Converting a Refrigerated Transit LWB HR Panel Van to a Campervan/Motorhome

just wandering

just wandering

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Van Conversion
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I'm a newbie
This first set of photos were taken by the seller on fleabay as I viewed them online.

Before I bought the van I researched the refrigerated units, fridge and freezer and the insulated wall, floor and ceiling panels. I should be able to re-sell the lot for a few hundred. Also, I should be able to re-sell the bulkhead.

Of course, that means nothing if the van itself is useless. The van is a good runner with a few repair jobs needing done. I don't have a deadline or a prefered time to complete the conversion, but I reckon a good few months at best.

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please dont think i am belittling your choice of donor vehicle to convert. however I know from experience that its going to be a lot of hard work and expense to convert. it will be made harder with the condition of the van shown in the pictures and the alterations already done to it like the fridge box and lining

a friend of mine bought a fridge van second hand to use for his business. what was shocking was the rot in the floor caused by the van being constantly damp. no doubt why the van was sold off at 3 years old
 
My present van was bought already converted, with very high mileage. I've refitted the van with smart light oak Vehringer board, and added more high lockers. I've fitted 190 watts of solar panels, side awning, and reconditioned the gearbox.
I do not know the history of my van, but it looks like it was possibly a refregerated van, it has an inner skin of aluminium, and hence has a high value of insulation. The body is great, very good condition, especially now as I've just polished it!
I've owned it for nearly 4 years, it's done 8 or 9 tours in Europe, countless more in the UK, we've spent upwards of 3 months a year sleeping in it. All for much less than £10k! If you get the pleasure from it, it doesn't matter how old or many miles it has done. It's doing it that counts.
Last year I met a couple who had spent over £100k on a huge 6-wheeler, so big it had to be parked on the campsite road. And they had never tried camping before. It takes all sorts.
 
TheBig1 said:
please dont think i am belittling your choice of donor vehicle to convert. however I know from experience that its going to be a lot of hard work and expense to convert. it will be made harder with the condition of the van shown in the pictures and the alterations already done to it like the fridge box and lining

a friend of mine bought a fridge van second hand to use for his business. what was shocking was the rot in the floor caused by the van being constantly damp. no doubt why the van was sold off at 3 years old
Click to expand...

All comments are welcome! I hadn't considered the problem that may arise with the condition of the floor being constantly damp. I will need to double check that before I advertise the fridge/freezer unit for sale.

I'm prepared for the hard work that it will require, and the expenses to convert the van will be handled on an item to item bases. I'm the kind of person that would buy 3 items at a good price, sell 2 of them, get my money back and have the third item and profit for my time in doing so.

Granted, the van does look tatty in the pictures. A few rust spots and dents to deal with and a wash will brighten it up. :)
 
Dorwyn said:
My present van was bought already converted, with very high mileage. I've refitted the van with smart light oak Vehringer board, and added more high lockers. I've fitted 190 watts of solar panels, side awning, and reconditioned the gearbox.
I do not know the history of my van, but it looks like it was possibly a refregerated van, it has an inner skin of aluminium, and hence has a high value of insulation. The body is great, very good condition, especially now as I've just polished it!
I've owned it for nearly 4 years, it's done 8 or 9 tours in Europe, countless more in the UK, we've spent upwards of 3 months a year sleeping in it. All for much less than £10k! If you get the pleasure from it, it doesn't matter how old or many miles it has done. It's doing it that counts.
Last year I met a couple who had spent over £100k on a huge 6-wheeler, so big it had to be parked on the campsite road. And they had never tried camping before. It takes all sorts.
Click to expand...

If there's a will, there's a way! (y)

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HappyBrewer said:
Are you going to use existing insulation in the build I would probably be a very warm van in winter
bill
Click to expand...

Sorry, I read it as levy. Unfortuanetly the way it's been altered for the fridge/freezer unit, it has drastically reduced the space available. When I stand in the van, my hair is just about touching the roof and i'm only 5ft 8" so it has to come out.
 
just wandering said:
Sorry, I read it as levy. Unfortuanetly the way it's been altered for the fridge/freezer unit, it has drastically reduced the space available. When I stand in the van, my hair is just about touching the roof and i'm only 5ft 8" so it has to come out.
Click to expand...
just take roof insulation out and put thinner stuff in

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HappyBrewer said:
just take roof insulation out and put thinner stuff in
Click to expand...

