Motorhome renovation

Author
Discussion

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
3 weeks ago, I took a little trip up to Anglesey to pick up a rather ancient motorhome - a 1987 Mercedes 207D. By far the slowest thing I've ever driven!!! Is 15mph up hills normal for something like this?

CoolC

4,257 posts

221 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
No idea about the speed question, but liking the look of this thread already.

That has the potential to be one cool camper.

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
I'll post some pics up of the progress when I'm not on the iPad, but there's a few here:

https://ourmotorhome.wordpress.com

SimesJH

768 posts

158 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
Mmmmmmm! Definitely has potential!

I own an A-Class 410d built by RMB back in 1992. My own experience tells me that these old dinosaurs are rather slow up hills, but momentum conservation, a heavy right foot, strong tailwind and immunity to the din from that solid old diesel donk should help you ascend reasonably swiftly for a while at least. The laws of physics, your bravery, scale of the hill and any sharpish bends will determine how slow you end up at the top.

Firstly, though, get the thing serviced to make sure all the oily bits are in good order. You can't really overcome the barn-door aerodynamics or lack of modern-day oomph, so just sit back and relax. The journey is all part of the fun of it. The destination merely the icing on the cake.

Look forward to the updates. Nice blog.

CoolC

4,257 posts

221 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
This thread got me scouring Ebay last night, and look what I found.

Another retro camper with lots of potential





Just a shame I'm not in a position to buy this right now frown

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
Here's a few before and after pics....if anyone asks which is before and which is after they'll get a slap! smile










Still a few bits to do - soft furnishings and a bit more paint mostly.

Some Gump

12,868 posts

193 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
Mobile home of some description

"Try new things"

You're doggers, aren't you? smile

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
The shower room / toilet has been the biggest pain so far!

I don't think my chances of getting my other half to agree to crap in a bucket were particularly high, so I picked up a cassette toilet - it just happened to be 7 cm too wide to fit. Out came the grinder, out came the interior walls, and I also cut a great big hole in the side of the van!

Before:


During:


After...installed and working, but still needs "prettying"


Annoyingly, the plastic vents that were on the outside of the wall were covering nothing but a couple of dents.

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
Some Gump said:
Mobile home of some description

"Try new things"

You're doggers, aren't you? smile
Ssshhhhhhhh!!!

lesstatt

4,318 posts

197 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
We have a NO SOLIDS in the van rule. The first person to break it has to clean out the cassette in the morning. It hasnt happened yet. Not sure on the slogans on the doors but you missed off, "life is an adventure before dementia"

SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
Today, I thought I'd fit new carpet to the steps....and then spill gloss paint all over it :/


So I cleaned it up as best I could, and fitted some pretty led lights.


SlimRick

Original Poster:

2,258 posts

172 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Made a start converting the fluorescent lamps to LEDs today:







Edited by SlimRick on Saturday 28th February 18:40

Some Gump

12,868 posts

193 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
SlimRick said:
Today, I thought I'd fit new carpet to the steps....and then get bukkake all over it :/


So I cleaned it up as best I could...
See? Told you you were doggers =)

mike9009

7,589 posts

250 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
We have an old T25 (so not a like for like comparison, but 2.0L aircooled (70bhp when new) and fully kitted with high top, approx. 2.5 tonnes I reckon).

It can be a struggle up hills, but I suspect 15mph is a little extreme. We have just fitted a set of twin webers to ours. It has made a huge difference - before it was similar to yours (approx. 20 mph up slow long hills). Now I can pull up the same hill at 30 - 35mph.

Love the other work you are doing to yours - a bit of inspiration for me to start tidying our van up a little prior to the spring/ summer.


Mike