but this time my wife and I were getting a bit to old to beclambering up ladders so I decided on a french bed layout, knowing that it would make the bathroom (toilet) small. I shall make a small shower tray to suit. I must say that as Joyce prefers to use sites with all offices the last five vans we had were all sold wihout the shower ever being used!!! I have previously used surplus caravan doors in my conversions, but this time decided to use all tambour doors which works very welll as it makes it easy to move past any open door. I have just found that 10 pics is the most I can do so may post a couple more later. the water/waste tanks are underslung, seat swivels and awning purchased, but not yet fitted. all seats will be re-upholstered by Regal (who also covered the matress).
The remaining work is to insulate the roof then fit the headlining (lights already in) and top cupboards.
Sorry nto have gone on for so long, hope your'e not too bored. Geoff.
 

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Anthea M

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The penny has just dropped about the webbed feet post on the welcome forum. I suspect that living in the fens we are all expected to have "pointy heads and and webbed feet"!!! Not so many like that left now - I blame the motor car! Anyway, I am not a true yellowbelly as I have only lived here for 44 years, and that doesn't count (Essex boy - probably worse).I am now going to attempt to post some piccies that I have just taken. The blue lumpn under the bed is the calorifier which does have an immersion heater fitted. The white lump fitted on the sidewall under the table is a radiator heated by the engine. It is my intention to connect this up to the calorifier to supply hot water from the engine on days out when no hookup is available. On my previous conversions I have fitted a full shower and trnsverse high level fixed bed, but this time my wife and I were getting a bit to old to beclambering up ladders so I decided on a french bed layout, knowing that it would make the bathroom (toilet) small. I shall make a small shower tray to suit. I must say that as Joyce prefers to use sites with all offices the last five vans we had were all sold wihout the shower ever being used!!! I have previously used surplus caravan doors in my conversions, but this time decided to use all tambour doors which works very welll as it makes it easy to move past any open door. I have just found that 10 pics is the most I can do so may post a couple more later. the water/waste tanks are underslung, seat swivels and awning purchased, but not yet fitted. all seats will be re-upholstered by Regal (who also covered the matress).
The remaining work is to insulate the roof then fit the headlining (lights already in) and top cupboards.
Sorry nto have gone on for so long, hope your'e not too bored. Geoff.
The webbed feet are only a bit of fun! Thanks for showing the photos what a great build love the tambour doors as they don't take up space . I'm never bored at looking at people's achievements and you should be rightly proud of your motorhome. Thankyou for sharing!(y)

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GEOFFREY

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I will now try to post the remaining photos that I took today as promised (or threatened!). I do not have a clue which way round they will come out. The power managment system is by Sergent - a 160 IIRC. and the fridge is a 12v Waeco compressor type. The gas bottle is in a locker between the kitchen unit and the bathroom wall (below the pull up tower power socket). On my last two vans I used an underslung LPG tank, and may fit one later, but I was under time pressure from the insurance company to get the vehicle registered as a motor caravan.
The minibus was rated as MGW 4005Kg. But I have had it down rated to 3500kg, but this could be reversed if neccessary as everything is still the same as before, just a design weight change. Geoff.
 

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GEOFFREY

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Oops, pressed the wrong button. Despite the dark glass (I had the windows dark tinted and love the looks)
it is very light inside the van as I have fitted two Heki midi rooflights and a smaller rooflight/vent in the bathroom. Last photo today - I promise. Geoff.
 

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GEOFFREY

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The webbed feet are only a bit of fun! Thanks for showing the photos what a great build love the tambour doors as they don't take up space . I'm never bored at looking at people's achievements and you should be rightly proud of your motorhome. Thankyou for sharing!(y)

Of course I knew it was just a bit of fun - so was my reply. Thank you for your comments about my build.
I think the tambour doors on the base units are brilliant - I wonder know why none of the professionals do it.
In the past I have always used knock in edging , but this time thought iron on might look a bit neater (nothing wrong with knock in by the way). I still have most of the edging tape to do. I used 15mm double sided Moorland laminate board for the walls and furniture. Geoff.

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Conversion looks very good, when we did our conversion tried to get Tambour Doors as I had seen them on a motorhome at one of the shows but failed to find a supplier. Would be very interested where you purchased yours for future reference if we decide to upgrade.
 

laird of Dunstan

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Hi Geoffrey , having lived in Bourne all i can say is that the only webbed feet that i saw were on the ducks in the river (y) , now living in Stamford:)
 
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GEOFFREY

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I have only ever seen tambour doors used top cupboards and shower doors. I have bought silver coloured tambours for my top lockers from Magnum motorhomes at Grimsby, but for my shower door and base cupboards I some tambour door BISLEY filing cabinets removed the doors and tracks then cut them to the length that I wanted. Because I used 2metre long doors this left me short of track so I made some new tracks from fibre glass. As two of my doors (under bed storage and gas bottle/utility cupboard do not turn through 90 degrees I made some circular tracks (100mm dia) and cut required angular sections from them.
I hope that this makes sense. Geoff.

