The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

tezla7

Member

Registered: 2016-01-27

Posts: 15

Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Hi all,

Hope you're all well.  Great to eventually find such a forum.  Met a mate and noticed he'd completely converted a Peugeot Expert into a wicked little camper and said he gets 38mpg.  Then noticed another mate had one for work.  Funny how these vehicles are completely invisible until you actually start paying attention to them.  Then they're everywhere!  Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week.  Thought it was too good to be true (2004 [old version trim], 80,000 miles, clean, ex-bread delivery vehicle, good bodywork, 2.0 HDi, fresh MOT- £1500) so I expected to have to shell out for something.  Last owner had reset service light.  Took in for service- sure enough, not been serviced in years, filthiest oil filter he'd ever seen, new cambelt, new water pump, speaker blown left side, rear doors pop open every trip, heater doesn't work, engine light on accelerator/throttle.  Got cigarette lighter fixed.  Mechanic says heater is a problem with the controller- so told me to get a new one second hand.  In the meantime they wacked up the level, so it's either hot or hot!  Which is good because before it was just cold.  Maybe this will help others, mines a controller problem- needs new dashboard controller, meanwhile maybe you can get the level wacked up for the winter.

So yeah, hungry to transform it into a camper but also want to keep the space flexible for work, loading, moving stuff etc.  Mate got one of these beds installed and it's wicked http://rocknrollbeds.com/ he paid less but prices have gone up a little £295 for bed with belts and boards.  We travelled up to Scotland and back I was on back seat, no complaints, great bed setup.  But for me it's gunna be too heavy and bulky to take in and out all the time (45kg).  And after expensive service I'm going easy on the cash for a while.  He's got details on his conversion so will try and upload when I've got those.  He put in Peugeot 806 front swivel seats, trying to find those because that's a great idea, seem to be hard to find online.

Keen to hear about insulation advice and ideas.  Thinking about double sided bubble foil next to metal skin with sheeps wool then vapour barrier/not vapour barrier.  Also, installed a new stereo, but, every time I switch off engine it loses power and resets the whole thing, anyone else have an issue there?  Would like to connect up to remotes on steering wheel but not essential.  Radio is Pure H270SB so need to find and fit a replacement DAB aerial.  Will probably sort out when put in electrics and extra battery.

Locks are another issue.  Central locking works on passenger side but not on driver side and central locking fob won't work, despite putting in fresh battery.  Friend says he only uses remote fob central locking.  Good idea to save the barrels from wear, except how do I get a new fob that works with current key without going to dealer and paying hundreds?  Also, friend's Expert was robbed- cost him £4K in high end DJ gear.  I know these locks aren't great, and there's some really really sharp thieves out there so it's obvious they know too, so any help with that much appreciated.  Heard you can swap out standard barrels for ones that can't be popped out in 5 seconds.  And affordable or recommended central locking kits much welcomed.  I plan to travel deep into Europe, Balkans, etc, but I do carry expensive equipment so I do need to amp up security as much and as subtle as possible.  Adding big bulky locks to the outside is gunna wack up insurance and draw attention, might be necessary evil though.  Maybe interior safe bolted down?...
Thanks for reading and I hope I can contribute,

Will, Holmfirth
http://tezla7.tumblr.com

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Welcome Will!

Excuse my v quick reply ..

Also, installed a new stereo, but, every time I switch off engine it loses power and resets the whole thing, anyone else have an issue there?  Would like to connect up to remotes on steering wheel but not essential.  Radio is Pure H270SB so need to find and fit a replacement DAB aerial.  Will probably sort out when put in electrics and extra battery.

In their wisdom, Citroen have swapped connectors 4 and 7 on the black ISO power connector. You can swap these back yourself at the connector, or further up the line if that's easier.

One of these will not only fix the issue, but will also hook up your steering controls :-) .. There's more on this here

Welcome again - hope you find plenty more help here.

Tiree

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2006 Citroen Dispatch 2.0HDi bought in July 2013 - Partial camper conversion ........

