Burstner Aerovan - 3 berth conversion

Burstner Aerovan - 3 berth conversion

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Discussion

Spuffington

Original Poster:

1,206 posts

168 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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Hi guys,

Anyone know if there is an official (or unofficial) conversion kit to convert the seating in an Aerovan for three berths?

I've been offered this one at a very, very good price but need 3 berths.

http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/used-motorhomes...

Cheers.

nagsheadwarrior

2,781 posts

179 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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A good price from a Scottish dealer, you need to record it on film for national posterity!

There are no off the peg conversions, you'd need a slide out fitting on the side sofa or use a bed board and a new lower able table or adapt the existing one.

It's possible but will be priced if done well.

Oddly I've sold two Dethleffs Globelines this year that are the Aero vans sister model and they were 4 berth as standard, quite different finish wise tho, I thought they'd be more similar.

Have you driven it yet?

The Dethleffs were rattly old buses (not driven an aerovan) and that 2.2 163 doesn't hold a torch to the old 2.7 tho its more than up to the job.

nagsheadwarrior

2,781 posts

179 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
For price reference purposes both our Dethleffs equivalents retailed around £45k and fetched low £40s tho the posh gaff where I work now are not bargain basement cheap.

One was cloth seats but tiny mileage, tother similar mileage with Black Magic edition leather.

Spuffington

Original Poster:

1,206 posts

168 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks NHW - much appreciated.

Yes, I was aware of those Dethleffs, having had my eye about a year ago on one down at Southdowns.

Wouldn't normally be looking at this but the reason for the deal is that it belongs to my Uncle who now has a Concorde Charisma and has been trying to sell this one through Perth for a while. He mentioned he'd consider giving it to us half price if it could take our daughter. Obviously given the quality of it etc we are quite keen, but it would also be a comprise given in an ideal world we'd want her to sleep somewhere else so we could use the seating area whilst she was asleep. But may be a compromise worth marking, given the bonus of a smallish low profile and cheap motorhome.

Have seen things such as cabbunks which could do the trick and not necessitate proper re-modelling of the interior.

Spuffington

Original Poster:

1,206 posts

168 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks NHW - much appreciated.

Yes, I was aware of those Dethleffs, having had my eye about a year ago on one down at Southdowns.

Wouldn't normally be looking at this but the reason for the deal is that it belongs to my Uncle who now has a Concorde Charisma and has been trying to sell this one through Perth for a while. He mentioned he'd consider giving it to us half price if it could take our daughter. Obviously given the quality of it etc we are quite keen, but it would also be a comprise given in an ideal world we'd want her to sleep somewhere else so we could use the seating area whilst she was asleep. But may be a compromise worth marking, given the bonus of a smallish low profile and cheap motorhome.

Have seen things such as cabbunks which could do the trick and not necessitate proper re-modelling of the interior.

nagsheadwarrior

2,781 posts

179 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Charisma eh, nice!

Sounds like a cracking buy, tis a pain as a family layout as as you say there's know here to put the kid to bed first bar the fixed bed then move her later but sounds like a great opportunity and they are one sexy looking thing.

Cabunk should do the job as a stop gap.

Get it Bought, wait for the uncle to clear off and sneak over to me and chop it in for a shiny new Carado a461!

Best of luck



Spuffington

Original Poster:

1,206 posts

168 months

Sunday 22nd March 2015
quotequote all
Okey dokey, been a while since I posted, but have completed negotiations and have managed to secure an "option" on this Aerovan.

Deal is, van gets a Hab Check done by Perthshire Caravans, then gets picked up from Perthshire and taken to Uncle's mate in Leyland (Merc Indy) who will service it and put a fresh MOT on it. I'll then tax and insure and collect from Leyland probably the back end of April (hopefully in time for first May Bank Holiday).

We'll then try it out as a family and if it works over a couple of trips, then I have secured a deeply discounted trade price which hopefully should mean that we won't loose a bean on it over the next 5+ years.

Just need to make it work for the three of us. I think for the first couple of trips we'll stick a small "bed in a bag" inflatable thing on the floor for my 2yr old daughter and if we like it, then we'll get a Cabbunk and that should see us right for a good few years.

It's not ideal in many respects, but every motorhome is a compromise and my belief with this is its a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a van which is in A1 condition, cheap to run (does >35mpg on a run) and won't loose us much, if anything in depreciation.

If it doesn't work for us (which I'm desperately hoping won't be the case), then the deal is that I sell it on behalf of my Uncle and I get a share of anything over my option price. But that's not the route I want to go.

Desperately excited and can't wait to get our "new" motorhome.smile

Rosscow

8,767 posts

163 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Pictures, man, pictures!!

nagsheadwarrior

2,781 posts

179 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
quotequote all
Well done Spuffington, sounds like you can't really go wrong.

If you're near Preston Google Hambleton engineering Penwortham and go see him.

He's been working on and doing conversion changed on Hymers n other stuff for 30 odd years.

Spuffington

Original Poster:

1,206 posts

168 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Catastrophe!

After 6 months of the van sitting at Perth Caravans and nothing happening, it turns out that they've now sold it. No chance of my Uncle getting them to renege on the sale and we're all absolutely gutted. We'd imagined ourselves holidaying in it and my Uncle & Aunt were desperate for it to stay within the family.

We're working on an alternative plan, but at the moment I'm licking my wounds. frown

NHW - I'm going to drop you a PM on something else, since my Uncle may be in the market for a new van and has his eyes on one of yours. wink