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GEOFFREY

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Hi Geoffrey , having lived in Bourne all i can say is that the only webbed feet that i saw were on the ducks in the river (y) , now living in Stamford:)

Hi Ian, you are dead right about the ducks although there are sometimes as many on the footpath as is the river. A very good folk group called the Billinghay roughs did a concert for "help the heroes" at our village hall and they had a lovely song taking the mickey out of themselves refering to pointy heads and webbed toes!!! We have lived in lincolnshire since 1972 and think that it is a great place to live. Do you have a camper/motorhome? Perhaps our paths will cross sometime. Best regards. Geoff.
 
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GEOFFREY

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Just remembered that song title by the "Billinghay roughs" It was called "the inbreds".

For reference about insurance for self-builds, I used Highway, part of the LV group. I was given 90days to complete the conversion to the satisfaction of the DVLA and to have the vehicle registered as a motor caravan. The DVLA have specific requirements as to what constitutes a MC, and whilst I had met all of those
and sent my application and photographs etc. to Swansea just just within my time limit, obviously I had not met the criterion of the vehicle being registered as a motor caravan. I informed the insurance company of the situation (0n the 89th day) and requested a time extension. The insurance company requested a copy of my
change of use application and all documents/photos etc. (luckily the right way round!!!) sent to Swansea\ and then granted me another 30 days to forward a photocopy of the new log book. The point that I am making, and in fact nearly fell foul of this myself is that the initial requirement (small print) was the the vehicle should have been re-registered within 90 days, and that the registration actually took the DVLA 3 weeks. Geoff.
 

DBK

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Thanks for posting the pictures. You might want to consider, the next time you upload a photo, to select the "show as full size" option which you will see just after it has been uploaded. This will display the photo much better than a thumbnail. But after you have done this press the "enter" button straight away, this will put the cursor below the image so you can add more text if you want.

If you ever find it hard to put the cursor below the image click on "preview" and you should then be able to see the code which posts the pictures and select a point below them, or by cutting and pasting, actually move the image to another place in the post.
 
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GEOFFREY

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Thanks DBK, I will try that next time, but still do not know why they were all ok on my wifes PC, I just opened the file that she gave me - but I would have blamed her anyway!!! Geoff.
 
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GEOFFREY

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Hi Jock, Hi Rita, I am about 2.5 miles north of bourne (within 150 metres of the A15), so probably about 10 miles from you (guessing Baston/Langtoft area). With a name like "Jock", Iwould have been very suprised if you were A true yellowbelly. perhaps we may meet up at some time. Regards, Geoff.
 

JockandRita

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so probably about 10 miles from you (guessing Baston/Langtoft area)
Nearly Geoff, Mkt D. (y) You at Morton? We have a member between Bourne and Spalding, and another at Langtoft

With a name like "Jock", Iwould have been very suprised if you were A true yellowbelly.
Since leaving home in 1974 to join the RAF, I've spent most of my life in Lincolnshire. ;)

perhaps we may meet up at some time. Regards, Geoff.
If you need an extra pair of hands with anything MH related, just shout. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
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GEOFFREY

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Hi Jock, yes Morton. When you said adout 8 miles south I first thought of MD, but I had thought that was in Cambs - we live and learn. Nice to hear that there are a few forum members that live local.
Thanks for your kind offer of help, my conversion is now virtually finished. As I said before there is only really the top lockers to maken and the roof lining to re-fit. If you find yourself slumming in the Morton area, give me a bell (07504765123) and drop in for a cuppa, no biscuits mind - I will have eaten all those. Geoff.

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GEOFFREY

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We took the van down to Saltash Cornwall last weekend. Stayed on the Riverside campsite at marsh mills, Plymouth. A very nice site and not too far from a bus stop (bus passes are brilliant). Still a few jobs to do on the van. but I have now made the first top cupboard and have booked then van in tomorrow to have a nice set of graphite alloy wheels fitted tomorrow, and for an underslung gas tank installation next week. Geoff.
 
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GEOFFREY

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I am afraid that I missed the wheel fitting appointment last week, but now booked in for today. Gas tank going in on Wednesday. The first top locker (a double) is now fitted, and the next one (a treble) is now built and will hopefully be fitted today. I may get the chance to post a couple of photos later. Geoff.
 