As you can see by the images, once removed there will be lots of space reclaimed, too much space too loose in my opinion.

hubbard-460-fridge-freezer-transportation-unit-rear-compartment-01.jpg


hubbard-460-fridge-freezer-transportation-unit-rear-compartment-02.jpg


That's the rear compartment pictured, the front compartment is only accesible through the side sliding door, which isn't sliding at the moment as it's stuck shut. All the fixes i've found mentioned online deal with fixing from the inside, so brut force may be required.
 
Cant you leave the refrigeration unit in and use it as a quick blast of air con in our hot summer days, or will you get a small fortune if you sell it
 
Looks like you'll have a nice void between the real floor (if anys left) and the false floor to put all the hidden wiring water tanks and pumps etc in already. That's if you can get the false floor you're stood on out in one piece

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vectian said:
Cant you leave the refrigeration unit in and use it as a quick blast of air con in our hot summer days, or will you get a small fortune if you sell it
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More chance of getting a small fortune than hot summer days. :) Yeh, should get a few hundred for the whole unit.
 
vectian said:
Looks like you'll have a nice void between the real floor (if anys left) and the false floor to put all the hidden wiring water tanks and pumps etc in already. That's if you can get the false floor you're stood on out in one piece
Click to expand...

I havn't calculated the sq footage, but it's got to be quite a bit. I've had a look at the underside of the vehicle and it's sound enough, if that's anything to go by.
 
just wandering said:
I havn't calculated the sq footage, but it's got to be quite a bit. I've had a look at the underside of the vehicle and it's sound enough, if that's anything to go by.
Click to expand...
Keep notes and plenty of photos of your conversion. Change of use/insurance may be a problem. (y)
 
The measurements of the insulation in the rear compartment are below. Still to work out the sq footage/metres, not sure how to do it, anyone know?

Left Side Wall - length Top 97"/246cm
Left Side Wall - length Bottom 103"/261cm
Left Side Wall - Height 65"/165cm
Left Side Wall - Depth 5"/13cm

Right Side Wall - length Top 97"/246cm
Right Side Wall - length Bottom 103"/261cm
Right Side Wall - Height 65"/165cm
Right Side Wall - Depth 5"/13cm

End Wall - length Top 56"/127cm
End Wall - length Bottom 61"/155cm
End Wall - Height 65"/165cm
End Wall - Depth 5"/13cm

Ceiling - Length 97"/246cm
Ceiling - Width Front 56"/127cm
Ceiling - Width Back 61"/155cm
Ceiling - Depth 5"/13cm

Floor - Length 103"/261cm
Floor - Width Front 61"/155cm
Floor - Width Back 72"/182cm
Floor - Depth 9"/22cm

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vectian said:
That's if you can get the false floor you're stood on out in one piece
Click to expand...

This is why I welcome all comments! :clap2:

I Had a close look again at the compartment and I think you might just be right about getting the floor out in one piece. The walls and ceiling will probably be lucky to come out in one piece also, I don't see anywhere that would be the logical place to start to dismantle.
 
Sq feet or sq meters multiply: length x breadth..

for volume in cubic meters or cubic feet.. multiply: length x breadth x height

I would start on the floor.. probably need to saw it out section at a time.. .. once you get started it will become clearer how best to proceed
 
Hi JW once you rip everything out it leaves you a van (yours looks like a MWB) that is 10ft long from back of drivers seat and at it widest point 5 ft 9 ins wide (bed height)that narrows down to 5 ft ish across the top -if it's a SWB van the length reduces to 8 ft long -Jumbos/lwb are 14 ft long ish -personally I would rip the lot out and start from scratch
terry
FORGOT TO SAY HI ROOF IS JUST OVER 6 FT AND MEDIUM ROOF IS 5FT 7 ISH HIGH
 
mitzimad said:
i can guarantee the floor will be bad every fridge van ive stripped was
Click to expand...

Do you mean the real floor of the van will be full of rust?

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