Your Favourite Panel Van Conversion

[MillieMoocher]

We are really happy with our Autosleeper Kingham, it suits us very well mainly down to the layout. Quality of fixtures and fittings is OK, as in acceptable but nothing special. If you want to use the van all year round/for skiing trips etc then it wouldn’t be suitable, there is no double floor and the heating is rubbish. But we don’t do either of the above so it works well for us.

If IH or Consort did the layout that the Kingham has then we would have bought one of their products over the Autosleeper. But they didn’t, so the choice was made for us.

For use between mid March and mid October, if you like the layout it is overall a great van.

 

[jumar]

For starters...needs to accommodate 2 eMTBs...without compromise...OK... I'll look again when I can no longer ride a bike .

 

[carolyn]

Which bits did Nigel/Roger upgrade Caroline ?

They replaced the chinese B2B and MPPT controllers with nice Victron ones plus a Battery master as our Starter battery was only ever reading about 12.2v in the cold weather. This was from the MiPhantom app and even when Nick checked it (we know this app isn’t accurate) with a multimeter it would only ever be 12.2-12.4. The lowest it’s been since is 12.56v which we’re much happier about on the BMS712 and the MiPhantom reads 12.5 or 12.6v every day.

The other bit we have is a Globalink 520 plus BMV712 (instead of the 700) . The 712 connects via bluetooth to an app so we can ask clever people questions more easily.

The Globalink 520 is because for the next few years our Wintersun is likely to be in Panama visiting our daughter so we can now monitor our leisure battery from afar and if it goes low our gardener can pop in and plug the van in for a day (gosh how middle class, yes I do read the Guardian). This might be overkill as the battery master is so much better than whatever Dan did. However we feel much happier.

 

[Gingernuts]

Having previously had a 3 litre fiat ducato Murvi morello and now a 2.2 litre Citroen Jumper Possl 2 win I think the perfect van would be a 3 litre possl 2 win with diesel heating! Obviously without adblue and dpf nonsense

 

[Carpmart]

I’d like one built on a 4wd Iveco chassis… bespoke build with it set up just how I want it. Kind of like the 4wd Hymer Grand Canyon, but more rugged and with much more useable payload.

Not planning anything for at least another 10 years though!

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[yorkiebar]

They replaced the chinese B2B and MPPT controllers with nice Victron ones plus a Battery master as our Starter battery was only ever reading about 12.2v in the cold weather.

Ah yes, replacing the stock solar controller is definitely on my list! We don't have a B2B, just the naff split charge relay, totally unsuitable for a smart alternator. That's on the replace list too i.e. ditch it and put in a B2B.

 

[Bernie P]

We like our Possle Globecar Summit Prime 6.40. It’s the only PANEL van we’ve had but we did do a lot of research before buying. We would prefer a 6m van but it wouldn’t give us two fixed singles, plenty of kitchen work surface and adequate garage. We are not impressed with the sky roof over the cab. Yes it lets in lots of light but even with the retro fix it is still noisy.
We have an auto, wouldn’t have anything else. Really easy to drive. Loads of storage, more than our previous coachbuilt of the same length.
We can keep below 3.5 which is essential for our licenses. I look at descriptions of other vans but they fail on some essential criteria or other.

I second all of the above except our skyroof is dead quiet.

We downsized from a 7.2m A Class and still have empty cupbord space! in fact we've only just found another storage locker under the n/s bed.

 

[Dall]

The one we designed ourselves, built by Richard Hales, Rhales ltd. There was nothing available on the market, perhaps even now, that suited us.

But I would say that.

Of course everyone has different opinions, but after 5 years, we really wouldn’t have done it any differently at all.



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A PVC with a Guzzi in the living room ~ now you are talking..........

 

[Pausim]

We looked at Adria but the Malibu Van impressed us far more.

 

[Dutch 68]

The one we designed ourselves, built by Richard Hales, Rhales ltd. There was nothing available on the market, perhaps even now, that suited us.

But I would say that.

Of course everyone has different opinions, but after 5 years, we really wouldn’t have done it any differently at all.



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Fair play that looks fabulous, only thing is I would hate making up beds, don’t do singles either, I like my wife a lot lol

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[hja]

I second all of the above except our skyroof is dead quiet.