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GEOFFREY

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Wheels underslung gas tank and offside top lockers now fitted. Geoff

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Wow, that is one hum-dinger of a good looking conversion, absolutely amazing, truly well done.

Mine looks like this: -
 

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GEOFFREY

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Hi thanks for your nice comments. Your conversion looks great and very comfortable, thanks for showing. I have now fitted the swivel bases to both front seats and seitz blinds to the side door and window opposite. We went out for a picnic in the van on sunny good friday, went past a nice looking campsite on the river by an old watermill (Yarwell mill) and we were lucky enough to get pitch for the night. We had a lovely meal in the local pub (about a mile walk), but Saturday looked a bit grim so we came home!!! Geoff.
 
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That's what's nice about traveling around in your own proudly built self built van.

We are over in Lincolnshire later on this week stopping here and there searching for our next hidden gem of a rural property in the Louth, Horncastle etc. areas.

Geoff; I will be telling you about a brand new specialist self build site that we are in the process of setting up along with Jim the owner of this site. We hope to attract several very knowledgeable people like you as gurus, please send me a pm if you might be interested.

All the best

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Gerryatric69

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Well Geoff that's a cracking conversion. I collected my lwb Relay yesterday and am just starting my conversion. What an inspiration yours is. I need to get started as 90 days ain't long even to install the DVLA basics.
I looked for a silver van but they were either on the south coast or were past their sell by date so I stuck with white cos they are the fastest (well they seem to be on the motorway!)
As I said that's a mighty fine conversion, were you a cabinet maker in your earlier career ?
 
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Well Geoff that's a cracking conversion. I collected my lwb Relay yesterday and am just starting my conversion. What an inspiration yours is. I need to get started as 90 days ain't long even to install the DVLA basics.
I looked for a silver van but they were either on the south coast or were past their sell by date so I stuck with white cos they are the fastest (well they seem to be on the motorway!)
As I said that's a mighty fine conversion, were you a cabinet maker in your earlier career ?

Change your insurance company Gerry as if you take a policy out with Adrian Flux there is no time constraint.

In actual fact Gerry you should have asked that question on the diymotorhome forum that you are now part of.............. smacked wrists!! (only joking)

When I did my conversion I phoned innumerable insurance brokers and found several who didn't place a totally unrealistic time constraint on your build programme. http://www.scenicinsurance.co.uk/ are another sensible company and I will be swapping my policy to them when it is up for renewal as I hate the sell-sell-sell techniques of Adrian Flux!

All the best

Phil

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GEOFFREY

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Thanks for your comments Gerryattric69. My previous conversions were all on white vans and I was very pleased with them. Windows and graphics (understated) really finish a van off. I agree with Phil that the 90day limit is tight (I managed to get an extra 30 days, but only because I had already submitted the change details and pics to Swansea). Good luck with your conversion, I know that you will enjoy doing it and using it.
Geoff.
 
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Your van looks great. Those doors are a great idea. Welcome to the club.
Ralph finished our Pug just before Xmas. It took him a lot longer than the 90 days because he had to build it outside , as well as work full time as a builder ! But Pug is finally finished and we are enjoying the fruits of his labour.
He still can't believe he's built it. Being a bricky not a joiner. Never managing to even miter a joint properly at home ! Here's a link to his build.
http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/rb-panel-van-conversion-begins.100614/
When we were away 6 days over Easter it was so nice for him to get such great comments from fellow motorhomers at Bouroughbridge Hawes and Pateley Bridge . They didn't even guess Pug was a self build as they weren't MHF members so hadn't followed his build on here .
Thinking we'd chosen not to have graphics put on as an extra !
We've decided to leave Pug plain now , though we might still get an rb graphic logo done, (the same as we did on the upholstery ) for the bonnet and back door. Though sticky plastic, not embroidery !
 
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GEOFFREY

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Hi R&B, thanks for your nice comments. I think that the tambour doors were a good idea as they do not obstruct the walkways when open. I know what a fantastic job Ralph did on your van, I believe it to be the best selfbuild EVER!!! Glad you are now enjoying the van, and I can imagine the comments you get when
others see it, but SEEING IS BELIEVING, I can't wait to see it in the flesh myself. Graphics are naturally a matter of opinion, but most of the manufacturers do seem to do something, perhaps a little understated
looks classy. To incorporate your modern logo would in my opinion look great. On all of my previous vans
(ducatos) I have had the complete front (bumpers,grill and front wings & protectors painted body colour) - always white up untill now, however with this silver van I am thinking of painting the lower sections graphite to match the wheels and if I do then those items will also be graphite. I may look for some sort of stylised
reeds/bullrushes (remember the van is a fenlander) as a logo. Geoff.

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