Technical
Gas & Electrical
Electrics Unless instructed otherwise, we always use Victron’s electrical components for the electrical installation. This is due to their quality, ease of use and compatibility across the complete install. Their products are designed and used extensively in the marine industry, as well as for camper vans and off grid living. Their overall functionality in our opinion is unrivalled. As this is such a crucial and quite complex part of a camper van’s operations, we consult with a highly qualified auto electrician, who has also been involved in the van conversions for over 20 years.
Gas – Whilst not as popular as is it used to be, with the developments in solar and electrical systems, gas does offer a reliable and longer lasting source of power. With an electrical system, without strong sunlight or a long drive you might have 3 days of power. With a sensible sized gas tank you could have several months. Again, all installations follow the latest guidelines and are safety certified.
Heating & Air Con
Heating – The heating source is generally used for both hot water and hot air. We are currently working on our own van and as in previous conversions, we are fitting a Bobil heating system. The hot water tank is heated from 3 different sources; the battery, the vans engines ,via its cooling system and a diesel heater, if required (when there is no sun and you’re not driving around).The diesel heater also provides thermostatically controlled heating. In our case it will just be blown air, but small water filled radiators are also an option.
Air-conditioning – On our last conversion we fitted a roof mounted Truma air-conditioning unit, which certainly in southern Europe will be bliss. It was also a real bonus whilst we were finishing the interior in the heat last summer, we didn’t want to come out. We never ran it to empty, as there wasn’t the need or the time, but the Victron electrical management system suggested that off a single charge the unit would run for over 8 hours.
Home Comforts
Toilet & Showers – A key consideration in any van conversion, as the space required is quite considerable in a small vehicle. Choosing the right setup is highly personal and depends on how often you plan to travel away from campsite facilities.
Bed/s – Whether you want fixed, fold-out or a motorized lift mechanism, we have done them all. This is again a personal preference, dependent upon how you use your van and the number of inhabitants. The most practical and popular is a fixed bed, laid horizontal across the rear of the van. This layout can be achieved most simply in a Fiat, Peugeot or Citroen as their vans are wide enough to accommodate this, whereas in a Volkswagen, Mercedes or Man, side flares are required, to provide the required head/leg room.
Seating & Upholstery – From complex fold-out seats, which convert into double beds to loose cushions we can provide them all. A particular love of ours is having a comfy sofa or seating directly opposite the side opening sliding door. This gives a fantastic uninterrupted view from the van, and with the awning out, you can still sit in the beautiful English weather (rain) and watch the world go by .....simply heaven.
