Dilemma, to sell or not to sell?

[Supertramp]

I've been in two minds about this for a few months. I used my 1969 deluxe microbus a lot and have been on a few trips away. It has the microbus bench seats so have been either kipping on those or using a tent. The more trips I go on, the more I want a full camping interior.
I decided I have two options, install a full westy interior in my microbus, including cutting in a drain pipe hole and hook up.
Sell the bus and buy a Westy pop top.

My fear about the first option is changing the originality of my bus, my fear about the second is buying an unknown van.

Talk sense to me!! :msn4:

 

[Trikky2]

IMO it depends on the bus.

If its really good and original/mint, then it would ba a pity to convert it.
If on the other hand it's none too special and the interior is a bit ropey then go ahead. If well done it will also put the value up.

 

[Supertramp]

IMO it depends on the bus.

If its really good and original/mint, then it would ba a pity to convert it.
If on the other hand it's none too special and the interior is a bit ropey then go ahead. If well done it will also put the value up.

Think you're right about it being dependent on the bus. I always thought though that turning a microbus into a camper and vice versa lowered value?
Scared of making the wrong choice!

 

[mattyd72]

Don't worry about affecting the value, its not an investment that's what shares are for.
A bus is for pleasure and it needs to work for you or you may as well get rid and buy something that does.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Myvanway]

As long as you keep the OG interior nice and safe do what you like, its so easy to chop and change imo.
Westy interior for sure though! :mrgreen:

 

[Dave.P]

As long as you keep the OG interior nice and safe do what you like, its so easy to chop and change imo.:mrgreen:

Well said.
In your case I wouldn't dream about getting rid as your bus is an absolute gem !
No harm in fitting it out to suit you, just make sure you dont sell the o.g interior or you will regret it one day.
Dave

 

[Lee C]

How about,,

Eriba familia/ pan or Rapido folding caravan, loads of space, big comfy bed, easy to tow!!
Leaves the bus free to put in the show & shine at the VW shows & when your away on your summer hols you've got transport about the place without putting every thing away & no need for an awning!!






Just to confuse matters!!!! :lol:

 

[faux]

In my opinion you don't need to cut anything to add an interior. I would plan a simple interior that suits you and store the old interior.
Are you going to cook or wash up in the bus?
I would go for a simple full width rnr and a buddy seat and leave enough room for table a cool box. When/if you come to sell the buyer has 2 options.

 

[aogrady]

In my opinion you don't need to cut anything to add an interior. I would plan a simple interior that suits you and store the old interior.
Are you going to cook or wash up in the bus?
I would go for a simple full width rnr and a buddy seat and leave enough room for table a cool box. When/if you come to sell the buyer has 2 options.

^^^ What Jon said....

You could collect bits of a westy, r n r bed, buddy seat etc. I converted the sink unit to run a compressor fridge, and up top a glass 2 burner (with 3kw wok), though i had the hole for the sink as mine is a factory westy, you dont need to do this, use a hob on top or just not fit a sink unit, have a cooler and a portable gas hob, though you could get just a spice pack table, fix to the bulkhead, use this for cooking on?

Or Z bed hinges on the stock seats, wicker storage baskets underneath and thick futon mattress on top, cooler box, sorted. No one uses a sink, i never did, just use a washing up bowl - if your wild camping - or the sites own facilitys if your not.

Maybe get a purpose sink hob cooler combo and just use that with some Z hinges?

These are nice units:

http://www.uberbus.co.uk/conversion-essentials/kitchen-camping-pods" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And pictures - we need pictures!

Alistair

 

[trebor]

I wish I could find a nice example like this, if there's no rust I'd keep it.

 

[Supertramp]

Thanks for all the replies. Plenty of food for thought.
I'll definitely need power in the bus, I doubt I'd do much cooking in the bus because of the smell, but a sink would be very handy. I still love the westy style interior so I was thinking that I'd source the full interior, swap the cooler unit to a proper fridge like Alistair has done (Been through your build thread about 5 times) and install things like propex/power under the RnR bed.
This has been converted from microbus to westy, so something similar:

As mine is a non walkthrough model I've got that extra space next to the bulkhead between the sink unit and the buddy seat so I could use that to store the gas tank and a waste tank from the sink instead of cutting a waste pipe.
Needless to say I'll be borrowing inspiration from a number of members of this forum!

 

[dodge6x6]

Hiya we have a 1970 microbus with Z bed hinges on original rear seat we then use a blow up airbed on top,
We like the fact its full width.
Didnt want to go down full camping interior as we wont cook in it apart from boil a kettle
We dont have second row of seats but have recently got some folding landrover buddy seats to fit behind front seats for when stopped still to rebuild these yet, for storage we have metal boxes that we take out when not needed,
If your bus is good and ur happy with it apart from interior idd keep the bus and alter the interior to what u want, you could do full width storage behind front seats and still have pleanty off space for whatever seat/bed combo u want

 

[Lee C]

I'm fitting a Berlin interior to my "once upon a time " microbus!

