LDV Convoy build

[Craigderby]

Here's my 2004 LDV Convoy.
I'm the 3rd owner with a lease company being the first owner, then a gentlemen who did the initial conversion, before sadly passing away and me buying it.
It's covered just over 80,000 miles, and is in good sound condition.

This is it when I first got it.

With the original conversion

It really wasn't to our taste, and the layout was wrong, so out it all came.

Until it ended up like this

This was bought and stripped to give a few fittings

And that's where I'm currently at.

More updates to come as I progress.....

 

[chaser]

This was ours, loved it

 

[Craigderby]

Nice , any pics of the inside?

 

[jollyrodger]

With all Ford running gear ?
Underated van have converted one or two ,wider than a transit .keep us updated

 

[chaser]

No sorry, but I love ldvs, got a pickup now, would still have the old one now if the floor hadn't fell out

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[chaser]

With all Ford running gear ?
Underated van have converted one or two ,wider than a transit .keep us updated

Our one had the banana, but the pickup I have now has the duratec, both just run for ever

 

[chaser]

We had the cooker where yours is but the front was open with revolving seats, toilet and shower across the back, and a double bed in the middle, the only problem we had which I can't see how you can get round is having to put the bed up every night and take up again before you could get at the cooker, but we had the lot wardrobe, fridge blown hot air heating, someone must of spent a fortune converting it, the big problem was the rust, we kept it going welding for the test three years, but eventually give up, but I checked the mot thing on the net this spring and someone is still running it.

 

[chaser]

It was pretty much like this one but the other way round, but you can see on this one once you slide the bed out it stops you opening the oven or fridge.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=272434310000&globalID=EBAY-GB

 

[Craigderby]

It's the 2.4 duroteq with Transit running gear.
The layout we're thinking of is a single fixed bed across the back with storage underneath. A seating area towards the front to make a double bed with a toilet in between and the kitchen opposite.
Ive got a week off work soon, so im hoping to crack on with it. I'll update as I go

 

[Ranger]

Have a google for LDV "Devon Sahara" we have one and that is the exact layout.

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[Minxy]

I know it's old fashioned but keep the stove if you can ... the oven/grill works a treat on them, much better than the modern ones!

 

[jockaneezer]

Here's my mate's old Post Bus conversion, did it on a shoestring.

 

[Craigderby]

Bit more done today.

The PO didn't fit a roof light, instead he went for a car sunroof

So today I took it out, and starting rebuilding the roof with fibreglass, and put in the frame for the normal roof light.

 

[RogerThat]

Great thread!

I love watching projects coming together, thanks for taking the time to share the photos

 

[Craigderby]

Bit more done today.

Started by getting the feet fixed in place for the solar panel.

And then moved on to painting. I'm doing it Battleship Grey, with a Satin finish

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[Craigderby]

Finished the grey today. Just need to do along the bottom, which I'm doing in a black stone chip finish.

 

[RogerThat]

Wow, this is quickly taking shape

 

[Minxy]

I do like the paint job ... makes a change from 'really shiny' but not like the awful matt finish that some cars now have for some stupid reason!

 

[Minxy]

I've been thinking about the layout you want ... something like this?

 

[Craigderby]

I've been thinking about the layout you want ... something like this?

View attachment 132687

Fantastic. Yes, that's just what I had in mind. Never thought about the idea with the toilet door, but that's great! Thank you

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[Minxy]

If you are able to lift the fridge higher and raise the worktop above it, or put a cupboard above, it will make getting stuff in/out of the fridge much easier and allow for the wheel arch underneath. With regard to the toilet compartment, depending on what toilet you have you may need to bring the toilet forward or put it on a plinth to again avoid the wheel arch.

 

[Minxy]

If you can let me have some internal measurements I'll have a go at doing more accurate drawings for you, as well as the measurements of any equipment/fittings you already have and want to use.

 

[bigguspeckus]

WOW! That solar panel looks a whopper, how many watts is it? Love the paint job, brill colour. I had a LDV Pilot for 13 years; (Vanessa) was my "lug all" during my self employed period, I changed her oil & filters etc every year and she never broke down on me or failed to start, even on the coldest of days. I'm retired now but Vanessa drives on,,, I gave her to my son in law.
All the best with the refit and thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[RidersofRohan]

Our van is that layout but on a Fiat. Currently in Spain on a 8 week tour and the layout has worked well for us. My wife has a back injury and sometimes needs to rest during the day (siesta?) or lie in. Whereas me and the dog have the rest of the van available etc. The wardrobe over the bed is huge and ideal for touring.

 

[RidersofRohan]

Couple of practical points albeit on a Fiat so ldv will be different. The toilet and the wheel arch: to avoid a huge plinth our cassette exits internally so you need room to do it in the corridor no problem on a Fiat.
Although we have solved the draughty back doors with an insulated flap sheeting over the top half may have been better as it would give a tidier arrangement for storing items against such as hook up wire, awning pole etc.

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[RidersofRohan]

On Minxy Girls layout the bed could be claustrophobic, ours is the other way round with the feet under the wardrobe and the wardrobe next to the bathroom. This means the near side of the van is more open with only top cupboards running the length of it

 

[Craigderby]

Thanks for all the input everyone I really appreciate it.
On the toilet front I'm thinking of putting it against the side of the van above the wheelarch with a step in front. It would then be emptied from underneath the rear bed.
The rear bed doesn't need to be too big as it's only for our daughter and there's not that much of her. It will also have a solid back towards the rear doors. All the rear doors will access will be the underbed space, and will just be for storage. Chairs and that sort of stuff.
I'm still a bit undecided on the fridge. I do have a 3 way which can go in, but the van will more for weekends than long trips, so I'm tempted to save a bit of space and just have a coolbox.
@bigguspeckus. The panel is 100 watts. The angle of the pic might make it look bigger than it is, off the top of my head it's about 110cms.
@Minxy Girl I'll have a proper measure up next week and post some dimensions, but don't feel under any obligation to do anything with them.

 

[Craigderby]

Did a little bit more in my lunch break today , it's so handy having the van at work, just had the time to mask up and paint the bottom edge black.

Next job the wheels, and do something with the bumpers. I'm going to try the old hot airgun trick on the bumpers, but if that doesn't work I'll probably get some plastic dye.

 

[Craigderby]

Not very exciting, but lunchtime today was dedicated to painting wheels.

 

[RogerThat]

What's the hot air trick on the bumpers?

The front bumper on my 1999 Ducato was black plastic but it's almost bleached itself white since then! I tried that spray on stuff from Halfrauds, waste of money that was!

Any tips??

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