Vanette would like to be a camper

[Des]

I'm having to do a vehicle clearout and I really don't know what to do with this. It's sat for over a year after I used it to move a load of Austin spares that I didn't have anywhere to store, so it's done a good spell of shed duty until last Saturday when I emptied it and gave it a clean. I've had it for 5 or 6 years, and it was a useful thing, has a tail lift which was handy for the odd time I needed to move heavy tat. In the last year I've spent about the same amount on hiring vans as it would cost to tax and insure it, so would make sense to now put it back on the road, only it's then another seldom used vehicle needing space that I don't have.

I did have an idea, my brothers missus desperately wants a campervan, there used to be a few rotted out Vanette campers kicking about, (leaky windows and fridge / cooker condensation would create something that could hand any Lancia its arse on a plate in the ferrous race). But it seems they've all gone, unless anyone knows of one, would make a nice prezzie for the bruvs clan, they can do the donkey work, (under my direction) and it's only done 20K and not even rusty yet so I won't get any hassle to fix it.

 

This is the state I left it in.

 

 

And now cleaned inside and out, but still has that unmistakeable Austin stank.

 

 

Now just to put its wipers and mirrors back and MOT the bugger.

[Cavcraft]

Can't you do it the council estate way and just buy an old caravan, rob it of it's interior then find someone to put side windows in?

[Danblez]

I think Cavettes idea may be easier to pull off. There are very few about now and even the rusty campers with proper interior go for a fair few hundred quid.

 

It can't be much to stick a few windows in and then a sink/hob unit, fridge bit of 2 x 2 Nd ply and bobs your uncle. I fitted mine out for not much although I did already have the sink unit. Having said that just remembered the foam was pretty expensive so another reason to buy a cheap caravan.

 

That looks really tidy, even the back bumped looks mintola. Mine had been waxoyled from new but the seat bases had still gone when I got it and underneath below the headlights. Is it petrol or derv? Our was a reliable old thing but it didn't really like going up hills.

[Micrashed]

+1 on the caravan idea. If you Google around there are a couple of build threads on the web where people did just that. Realy old caravans can be had for diddly squat owing to the fact that they have bog all scrap value.

 

The issue with the Vanette is going to be the length for the beds as its not wide enough to sleep side to side you have to sleep front to rear. This seriously limits the space for stuff like cooker, sink and bucket to piss in.

 

Not wide enough for side by side sleeping.

 

How do I know this? Simple because I spent a week in the back of a Vanette on an air bed with Bob the Builder whilst we worked on a house in Stormaway (or whatever the fuck its called in the arse end of Scotlandshire).

[Danblez]

How do I know this? Simple because I spent a week in the back of a Vanette on an air bed with Bob the Builder whilst we worked on a house in Stormaway (or whatever the fuck its called in the arse end of Scotlandshire).

 

Haha! I bet that was cosy!

 

This was our layout

 

 

 

It was surprisingly comfortable!

[Keymaster]

It was surprisingly comfortable!

 

It still is Dan!

 

The thing with a van of this size is its really only good for the odd weekend away, but saying that I recently did 4 nights on the trot in it at silverstone in pretty grim weather. It was the only camper that got out of the campsite we were in under its own steam.

[Micrashed]

How do I know this? Simple because I spent a week in the back of a Vanette on an air bed with Bob the Builder whilst we worked on a house in Stormaway (or whatever the fuck its called in the arse end of Scotlandshire).

 

Haha! I bet that was cosy!

 

 

It was. Not.

To be fair we were working from sun up to when the light got too bad to see by then we went for a pie and a pint then we sport of fell into a coma disturbed only by the occasional bog jog. Couple of air beds, couple of sleeping bags and a gas stove and to be honest it wasnt a bad week really. Helped a mate, learned how to build a roof, earned a few quid, met some interesting people and had some truly excellent black pudding.

[Danblez]

It was surprisingly comfortable!

 

It still is Dan!

 

The thing with a van of this size is its really only good for the odd weekend away, but saying that I recently did 4 nights on the trot in it at silverstone in pretty grim weather. It was the only camper that got out of the campsite we were in under its own steam.

 

Glad to hear it, I have been meaning to drop you a line as I found a spare fog light and some gutter trim if you want it!

 

I know what you mean about the odd wekened away Chris but we spent nearly 6 weeks in it on the continent over two trips without any bother. We did come to the conclusion it is a fair weather camper as it wasn't big enough to sit around in all day if it was lashing it down. But I suppose if you have an awning now that would help

[Keymaster]

Glad to hear it, I have been meaning to drop you a line as I found a spare fog light and some gutter trim if you want it!

 

I know what you mean about the odd wekened away Chris but we spent nearly 6 weeks in it on the continent over two trips without any bother. We did come to the conclusion it is a fair weather camper as it wasn't big enough to sit around in all day if it was lashing it down. But I suppose if you have an awning now that would help

 

Sounds good, I'll txt you at the weekend & run up in the mr2

 

Yeah the awning is a PITA to put up & pack away but it makes a massive difference if you are staying somewhere for more than 1 night. The best investment was the leisure battery though. Light, heat & radio all night long with no fear of running out of electricity.

[Des]

That is just right, bright, clean and uncluttered.

 

I didn't consider using an old caravan as the main bits wanted would be the pop up roof and windows, but now I'm thinking I only need the windows, keep it minimal with a compact unit for a sink and cooker and lengthwise bench / bed as above, could even make the interior easily removeable for van duties. The window panels in the van are separate pressings held in with pop rivets and sploodge, perhaps glass may be available. My brother, his missus and sprog are regularly going off to Cornwall, Wales, somewhere North Westish, all that kind of thing in a Daewoo Matiz I sourced for them as a runabout, didn't expect the thing to last 6 Months, Year and a half and counting but it's pretty insane gunning it up and down motorways laden down with a roofrack, 1500cc of Nissan overhead valve power will be far more appropriate.