DIY very cheap day camper/ jetski / motorbike van

[Chris Bongo]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Did you call back?
I'm going to get one of those mattresses.

Another breaker popped in the Bongo group and I've managed to get them instead. Thank you though.

[OldGermanHeaps]

do you know what seal is best to get for the roof?

[Chris Bongo]

As in the rubber around the lip?

https://www.hosequip.co.uk/mazda-bongo-roof-seal-3... for a 'near enough fit'

https://bongoland.co.uk/product/roof-tent-seal/?fb...

For oem

[OldGermanHeaps]

thanks. even the cheap one is a bit pricey though, I'll troll the chinese suppliers.

[Chris Bongo]

What's wrong with the one you've currently got?

[OldGermanHeaps]

Its a bit perished. Still works fine, just a bit crusty. There will be something available from the far east for buttons I reckon.

[Peanut Gallery]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Its a bit perished. Still works fine, just a bit crusty. There will be something available from the far east for buttons I reckon.

If not cracked, a good dose of Gummi Pfledge? - Added bonus of doors and roof not freezing shut!

[OldGermanHeaps]

its past that unfortunately it has the texture of a toasted marshmallow

[OldGermanHeaps]

short staffed at work so been working 14 hour days, 6 days a week, very little has happened other than the vivaro blocked 3 inline fuel filters, going into severe limp mode each time, so i bit the bullet, dropped the tank, drained the diesel and washed out all the frogspawn type mould. it was obviously too bad for the biocide, would explain why it has done such a low mileage the last few years, its been off the road since 2017ish.
made up some mdf bases for the rock and roll bed upholstery and taken them to autobahntechnik, which is a german car specialist garage that also manufactures high end bespoke sofas, and I got them covered in the same type of very robust crushed velvet I have on the sofas in my house. The green and teal in my house have proven to be very comfy, hard wearing and very stain resistant, shrugging off coffee, tomoto pasta, marker pen, vomit and ste without a trace, so that fabric in black I thought would be a good choice for the camper. I didnt go with leather or vinyl because guaranteed I would drown in my own sweat, but these are comfy as hell.

[Chris Bongo]

Looks good mate, was wondering about this project. For what it's worth, my Bongo has sprung yet another coolant leak!


Did you get the AFT bed in the end?

[OldGermanHeaps]

Not yet, ill order it in january. Going to aim to have this finished for march, along with some wee jobs on the jetski.

[ApOrbital]

Great thread and well done.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Kitchen out for a bit of adjustment, and to drill holes for the wiring and plumbing. Done the permanent fix for the heater, mad up some bracketery for the air filter and sliencer and fitted a new diesel line to the engine bay with conduit over it and stainless rubber lined clips. Heater diesel pump is mounted under the bonnet next to the diesel filter on a rubber bracket. I chose that location as I suspect the ticking would be annoying if it was mounted any nearer the sleeping area.
Ran a bit of conduit in case I want to put solar panels on the aft.
One of the front calipers has stared binding again, but I found a new one on ebay for £43 delivered.
Ordered the AFT mattress and a couple of extra sleeping bags.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Progress has been painfully slow due to neverendding rain, constant miserable depressing weather.
since I taken the first pic I have replaced the electric hob with an induction hob i got off ebay for £20, which is annoying me because it is so good to cook on now I wish I got an induction hob for the kitchen at home instead of gas, it is that good.
The bigger battery is great, no problems running the 3kw instant hot water tap off the inverter, can do loads of welding off the inverter and it doesnt sag. had to run 50mm welding cable from the battery to the inverter, as the 25mm tails that came with it were getting hot. insulated and panelled the other side, just need to carpet it and fit the rock and roll bed.
lots of wiring and cosmetics to follow after that.
I want to make an underslung water tank, to save interior space, but I haven't been able to find anything off the shelf to fit the space I have available, dont know the best way forward on that.

[dhutch]

Looking good.

[Chris Bongo]

Looks really good!

[OldGermanHeaps]

still looks a bit sheddy on the outside at the mo, but when the dolphin glaze, vinyl wrap and facelift lights, grille and bumpers go on with a spoiler, sidesteps and a frame go in it should look decent

[CubanPete]

OldGermanHeaps said:

I want to make an underslung water tank, to save interior space, but I haven't been able to find anything off the shelf to fit the space I have available, dont know the best way forward on that.

If your happy to make an enclosure, you can get all sorts of shapes / flexible ones designed for boats. Try one of the big chandlers.

[OldGermanHeaps]

I didn't know those existed, but they look perfect,I can just fab up a steel or dibond box using the available space and fit a bladder in it, and it will take into account the irregular shape, class, Thanks.

[geeks]

When I did our conversion, these were the guys I used for water tanks (fresh and waste)

http://www.caktanks.co.uk/CAK_Water_Tanks.htm