My first post. My name is Mark, I used to stay in lodgings in the Manchester area while working but realised how expensive it was and as I work late shifts and often don’t get back till 3am from the airport, was not pleasant staying in someone’s house. So I bought a compact and personal home for one- a Transit Custom L1H1. My aims were to stealth wild camp and just not stand out to much, and build a camper with lots of nice touches I could move on later and not lose too much.
I can only build outside my drive in winter, so left a few items to professionals. I started with the usual mistake of thinking the bulkhead, plastic floor and tie downs were worth more than £5… soon figured that out.
Next mistake was using additional standard Ford AGM batteries. So my inverter never did work. Water pump fitted into homebuilt furniture- can’t access it to plumb or wire up. So no water.
Best one was heater fitted by cowboys. Cheapo Chinese Eberspracker copy sold to me as a genuine one.
fitted with inlet external. First night the cooldown froze me half to death! Doh.
I survived one Summer without any comforts at all. I do commute home so it’s only runs of 4 or 5 nights.
Stripped it all out this Winter and designed and had Convertavan in Keighley CNC route the new panels for me. Still a lot of work but far better. Moved electrics to back. Lithium so inverter now works. Water tank fitted, pump plumbed and working. Access doors to it as well! Large full wardrobe and smaller middle cupboard just big enough for potty and microwave. May even get an induction Hob fitted. It was a pop top, and a pair of awning rails one on each side. No awning yet.
Waiting since September for Airride to supply a full 3H Airlift kit for my van as I need to drop it under 2.0m height barriers this coming summer. Still working hard to finish it in time for late April.
I can only build outside my drive in winter, so left a few items to professionals. I started with the usual mistake of thinking the bulkhead, plastic floor and tie downs were worth more than £5… soon figured that out.
Next mistake was using additional standard Ford AGM batteries. So my inverter never did work. Water pump fitted into homebuilt furniture- can’t access it to plumb or wire up. So no water.
Best one was heater fitted by cowboys. Cheapo Chinese Eberspracker copy sold to me as a genuine one.
fitted with inlet external. First night the cooldown froze me half to death! Doh. I survived one Summer without any comforts at all. I do commute home so it’s only runs of 4 or 5 nights.
Stripped it all out this Winter and designed and had Convertavan in Keighley CNC route the new panels for me. Still a lot of work but far better. Moved electrics to back. Lithium so inverter now works. Water tank fitted, pump plumbed and working. Access doors to it as well! Large full wardrobe and smaller middle cupboard just big enough for potty and microwave. May even get an induction Hob fitted. It was a pop top, and a pair of awning rails one on each side. No awning yet.
Waiting since September for Airride to supply a full 3H Airlift kit for my van as I need to drop it under 2.0m height barriers this coming summer. Still working hard to finish it in time for late April.
