Self build luton sleeper pod

[MannyHousebox]

Hi all!

Newbie to the site here.

Myself and my partner have just acquired a 7.5t MAN Horsebox which we are going to convert to a motorhome for full time living. It started life as a vehicle recovery lorry, and the previous owner put a box on the back and turned it into a horsebox with living.

The box has no overcab luton and our plan is to build one for a sleeping area. It's a tilt cab vehicle, so the plan is to make the floor level of the luton high enough to not interfere with that and raise the level of the roof at the front end of the box to maintain headroom in the sleeping area creating a kind of 'Elvis hairdo' profile.

I've searched the Internet and can only seem to find references to Americans building overcabs on pickups and the like.

I know the principles of creating a cantilever overhang, and although slightly trepidatious about it I'm confident that it is in my skill set to complete, but I thought I'd throw it out here to see if anyone has experience of building their own luton overcab that can provide any tips on materials to use, weight saving options etc. Basically anything they've drawn from their experience, good or bad!

Anything that might stop us dropping off the front of our lorry in our sleep will be much appreciated

 

[Puddleduck]

An interesting project and it took a while to understand about how you intended to build out from the back forward (duh).

I'd be worried about overall height (low bridges and high vehicles don't mix well) and I am never keen on having no access from the cab part into the hab part but that might just be a preconception I have.

Good luck with the build - of course I know nothing (and I'm not even from Barcelona).

 

[RM_Marine]

Just been finished by my brothers boss

 

[RM_Marine]

Inside

 

[pelican]

Do they allow these lge vehicles on campsites?

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[bigwood]

A guy on YouTube put a Luton pod on his converted Merc ambulance . Project Amber.

 

[phil1946]

I think that raising both the bottom (floor) and top of the luton could cause all sorts of problems (access [yours to the bed and the vehicle due to overall height], handling, looks ETC).

I have some experience of horse boxes and have seen some where the floor of the luton is easily removed (internally) so that the cab tilts within the luton - hope that makes sense - perhaps you could look at other 'boxes for ideas.

 

[Minxy]

This was discussed recently by other members on this thread:

Building a "Coachbuilt" Self Build?

From talking to a kitchen designer I’m sure he (we had been drinking) told me that to make a perfect working kitchen the sink, hob and fridge should be a triangle. Speaking as a trained designer, he isn't wrong :giggle: It's called the "working triangle" and is a basic in working kitchen...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

It may be possible to do but will need a lot of work/ingenuity to do so, you could instead make a bed in the main 'living box' and instead fit a large storage box on top of the cab for the stuff you don't need very often (eg winter clothes in summer and vice versa), so the space is still utilised (accessed externally via a ladder) but does away with the issue of having to be able to access it every day/night via the 'living box', it would still then allow the cab to tilt unhindered.

 

[MannyHousebox]

Height shouldn't be a problem - I live on an island so I'm restricted by the height they allow on the ferries anyway, anything above 13ft (if I remember rightly offhand) is classed as a double decker and prices increase. This should allow another foot of height at least.

From investigations on tinternet it seems some sites will allow such vehicles, some won't. The Caravan and Camping Club seems more relaxed about it than the Caravan Club which by all accounts is a bit sniffy. Externally we will try to get a motorhome look rather than a hippy wagon to hopefully minimise this issue.

I have thought about making the floor able to pull back into the box to free up space for the cab tilt, but that opens up draught/water tightness issues.

Thanks for the input everyone!