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#1 2019-04-25 13:23:21

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Hi guys and girls

Thought I would finally start a thread about my camper build should probably done it rather sooner so I could get advice along the way rather than waiting till its all DVLA approved and starting then.

So I bought Muffin almost exactly a year ago as a "non-runner" with 11 month MOT from central wales, much to the shock of the owner I intended to drive her home to Devon despite he said it would be luckily to get to the garage down the road.

She did (and sometimes still does) have an issue with the 5V line on the engine management, at the time this meant that no 5V powered sensors were being read by the ECU this inc things like the TPS so you can understand the owner being sceptical I could drive it home. However basic sensors and the MAP etc were being read fine.

She actually drove home pretty well as long as you didn't use the throttle peddle in anger, I think when it used to cough and splutter the previous owner used to try accelerating, where as if you lift off slightly to allow the injection to catch up with the extra air coming in it picks up.

I got her home and all seamed to go well after just cleaning all the sensor contacts with switch cleaner and replacing any rotting loom cover with fresh (although very occasionally the error comes back)

She has the "hot" engine so is pretty quick.

I bought her specifically because she was the smallest van I could convert to a 2 berth camper without messing with the front seats or having slide out cookers that are only any use in dry weather.

I started by fitting some side windows, initially one of these was going to be a window from a taxi but then I found out the rear panels are shaped specially on the Taxis and the windows dont fit so instead I have 3 surface mount door windows, the rea quarter one is turned upside down so the slope matches the one on the door.

47642482182_c8f223fd5d_c.jpg20181007_103730 by phataardvark, on Flickr

40729207613_0c4c831e20_c.jpg20181007_105014 by phataardvark, on Flickr

32752376837_9325d75b94_c.jpg20181007_111443 by phataardvark, on Flickr

47642481962_aa9605e0b3_c.jpg20181007_183529 by phataardvark, on Flickr

32752376547_35b638d0d3_c.jpg20181011_185103 by phataardvark, on Flickr

33818143168_756d3527bb_c.jpg20181018_184548 by phataardvark, on Flickr

47642481692_bd06852f8f_c.jpg20181018_190131 by phataardvark, on Flickr

40729206903_d766215096_c.jpg20181018_190142 by phataardvark, on Flickr

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#2 2019-04-25 13:37:31

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Next work was putting through all the electrics for everything I wanted so it was all behind any carpet or panelling this far as I was concerned was best fitted at the same time as the insulation, in this case I have been using two layers of sticky back bubble foil.

32752374957_9b69c68695_c.jpg20181111_084815 by phataardvark, on Flickr

32752375797_cfff74b5b7_c.jpg20181023_190136 by phataardvark, on Flickr

33818142218_d7be704bc0_c.jpg20181027_115916 by phataardvark, on Flickr

47642481552_989a26e5f5_c.jpg20181027_131439 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Moved the interior light to other side as it will get obscured by kitchen unit.

32752374157_573ec8aa86_c.jpg20181027_134618 by phataardvark, on Flickr
The leisure battery doesn't quite fit on the extra shelf at the back it needed the inside of the door runner massaging a bit with a ball peen hammer. A 1500W peak output inverter is fitted to power my single mains socket.

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#3 2019-04-25 14:00:34

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Next to come was the furniture, I had already bought a fridge and knew my basic layout copying other campers.

I was originally going to buy from a supplier then modify to fit but a local supplier who was making it for me went under and so I decided to scratch build the entire thing myself, using white melamine covered chipboard (15mm) and using a heavy duty titanium finish wrap, I also used 15mm T moulding in blue too match the van.

47642482572_faa82c2e7a_c.jpg20180819_115558 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Cut the first two bits to length then using a pen spaced out from the side of the van marked out the worktop piece

32752377627_5fa04d21a4_c.jpg20180821_192356 by phataardvark, on Flickr
This shows the corner trim in place and the "sink" fitted (sink is a stainless salad bowl off ebay cost about £5 and with a camper drain fitted which cost £6, the small cutout on front edge of worktop is for the fridge safety catch, this will later get bigger so fingers can reach round and T trim can go behind.

40729207933_6008acacd9_c.jpg20180822_200128 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Upper part fitted to make high cupboard and fitted rear panel.

47642482372_9d7c78fa07_c.jpg20180924_213844 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Rear panel with twin tambour doors edge trim and wrap fitted.

