Over the past few weeks, I have been looking closely at my life and deciding what I can change for the better. Having a project to build my own van will make me happy. I can make a van that really fits my needs whilst having a hobby to tinker with. Whenever I do something to the Hymer I must make sure that It is able to be put right and not devalue the motorhome. I love the idea of just painted MDF panels inside that I can be easily fixed with some wood filler and paint. I will have a fixed bed at the back and a large shower. I don't need sofas just three captains chairs and a table in the front. The kitchen will be simple as will the rest of the decor.
Had a look at a couple of VW vans today ... a 68 Plate 4Motion Crafter for under £30k (sounds good value compared to a 2011 4x4 Sprinter for £20k?) and another 4x4 MAN (so same basic van)The choice of the base vehicle is one that I am still pondering.
A Fiat Ducato 35 Maxi H3 L4 makes the most sense, but in my heart, I would love to do a 4x4 Sprinter conversion. The problem with the Sprinter is that its internal height is not that great even on the high roof. Trying to find a LWB super high top 4X4 Sprinter would be very hard to do.
The height in the Ducato H3 is just over 7 feet compared with just under 6 feet in the Sprinter, This gives plenty of room for insulation and to still have a bit of headroom.
But the Sprinter will cost around £10,000 more than the Ducato .
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I like the Mk 1 LT Synchros. Like a T25/T3 on steroidsAlways liked the original T3 Syncro, well original after a handful of T2 prototypes.
Subsequent Syncro's / 4Motions were never the same.
I like the Mk 1 LT Synchros. Like a T25/T3 on steroids
I must point out that I said that I am considering this, I have made no decision yet and I am not in a rush to unless someone really wants to by my Hymer fully loaded.
1. @Phil I would buy your Hymer if I won the lottery but at the moment I am struggling Financially to even do the work on old Sylvia (Talbot)I am sure you could do it Phil, but just consider this. You have a very nice van at the moment that you can just jump into and go wherever on a whim. Once you start on a new build, having sold the Hymer, unless you have a good, solid (solid) amount of time to devote to it, you will be doing it,, as and when, and for some time will have a van that you may not be happy to use at any particular time, for quite a while. I started mine 3 years ago, still not finished, have managed to use it somehow or other when I needed/wanted to by being careful about timing of what i needed to have functioning at any particular time, and I'm supposedly retired ! Its been, still is, great, I enjoy working on it, but I will be very happy when I consider it finished !
I would agree 100% with the bit above I highlighted for my own abilities and (maybe generalising somewhat) at a guess most others.Forget MDF Phil, you are pretty much forced to use light weight like plywood Vohringer or similar from about £80 per 8x4 sheet, or you will be overweight before you finish it.
As for DIY by far your biggest issue if you want it to look nice is the joinery side of things, the gas electric and plumbing are things you can tackle easily.
I'd love to do another but fitness fails me I'd get a 22 foot refrigerated ( already insulated)
7.5 ton van on MAN chassis, mileage as low as you can find bu they are dirt cheap, the driving test is easy to do and you have less worry about being overweight.
If I can be any help at all just ask.
I've always fancied having a go at manufacturing my own slide off, on a 4x4 base vehicle. Something like this>>>
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