We downsized from a 7.2m A Class and still have empty cupbord space! in fact we've only just found another storage locker under the n/s bed.

Oh, I wonder if that is the same cubby hole we recently found under the NS bed!
Another thing I like about ours is that the shower is useable, with a swing door.
We wernt bothered about the woosh bang door being on the off side, and it has never been a problem in the UK.

Was your skyroof silent from the start, Bernie P or have you don something to it? Ours is a 2021 van.

 

[lorger]

Our last van was a Possel Roadcruiser, we liked the van just wanted a bigger garage for the bikes. I don’t understand why they don’t make the beds higher to give a garage high enough for bikes, although I do think Malibu or Adria have brought one out and the Glibetraveller looks good and has higher garage and double floor. I also noticed more PVCs at 6.8m long which would make a big difference, the only issue now is the price as you won’t get much change if any for £100k.

 

[beachwomble]

La Strada Avanti H, but not sold in the UK. What I've got is probably the next best thing for me despite the woeful aftersales. A Murvi Morello XL would be next on my list.

 

[davejen]

Our Timberland Endeavour is great but because of disabilities we are changing it for an A/T Cheyenne which has a lot more room inside. The T/L is a great van and very well equipped with electric awning, electric vent, eberspatcher diesel heater big bed when made up, cruise, auto gearbox etc.
We thought it would be good for us, but for our physical conditions limiting us we would be keeping it.
Cheers, Dave

 

[carolyn]

La Strada Avanti H, but not sold in the UK. What I've got is probably the next best thing for me despite the woeful aftersales. A Murvi Morello XL would be next on my list.

Not sure if it was that particular model but when we went on a tour of Norway a couple had a 6m La Strada high top with a drop down bed. Might have even been 5.5m . The layout seemed great inside and so well made. He was over 6ft so I think it must have been a longitudinal bed as well.

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[Outdoors Dad]

I've seen a few of these Autosleepers and I like the look of them.

 

[activecampers]

Can I throw mine into the pot, obviously biased but.....
5.5m MWB 3.5t 160ps Ducato Sportivo MY20. Very lazy/easy to drive, 31mpg, certainly fast enough and powerful enough. 500kg payload.
Very usable bathroom/shower/wetroom that looks like the day it was built - no marks (surpsingly)
Garage takes 2x bikes and 2x snowboards and equipment.
Enough power for offgrid (200AH lithium, 30A B2B, 300W solar), gas lasts 8-10 weeks for cooking and hot water.
Tonnes of storage.
Excellent heating (kerosene) and insulation - with heating off at 10pm at -7'c overnight it was still 15' inside when we woke.
Don't use cab so no cab heat loss.

Cooking/Sofa all suitable for us, not for everyone, but for sitting/lounging its better than expected, but we do like lounging, feet up etc rather than "captain"

267 nights away and no issues (replaced a light strip and moved to Lithium fairly quicky, slight mods to fridge, but think thats it). Came back from a 6 week 4500 mile trip last week. Next trip is 8 week 6000 mile which we'll do without much thought....

Can't really fault it....

Yes, I designed/built it but probably had a dozen or so people eye it up and want a look and say "don't recognise the manufacturer" which is always nice

Its named after us, "The Black Sheep"

Link to finished photos if interested: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HiiAzhV397HDiiB2A

Full build album (from start to finish - only for the very interested!! https://photos.app.goo.gl/QPiv6sVDTUp1vuTMA )

If anyone cares (lol) its here:-

 

[Madmag]

Think we would find it difficult to get better ( for us) than our Adria Twin 640 SLB. Although not likely to change as can’t see any great improvements between the new ones and our 2019 one that would justify the extra cost.

 

[Bernie P]

Oh, I wonder if that is the same cubby hole we recently found under the NS bed!
Another thing I like about ours is that the shower is useable, with a swing door.
We wernt bothered about the woosh bang door being on the off side, and it has never been a problem in the UK.

Was your skyroof silent from the start, Bernie P or have you don something to it? Ours is a 2021 van.

Ours is a 24 Plate the skyroop has a catch in the top centre and catches halfway down each side. Never noticed noise from the skyroof from day one. Told the wife about your noise issue and she said what noise!

We too love the toilet/shower arrangement although finding somewhere to hang the loo roll took a bit of thinking. Side door on the offside not really a problem. if worried aboout traffic (rarely) we get out of the passenger door.