32752377277_fabfc2f988_c.jpg20180926_201247 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Rest of unit covered and other two tambour doors fitted, I accidentally ordered a black one for the upper cupboard I might get round to changing that at some point. You notice I have hard mounted a basic single burner camping stove as my cooking facilities, as long as it fries bacon it should be good for what I need.

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#4 2019-04-25 18:23:50

OAT
Member
From: Borders/Dales
Registered: 2017-01-03
Posts: 903

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Nice work k.
Wondering how you vented the fridge through the side door?

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#5 2019-04-25 20:30:36

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

DVLA must have liked you as they did state a minimum of two gas rings im sure. Anyway top job and did you take that breather plug off the side of the leisure battery?

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#6 2019-04-25 22:16:47

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Casper wrote:

DVLA must have liked you as they did state a minimum of two gas rings im sure. Anyway top job and did you take that breather plug off the side of the leisure battery?

See guidance on this very site, although the DVLA page saying what your camper should have is twin burner or microwave the actual law says it only needs a single burner. smile

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#7 2019-04-25 22:19:13

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

OAT wrote:

Nice work k.
Wondering how you vented the fridge through the side door?

Good question I haven't yet, it is only a 12 volt only fridge not a electric/gas version of the Waco fridge so no issue with fumes but heat might be an issue, may need a vent fitting.

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#8 2019-04-26 10:04:38

vaz2121
Member
From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland
Registered: 2015-08-31
Posts: 1,311

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Very nice indeed vans come along nicely ..............
Your talents are showing through on this build  and your showing what I'm sure I don't have for the detail........... patience

I'm especially liking the style of the side glass and van colour helps other than the white ........... (Sorry all white van owners...........It would still look good.............. There's nothing wrong with white I just like the Blue) ..........




P.S. Can I ask where you found the side graphics as mine are starting to show their age and I'm looking for inspiration...............
I haven't seen anything yet that takes my fancy over the sort of pinstriping  Ive got..........
I know I don't want those fancy swirly RV type Graphics ........

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#9 2019-04-26 13:20:36

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

vaz2121 wrote:

P.S. Can I ask where you found the side graphics as mine are starting to show their age and I'm looking for inspiration...............
I haven't seen anything yet that takes my fancy over the sort of pinstriping  Ive got..........
I know I don't want those fancy swirly RV type Graphics ........

I got them from ebay last year but the company that sold them are no longer doing them, but if you hunt through enough on phrase "Camper Van Decal" you will probably find another company doing them, dont go too cheap though as quality of the vinyl really effects how good they look, these were good but did have a muffin decal on the back which was utter crap.

Yes I liked the blue too, I would have accepted a white camper but was well chuffed to find a metallic blue one so cheap, and it had to be post 2004 so I can drive to London in it without paying through the nose.

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#10 2019-04-26 18:52:50

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Vaz try looking through this seller. I have used him before and you can get a lot of Graphics for little money

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAN-GRAPHICS … aiIED3RRkQ

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#11 2019-04-26 22:05:40

OAT
Member
From: Borders/Dales
Registered: 2017-01-03
Posts: 903

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

k_wyndham_t wrote:
OAT wrote:

Nice work k.
Wondering how you vented the fridge through the side door?

Good question I haven't yet, it is only a 12 volt only fridge not a electric/gas version

Simplifies things then at least no fumes to worry about. 

I thought it was a Dometic/Electrolux 2/3 way.  Probably as you say, any heat taken away can only help the cooling though.  Mind you, on a hot day when it matters most, you are likely to have plenty of doors or windows open and there will be little difference between inside and outside temps anyway.

So it's a compressor type then, going for solar on the roof rack?

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#12 2019-04-29 10:18:55

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

OAT wrote:
k_wyndham_t wrote:
OAT wrote:

Nice work k.
Wondering how you vented the fridge through the side door?

Good question I haven't yet, it is only a 12 volt only fridge not a electric/gas version

Simplifies things then at least no fumes to worry about. 

I thought it was a Dometic/Electrolux 2/3 way.  Probably as you say, any heat taken away can only help the cooling though.  Mind you, on a hot day when it matters most, you are likely to have plenty of doors or windows open and there will be little difference between inside and outside temps anyway.

So it's a compressor type then, going for solar on the roof rack?

Yes its a 12v only compressor WACO fridge, cam out of a T4 Devon conversion I think.

