The last few weeks we’ve been too busy to post, and the few weeks before that were frantically finishing the van.

We spent a few weeks varnishing at every available moment  – sometimes squeezing a quick coat in before work, while dinner was cooking or just before bed.

We then spent a weekend putting all the furniture in van – which was surprisingly difficult to ensure things were vaguely straight and upright. We also had to incorporate fixing the water pump, pipes and gas regulator at appropriate points to ensure we had room to fix things down.

During the next week Dave spent most of his spare time working out how the sliding table rail and leg (that were meant to work together) would ever fit nicely in the van. After a few days, the table leg was cut in half. Drastic, but it works very well, although we do have the lower half of the leg floating around the van ready to be used when the table is put up.

This all meant that we had everything needed to change the DVLA status of the van to a motor caravan. It also allows us to change the insurance to that of a motor caravan rather than a motor caravan in conversion.

It doesn’t mean the van is finished though. We still need to connect some of the electrics (mains charger and usb chargers for our electronics) and fit removable things such storage boxes, pots, pans, plates etc etc. The window insulation also needs some thought.

Further plans include some major renovations to the cab interior and maybe the addition of a sound system for the rear.

We have spent a few nights in it though – a quick trip to Scotland for a wedding, and a CUHWC trip to the Lakes. We found the van a bit cold on some nights, but lovely and warm on others. Living in it has shown us what we need to add to the van – but doing those things may take a while in the cold Cambridge evenings.

The build starts

Essentials – drill, screws, and ‘stixall’

some final adjustments…

The gas box with magnets and seals

Trying to keep the pipes and electronics clear of the build

Shelves in

water pump in

installing the water pump

piles of varnished things waiting to go in

Gas box with regulator being installed

so the gas box needed a little extension to meet the drop out

in place – looks surprising good!

glue to seal the butter tub in place

end of the day – everything looking good, but still quite a bit to go

checking the stove top lid works

view of the bodge that keeps the worktop tied down the correct level.

Stove connected

It works!

Attempting to get the table level

sink all plumbed in

The living area

Seating area

Sleeping area