DIY way to take to the open road
I WAS delighted to read about Annabel Croft and her husband’s plan to convert a postal truck into a camper van (Femail). I have a long history of building my own camper vans. My first was a kit car called the Starcraft. Assembling and fitting it out was a steep learning curve. I owned it for seven years and during that time toured France. My second project was a six-wheel Range Rover in which I ventured as far as Portugal. My most enjoyable camper was a demountable body on a longwheelbase former Army Land Rover. Its strengthened chassis was needed for the 1½ tons it had to carry. I fitted a roof rack for a 15ft canoe and rear rack for a mountain bike, which ensured I had lots of fun while camping in Scotland and the Lake District. The best trip in the Land Rover was a six-week, 6,000-mile trip to Norway and the Arctic Circle. On a day out at an off-road event, I opened the side window to hand out bacon butties to friends when a small girl walked up and asked for an ice cream. I gave her a choc ice from my fridge. From that day, the Land Rover was nicknamed Harry’s Ice Cream Van! After 15 years, my wife persuaded me it had to go in favour of a more comfortable Mercedes camper van. I have added a few extras, including airride suspension, a tow hitch, complete rewiring and new curtains. It has all the comforts of home including a satellite TV and fridge. A shower cubicle is a must have if you are wild camping. A van builder quoted me £2,500, so I fitted one myself at a cost of £1,000 and a few weeks’ work. This shows DIY pays! Given the availability of tools, materials and information, I would advise any capable DIYer to have a go at fitting out a camper van. The cost depends on how far you want to go, but it’s wise to start with a sound vehicle. Expect a first-time build to take a year of work and then you can enjoy the open road.