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Jul 24, 2024 17:37:24 GMT
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Hi all, A steady day today, this afternoons weather has been challenging, heavy showers and blustery. The kitchen unit is done and the blank for the work top is made. I got the mains hookup fitted and made up the mains lead. Should get the kitchen finished tomorrow and maybe start fitting the shower tray. Cheers Mike
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hopeso
Part of things
Posts: 348
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Jul 24, 2024 17:50:51 GMT
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Your joinery work looks very tidy.
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Jul 24, 2024 20:42:44 GMT
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hi there,
thanks for that, it can be challenging working in a van like this as nothing is square or straight.
Cheers - mike
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Hi all I made an early start today, got the worktop laminated and trimmed and cut the hole for the pop up socket. Next job is to fit a Bluetooth amp and speakers into one of the upper cupboards. Cheers Mike
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Jul 25, 2024 17:23:37 GMT
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Hi all Fitted the speakers and Bluetooth amp fitted, it sound pretty good. Spent a couple of hours making the support panels for under the shower tray so I can get it fitted. Tomorrow is going to be electrics day. I have to connect the wiring for the solar panels, run the cable from the main battery, wire up the b2b charger/solar controller and fit the fuse box so another busy day. Cheers Mike
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Jul 26, 2024 17:45:50 GMT
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Hi all A good day today, got the feed for the split charge and the diesel feedl for the heater installed under the van and the solar panel wiring run through the van roof. Had the new Bluetooth amp running playing war of the worlds which was good. Cheers Mike
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Norman
Part of things
Posts: 449
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Jul 28, 2024 21:33:44 GMT
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Hi Mike, You are doing some quality work there, makes the rest of us look like amateurs. You obviously have years of experience to hand. I don’t often comment on these builds but do follow them. Keep at it you will soon be finished. All the best, Norman
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Jul 30, 2024 19:11:15 GMT
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hi Norman,
I have been building and renovating campers and motor homes for over 30 years. I officially retired 11 years ago so only build 4 a year during the summer. My arthritis prohibits working in the colder months. I usually turn one around in 3-4 weeks but have lost about a week on this one with poor weather. Nowadays I work from home in a standard sized garage with no specialist tools so it can be challenging when the weather is poor. This one should be finished for Saturday all being well.
Thanks for the positive comments
cheers - mike
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Jul 30, 2024 19:23:33 GMT
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Hi all,
got quite a lot done today, the trims for the over cab and the passenger b post are done. I have made an underslung mount for the bluetooth amp and it now sits below the passenger rear cupboard. All the electrics are done apart from the ceiling lights and the volt meter / usb outlet for the kitchen.
Got the shower tray supports finished and got the shower drain installed and the hole cut in the floor for it to pass through.
Finished connecting up the diesel heater and ran it up, it works really well, its a 5kw unit so more than enough for a van of this size, just got the vents to put in now.
Got to go over the Grimsby tomorrow for another sheet of board as the bathroom front panel got scraped when I was trial fitting it.
Tomorrow should see the bathroom panels all finished and fitted and maybe the heater vents installed..
Thursday will be plumbing day.
Friday will be ceiling day.
Cheers - mike
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hopeso
Part of things
Posts: 348
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Jul 30, 2024 21:32:23 GMT
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You have been busy! What sort of age and mileage is on the van? Do you find the van to do up or do customers bring you a van and ask for you to convert them. We are caravan people but can see the time when we might give them up and move to a camper van or a motorhome. The lack of toilet facilities puts me off a camper van though.
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hi there,
this is a customer van.
It will have a shower cubicle and cassette toilet.
When I build one of my own vans, sourcing the right van is the hardest part. I do lots of Vauxhall Vivaros and Fiat Ducato's. A build takes 3-4 weeks but sourcing the right van can take much longer and involve travelling quite a distance, this is a significant cost which people fail to take into account.
Cheers - mike
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Jul 31, 2024 13:17:55 GMT
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HI all,
went over to grimsby for another furniture board and a few odds and sods. Currenly hiding from the heat, 34c in the garage and 32c in the van. Hopefully it will cool down later.
cheers - mike
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hopeso
Part of things
Posts: 348
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Jul 31, 2024 13:35:37 GMT
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Looking forward to seeing the shower cubicle for size and ease of use etc. During Covid the price of vans exploded but seem to have fallen back a tad but still hard to find one that hasn't been abused. The Amazon vans around here lead such a hard life, hardly a straight panel on them, lol.
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Jul 31, 2024 20:10:06 GMT
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Got a few hours in once it cooled down. The bed frame is fitted and the fridge is in position, just needs a housing making. I cut the bathroom wall to size, got the door and toilet access hole to cut tomorrow. I placed the toilet in position and there's plenty of room. Plumbing and bathroom to finish tomorrow. Cheers Mike
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Jul 31, 2024 20:11:21 GMT
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Jul 31, 2024 20:12:19 GMT
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Hi all A steady day so far, spent an hour clearing up from the rain, garage flooded again, I'm replacing the roof, doors and windows shortly, can't wait. Cut the holes for the heater outlets and connected them up. Started making the toilet service door and bathroom door. Not happy with the supplier, they haven't sent the fill door, apparently it's now an extra!
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Hi all, Has been a real struggle today, still as hot as hell and ridiculously humid. Finally finished the last bathroom panel, it's huge, 6ft 4 by 4ft. All the holes were cut using measuring and dead reckoning whilst it was on the lawn. Got to add the pocket holes tomorrow, finesse the holes, add t trim to the bathroom door hole and add the doors. The only issue I have is that the shower overlaps the roof vent which was already in the van. Once this panel is in for good I can refit and connect up the kitchen. Off for tea and a beer. Cheers Mike
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Hi all, Made an early start today. Got the trims and doors fitted to the bathroom front panel and got it fitted. Having a couple of hours off now to avoid the heat and the onto putting the plumbing in and fitting the kitchen for the final time. Cheers Mike
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