CandyVan conversion journey

[drinfinity]

First steps on the journey to our new camper. Base van is a new 4Motion LWB, delivered yesterday. Ceiling panels out, and first fix of the wiring along the roof lines, in preparation for the pop-top to be fitted next week.

 

[Wildworx]

Exciting project. Did you buy it from a main dealer? What was your lead time like on the van?

 

[drinfinity]

Exciting project. Did you buy it from a main dealer? What was your lead time like on the van?

Ordered Nov 21 from JCB Ashford, via AutoEbid

 

[Mino_f]

I’m looking to do the same… just can’t seem to work out where and what wiring I need to put in now for first fix… I’m hoping to do the whole works, poptop, kitchen, lights, diesel heater, leisure battery, charging points, shower.

I just can’t find anything to help me route the wires

 

[drinfinity]

I’m looking to do the same… just can’t seem to work out where and what wiring I need to put in now for first fix… I’m hoping to do the whole works, poptop, kitchen, lights, diesel heater, leisure battery, charging points, shower.

I just can’t find anything to help me route the wires

I made a list of all the items I needed, and the current to feed each one. I sketched a wiring diagram approximately the shape of the van, so I could group what was going up which pillars. To reduce the total cable length, I return via the nearest earth point rather than all the way back to the battery.

That let me estimate the cable lengths, and then choose the sizes.

Putting the wires in was the easier part - I just ran them along the existing loom. Along the roof beams, and down the B and D pillars. The kitchen area will be fed from the floor behind the driver, so those aren’t in yet.

 

[drinfinity]

Picked up the new roof from Pop Tops, AKA Nulite. It has a high lift, with much more headroom than my old Reimo. There will be room for a decent mattress, and to store the downstairs mattress topper hopefully. Breathable canvas tent with a full zip.

 

[drinfinity]

Deadmat going in. Using it sparingly as it would be easy to slap another 50kg on.

 

[Paynewright]

I regret covering mine completely, especially the floor. Once you have 3 or 4 sheets on a flat panel its the law of diminishing returns!

We’re looking to ply the floor so might have to strip some/all of the sound deadening off - I’ve done worse tedious jobs but not particularly looking forward to it!

 

[t6blo]

Looks like you’re moving ahead quickly. Will be good to watch your progress

 

[drinfinity]

Thermo/acoustic liner in, and that pesky cable for the tailgate lights finally through.

 

[drinfinity]

Wiring loom made for lights into the tailgate, earthed back to the wiper motor earth (thanks @Pauly for the tip).

 

[drinfinity]

Tailgate fleece insulated and board carpetted, 2x 3W lights installed. Not really a job on the critical path, but good to see the first finished area.

 

[drinfinity]

Drilled 2 x 8mm holes in the roof for the solar cables, after agonising over it for too long.

 

[drinfinity]

This week I have been mainly wearing wires.

I had a very nice van, and ripped it to bits. Wires through to the battery for hookup and DC-DC, down the B pillars for all the accommodation electricals and solar, ignition live for the charger, and rear speakers hooked into the radio. And one little yellow wire for a future project Thanks to this forum for the guidance on every step!

Dash all back together now and it looks like a van again, and the radio still works!

 

[drinfinity]

Under seat electric installation underway. Hoping to make some progress with a week off work. Spent a while cursing Pop Tops fitting. Their factory is as messy as their website, and my van is covered in now-rusty jigsaw swarf. It cleans off, one spot at a time.

 

[drinfinity]

Windows in, one fixed over the kitchen, two fixed on near side. The ‘carpet over the edge’ method looks good, but adds a pile of stress to the job.

I highly recommend a powered cartridge gun for applying the bonding. It was really easy to get a consistent bead in the right place. Mine was from AliExpress.

 

[drinfinity]

Under seat wiring done. Battery and fuses not installed yet till the lights and other consumers installed in the back. The DCDC charger is under the drivers seat.

I’ve used a little electronic latching relay for the LED lighting tape supply. This is controlled by momentary push to make switches, which means I can put however many switches for the light where I need them, with only two wires carrying the signal, not the load current.

 

[Heath1984]

Windows in, one fixed over the kitchen, two fixed on near side. The ‘carpet over the edge’ method looks good, but adds a pile of stress to the job.

I highly recommend a powered cartridge gun for applying the bonding. It was really easy to get a consistent bead in the right place. Mine was from AliExpress.

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Yeah I wanted to carpet first but bottled it in the end. Ended up spending an hour tucking it in to the seal but looks good so happy enough.

 

[drinfinity]

Yeah I wanted to carpet first but bottled it in the end. Ended up spending an hour tucking it in to the seal but looks good so happy enough.

Slightly wishing I had done the same. I managed to catch the carpet in the sealant and cause a leak, so had to get the window out and back again.

 

[drinfinity]

Carpet around the back quarters, and lower D pillar covers in. The carpet is silver on the top, anthracite below. The join has a hand stitched hem. The right hand roof beam is back in, covered, and two lights installed. Lots of fiddly details which should hopefully be barely noticed once it’s all together.