Yes I have 2 x 100W Solar panels on the roof rack they are super efficient as well, they actually charge the battery over night from the street light, was thinking of putting in split charge too but they work so well I havnt bothered.   cool

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#13 2019-04-29 18:18:03

Thepoolman
Member
Registered: 2019-01-05
Posts: 70

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Looking good, I might swing by sometime when I'm heading out of Cornwall, grab a cuppa

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#14 2019-04-29 19:35:18

vaz2121
Member
From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland
Registered: 2015-08-31
Posts: 1,311

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

k_wyndham_t wrote:

Yes I have 2 x 100W Solar panels on the roof rack they are super efficient as well, they actually charge the battery over night from the street light, was thinking of putting in split charge too but they work so well I havnt bothered.   cool

The whole build of vans interest me but you've really intrigued me with these Solar panels................ anymore info about them ?

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#15 2019-04-30 08:10:33

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

vaz2121 wrote:
k_wyndham_t wrote:

Yes I have 2 x 100W Solar panels on the roof rack they are super efficient as well, they actually charge the battery over night from the street light, was thinking of putting in split charge too but they work so well I havnt bothered.   cool

The whole build of vans interest me but you've really intrigued me with these Solar panels................ anymore info about them ?

They are pretty much standard monocrystaline solar panels, the only real difference these were specifically designed for Automotive use so only kick out about 18V so can be used with a "cheap" solar converter not a full spec one. They cost slightly moor than just buying one off a house but they tend to kick out about 34-40V and need a controller costing £100+ to work with leisure batteries, where as my panels were an extra £10 each but can be used with a controller that cost £6 on Wish.com

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#16 2019-04-30 08:27:25

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

So next part o the build is the Rock and Roll Bed

I started off by buying a cheap 2nd hand one but did not realise before going to see it was a full width one where as I needed a 3/4, however having travelled over an hour to see and it was only £200 inc cushions at I bought it anyway as I could just narrow it myself to fit.

47695595111_46925663bc_c.jpg20180818_113022 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Main bed frame ready for narrowing.

32752374197_4afff453e4_c.jpg20180818_113831 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Chopped

47695595161_36a42f3f5d_c.jpg20180818_115404 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Ready to weld

46779513325_45287fbb2a_c.jpg20180818_150929 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Welded and painted

47695595781_d82db5a7ae_c.jpg20180815_194508 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Lower frame done

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#17 2019-05-03 15:53:45

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Cushions, initially I shortened the existing ones and stapled over the trimmed down ends. Then later I got some fabric which was a close match to the front seats and borrowed the use of my mothers overlocker and sowed up some new covers.

32752378367_789e03d52d_c.jpg20180816_210928 by phataardvark, on Flickr
First cushion is fixed so was fitted first and others trimmed to match that mount on the upper Rock&Roll frame.

47695594651_059c85ea0f_c.jpg20180818_170308 by phataardvark, on Flickr
The other cushions all shortened and ready to go on the frame.

47695595861_4596ae6c89_c.jpg20190209_155543 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Retrimmed in blue and fitted.

40728025923_ac0795929d_c.jpgIMG_20190410_130032[1] by phataardvark, on Flickr

47641357292_f98d94b112_c.jpgIMG_20190410_145757[1] by phataardvark, on Flickr
A laid flat as bed (well flattish)

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#18 2019-05-03 15:59:12

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Removable table.

I had an old butchers block that was about the right size for a table and decided would be good for food prep as well as a table, so bought a rail kit and a folding leg from ebay.

47642480872_c14fdd7346_c.jpg20181124_090627 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Marked up where fittings go.

47695597021_c9a7e8ca11_c.jpg20181124_132107 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Routed the butchers block to 15mm where the fittings go as they were designed to be mounted to a 15mm table top and I wanted it to align with worktop.

47695596631_3bf30062c2_c.jpg20181124_133140 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Leg and hooks fitted

32752379387_a778fc5d22_c.jpg20181129_191153 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Rail fitted and table adjusted to be level.

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#19 2019-05-03 16:17:23

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Solar Panels

So my solar kit consists of two 100W "12V" Monocrystaline panels (they are more like 18V but they are for a 12V system) I used these rather than the typical 40V units as the controller for the 40V units costs as much as the panels again but the lower voltage panels only need a basic cheap controller costing a few quid.

47642481822_566037a473_c.jpg20181017_205459 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Made up so S shaped alloy brackets and mounted the panels across the van under the roof rack so rack can still be used with care.

32752376187_2f805c1a7d_c.jpg20181017_205508 by phataardvark, on Flickr

40729206613_893a68b42a_c.jpg20181027_152939 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Cables come through the roof through sealed cable bungs into the cupboard and then out the back panel and in to this natty little £6 solar controller.

