My 'different' plans for a new build. Views and thoughts?

[jezport]

South coast.

Too far from me, can't offer any help unfortunately

 

[Tim P]

Where on the South Coast?

 

[Tim P]

Why don't you look at Will Hardie's (of George Clarkes small spaces fame) conversion of a VW Buzz. He has fitted exactly what you are talking about. His completely de-mountable conversion reverts back to his work van when not being a camper. He can usually be found near the advice centre at the Warners shows (well he was last year) and is very knowledgeable and very easy to chat to.

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

Interesting project, I think.
I get the need for your various configurations. I wonder though, is it one config for 'this' and another for 'that'. I mean, would the kitchen always be in the one location regardless of it being a motorhome or bike van? (once you decide where the kitchen should be located).
I think putting it in one place would be ideal, given the plumbing and wiring needs, and enable all else to be adjustable (bed,settee, desk,bike rack).

In case you haven't considered it yet; were it me, I would opt for a high top van or a Luton type.
Reasoning:
High-top:
a. high-top would facilitate flooring of XPS sheets instead of battens and XPS in-fill, whilst maintaining sufficient headroom.
b. trunking could be placed within that XPS and covered over with hatches placed as appropriate.

Luton (or other slab-sided van):
a. much easier to fit good insulation without risk of condensation damaging the metal where air-flow is limited due to said insulation
b. higher roof than high-top
c. greater width, which means you may be able to fit the bike in with less adjustment being necessary the the internals.

There's another option and probably many others too.
For reference; check out True Blue Travellers on YouTube. They converted a Sainsbury's delivery van and the box was detachable. I don't recall whether they had opened up the bulkhead between cab and hab box. I wonder whether a detachable box would give you the best of both worlds - a habitable vehicle and a biker vehicle, depending on which box you use.

 

[gonzo_the_great]

Bournemouth area.

I'm not a biker (anymore, been there, got the scars). Possibly mixing me up with one of the posters. I will be loading in boxes of equipment, radio antennas and dishes. (Not the sissy little ones that you used to have on your house!)
But a lot of the requirements are going to be similar I suppose.
I agree, some things may end up being mostly fixed. But I won't know what and where till I get some experience. I say mostly, as I still want the option to remove everything for repairs.

For flooring, my first experiment may be ply over XPS sheets. And test if the ply spreads the weight enough for the XPS to not get too compressed by the floor profile. It will mostly be taking foot traffic. And the equipment I need to load in is going to be bulky, rather than heavy.
Though for my uses, floor insulation is going to be far less important than roof/sides. So I may omit it initially.

I have been looking van options. Using Ford Transits as a baseline, I'll be looking at a long wheelbase/L2, dictated by driveway length.
I want to be able to stand up, so an H2 (marginal) or H3.
I had assumed that Luton type vans are too long for my driveway, so not really looked at those to closely. I would still need to cut through to the cab, which as far as I understand, would be a lot of metal cutting. Not as simple as unbolting a bulkhead. And I'm not sure what that would do the the structural integrity of the outfit. (And the knock-on insurance issues.)
Shame, as the square nature of these would be perfect for my needs.

 

[chaser]

Have you considered a demountable on a pickup? Seems everything you need, you could fix all your stuff in and take it off when you don't need it.

 

[gonzo_the_great]

Limited driveway space.
As it is, my kit car has to go to make space for a van.