6 berth camper conversion
Discussion
Currently camping in a Vango Ventanas TC 6 man tent, which we love. However the time to set it up and take it down means it's only for longer trips of a week or two. I would like a quicker option for shorter trips, so looking at campers and motorhomes, however there are six of us, so the off the shelf stuff tends to be a) massive and b) expensive.
I'm considering a Transit crew van, height H3, length L3 or L4, with a DIY conversion to a Japanese "capsule hotel" type arrangement in the back to give enough beds for 6. It would only be for sleeping in. However, I can't find any examples of anyone else doing a similar layout online, which makes me think there must be some fatal flaw I've not considered.
Would appreciate comments from those with more experience in campers and conversions than me.
I'm considering a Transit crew van, height H3, length L3 or L4, with a DIY conversion to a Japanese "capsule hotel" type arrangement in the back to give enough beds for 6. It would only be for sleeping in. However, I can't find any examples of anyone else doing a similar layout online, which makes me think there must be some fatal flaw I've not considered.
Would appreciate comments from those with more experience in campers and conversions than me.
Your best bet is to get a 4 berth van and add an awning with a bedroom on, doesn't take too long to set up.
What you are proposing leaves no space for anything else I.e. clothes, shoes, food, coats, activities etc
Ideas
https://share.google/xu7XDyBXl6MwLpecB
What you are proposing leaves no space for anything else I.e. clothes, shoes, food, coats, activities etc
Ideas
https://share.google/xu7XDyBXl6MwLpecB
This seems a good use case for having both a camper/motorhome and a caravan and split the sleeping between the two.
I reckon you could fairly easily self convert a six berther - get one of the XLB extra high roof Ducatos (L4 H3), or similar, and have longitudinal bunk beds at the rear stacked 3 high each side.
It would be snug with the lowest one pretty much on the deck, and going to be tight on storage as there won't be room for overhead lockers.
Then you'll still have plenty of room at the front for seating (3 front seats, then a 2+1 belted lounge seats) and kitchen/bathroom/etc.
I reckon you could fairly easily self convert a six berther - get one of the XLB extra high roof Ducatos (L4 H3), or similar, and have longitudinal bunk beds at the rear stacked 3 high each side.
It would be snug with the lowest one pretty much on the deck, and going to be tight on storage as there won't be room for overhead lockers.
Then you'll still have plenty of room at the front for seating (3 front seats, then a 2+1 belted lounge seats) and kitchen/bathroom/etc.
Agree with others above. We are only four people and have a VW T25 hightop - so could sleep four in the van.
We take a four man tent that takes about 12 minutes to put up. It provides extra space, a place to store things when going out for the day in the van and means we are not cramped into a condensation fest in the van at night. And the tent is not too big once disassembled.....
We take a four man tent that takes about 12 minutes to put up. It provides extra space, a place to store things when going out for the day in the van and means we are not cramped into a condensation fest in the van at night. And the tent is not too big once disassembled.....
Another one here who thinks that would be miserable for a holiday or few days with 6 of you in a panel van (even a big one). What you swap in terms of 'set up' of a tent currently you would swap for sorting kit, having to put everything away, no privacy etc etc.
I would consider something like a big van and inflatable awning, or van and caravan.
And I would most certainly consider how to reduce the crap I take camping! We recently met friends in their identical to ours two-berth VW camper. We had added a small bag each of clothes, a towel and a wash bag. We could set up lunch in 5 mins, bed can be folded out and made in 10, and packed for breakfast as quickly, we could pack up in 15 and drive off. It transpired our friends had every gadget going, all stored in drawers and faffy places - and we use cupboards with open (fabric lined) boxes, we took a third of the stuff they took, it was all just easy - until we ended up putting the kettle on and reading another chapter of our books while they took at least twice as long for every task. And a lot of it was volume of stuff they took...
I would consider something like a big van and inflatable awning, or van and caravan.
And I would most certainly consider how to reduce the crap I take camping! We recently met friends in their identical to ours two-berth VW camper. We had added a small bag each of clothes, a towel and a wash bag. We could set up lunch in 5 mins, bed can be folded out and made in 10, and packed for breakfast as quickly, we could pack up in 15 and drive off. It transpired our friends had every gadget going, all stored in drawers and faffy places - and we use cupboards with open (fabric lined) boxes, we took a third of the stuff they took, it was all just easy - until we ended up putting the kettle on and reading another chapter of our books while they took at least twice as long for every task. And a lot of it was volume of stuff they took...
a driveaway awning would be must for 6 people, i have a 6 berth rollerteam, but even when there is only 3 adults and 2 dogs travelling, we always put up an awning, absolute must for us, we use an outdoor revolution t4, huge space, easy to put up, 6 in a van without an awning would be a nightmare.
