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Michael Björk

Michael Björk

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Sep 29, 2024
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Hey,
Bought this one a couple of months ago, and starting off as an old beginner here. Had a couple of VW T2 from the mid 60's some 30 years ago, and didnt do too much with, just rode them and had a good time.

Now almost 50, I felt it was time to conquer that wonderful feeling again, and bought a 1975 Panel Van, totally free from rust and in ok condition. It is totally empty and I am planning on making it in to a camper van during this coming winter.

Open for all suggestions and tips on this project! The idea is to bring wife and a 6-yo plus 3 dachshunds on smaller trips. Would be very cool to see som drawings, pictures etc to get the ideas flowing! / MickeIMG_7061.jpgIMG_7060.jpg
IMG_7058.jpg
 
Glad you’ve joined us, and with the best start ever of loads of pictures, that’s wonderful and exactly what we like. Before you go crazy making this and that, I thoroughly recommend you take little steps and see exactly what suits you and your gang. I’d also recommend visiting gatherings and shows and see what works well for others and ask for honest opinions. I’m not a big fan of cooking in the van although I can if it’s terrible weather outside. I like to have a gazebo or at least a shelter or awning to cook in and to provide a bit of a dry area before stepping into the van in a field. A full width rock and roll bed is a great start and Rusty Lee does a very popular one, then keep it as basic as possible until you’re certain what might suit you. A cab bunk will be a great idea for your young one perhaps with a flag and magnets as a curtain. The cab windows and screen are easily covered by one of a hundred different versions of all round covers, some have droopy eyes on them, mine has a pair of flip flops on.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,big welcome and get creative :)
 
totally agree with Ozzie. keep it simple to start with. if you can, now is the time to clean everything then fully sound deaden and insulate as much as possible. Once you start fitting out the interior you won't want to take everything back out to insulate!
Enjoy! this is the fun bit!
 
Thanks !

Love to read your replies, made me go straight to the garage and sort win smaller things out.
IMG_7213.jpegIMG_7214.jpegIMG_7215.jpegIMG_7216.jpegIMG_7217.jpeg
Just talked ti a friend who’s a furniture and cabinet maker. We will park it at his shop over the winter and work from there, which makes me very hopeful , I think this will be great!

I have got my hands on self adhisive insulation material and thinking of putting it on the inside of the interior panels rather than directly on the metal. Any thoughts on this?

Starting to plan for electrics as well. Will put in an extra battery as well as 240V option.
Same here, any ideas or known bumps in the road are much appreciated!
 
ozziedog said:
Glad you’ve joined us, and with the best start ever of loads of pictures, that’s wonderful and exactly what we like. Before you go crazy making this and that, I thoroughly recommend you take little steps and see exactly what suits you and your gang. I’d also recommend visiting gatherings and shows and see what works well for others and ask for honest opinions. I’m not a big fan of cooking in the van although I can if it’s terrible weather outside. I like to have a gazebo or at least a shelter or awning to cook in and to provide a bit of a dry area before stepping into the van in a field. A full width rock and roll bed is a great start and Rusty Lee does a very popular one, then keep it as basic as possible until you’re certain what might suit you. A cab bunk will be a great idea for your young one perhaps with a flag and magnets as a curtain. The cab windows and screen are easily covered by one of a hundred different versions of all round covers, some have droopy eyes on them, mine has a pair of flip flops on.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,big welcome and get creative :)
Click to expand...
Thanks!
It’s really awesome, Can lie awake at Nights just planning, this is definitively an opportunity.

My cabinet building friend will draw everything from scratch, although a RnR bed would be the easier choice, but it seems that they can’t ship outside of the UK at this moment. Anyways, customs and shipping might be stupid expensive right now.

Not a fan of cooking in the van either, will probably build a sliding cabinet for that, so I can pull it out thru the door when it’s time.
I will try and start a thread for when we start to build!
 

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