Welcome

WELCOME


Welcome to the blog for our campervan build

This project began in May 2020 during the 'lockdown' in the UK due to COVID-19. We were supposed to be touring Europe in our existing camper conversion 'Movano The Van Hoe' but this obviously wasn't going to be possible... So after finishing a pretty ambitious Hot Tub Trailer build (see the blog here) we decided we needed another project to keep us occupied during however many weeks left of lockdown.

We put Movano The Van Hoe up for sale and bought a Renault Master which we will convert over the coming weeks/months.

We are fortunate in that Elliot has a fully equipped workshop with tools and space to work, and we're also fortunate in that this is Elliot's second camper conversion, so we're not totally winging it!

This is a blog of the full build and I make no apologies that it is very photo heavy. The primary purpose of the blog is to document this build both for our own records, and for anyone else who's interested.

We plan on touring around Scotland with our Trailer Hot Tub when travel restrictions are relaxed enough to allow this.

Disclaimer: This is NOT meant as a tutorial. Do not try this at home. Always seek professional expert advice.

Tuesday, 18 August 2020

Furry holes...

Next we worked on creating the furry cubby holes...

We used 12mm plywood , templated around the contours of the van, to create arm-sized cubby holes to access the storage spaces that we'll use to store our clothes.

Go go gadget arms....



Holes were cut to accommodate the door hinge and to allow access to the rear lights for changing bulbs...



A template for the upper portion of the 'wall' was also made (we still need to choose the type of material for this... see later post!) Shaped to fit the tapered contour of the top of the van. The white area you can still see will be carpeted.





For one side, we created some little furry compartments that will sit behind a raised edge, for storage of toiletries, portable speaker etc...




We've used a section of matching kitchen worktop to create a shelf on either side. Embedded into these shelves are wireless phone chargers, so you can simply sit your phone on the shelf to charge.

Charger stripped and the useful bit removed...


The hole was cut by router, set up on an offcut of worktop to leave approx 1mm of wood/laminate on the surface above the charger. The wireless charger was then bonded in using some hot melt glue. Power is supplied by a 12v to 5v usb converter which plugs into the charger.



Wooo we have walls and shelves!


Next the walls were upholstered in Veltrim, to make FURRY HOLES!
High temp spray adhesive applied to both sides...


Carpet then trimmed with a sharp Stanley blade and the process repeated on the front face carpeted too.



The edges of the furry cubbies were routered and knock-in edge trim was fitted for a professional finish.