Can I turn a fridge lorry into a camper?

[Desiderata]

I've been looking at self build campers made from panel vans and so have a lot of other people too if the price of a knackered old sprinter or transit is anything to go by, so I spread my horizons a bit. I've found this locally for £2000. I think it would make a great camper, already insulated solid, loads of power and a nice simple construction and shape to hack about into a comfortable camper.
Anyone done anything like this before and what problems might I come across?

[Desiderata]

Collectingbrass said:

My main worry would be ventilation & fresh air, especially when cooking on gas

Thanks, I'd be putting in Windows and ventilation. Might even remove the refrigeration unit

[Desiderata]

carreauchompeur said:

There seem to be quite a few on the self build pages.

Is there a self build forum you'd recommend? I looked for one on here but didn't find one.

[Desiderata]

biggiles said:

£2000 seems very cheap - has it done a lot of miles?

It probably also needs a pre-1997 driving licence, or the appropriate (expensive) tests.

But it could be a great project.

It's fairly cheap, but not ridiculously so for an old lorry. They seem to be a lot more reasonably priced than old vans.
It would need a pre 97 licence (which I've got by a good few years) in it's current form, but I'd be looking to re-register it as a camper anyway when it was complete, do away with the need for tacho, operators licence, monthly checks etc.

[Desiderata]

Gary29 said:

No idea regarding the camping aspect, but as above, £2K does sound VERY cheap.

Quick search on eBay for trucks under£3000:-



You really get a lot for your money.

[Desiderata]

carreauchompeur said:

OP, have a look at “7.5 ton & over vehicles” on Facebook. Really good inspiration, and a guy named Simon Eley has just posted a load of photos of his fridge Scania on tour, looks ace!

Thanks, I've joined that forum and a couple of other similar ones. Now I can't log in to Facebook without loads of brilliant looking projects and builds popping up. My wife is going to kill me!

[Desiderata]

MKnight702 said:

Having read the article it confirms that the DVLA are a bunch of jobsworths. That chap who converted the Renault van into a high spec camper and got refused because the outside looked like a van, I mean what? DVLA agree that it’s a camper but it looks like a van so tough?

Having now joined some of the fora and read a few articles, they do seem to have some pretty strange attitudes. Even the DVLA guidance states that conversions should have "campervan style graphics" before they can be acceptable. Surely that's pretty subjective. Not all campers wear beige slacks and cardigans and like pastel swirls.