 

[aogrady]

Thanks for all the replies. Plenty of food for thought.
I'll definitely need power in the bus, I doubt I'd do much cooking in the bus because of the smell, but a sink would be very handy. I still love the westy style interior so I was thinking that I'd source the full interior, swap the cooler unit to a proper fridge like Alistair has done (Been through your build thread about 5 times) and install things like propex/power under the RnR bed.
This has been converted from microbus to westy, so something similar:

As mine is a non walkthrough model I've got that extra space next to the bulkhead between the sink unit and the buddy seat so I could use that to store the gas tank and a waste tank from the sink instead of cutting a waste pipe.
Needless to say I'll be borrowing inspiration from a number of members of this forum!

Hi,

How about, (seeing that you have a full bulkhead) using one of the pods like i linked above, but with cooking, sink, fridge, everything self contained, and have it mounted on a pull out rail system, similar to this:

http://www.syncro-system.co.uk/ACCESSORIES.contentpage.aspx?d=t2LvxHveiJIJR4Q5IghDrjQiguxKltbIu0oZ1l1MqNE%3D" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You could then pull the whole lot outside for cooking. You may be able to use some rails from a kitchen, but doubt they would be strong enough, maybe have drop down legs to support it when pulled out.

I have some really nice hinges, which I intend to fit (one day) to my sink unit, to enable it to be swung outside for cooking - like the Devon one (i think)

As for the electric, you going split charge and leisure battery? What do you intend running that you need a hook up? Most thingsm TV, laprtop, phone chargers etc can all run on 12v, a inverter could be used for other low power 240v, they do suck the juice from batterys though.

Your's is a tin top? Could you run a westy style roof rack, with a solar panel to power stuff, you can go off grid then?

I would have thought a nicely kitted out camping interior would improve the value, but if it bothers you, just keep all the old bits? It's only a issue if you were gonna sell it.

Cheers!

Alistair

(Don't think i have read my thread 5 times?! :lol: )

 

[trebor]

If it was a walkthrough type I'd say sell it :!:



Then I could buy it

 

[Supertramp]

Hi,

How about, (seeing that you have a full bulkhead) using one of the pods like i linked above, but with cooking, sink, fridge, everything self contained, and have it mounted on a pull out rail system, similar to this:

http://www.syncro-system.co.uk/ACCESSORIES.contentpage.aspx?d=t2LvxHveiJIJR4Q5IghDrjQiguxKltbIu0oZ1l1MqNE%3D" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You could then pull the whole lot outside for cooking. You may be able to use some rails from a kitchen, but doubt they would be strong enough, maybe have drop down legs to support it when pulled out.

I have some really nice hinges, which I intend to fit (one day) to my sink unit, to enable it to be swung outside for cooking - like the Devon one (i think)

As for the electric, you going split charge and leisure battery? What do you intend running that you need a hook up? Most thingsm TV, laprtop, phone chargers etc can all run on 12v, a inverter could be used for other low power 240v, they do suck the juice from batterys though.

Your's is a tin top? Could you run a westy style roof rack, with a solar panel to power stuff, you can go off grid then?

I would have thought a nicely kitted out camping interior would improve the value, but if it bothers you, just keep all the old bits? It's only a issue if you were gonna sell it.

Cheers!

Alistair

(Don't think i have read my thread 5 times?! :lol: )

Thanks for the reply. I wanted to keep the classic look of a camper so I think the westy interior is the best way to go. The task now is finding one in reasonable condition for a reasonable price!
As for the electrics I'm not sure yet, I think split charge/leisure battery is probably the best way but would need to do some research first.

Also would putting a jalousie window in be a crime?

 

[RichardAlexander]

Once I have restored the out side my big plan is to lose the west and install one of these
http://www.vanwurks.co.uk/classic-interior-for-volkswagen-t2-bay-window-from-1-950.00.html#.UofOvWtYCK0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[aogrady]

Thanks for the reply. I wanted to keep the classic look of a camper so I think the westy interior is the best way to go. The task now is finding one in reasonable condition for a reasonable price!
As for the electrics I'm not sure yet, I think split charge/leisure battery is probably the best way but would need to do some research first.

Also would putting a jalousie window in be a crime?

Maybe with a westy interior, you'll probably need to find piece by piece, probably cheaper, you could use formica to retrim the entire unit/s in a more modern pattern or colour, save you spending 2 grand on a mdf interior, doubt that would last 40 years?

It would cost say a few hundred quid for the new laminate, the old stuff will come off with a heat gun and scraper apparently. Would be a very satisfying job, you can do it a bit at a time then refit the lot when you are ready. I used a Waeco CR50 compressor fridge in place of the westy cooler.

Rich (robins on here) re-laminated all his westy wood, have a look at his thread.

Cheers

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Once I have restored the out side my big plan is to lose the west and install one of these
http://www.vanwurks.co.uk/classic-interior-for-volkswagen-t2-bay-window-from-1-950.00.html#.UofOvWtYCK0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice, but not too sure on the MDF version. as i mentioned about, by a westy one cheap with chipped laminated, missing trim - re laminate your self, probably save £1500+ to spend on other nice things!

Alistair