The cubby hole sounds like the same one between the gas locker and the wardrobe. Only found it when giving the van a deep clean after 3 months away in it. Use it for the spare bedding / towels.

 

[Abgs]

I came very close to buying La Strada Regent EB last year but Mrs ABGS had the casting vote and overall comfort won, so we ended up with the Hymer ML-T.

It's a shame that La Strada don't have a UK importer as the build quality of the vans is pretty good.

If I was down-sizing I'd also look at the new La Strada Regent E in the 4x4 AWD version. This has quite a flexible layout.

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[WESTY66]

I have no vested interest in a pvc at the present moment BUT if I was getting one it would be a globecar summit prime 600.
Yes I would love a Grand Canyon, RP rebellion or a Globetraveller but at the prices they’re at you would just get an A class

 

[rod_vw]

Great idea Jim but I am a bit biased!
The current one is our eleventh! Started well over forty five years ago with a a 1969 Volkswagen T2 and now have a 2023 LWB MAN TGE. Numbers 6 to 10 I have built myself but the TGE was a challenge that aged body joints and health didn't feel up to so a local converter did it for me to my specification. That doesn't mean I'm not altering it!

Here are the last six...

Now we just need enough healthy years to enjoy Number 11 and maybe Number 12!

 

[Drexl]

Nice to see some whooshbang love at last

 

[rod_vw]

Nice to see some whooshbang love at last

Yes, I would have loved to have been able to order 'Power closing' of the sliding door but it's not available for the TGE (Crafter). There is a company selling the module as an add on but at a silly price!! It was available on the T5 & T6 but I didn't have it on any of ours as only one was a bespoke order and not available then.

 

[Grianan]

We’ve got a ‘68 plate Globecar Campscout we’ve had from new. I doubt we’ll change it until we’ve done a couple of longer tours, certainly Morocco.
I’d be looking at Consort, Globetraveller and probably Carthago Compsct-line. New PVCs seem too expensive now.

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[rod_vw]

We’ve got a ‘68 plate Globecar Campscout we’ve had from new. I doubt we’ll change it until we’ve done a couple of longer tours, certainly Morocco.
I’d be looking at Consort, Globetraveller and probably Carthago Compsct-line. New PVCs seem too expensive now.

Price is probably down to the price of a decent base vehicle, mine (Number 11 above) was best part of £50k purchased during Covid, and much more now. I did spec it rather high though. A decent conversion even selfbuild runs out at anything beyond £30k and the sky is the limit.

 

[simsy56]

We have recently downsized to a Devon Aztec XL, from years of US RV's. And we are pleasantly surprised. It suits the two of us just fine. Does everything we need from a camper.

Craig

 

[activecampers]

Price is probably down to the price of a decent base vehicle, mine (Number 11 above) was best part of £50k purchased during Covid, and much more now. I did spec it rather high though. A decent conversion even selfbuild runs out at anything beyond £30k and the sky is the limit.

Post covid things changed!
Our van (special edition Fiat Sportivo) with options of things like heated seats etc was £44k list price, but got huge discount and paid £25k (44.5% off van cost and all options). Conversion cost for parts only £15k and that was shopping smart (abusing every discount/code/trick known to man - incl buying bits 12mths earlier) albeit not to a budget. So £40k build costs (excl 6mths labour!)
Literally within 6mths of us getting the van (July 2020) the discounts all but dried up. Technically prices didn't rise - but discounts were reduced. We'd be £55k now to build, and the equiv spec with labour would be impossible to get but would be what, £70-80k?
Huge figures - our first pro build van in 2005 was £35k brand new! (and did >> 1500 nights and was superbly built).
Not sure I could justify the current costs if we were making the same decisions now.

 

[swemmy666]

I liked the look of the Vantage RIO, but thats not what we ended up buying, also the globecars, I liked a number of those.

 

[pjay]

East Neuk Fifer Touring M, had it 4 years now, not many 5.4mtr vans that have 2 x single beds 1 @ 6'5" and 1 at 6'1" or a big double. Compressor fridge and Webasto water/space heating. Loads of storage as well for a pvc...

Fifer Touring M « East Neuk Campervans

eastneukcampervans.co.uk

Pete

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