Where do we begin?. It all started a number of years ago, the idea of getting a camper van and getting onto the road and seeing what the world had to offer. Quite quickly, anyone with a limited budget will see that the idea of getting hold of a camper is not that easy of a feat!
Everyone wants a 79 westfalia camper, they look great. The main problem with this is that they are very very old. With age, comes rust.. The idea of getting a camper is any great condition was going to be an investment of 5000 - 10000 euro easy, and who knows what the outcome would be.
As a solution to this, I moved towards the idea of buying a VW Transporter, 2004 to be exact. A long wheel base van would provide more than enough space to fit my bed into along with a host of other features that would be needed.
The idea of getting a van onto the road, for someone who doesn't really need a van causes one heck of an issue for insurance. In short they do not want to know about it. Different counties have different rules, but in short the point was clear. If you want a van on the road for non commercial purposes, it would have to be a campervan legally and tax had to be paid, 1005 euro to be exact.
Well then, I had to get this van into a campervan as soon as possible.
The rules of building a campervan, to keep the insurance people happy
A number of different regulations had to be adhered to for the van to be considered a campervan, the main of which were:
- Vent holes in the side of the van to allow any stray gas get outside
- Copper pipes going up to a gas cooker, not rubber
- A guard around the cooker, to stop the back of the seats from melting
- A bed that pops out of the walls somehow
- No tables that can fly around the place. Everything had to be perfectly mounted and not become a hazard in the event of a crash.
All sounded perfect, and generally went to plan. A colour scheme was picked and the painter went ahead and painted the van. A window was cut into the side of the van and everything looked perfect.
And then:
- The turbo for the TDI engine broke
- Bits flew into the engine
- The engine exploded, sending a 40 foot wall of smoke shooting down the road
- Oil was everywhere
- Vicky the van, was dead.
RIP Vicky 2011-2013
After two short years, about 5 camping trips and more time on blocks and in a garage than previously expected, it all lead to the simple conclusion that the van needed to be sold.
On the back of this, a new project needed to be undertaken. This is the short version at least. And so, the future dream of a camper was put on hold until a new plan would come together.
On the back of this, a new project needed to be undertaken. This is the short version at least. And so, the future dream of a camper was put on hold until a new plan would come together.
Engines, were out. Trailers were in.
The cost of running a campervan as much as I loved them, were a little too much. The part about enjoying the camper beside the beach or at a lake side was long gone after a number of deadlines were missed and the idea of going to France was just a botched plan.
In light of this, a trailer was purchased with the idea of building a DIY camper trailer. A trailer as in a metal frame with two axels in very very poor condition, with the idea of building a caravan, (or camper trailer or whichever the term is for campers without an engine in the US).
This blog will cover the project to date so far, showing, from the ground up, all of the steps that were taken. All hurdles will be described as they come into sight.
Until next time,
Kyle.
This blog will cover the project to date so far, showing, from the ground up, all of the steps that were taken. All hurdles will be described as they come into sight.
Until next time,
Kyle.
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