new member 4x4 T1N

Nick-UK

New member
Hi Folks,
Just joined this great looking resource yesterday :cheers:

Ive been searching for a 4x4 van for maybe a year or more. Run through all my options a million times (Iveco, Transit, Sprinter, unimog ????) (Box van, panel van, lwb, swb, high top, low top ?????) Arrrrrgg :idunno:

Finally after much waiting I think I have found the perfect van, close to home, no rust, low mileage. Flipping expensive :lol: but id rather pay extra for a good base than have the first job be a bunch of body work and mechanical repairs.

So here it is . MWB, low roof, ex fire brigade 313 4x4 on a 2002 plate with 36,000 miles / 58,000km . Low box and diff lock.

I collect it tomorrow if all goes well . MOT was nearly out so the seller is re testing it tomorrow but here`s some pics from the advert for your viewing pleasure.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4_zpsuibrhfma.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 3_zps9o04kqbr.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 5_zpsn9n0n7lr.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 4_zpsyehhb7ne.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 6_zpsujsfzuue.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 11_zpsia4rfghx.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 10_zpskut6lbrb.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s112/nutshot-uk/sprinter 4x4 9_zpsoihgncmo.jpg

I plan on doing a camper conversion but I have a lot of thinking and planning to do with the limited space so it may take 12 months or more before I make a final plan.
First job I can get on with is insulation and some swivel seat bases. Then I`ll probably nock up a disposable bed from scraps (pallets etc) and go on a few test runs to see how things work out space wise.

Better to do a test run for cheap than fit it out properly to begin with I think.

Anyway trawled the entire Aussy,NZ and Europe forums yesterday. Off to do the RV section now :thumbup:

Cheers
Nick (From England) :cheers:
 

Eric Experience

Well-known member
Nick.
Interesting machine. Does that roller door rattle? The most common problem people have with fit outs is weight, it is so easy to make it too heavy so start of with planing with very lite materials so at the end you can carry the fluids you need. If you plan to use it off road I would remove that tow bar. Good luck. Eric.
 

TigerRecovery

New member
That's put mine to shame! I've been to Captain Seat in Melton Mowbray for swivel front seats and they're fitting a rock and roll bed in the back. Once done, I'll finish converting it to a campervan.
 

Nick-UK

New member
Hi Eric,

My first thoughts before viewing the van was how hard would it be to re fit standard barn doors. Looks pretty easy, about a dozen 1-2" welds and a bit of paint. But the roller isn`t as bad I expected noise wise. Bit breezy round the top as its got a brush type seal but I was planning bed in the back and board off access to the back door (which ever style doors) for a back garage and tool area . I`ll maybe loose 4-5" of internal length.
Having thought about it a bit more keeping the roller might have some advantages. I can use the original door hinge mounts to make up a swing out rack for a spare tyre, jerry can etc and have a really good strong point to attach it to the van thats totally reversible if I change my mind.

I will probably remove the tow ball. I fancy making a sturdy back bumper with inbuilt step. Weight wise its rated as a 3.5 ton van so I think it will be hard to go over weight given the floor area I have to play with. I plan on a simple interior . A good size bed is my main priority and the wife says I need to have some kind of toilet or shes not coming :laughing:

Nick
 

Nick-UK

New member
Cheers Keith ;) I`ll check him out. Probably have enough spare cash to buy the swivels in a few weeks :thumbup:
 

Eric Experience

Well-known member
Nick.
Your comments on the weight are typical of new builders but so often the weight is over at the end. Thinking about you rear door, most set ups have a bed at the back with storage under the bed. You have an opportunity to get over the problem of opening the back door and some bedding falls out. If you board up the back down to the bed base, possibly with a window, then build a tail gate below the bed level you would be able to access the storage without exposing the bed. Eric.
 

Nick-UK

New member
Hi Eric,
Its good advice that I joined the forum for so I will heed your caution :thumbup:
I`m planning on a fairly simple set up but I will mock a lot of parts up first and see how heavy it starts to look as well as where they need to go .
I`m trying to find a local supplier of this corrugated plastic to line the panels out https://con-pearl.de/en/lightweight-plastic-board-sheets/ .
Can`t find much info with a quick google but I have something similar in my work van and its tougher than wood and weighs next to nothing . Just hope I can find some within driving distance.

Think you have the nailed what I`m thinking regards the bed. I`m thinking split the bed in half (ish) below and have the front side for clean stuff like clothes and have the back side accessible only from the roller to keep the more dirty and lumpy things in.

Off to fetch the van in about an hour :rad:
For anyone in the UK thinking of building a camper I finally found an insurer who will cover it as a modified van so I can build it slowly (no time limit for completion) . Most said I had between 3-6 months to complete which I may not manage. Van insurers said if I did any internal mods what so ever my insurance would be invalid . I phoned my works insurer as a last resort and they also do weird van insurance and covered my no problem. So if your struggling give Aplan a try :thumbup:
 
Last edited:

Riptide

Active member
Are you going to seal off the roller space above the bed? How much interior space does that door eat up when it's fully open?
 

Nick-UK

New member
Are you going to seal off the roller space above the bed? How much interior space does that door eat up when it's fully open?
The roller mech takes up about 6 ish inch at the top. It looks easy enough to come off the very back roof rib to board it off.
I`ll empty all the junk that came thrown in with the van later today and take some pictures.
 

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