The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Welcome!

Welcome to the Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub!

In late July 2013 I bought my first van. A 56 plate Citroen Dispatch 2.0HDi.

It's become a bit of an obsession.

Since I bought the van - I've been sorting out its little idiosyncrasies and making a start on converting it to a camper. I've found some good help online - but I think there's room for a dedicated home for all things Dispatch | Expert | Scudo (bit of a mouthfull eh)

So here we are. I'm going to share my experiences as I go - I hope you will too.

Whether you're a Man-With-A-Van, a taxi driver, a camper-converter - whatever - say hello - show us your van - ask questions - get help - share your tips.

Enjoy!

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

HamishMash

Member

Registered: 2013-11-10

Posts: 2

Re: Welcome!

Hi. What a great idea this site is. been searching the web for ideas. Looking forward to seeing how u get on with your conversion.

My van isnt lined. Thinking about having it insulated lined and carpeted before attempting the interior. Do you think this is a good place to start.
Looking at a fold down double seat in the front, ie a T4/5 front seat. ?? Liking  the swivel seats from peugeot 806 too. No idea whither this is possible being that i have 3 seats up front.

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Determined to design and convert my Dispatch to a camper. Need Help

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Re: Welcome!

Thanks HamishMash and welcome!

My van wasn't lined either - just a bare shell - hard to imagine now!

(must post some photos)

My mission for 2013 was just to get it insulated, lined and carpeted to allow me to get out and about until next spring (when I'll look into more adventurous options!) and that's pretty much where I've got to (although I still need to fit the wheel arch covers and finish carpeting the back doors).

I used this ply kit, this and this for insulation and I carpeted the whole lot with this.

Note that the ply kits don't generally come with a ceiling sheet - so we had to make this ourselves.

It's very cosy. The floor is vinylled and I have a two-part Ikea mattress (200cm x 120cm) which fills the entire space perfectly if I lay it out - but can also work as a generous single mattress and full-length sofa - leaving room for storage.

Other than that I have a few storage boxes and a curtain between the front and back. Oh and piles of comfy cushions

So ... I need to decide between now and the spring just how far I want to take it .....

Keep us posted on your plans and progress!

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

alexpalacefan

Member

From: Nottingham

Registered: 2015-01-27

Posts: 1

Re: Welcome!

Hi there,
just got my '06 Scudo, it's off to the mechanic tomorrow, hopefully to get a clean bill of health, then a camper-lite/surf van conversion.

Wish me luck :-)

APF

jeffSizzler

Member

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 15

Re: Welcome!

Welcome to the club Alex!

How'd it go at the garage? Hope all's good.

JS

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On my second Citroen Dispatch - 2005 - Long way to go ... !

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Re: Welcome!

Yep - keep us posted Alex.

What you got planned for your conversion?

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

SwedishPete

Member

Registered: 2015-03-21

Posts: 3

Re: Welcome!

Hello everyone,

Excited to meet you all especially as there seems to be a real lack of forums for our vehicles on the net compared to other cars & vans.

Just picked up a 2003 jumpy combi for conversion into a micro camper today,
feeling like a kid at Christmas!

I've posted a link to a good workshop manual, which I hope you will find useful,
in the manuals section.

Looking forward to getting to know other fellow scudo/ expert/ jumpy owners.

All the best to you!

Swedish pete

Singularis

Member

Registered: 2013-09-24

Posts: 8

Re: Welcome!

Welcome Pete!

That's a fine looking Jumpy - especially for its age!

Moonshyne

Member

Registered: 2013-11-05

Posts: 8

Re: Welcome!

That's weird - I've never seen one without a sliding door on either side. It's hard to tell from the photo, Pete - is that door just welded up?

Moonshyne

Member

Registered: 2013-11-05

Posts: 8

Re: Welcome!

Actually - just googled it and seems there were plenty without sliding doors back then

Front end looks really unfamiliar too tho! Do you know if there was a different facelift or something in Sweden, Pete?

Either way - hope it's all running smoothly 

SwedishPete

Member

Registered: 2015-03-21

Posts: 3

Re: Welcome!

Hello!

Yes it is in pretty good shape for a 2003. It was Galvanised at the factory so this helps keep the rust to a minimum.

The van was imported from Denmark & was adapted for use as a handicapped vehicle. Helpful as the back seats have been removed. They also fitted a German Eberspacher van & engine heater, very helpful for our cold winters here. The opening side windows will come in handy as well I guess. So they've already done quite a bit of the conversion for me already.

I'm off to Norway for a while but I'll start to take & post photos soon-ish.

Ps... Did you know that here in Sweden we can park up and camp just about anywhere we want to as long as we are responsible, of course. It's actually a right we have called allemansrätten. My local council actually provides a free parking place for campers and caravans very close to the sea.

Kind regards

Pete

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Re: Welcome!

Hey Pete ..

We have the same thing in Scotland, "Right to Roam".

Some councils are more happy to help than others - but the law is the same.

How's the Jumpy going?

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

PieCaptain

Member

Registered: 2015-05-04

Posts: 5

Re: Welcome!

Hi All,

I've just picked up an X reg Dispatch

I'm not the most mechanically minded so I hope you all don't mind if i bug you from time to time (Over and over...)

