Self build 2002 Sprinter (my full time home) (1 Viewer)

[roger ball]

Thought i'd post some pics of my work van of nearly 20 years that is now my home after converting it end of last year.

In the beginning, a typical work van:

Then fitted out to live in whilst working away from home as a joiner:

Then put back to a work van, be it abit better than standard:

Then had to remove large parts for welding underneath so had a rethink and built this instead with my site vault mounted on 300KG drawer runners at the front:

Then had the bright idea to build a floating interior using unistruct where i could still get 8x4 sheets on the floor and long lengths of timber the entire length of the van and live in it:

Then fitted the interior i have now that I live in:

Links:

The many interiors of my van

Cabin mods

Electrics

Suspension

Cheers

 

[roger ball]

Thought i'd post some pics of my work van of nearly 20 years that is now my home after converting it end of last year.

In the beginning, a typical work van:

View attachment 784214

Then fitted out to live in whilst working away from home as a joiner:

View attachment 784215

Then put back to a work van, be it abit better than standard:

View attachment 784216

Then had to remove large parts for welding underneath so had a rethink and built this instead with my site vault mounted on 300KG drawer runners at the front:

View attachment 784217

Then had the bright idea to build a floating interior using unistruct where i could still get 8x4 sheets on the floor and long lengths of timber the entire length of the van and live in it:

View attachment 784218

View attachment 784219

Then fitted the interior i have now that I live in:

View attachment 784221

Links:

The many interiors of my van

Cabin mods

Electrics

Suspension

Cheers

Forgot to mention I fitted a washing machine and tumble dryer in the back a while ago:

Domestic stuff

 

[corconx]

How is weight? and a pic of outside would b
e nice. Looks good though

carol

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[Drexxer]

WOW, a serious amount of work has gone into that van!

Very talented chap

 

[roger ball]

How is weight? and a pic of outside would b
e nice. Looks good though

carol

The n/s sits 10mm lower than the o/s which is why I put the washing machine on the o/s and it made no difference to the stance. Top of tyre to wheel arch is n/s: 105mm o/s 115mm.

Weight is 3380kg without me in seat, although with 5 tonne springs and air bags fitted plus adjustable koni shocks have done enough to up plate to 3850kg.

Cheers

 

[68c]

Is it still going to be classed as a 'work van' rather than motorhome?

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[roger ball]

Is it still going to be classed as a 'work van' rather than motorhome?

Yep, still a panel van although I have an agreed value policy with AF. There's every chance I'll strip the guts out when the time comes and put in a newer Sprinter and build out a proper motorhome and put this back to a panel van to sell on.

 

[Jimbo50]

I’m sure that leaving the van as is (converted to camper) would recover a much better sale price as your work looks really good from the photos.

 

[roger ball]

Just realised the cabin mods link is broken, working link below:

Cabin mods

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[corconx]

Crikey some work!!! To be I’m well impressed

Carol

 

[Mikey RV]

Looks great well done.

 

[Ridgeway]

This is better than most off the shelf builds that I’ve seen, Pro level for sure !!!

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[tinkertaylor]

Very impressive, one of if not the best I have seen tbh.

 

[Littlewheels]

One seriously talented guy well impressed.

 

[Elsie2010]

AMAZING build!! Wowser
Very, very talented

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[Jimbo50]

Just opened the Cabi Mods link.
You are one absolutely amazing artist and technician.

 

[roger ball]

Wow! Cheers for all the kind words, I must admit I did consider giving converting vans ago a couple of years back but was put off by the world and their wife also having the same idea.

So thought better of it, my idea, coming from a furniture background would be an ultra high-end spec, private jet type fit & finish. Might give it a go in my next van building something along the lines of the white / carbon / oak work van interior above.

Without being snooty I find so many van conversions available today very meh, they all look the same, same components, same layout, very dull imo. Never understood why the toilet cubicle is put in the middle of the van right next to the bed!

Currently in very rainy Anglesey.

 

[tinkertaylor]

Mines next to the bed. It allows the front cab seats and a bench seat, backing onto the toilet , to become a lounge/eating area.

If you position it next to the cab then the cab seats are lost to the living area and are only useful for driving.

Your van is very stealth like and could be parked almost anywhere without giving away the facts your in there which requires the cab to be separated from the living area.

Your work is top notch, multi skilled as well , I'm taking it you mig up the suspension mounts?

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[roger ball]

Mines next to the bed. It allows the front cab seats and a bench seat, backing onto the toilet , to become a lounge/eating area.

If you position it next to the cab then the cab seats are lost to the living area and are only useful for driving.

Your van is very stealth like and could be parked almost anywhere without giving away the facts your in there which requires the cab to be separated from the living area.

Your work is top notch, multi skilled as well , I'm taking it you mig up the suspension mounts?

Yeah I guess layouts are a compromise.

That was a business idea I had of making truly stealth vans, no windows, steel wheels etc so it looks like a basic panel van outside with a fully bespoke interior so you could park anywhere.

Bit of a play on Stephen Fry's idea when he owned a black cab to get round London easier and park anywhere in the capital.

I didn't do the welding, a guy called Chris Woods (CW welding) based in Poole Dorset did that, but everything else is mine.

Cheers