Campervans come in different forms. Some are full to the brim with furniture, equipment, tools and everything else you may need for a life on the road. Others are blindingly simple, with next to nothing inside. Some look homemade, like a cosy burrow or hobbit hole. Others stand on the cutting edge, utilising composite materials and insulation developed by NASA. Whatever campervan you dream of owning, this book will give you the practical knowledge and inspiration to make it a reality. It also tells the stories of people who have gone through the whole process and makes you aware of the do’s and don’ts along the way. You’ll find, as author Calum Creasey, owner of conversion company Onwards Adventure Vehicles, puts it: ‘There are few things that, when built by your own hands, hold the power to alter your life as much as a campervan.’
ONE - INTRODUCTION
Always be learning 26 - 29
Where are you on the spectrum of builder? 30 - 33
Where are you in the campervan design process? 34 - 37
Hierarchy of needs 42 - 59
Who? 44 - 53
Where? 54 - 57
When? 58 - 59
How you spend your time 60 - 81
Sleep 60 - 65
Rest 66 - 67
Eat 68 - 71
Wash 72 - 75
Play 76 - 81
Selfbuild case study 01 - Sam & Meg 82 - 87
Two - PREPaRATION
Budget 92 - 95
Example budgets 95
Project planning 96 - 97
Vehicle weight 98 - 103
Safety 98
Licensing 99
Determining your finished campervan weight 100 - 102
Materials 104 - 109
Toolset and mindset 110 - 113
Essential campervan tools 114 - 127
Consumables 128 - 131
Workspace 132 - 137
Selfbuild case study 02 - Andrew & Emma 138 - 143
Three - THE BUILD PROCESS
Vehicle preparation 147 - 148
First fix 149 - 173
Installing windows and vents 156 - 167
Ventilation, lining and insulation 168 - 173
Habitation systems 174 - 203
Electrical power 178 - 193
Batteries and chargers 194 - 197
Solar energy 198 - 199
LPG gas 200 - 201
Diesel 202 - 203
Selfbuild case study 03 - Tom 204 - 207
Water and plumbing 208 - 219
Tanks 210 - 211
Submersible pump system 212 - 213
Pressure-activated pump system 214 - 216
Pipework and connections 216 - 218
Filling and filtration 218 - 219
Cleaning and maintenance 219
Furniture 220 - 241
Weight 224
Fit 226 - 227
Materials 228 - 231
Carpentry and joinery 232 - 237
Hardware 237 - 238
Finishing 238 - 241
Final touches and trial runs 242 - 245
Selfbuild case study 04 - ‘Körmi’ Kerstin Bürk 246 - 251
Height:223
Width:170
Spine:22
Weight:714.00