Conversion Question
- Thread starter Cakks
- Start date
My van was an off the shelf conversion so I didn’t have a lot of input. That said, if building from scratch myself (and I had the skills) knowing what I know now, the finished van would be pretty much what I have now.
Everything gets used, even the grill that was something I didn’t think would get used gets used most trips.
Everything gets used, even the grill that was something I didn’t think would get used gets used most trips.
I'd just really think about the layout that works for you. My conversion, lovely as it is, isn't particularly practical for me. Think about what you will be taking on a trip and where that would be stored in your chosen conversion. I don't have a grill...I wish I did. I wish I'd got a different bed system that has some storage behind, or a bed on rails. My conversion is a 4 berth, but there's no way that someone could travel safely in the rear seats with all my camping crap sliding around their feet because there's no where else to store it whilst travelling.
Great to see that you are still saying “my conversion” - stick with it
I’m afraid that we are in a similar position as we also bought a ready made camper.
The one thing we never use is the grill/oven and, if we had the choice we would have had a small microwave instead.
If we didn’t have a fresh water tank then it wouldn’t really bother us as we only use it in an emergency, we prefer to use fresh water whenever possible.
I wouldn’t bother with a sliding window in the side sliding door - never ever opened ours.
Other than that everything else gets used but the two ring cooker is not really a necessity, it’s nice to have ‘just in case’ but we prefer cooking outside so we can count on one hand the number of times we have used it.
I guess it all really depends on your lifestyle - wildcampers or always on a site with hook up etc.
Hope this helps
The one thing we never use is the grill/oven and, if we had the choice we would have had a small microwave instead.
If we didn’t have a fresh water tank then it wouldn’t really bother us as we only use it in an emergency, we prefer to use fresh water whenever possible.
I wouldn’t bother with a sliding window in the side sliding door - never ever opened ours.
Other than that everything else gets used but the two ring cooker is not really a necessity, it’s nice to have ‘just in case’ but we prefer cooking outside so we can count on one hand the number of times we have used it.
I guess it all really depends on your lifestyle - wildcampers or always on a site with hook up etc.
Hope this helps
Great to see that you are still saying “my conversion” - stick with it
Only because I still have it! I don't think I will stick with it...it's just too difficult. I don't think my heart is in it anymore. I thought it would be ok, but it's just not the same just the two of us.
Ooohhhhh, I think your correct.
We couldn’t manage without the sink and the waste tank -just the fresh water tank.
We all use our vans differently and what works for one may not work for another. Eg. We regularly use the sliding window in our doors - Jo can prep and pass things out to me whilst I’m cooking outside in the winter and/or rain without letting all of the heat out of the van.
I don't have a waste tank...just a jerry can I shove underneath, which I rarely do, because we never use the sink!
When we were in Cornwall in the summer, I saw a crappy old van, that 2 surfer dudes had made a plywood bed in, and a plywood cooking area with a little camping stove...it looked far more practical than mine!
When we were in Cornwall in the summer, I saw a crappy old van, that 2 surfer dudes had made a plywood bed in, and a plywood cooking area with a little camping stove...it looked far more practical than mine!
We use a jerry can for waste but, unlike you, we try and put as much water down the sink as possible - it gives Josh a little chore to do each day and get him off his phone/tablet for a bit
Re the surf van; sometimes simple is the best
I’m afraid we are only ‘fair weather campers’ and if it’s cold or raining it is off to the pub time.
What we do have is a table on a swivel attached to the pillar behind the passenger seat which we use to pass things on, absolutely brilliant but only works with the door open.
It’s amazing just how much variance there is between users so Cakks is, I expect, going to get some very interesting and different responses.
I could be wrong but to get it classed as a motor home with the DLVA I think you need a cooker?
You can have a small single burner but it needs to be permanently fixed:-
Converting a vehicle into a motorhome
