Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Winter project - Camper Van Build

Thought some of you might be interested in my winter project, which was just completed in time for lockdown! Last year I bought a new Mercedes Vito 119 Sport Crew Van as a basis for a camper; mainly as a retirement project - but then I found myself working again! So much of the work was done in winter and often in the dark! I used a furniture kit designed for VW T6, which required a LOT of modification. I had a pull-tested rock and roll bed made and fitted as I wanted it to be safe. And I fitted a combined diesel hob/heater, full electrics including mains hook up, sink, and seat swivels for the front. The two worst jobs were dropping the fuel tank to install the heater feed, and cutting a hole in the pristine roof for a roof vent. But all done now, and waiting to go on an adventure....

Hopefully the pics work - first time I have tried using the Talk Morgan Image Library.

Nick

Very Nice,...... we have a VW camper converter business based here in the N/E, his order book is a year in waiting, not that different
from ordering a Morgan.

Nick
Looks good. My mate is in the progress of rebuilding a 1970 VW camper that belonged to his granddad. So I know that camper vans take some work.

Well done. I hope you enjoy the use of it shortly

Looks good Nick.

Wow looks good and really modern.
I spent some time to restore an early 90ies Ducato last year...



Very different approach;-)

Thanks folks. My previous camper... before the Morgan, was a 1971 vw which I restored and we used for many years. It was bliss this time not to find rust everywhere and for fasteners to undo when needed. This is now my main vehicle with the morgan for sunny days. Your Ducato is a very impressive job...a bit big for me for every day hence my different approach.

Looks a fantastic job and a substantial saving on getting one already converted ? I would like to tackle a conversion but have neither the space or time .

We had a large 6 berth motorhome we bought from new which we loved but was too big really. We then sold it and got a caravan (yes I know ) We loved it when set up but dragging it about was a pain so sold that ! We then looked at the campervans like yours but crikey, the price of them !! 40-45-50 + k for a conversion !! Getting about is great but Its just too much for a tiny living space. Its all a balancing act isnt it

We decided they were too small anyway for any more than 3 or 4 days so we gave it a miss. We may look at smaller morotorhomes again at some stage as we really loved that.

We really like the Autosleeper Symbol ( and similar) which is probably that halfway point between campervan and motorhome.

Heading to autotrader and ebay now hahah

Well it was cheaper... although I wanted a decent van with good quality stuff inside so that it lasts. So its a top of the range vito, but at a big discount as they were changing the engine lineup. So it was £31k. Mind you it is 190bhp with air con, camera, sensors, self parking, auto, and a sport pack... so we could have gone cheaper. Inside is about £7.5k of fittings... the bed was 2.2k fitted but its beautifully engineered and matches the upholstery. The heater/hob was £1.6k but does two jobs and keeps the van gas free. The electrical gubbins were a tad expensive as the van is euro 6, so charging the leisure battery needs rather more than a split charge relay. But I saved by making things myself, like the electrical control panel and the support for the upper cupboards. So £38k for a van the meets our requirements exactly... I'm quite chuffed.

Agreed about the 3 day rule... anything over that and we take a drive away awning to make a more permanent base. I once had a 7 berth motohome and loved it.... but it was very unwieldy in the lakes and Alps.

Cheers
Nick

We bought this Hymer MLT540 on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis just over three years ago. At 6.4m long it fits in our driveway easily and you can park it most places with no problem. It's really comfortable with a fixed bed and plenty of room inside to play guitar. We've been all over the UK, France and Ireland and love it. There's always a compromise but this suits our needs perfectly.