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#20 2019-05-03 16:29:52

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Being a Van it had quite a few scrapes and it seamed easiest to cover these rather than try and respray metallic blue paint. So got some camper graphics off ebay and worked out a posistion that looked god and covered the most scratches on each side.

33818141478_191127fbf9_c.jpg20181109_124635 by phataardvark, on Flickr
Left one had to cover the corner of the window but decided was going to look best if the sticker was stuck to glass as well so used scalpel to cut the sticker before laying the rest down again using the scalpel to remove any sticker off the door runner and cut along the door edges.

33818141138_371f2b4896_c.jpg20181111_091851 by phataardvark, on Flickr

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#21 2019-05-04 11:14:33

vaz2121
Member
From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland
Registered: 2015-08-31
Posts: 1,311

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

Really liking the proccess of the build.... Solar panels interest me but I'm short on roof space with my top box for those extras You don't want or have no space for inside.........
Great idea mounting the panels so you can still use rack. ...........
I'm also liking your Butchers block table..... I'ts some thing we don't have inside....is a table......

Is it now registered as a motorhome.... motor caravan or whatever terminology it is

Last but not least ............ The multispoke Alfa Alloys suit the van as a change  from the norm...........
(Is there center cap stickies available just to cover the Alfa badge not that It's a great worry)

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#22 2019-05-07 13:25:49

Thepoolman
Member
Registered: 2019-01-05
Posts: 70

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

looking great, i 20190210_133021_resized.jpegmade mine very basic, but works great for me

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#23 2019-05-07 14:50:53

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

vaz2121 wrote:

Really liking the proccess of the build.... Solar panels interest me but I'm short on roof space with my top box for those extras You don't want or have no space for inside.........
Great idea mounting the panels so you can still use rack. ...........
I'm also liking your Butchers block table..... I'ts some thing we don't have inside....is a table......

Is it now registered as a motorhome.... motor caravan or whatever terminology it is

Last but not least ............ The multispoke Alfa Alloys suit the van as a change  from the norm...........
(Is there center cap stickies available just to cover the Alfa badge not that It's a great worry)

Yes its all registered as a camper, I think I was taking the piss a bit with my fixed cooking equipment, a £10 single burner with its feet fixed to some hole in the worktop, but they were happy.

I could easily get some Fiat badges but I enjoy winding up my local Alfa club too much with pictures of them on my van lol, very usefully the old van wheels fitted my old Alfa 75 so I can get the alloys refurbished and still move my car.

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#24 2019-05-08 13:00:49

vaz2121
Member
From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland
Registered: 2015-08-31
Posts: 1,311

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

That type of burner may be taking the P*** but is not such a stupid idea being self conained gas canisters and no need for gas cupboard and drop out etc ............. it's exactly one of those I carry when away on bike and also carry as back up in van when away........... I've used that very style of aerosol gas single burner all over the Uk and about 10 years of euro travels inc with lorry........... My only complaint would it's a single ring and some gas is hotter than others( Sounds silly but some do burn hotter)........... I see you can get a twin burner now (just two stuck together)

I puzzled why Alfa rims fitted and thought I'd figured it out but it's a Lancia that's the 4th Eurovan that these are based on .............. I guess it's just family parts bin that happened to use Alfa Stud pattern.................... It does suit the multi spokes

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#25 2019-05-08 15:46:27

k_wyndham_t
Member
Registered: 2018-06-01
Posts: 103

Re: Blueberry Muffin, the camper, the build!

vaz2121 wrote:

That type of burner may be taking the P*** but is not such a stupid idea being self conained gas canisters and no need for gas cupboard and drop out etc ............. it's exactly one of those I carry when away on bike and also carry as back up in van when away........... I've used that very style of aerosol gas single burner all over the Uk and about 10 years of euro travels inc with lorry........... My only complaint would it's a single ring and some gas is hotter than others( Sounds silly but some do burn hotter)........... I see you can get a twin burner now (just two stuck together)

I puzzled why Alfa rims fitted and thought I'd figured it out but it's a Lancia that's the 4th Eurovan that these are based on .............. I guess it's just family parts bin that happened to use Alfa Stud pattern.................... It does suit the multi spokes

Yes I agree, the best ones are a propane mix they get the kettle boiled much quicker than Butane canisters.

Alfa, Lancia and Fiat (as are Ferrari, Maserati and Autobianchi) are all the same company however it doesn't explain why a bunch of vans made almost entirely using Peugeot parts decided to use Fiat hubs.

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