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,180

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Hi mate and welcome. I changed my stereo and never bothered with the blocks, just used a multi meter to find continuis live (stereo memory) and ignition live so it goes of with the key. My heater control is buggered also and it seems a common problem but i am lucky and can pop a screwdriver in to change the heat setting. Been to the bloody scrap yard many a time but forget to pick one up. Here is another bed option. This link is expensive, look about as there is others around 350 quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Campervan-Fre … 2235595866

BTW. Your mate that is getting 38mpg. He must have heavy boots as i get an average 38 from my 1.9 non turbo with 180k on the clock.

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,180

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Here Will. Just buy a rock n roll frame. Single from £100

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= … bed&_sop=2

Sheet of 12mm ply from B&Q is about £30 and a futon mattress can be had new for £60 (double)

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,180

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Could not sleep last night and the brain started to ponder over what i am going to do with my van. I think using B&Q prices i can make something like this for around £80, with under bench storage.

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=2444338

main difference will be as i need a double bed my frame will be 3,6" wide to fit between the covered arches and the bed with overhang will be 6'2" long and 4' wide. Think to clear the arch and make a comfortable seat it should be around 16" tall.

goody33

Member

Registered: 2015-12-24

Posts: 63

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Hi Will and welcome.

I had the exact same rock and roll bed in one of my old VW's. They are a good bit of kit as long as they are a permanent fixture.
Hope you sort the issues out. You will have to post details of the conversion you are attempting, as its always nice to see other peoples take on a camper interior.

Cheers,

Phil.

tezla7

Member

Registered: 2016-01-27

Posts: 15

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Hi everybody,

Thanks for the welcome, info and links, great stuff.  Got the rear cab down to the metal and it looks ok, so pleased about that and looks like I've finished this round of mechanical repairs (service, new cam belt, fan belt, water pump, rear door catches adjusted, replaced third party throttle actuator with proper peugeot one) hopefully- which in the end it has brought the cost up to what was expected.  Bought kingspan type insulation for floor, roof and side panels, wondering about vapour barrier.  Friend said to use partially permeable membrane rather than plastic, but not sure where to source that from, maybe he meant the roofing stuff.  Do I stick the kingspan straight to the metal skin?  Wow the whole "how to insulated you van" is a simple question with enough answers to completely bake your noggin.  Wondering where to get front swivel seats from in Yorkshire.  I also put a couple of things together today and it dawned on me that if someone wanted to break in, upgraded locks or not, all they'd need to do is break the front/passenger window and they can clear out the entire van.  So I'm thinking about a steel/aluminium tool chest somehow anchored to the bodyframe.  Also about those metal roof boxes to put on the roof rack, which would give me extra room inside.  Anyone use those?  Steel are cheaper, but weight a ton.  I'm also conscious of increasing the height of the vehicle, if I make it might higher with boxes, I'm gunna get nobbled for higher charges through Eurostar and ferries I think.
Cheers,

Will

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,180

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

You got a single front passenger seat? If not buy one out the scrap yard. You can get a universal swivel base that fits between your seat and seat base for £60 a side. Why bother if you are buying a steel bulkhead. My van came with a bulkhead and i took it out due to the drivers seat could not go far enough back for me (6' 2") they cost about £300 new but i think you are being a tad paranoid just make sure your flashing light in the dash works when locked and get alarm stickers for windows and doors. That should keep the neds away.
I was going to get a roof box but you do pay more on ferry for height so i was thinking ill take it off before i get on the boat. Doing this would mean emptying th dam thing to get to the fixing bolts so binned that idea and got a Roof Bag. This is about the same size as a large roof box and just clops on place. You could put padlocks if you want. This is just like clipping a dog collar x4 so easy on and off when fill. It will hold two very large holdalls and i intend on keeping them in rubble sacks in the roof bag just in case the rain is torrential and seeps through.

tezla7

Member

Registered: 2016-01-27

Posts: 15

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Roof Bag, sounds like a great idea.  I'd love to keep my roof rack, and I like going on the roof every now and again, but in all fairness, I haven't used it once for carrying anything since I bought the vehicle, it's big, it's heavy, increases height and obviously massively adds to drag, reducing the mpg.  Something easy on, easy off sounds like the best of both worlds.

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,180

Re: Hi! Bought a Peugeot Expert 2004 2.0 HDi last week

Look on ebay mate as you can pick large ones up for around £30 delivered.