Camper?

[Ferg]

It occurs to me that with the light weight properties of GRP and more bespoke possibilities afforded by kit building, that a kit camper of fairly compact size might be an idea.
Ownership of camper vans seems to have increased, but tend to be quite thirsty. Rickman and Starcraft both attempted it, but none seem to exist now. What do you reckon? Small two berth, multi-use interior?

[Turn7]

Cheap Transit connect and some DIY offers the same thing surely ?

[GTRCLIVE]

I'm with Clarkson... This is car forum and the mere mention of a Camper Van makes me think mobile road block

Please post here....... http://www.caravantalk.co.uk/

PS Happy new year

















PPS Humor is some times taken to seriously so please Ignor any comments that might be taken wrongly

[Nikolai]

I thought this would be a decent idea too, but the tricky bit in my opinion is to choose a donor engine and/or chassis. A custom ladder chassis would be fine but would you make it front engined fwd or go like the VW t2 and go rear engined. Depends on desired styling I suppose.

[fuoriserie]

Ferg said:

It occurs to me that with the light weight properties of GRP and more bespoke possibilities afforded by kit building, that a kit camper of fairly compact size might be an idea.
Ownership of camper vans seems to have increased, but tend to be quite thirsty. Rickman and Starcraft both attempted it, but none seem to exist now. What do you reckon? Small two berth, multi-use interior?

I think that it would be a very interesting niche for the kitcar industry to work on and I'm sure there is a new market for something like it.

It would need to have an original design and unique with an affordable price, but I'm sure it can be done...

[Ferg]

Turn7 said:

Cheap Transit connect and some DIY offers the same thing surely ?

If you want something that looks like a Connect, yes.
To me Kitcars are all about NOT having something everyone else has and creating something different. I suppose converting a van is fine for some.

[Turn7]

Ferg said:

Turn7 said:

Cheap Transit connect and some DIY offers the same thing surely ?

If you want something that looks like a Connect, yes.
To me Kitcars are all about NOT having something everyone else has and creating something different. I suppose converting a van is fine for some.

Was thinking more from a finance perspective TBH, cannot see it being cost effective, unless, of course the pleasure is in the build and owning something unique.

[Ferg]

Ah...anyone building a kitcar for the financial benefit is barking up the wrong tree.

[FlossyThePig]

The Rickman brothers were making their Rancher model before they got screwed by some Russians. I don't know how many were sold.

A couple of years ago I used to pass a van being converted into a camper van. A bit crude and never looked finished. It's gone a bit green now but it is used, well, it moves of the drive.

[gtmdriver]

There was the Cortina based Starcraft from the Spartan stable



and a similar Austin Princess based kit whose name I forget.

[Frankthered]

Didn't the Frontera have a ladder frame chassis?

Could be an interesting option to avoid IVA.

Not what I'd call an exceptional donor, but I guess they're really cheap!!!

[smash]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=2&a...

[fuoriserie]

I remember sseing the Toppola a few months ago in Sweden on a Saab 99 Kombi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toppola



A modern inspired Toppola is now manufactured in Japan for the Toyota Prius:

http://www.canp-inn-japan.com/box3/type.html?id=80...


Why not an inexpensive Bedford Rascal/ Suzuky Carry for a base ? :
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bedford_Ras...
https://picasaweb.google.com/106526935125883283147...

Edited by fuoriserie on Wednesday 2nd January 09:40

[FlossyThePig]

fuoriserie said:

I remember sseing the Toppola a few months ago in Sweden on a Saab 99 Kombi:

If you are going to convert a Saab it has to have a Scandinavian theme.

[jas xjr]

what happened to the chap who was developing a repica vw spit screen camper van ?

[Fastpedeller]

Frankthered said:

Didn't the Frontera have a ladder frame chassis?

Could be an interesting option to avoid IVA.

Not what I'd call an exceptional donor, but I guess they're really cheap!!!

ISTR if you are converting to a motorhome/Camper whatever we call it, that it needs IVA even if you use the original chassis.

[andygtt]

why not make a rebody for a VW camper... I mean most of them are rotting away on someones drive

[Ferg]

Mine seems to have disappeared...

[Furyblade_Lee]

I think the main problem with this in 2013, is that you can still buy project splitties for under 10k and bays for under 5K. No kit outlay costs and no IVA, so there is no real point especially as the residual value of a rebuilt splittie is HUGE!!! This is the same situation mentioned here though several years back when somebody asked if a replica MK1 Escort was viable. Back then £3k got you a rough donor real one to rebuild, but now........ The day wrecks of bays are over 10k and splitties over 20K ( which may soon happen ) a kit might make more sense, but I think for now rebuilding a real one is still viable and a good place to put your cash.

[Ferg]

What are you on about, Lee?