New project

[benchmark51]

Hoping to pick up my new project on monday.

It's a ambulance !!
Transit minibus style, petrol/lpg, about 6 seats and a wheelchair contraption at the back.
High roof, windows all round. A bit of a new direction but practical and useful.
OMG, what have I done?

[dikkie]

Certainly different!

So what the thinking behind that? I haven't seen many kit cars that use a transit as a donor...

[benchmark51]

I've been thinking about a campervan for years now and if I don't do it soon I never will. I'm retired now so have time on my hands. My tintop is at 'end of life' now and whilst not rotten, would need work for m.o.t. Spending money on it would never be recovered. I thought this last year, but kept it going for another year without much trouble. However the time has come for a change.

I need a runabout for shopping so have to have something, I dont need flash or fast just reliable. A minibus transit can do that and be a holiday vehicle as well. Go to Torbay for a weekend or Lake district or France maybe. Can take the dog as well.

It's a 2.3 petrol/lpg and 1 previous owner (nhs), done some mileage but regularly checked and serviced. A bit bigger than a car but has other uses.

I have Ratbag as a toy and a bit of fun but thats all it is. The tranny can be a shopper,camper and even a kit car tower when needed, the old escort is now redundant.

[Moleman]

You can be our club support vehicle. how is your first aid training? is it up to date or do you need a volunteer to practice mouth to mouth?   

[Lucky Ed]

You can be our club support vehicle. how is your first aid training? is it up to date or do you need a volunteer to practice mouth to mouth?   

Are you offering Colin?

[mikeyb]

Good luck with the new project.  I've converted 3 vans to campers, 2 of which were Transits.  A good source of inspiration and help is the Self Build Motor Caravanners Club (sbmcc) well worth a look.  Cheers, Mike.

['The Gaffer']

Nice one, sounds very practical and an interesting project

[Camber Dave]

I have about 20 sheets material.
It is thin ply with a textured white plastic facing.
It was from a caravan company and I started lining the works with it.
Come and collect as many as you need.

Dave

[benchmark51]

Thanks Dave, depending on how time allows I may pop in on my way back from collecting it on monday.

[benchmark51]

mikeyb, thanks for the pointer. I've spent most of the morning looking at other peoples conversions, all very interesting too.

[Daley Down Under]

Sounds like an excellent project - another campervan in the club 

[SPAXIMUS]

I built my Iveco Motorhome a few years ago and a good scource of bits is Magnum motorhomes who are in Grimsby. They stock everything that you will need.
Depending on what you are wanting to do with it make a difference to what you need to do. We use ours year round and as a result it is heavily insulated, otherwise you get condensation between the body and any linings. If I have done it right there should be a picture of the inside and outside of the van. I have lots of others if you wanted to see the insulation I used.
I also have a pair of swivel seat bases which are for sale which allows the front seats to become part of the dining arrangement.

['The Gaffer']

Nice job

[benchmark51]

Very nice.

What I have is a Transit ambulance. Not an emergency type, a hightop minibus with a remote control wheelchair lift.
The interior is all covered in a dark grey 'carpet type' material, including the roof. Roof lining has built in speakers and 3 strip lights. Windows all round, tidy vinyl type flooring. All very clean and good condition.
A good start I think.

Things that are wrong include chipped windscreen needs replacing, side door not working(sussed), dash vent loose and rattling(fixed), no spare wheel, no cab passenger seats(has a luggage box instead). Has 4 individual rear seats and 1 folding rear seat though(all with built in seat belts)

It is 2.3 petrol with factory fit lpg, has seperate fuel gauges in the dash and is switchable from the dash.
Outside is tidy with a few small scabs to be fixed but near dent free.

['The Gaffer']

Looks like a great donor for a camper

[Iancider]

It looks like a good buy Dave and an interesting project.

[SPAXIMUS]

Looks a good van. If you want a closer look at mine that is no problem at all. As it is a Transit there are several convertors who do them so you can have a look and see their layouts and copy or adapt them.

One issue that you will need to sort is Glass windows. As they are single glazed they will get a lot of condensation when you sleep in it. So before you build any furniture the windows behind will need blacking out and the rear insulating.

The other thing you need to watch is weight. All the boards in mine are caravan spec, these are 2-3mm faced with a vinyl finish, for side and ceiling the furniture is 10-12mm faced with wood finish. Even using this when you get toilet, cooker, fridge it soon starts to weigh a lot.
On the fridge mine works 12v via a transformer when on electric. I chose this as it meant I did not need to cut two vents for gas in the side as it needs them if it is the gas electric ones.

Any advice I can give just ask 

[benchmark51]

Thats great, I'd be very interested to see your van. At the moment I'm having grief insuring it. Frank Pickles doesn't want to know until it is completed and registered as a motorhome with the DVLA. Can't get AIB to answer me after requesting a quote using the banner on our forum or after phoning them.