My plan is to convert it into a camper as I work away from home and could do with not paying a 2nd amount of rent!

It has a few snags. but not bad for £600 ( I hope!)

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Re: Welcome!

Welcome PC!

As long as you're not 6 foot 5 and you get it insulated - these vans can be very cosy wee campers :-)

I've not fitted any fixed furniture to mine [yet] - but I've been through the panelling, insulating, carpeting etc so shout if you need advice.

Keep us posted!

T

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

PieCaptain

Member

Registered: 2015-05-04

Posts: 5

Re: Welcome!

I'm 5'10 but still got a weird look when I laid down in the back to check the size!

I have a few things i need to sort with the van itself, the exhaust knocks and needs new bushes, that's the biggest issue I have.

Also, the keys are weird... sometimes the locks just spin and then all of a sudden they open! (are they supposed to have central locking? -  I only ask because the locks remind me of my old AX GT)

I have the sliding door not closing issue you described in one of your posts so will be sorting that this weekend.

The only other issue is the lights on the instrument cluster are sporadic . sometimes the dipped beam will turn on, sometimes after having full beam on, it won't, the full beam indicator hasn't shown itself yet!

After i've sorted those out, I'll put a frame in for insulation, bed,seat etc and then move on the the electrics!

(sorry if i'm going off topic!)

Cheers!

Paul

monkeynut

Member

From: oop north

Registered: 2014-07-11

Posts: 174

Re: Welcome!

the keys spin because they are worn , its a common fault  you can get full sets on ebay
i would check the fuses for your dash high beam light
by the way im 6.2 and have plenty of room!
Spent a week in mine up Scotland last sept

PieCaptain

Member

Registered: 2015-05-04

Posts: 5

Re: Welcome!

I had a look at the barrel replacements, the central locking kit is weirdly cheaper (probably means worse tbh)
will probably end up doing both in the long run

I've not had a chance to do anything with it since i got it!

I'm supposed to be using it full time from the 2nd week of june... hopefully next weekend i'll get the insulation and furniture framework done. (And check those fuses!)

i'll take lots of pics so you can see how poor my carpentry skills are....

Last edited by PieCaptain (2015-05-19 18:23:39)

jeffSizzler

Member

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 15

Re: Welcome!

Aah the old Citroen spinning locks!

Apparently this was a security feature whereby anyone using the wrong key would just find the barrel spinning. Works a bit too well I think!

Mine do the same - but I find that both my keys work better one way than the other in all my locks - I don't even think about it now - always get it right!

Some are central locking - some not - guessing yours isn't - and that's probably a blessing :-)

Will look forward to your photos!

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On my second Citroen Dispatch - 2005 - Long way to go ... !

Thefridge

Member

Registered: 2015-06-02

Posts: 1

Re: Welcome!

Hi all

Have just joined , as today I purchased a 2000 Despatch 2.0 hdi

It's hopefully going to be my workhorse for the summer and also a project to get it exactly as I want.

I have already gained some useful tips ( sliding door problem ) and hopefully be able to help others too

By profession I am an auto electrician, so may be able to help solve any electrical issues on here

Cheers Dave

Tiree

Administrator

From: Galloway

Registered: 2013-09-20

Posts: 336

Re: Welcome!

Welcome Dave!

I hope your new workhorse serves you well!

Biggest auto-electrical problem these vans seem to have is the heater blower packing in or acting weird. A lot of people report this and there seem to be so many possible causes for it that it can become very difficult to pin down.

Keep us posted on your progress!

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

jim157

Member

Registered: 2015-06-03

Posts: 7

Re: Welcome!

Hi,
I've just bought a 2.0 HDi 2003 Expert Eurobus which is in dire need of some tlc.  Mechanically it seems ok but it's pretty rough cosmetically.  I'm sure I'll be asking some questions soon!

Cheers,
Jim.

Moonshyne

Member

Registered: 2013-11-05

Posts: 8

Re: Welcome!

Dave / Tiree - My heater blower's goosed!

Jim - Welcome! What's your plan for the Eurobus?

jim157

Member

Registered: 2015-06-03

Posts: 7

Re: Welcome!

I'm going to turn it into a day van I think.  I occasionally do track days with my bikes, so it will used to cart motorbikes about (hope they fit!).

The bodywork is in a right old state, it was originally owned by a local taxi firm and the ghost of the graphics are still etched into the paintwork.  It looks like someone has tried to remove them with the combination of a brillo pad and a screwdriver though.  Going to try wet sanding and mopping it to see if I can regain an air of respectability!

Other than that I'll be giving it a service and replacing all the broken lights and damaged trim, i.e. most of it.....

Hywelius

Member

Registered: 2016-11-18

Posts: 57

Re: Welcome!

Recently purchased a 55 plate Expert with a low (seemingly genuine!) 60K on the clock and got to say, I'm glad to find this forum! Will be having a good read through everything here before my camper conversion! And possibly picking some people's brains!

I'm 6'3''ish and embarking on a maximum space saving surf van project with enough storage and space for potentially longer than weekend trips. Can't wait to get started!

Cambelt first though!

Here goes!

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,178

Re: Welcome!

I am 6'2" mate and just not long back from 10 nights down Germany and Holland with no issues.

Welcome and ask away.