Micro Camper Daily Driver Build

[dagriffta]

Really like what you did with the side doors, and am hoping to add similar slots to my Maxi Life doors in my new build.
The OEM side door well is pretty generous though. Wondering how I can retain this whilst also adding a couple of other slots like you've done,.

[PJD]

So here's the start of the furniture properly. The frame I built originally served the purpose of setting the size I want to build to.
It's not an exaggeration; everything has been cut at least 3 times to get it right to the profile of the van. The aim has always been a lightweight build and to keep the size of everyting to a minimum. Here the width is determined by the size of the 5 Ltr water containers and the length is determined by the lashing points of the van which serve to hold the furniture in place.
The furniture when complete, will be fully removeable in less than 10 minutes.

[stu_b]

Looks like it's all coming together
Measure twice or thrice, cut once

I like those water bottles
Do u recall where u got them ?
Just curious, can the lid be removed and can your whole hand fit inside to clean them ?

Thanks

[PJD]

Looks like it's all coming together
Measure twice or thrice, cut once

I like those water bottles
Do u recall where u got them ?
Just curious, can the lid be removed and can your whole hand fit inside to clean them ?

Thanks

Got them off eBay for about £20 the pair. They are 5Ltr containers. If you use that in a search on there these should come up from various sellers.

They will be easy to clean as you describe. One of the reasons I choose them.

Also as we have a campervan with 12Ltr containers that we rarely use the full capacity of on a weekend trip these will be ideal and save space.

[stu_b]

Nice work
I was thinking about the cleaning aspect bc I will be looking for something like this for my coffee business

[PJD]

Second part of the kitchen unit. Black rectangle at end is an induction hob.

The plan is to be able to remove the furniture easily. With the sink and hob attached to the worktop it's a bit difficult to remove.

[PJD]

Kitchen unit back in the garage for the chop

[PJD]

With the worktop cut in half I have now finished, for now at least (needs painting), the sink unit as a fully functioning independent unit. The wire trailing off is for the water pump. This will be replaced with a socket that will connect to a 12v supply

[PJD]

SAE socket fitted to sink cabinet. Was a bit more work than I expected as it had to be flush to the surface for the other panel to fit. So getting my money's worth out of my palm router.

So now the unit is free of a cable. The other benefit is if I want to add USB chargers, lights etc to the unit I have a 12v supply coming in.

[PJD]

This is the inside of the Tambour door.

I found some secondhand U profile plastic in the general detritus of stuff that collects at a school technology department and wondered if I could cut some slots to make the profile bend for a Tambour door. Sure enough it worked a treat so I had the channels. So cut some thin strips of ply and glued them together with some fabric I had lying around at home to make the actual door. It was all a bit of a experiment. This shows the inside.



There door works really well. There are more details that have been done and will upload some more photos.

[PJD]

For anyone doing their floor this is a good way to get a professional finish.

The first weird picture is the original floor I cut, minus the first version of the worktop cut strategically to keep the floor in tact.

The reason to keep the old floor was to have a template for the vinyl to cut too and to not have to take the floor up again but that is what I would have done.

So using the template, cut an inch or two all round the template so that the vinyl is bigger than the floor.
More importantly the vinyl will now sit in the van quite comfortably, unlike an uncut sheet that would be all over the place.

I then trimmed the door steps to the ply floor and fixed the pre drilled and countersunk aluminium profiles to the front of the floor with stainless screws to hold the front in place. I then trimmed the rest of the floor. To a certain degree the carpet lining provides a bit of forgiveness to the cut but it's worth stopping and checking at regularly intervals to make sure you are cutting the right amount off.

As per a previous post I had trimmed the boot plastic to accomodate the ply floor and allow the vinyl to tuck underneath.

And use a proper hooked blade. These are designed for cutting vinyl and only about £4 for a pack. It makes it so much easier to cut the vinyl, that it's not worth trying without.

[PJD]

[stu_b]

This is taking some good shape and giving me inspo
Well done my friend

[PJD]

Thank you. When I have the kitchen units finished will put some detail pictures up that explains how it is fitted to the van and how easy it is to remove.

[Poffe]

Yes both sides. The other is a slider.

For me fitting the windows became a bottleneck to continuing the interior and I couldn't foresee a dry day anytime soon. Sounds like you are in the same situation. Carpeting seemed pointless if I was going to create lots of metal dust later so was holding off making progress.

When I got my van MOTed I dropped by a nearby campervan converter on the same unit and the price and convenience sold me.

Would have loved the satisfaction of doing it myself but won't be my last van conversation.

I’m looking into doing exactly this as well. Except doing the work myself to hopefully save money, and perhaps learn for the next build.
Is it VW OEM windows or some other brand?
I’ve tried to read up, but all threads seams to have a little negativity in them as well with leaking in water etc. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet for that reason.