The interior on my Transit is quite good and entirely covered in grey carpet, including the roof! Panels are removable, so can insulate quite easily. There are faults to fix so I have things to get on with while I'm waiting on insurance people. As you can guess I have allsorts of ideas going on at the moment.

I'm in Warmley, where are you?

cheers Dave

[SPAXIMUS]

I am in Yate. I insured mine as a Van at first then changed it to Motorhome afterwards. To change it you just need to send pictures to DVLA and they do the rest for no charge. To qualify you must have a 6ft bed!! nothing else is needed apparently.

I insured mine via A Plan in Thatcham on a policy from LV. You do need to have gas installation signed off otherwise they will not pay if a fire is caused inside the van.

I am away for the next two weekends but after that I can meet you, or most nights is no problem.

[benchmark51]

Do you mean the gas installation for the cooker, gas heater need to be inspected?

The van is petrol/lpg powered, does that need separate inspection too?

I may just go to the meercat.com and insure through them. It is registered as an ambulance.

[Iancider]

Its a van Dave  - previously used as an ambulance.  Tell the insurer about the conversion when it is completed Simples! 

It is only a motorhome when you want to sleep in it and until then it is a van full of domestic stuff.

Don't mention that it has been at the centre of many of many road-traffic collisions and especially don't mention that many of its passengers have been seriously injured. 

[benchmark51]

It's not that sort of ambulance. It has 5 seats in the back, a track to secure 2 wheelchairs and a electric/hydraulic lift at the back. So really it was transport for disabled people. No blue lights or sirens .
Overall in pretty good nick, never raced or rallied. Mind you I expect it may have been pee'd in a few times

[Moleman]

Overall in pretty good nick, never raced or rallied. Mind you I expect it may have been pee'd in a few times

Looks like that poor van will still have that same problem again. 

[Bulldog Bri]

If you make it a bit wider you could use it as Ratbags mobile garage

[benchmark51]

If you make it a bit wider you could use it as Ratbags mobile garage

Don't worry I have measured. Not quite, but not far off!

I have got a towbar for it though, so will be able to trailer ratbag

[benchmark51]

Its a van Dave  - previously used as an ambulance.  Tell the insurer about the conversion when it is completed Simples! 

It is only a motorhome when you want to sleep in it and until then it is a van full of domestic stuff.

Don't mention that it has been at the centre of many of many road-traffic collisions and especially don't mention that many of its passengers have been seriously injured. 

Problem is the V5 says 'ambulance' so calling it a van may not be accepted, can try though.

[benchmark51]

I have finally made progress with the new project!

I have managed to get the insurance sorted, but it needed to be registered with UKLPG first. I had to send a copy of the V5C to show that this is a manufacturer installed lpg system. That done and with the new V5C and insurance documents that arrived on saturday, I tried to tax it. No chance the DVLA are in meltdown, with 30,000 more applications than last year. Due to the new tax rules apparently, also they are using new software that is still beta version. Was told to go to the Post Office to tax it. No forms to fill out now, just need your documents. Couldn't believe it when they said the VED was nil! So got a years road tax for zilch.

So went to the filling station and put petrol in the n/s and lpg in the o/s. Switched to lpg when on the dual carriageway and it went fine. I think engine became quieter and maybe a slight power drop but ok. got 30 litres of lpg for £20, 16 litres of petrol for £20. Have to see how it last now.

I must say a big thankyou to Darren at AIB, who was a star and helped me get the insurance sorted.

[Daley Down Under]

RESULT 

[Hairy Santa]

No Road Tax - sounds great

runs on gas - like that

your gonna tell us you also get free tyres every year 

as Adrian said - brill result mate

[Lucky Ed]

Nice one, I like your style

[robp]

So got a years road tax for zilch.

Excellent!! 

[sanzomat]

There must be some way of adapting the old wheelchair lift to operate the ratbag shelter. Make it remote controlled - plip it as you drive up and watch it lift the cover then drive in...

[Bulldog Bri]

Here's an idea for it Dave.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=906600202699726

[Iancider]

I think you have something there.  I can see Dave arriving at the Riverside with style now. 

[benchmark51]

Well the mirror on the ceiling is a good idea, the wife can watch herself having a headache.

[benchmark51]

Certainly different!

So what the thinking behind that? I haven't seen many kit cars that use a transit as a donor...

I dunno, we use the track rod ends on the locost. The engine is a 2.3 16v  dohc, 145bhp as standard and the heater is luvverly!

[benchmark51]

I have got the Trannybus a new Mot today at FCM, a couple of small advisories to sort but easy ones. Now thats tax, test and insurance done for the year. Need a 16" wheel and tyre for spare if anyone knows of one.

[Camber Dave]

There is a 16" wheel with a fairly perished tyre here on it at the farm.
It was left by the tenant before last about 3 years ago so I doubt it it will be claimed....
It is the deep dished one as used on twin rear wheels.

[benchmark51]

Thanks Dave, sorry I should have said it's the single wheel sort 215 75 16c