POIDH said:
Another one here who thinks that would be miserable for a holiday or few days with 6 of you in a panel van (even a big one). What you swap in terms of 'set up' of a tent currently you would swap for sorting kit, having to put everything away, no privacy etc etc.
I would consider something like a big van and inflatable awning, or van and caravan.
And I would most certainly consider how to reduce the crap I take camping! We recently met friends in their identical to ours two-berth VW camper. We had added a small bag each of clothes, a towel and a wash bag. We could set up lunch in 5 mins, bed can be folded out and made in 10, and packed for breakfast as quickly, we could pack up in 15 and drive off. It transpired our friends had every gadget going, all stored in drawers and faffy places - and we use cupboards with open (fabric lined) boxes, we took a third of the stuff they took, it was all just easy - until we ended up putting the kettle on and reading another chapter of our books while they took at least twice as long for every task. And a lot of it was volume of stuff they took...
I can smell the smug from here. It’s often in the wind on campsites from people sitting outside their ‘great white’. I would consider something like a big van and inflatable awning, or van and caravan.
And I would most certainly consider how to reduce the crap I take camping! We recently met friends in their identical to ours two-berth VW camper. We had added a small bag each of clothes, a towel and a wash bag. We could set up lunch in 5 mins, bed can be folded out and made in 10, and packed for breakfast as quickly, we could pack up in 15 and drive off. It transpired our friends had every gadget going, all stored in drawers and faffy places - and we use cupboards with open (fabric lined) boxes, we took a third of the stuff they took, it was all just easy - until we ended up putting the kettle on and reading another chapter of our books while they took at least twice as long for every task. And a lot of it was volume of stuff they took...
Badda said:
POIDH said:
Another one here who thinks that would be miserable for a holiday or few days with 6 of you in a panel van (even a big one). What you swap in terms of 'set up' of a tent currently you would swap for sorting kit, having to put everything away, no privacy etc etc.
I would consider something like a big van and inflatable awning, or van and caravan.
And I would most certainly consider how to reduce the crap I take camping! We recently met friends in their identical to ours two-berth VW camper. We had added a small bag each of clothes, a towel and a wash bag. We could set up lunch in 5 mins, bed can be folded out and made in 10, and packed for breakfast as quickly, we could pack up in 15 and drive off. It transpired our friends had every gadget going, all stored in drawers and faffy places - and we use cupboards with open (fabric lined) boxes, we took a third of the stuff they took, it was all just easy - until we ended up putting the kettle on and reading another chapter of our books while they took at least twice as long for every task. And a lot of it was volume of stuff they took...
I can smell the smug from here. It s often in the wind on campsites from people sitting outside their great white . I would consider something like a big van and inflatable awning, or van and caravan.
And I would most certainly consider how to reduce the crap I take camping! We recently met friends in their identical to ours two-berth VW camper. We had added a small bag each of clothes, a towel and a wash bag. We could set up lunch in 5 mins, bed can be folded out and made in 10, and packed for breakfast as quickly, we could pack up in 15 and drive off. It transpired our friends had every gadget going, all stored in drawers and faffy places - and we use cupboards with open (fabric lined) boxes, we took a third of the stuff they took, it was all just easy - until we ended up putting the kettle on and reading another chapter of our books while they took at least twice as long for every task. And a lot of it was volume of stuff they took...
Stuart Ruck (Rolling Rucks on You Tube) built one along those lines two or three years back, but only for five people.
He's an excellent van builder, does it professionally for others (Vanology) these days, but they absolutely hated using it. They went back to a big moho in very short order.
It's all on YT.
I'd think very carefully before committing.
He's an excellent van builder, does it professionally for others (Vanology) these days, but they absolutely hated using it. They went back to a big moho in very short order.
It's all on YT.
I'd think very carefully before committing.
Steve Kimberley said:
Stuart Ruck (Rolling Rucks on You Tube) built one along those lines two or three years back, but only for five people.
He's an excellent van builder, does it professionally for others (Vanology) these days, but they absolutely hated using it. They went back to a big moho in very short order.
It's all on YT.
I'd think very carefully before committing.
Thanks Steve, what they've built is reasonably similar to what I was considering, will have a proper watch.He's an excellent van builder, does it professionally for others (Vanology) these days, but they absolutely hated using it. They went back to a big moho in very short order.
It's all on YT.
I'd think very carefully before committing.
HardtopManual said:
Steve Kimberley said:
Stuart Ruck (Rolling Rucks on You Tube) built one along those lines two or three years back, but only for five people.
He's an excellent van builder, does it professionally for others (Vanology) these days, but they absolutely hated using it. They went back to a big moho in very short order.
It's all on YT.
I'd think very carefully before committing.
Thanks Steve, what they've built is reasonably similar to what I was considering, will have a proper watch.He's an excellent van builder, does it professionally for others (Vanology) these days, but they absolutely hated using it. They went back to a big moho in very short order.
It's all on YT.
I'd think very carefully before committing.
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