Citroen Relay - The Enterprise! Camper Build

Citroen Relay - The Enterprise! Camper Build

Author
Discussion

geeks

Original Poster:

9,121 posts

138 months

Monday 1st April 2019
quotequote all
Slight update, we went away for the weekend! Just us and the dogs to a touring site The Secret Garden in Wisbech St Mary, excellent site I can really recomend (sausage and beer tasting is a nice touch!) This is only the second time in over two years we have used it for something other than racing (and living in for a month but that is a different story!) Got a few pics but the only one of the van was just before we set off on Sunday!







Thurbs

2,780 posts

221 months

Tuesday 2nd April 2019
quotequote all
Awesome thread, only just seen it.

I was recently in a similar position to yourself with almost the same requirements. I plumped for this!





I have 1.3m spare at the font when the car is loaded. Putting in a mezzanine bed + storage. At the front will be a shower, kitchen, seats from a minibus and enough room for a 44" tool chest on wheels.

geeks

Original Poster:

9,121 posts

138 months

Tuesday 2nd April 2019
quotequote all
Nice work Thurbs! I don't have the room to store one that big (that's what she said!) have you got a build thread yet? Also did you see the pics I posted of you at Brands?

geeks

Original Poster:

9,121 posts

138 months

Monday 10th May 2021
quotequote all
A update of sorts:

Gearbox developed a bad bearing type noise not long after purchase, kept an ear on it and it seemed not to get any worse, ran it like this for a few years but the clutch started to slip last year so we took it down to a local gearbox specialist and a duff input (or possibly output) shaft bearing was diagnosed as the issue, a full bearing set and service was done on it and a new clutch thrown in with a flywheel for around £1k.

Last weekend took the van over to a friends garage, there was a tiny oil leak that had been around from when we bought it, but it was very minor so it got put the the bottom of the to do pile but as with all these things it eventually started leaking more so was tackled, turns out there was the tiniest of teeny tiny holes in the sump causing the leak, a new one was sourced and fitted (as surprisingly simple and cheap job). Full service was done while we were there too, all new filters, fluids, belts and pulleys. The drive home was like having a different van surprising how these jobs make such a difference. (anyone who needs a proper mechanic in the Braintree/Colchester/Essex area I can thoroughly recommend Clive at CB AutoServices https://www.cbautoservices.co.uk/)

New pair of headlamps stuck in along with some Halford finest "50% brighter" bulbs and I can now see when driving in the dark so thats a definite bonus. Mrs geeks has requested that I being work on the outside now as it is looking a little tired being 10years old and it has received zero care in that time. Need to sort this stuff out and then a few scuffs, going to whip the wheels off too and paint them, probably gun metal grey or something similar, get all the trim panels cleaned and then heat gunned.

9xxNick

927 posts

213 months

Monday 10th May 2021
quotequote all
Appreciate the recommendation for a garage that's quite local to me.

geeks

Original Poster:

9,121 posts

138 months

Thursday 13th May 2021
quotequote all
9xxNick said:
Appreciate the recommendation for a garage that's quite local to me.
No problem, can't recommend Clive enough has looked after everything mechanical for me for years everything from servicing to building my race engines!

anonymous said:
[redacted]
Did solve it a little by lowering it a bit, bed is now 6'1 (just) so a little better for me, I dont mind too much its only a few nights at a time and once I am asleep it doesnt bother me

gazzarose

1,158 posts

132 months

Thursday 13th May 2021
quotequote all
Me and my father have just done a half job on building a camper/MX race van. It's a L3H4, with a garage for 3 MX bikes in the back, with a double bed above the garage and a couple of seats in the front bit. All covered in basic carpet, with just enough comforts for a night or 2 away, either racing or we can each use it for family trips. We tried it for the first time last weekend, with me and the Mrs in the 'upstairs' bedroom and my 4 yr old in a makeshift bedroom in the garage. I'm 5'7" and can touch my head on one side of the van and my feet on the other, but luckily my whole family are quite short so whoever uses the van is fine. It would never pass the DVLA conversion stuff though. Depending on howuch I use it and enjoy it this year, I may think about building one for next year, but probably based on a L4H4 to get a bit more room inside for a toilet and galley. my brother has built a race van in a LWB sprinter and had managed a 3 bike garage (that converts to kids room), double above it plus toilet and galley and rear row of seats and a table, so I'd go for a similar layout.



Yours is looking good. I think a self build camper is probably one of those things that's never finished though. Always something to do or improve.