rb panel van conversion begins !

[Kool Kroozer]

Not being Gay myself (not that there is anything wrong with that - Sienfeld expression) but if i was I would love to find a bloke like Ralph too His work speaks volumes and i am pretty sure it all looks better than the pics do it justice

 

[cruiser]

I hate him. he makes me green with envy. well done mate.

 

[DBK]

It is indeed a superb job. The craftsmanship shines through.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Hi
Yes we tried to arrange for you to come round to ours to see our self build (Campervan) in Horbury when you first posted that you were going to do your own. Sadly we never managed to find a time we were all available.
In the meantime we have moved to York after 30 years of living and working in the Wakefield area. I spent most of my Fire Service career down at Brunswick Street and Lin worked at Pinderfields.
I am hoping to arrange a Rally in York next year so if we don't meet up before maybe you would be up for that?
All the best with the rest of the conversion, honestly I think you'll end up with 60K's worth of Van there its brill.
Cheers, Jez & Linda

Hi, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, busy boy at the moment.
I thought we had spoken before, i can remember your offer to view your van.
We will look out for the rally at York, we love it there

Thanks for your comments on the van, hopefully you will get to see him sometime.

Cheers.....Ralph

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Cant say anymore than i have already Ralph, but each set of pics is really starting to show the detail of this build and how much time and effort you have applied to it - you must be chuffed to bits with what you have achieved already Great work Great job just soldier on - when its finished i aint gonna have anything to follow on here - unless you do another

Thanks again for your comments Toxic. All the positive comments are great but there is only so much you can say.
Your right I am totally chuffed bits with it so far I don't think i would ever do it for a living but its something i would love to do when my son takes over the building business . I would be great to have all the time in the world to build a bespoke conversion for someone.
So you never know.....There may be more to come
But we shall be keeping this one !

Cheers for now.....Ralph

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

Not being Gay myself (not that there is anything wrong with that - Sienfeld expression) but if i was I would love to find a bloke like Ralph too His work speaks volumes and i am pretty sure it all looks better than the pics do it justice

 

[manda3000gt]

A definite future option when you decide to hang up your trowel I think, nice warm unit radio & kettle on the home of RB Conversions

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

A definite future option when you decide to hang up your trowel I think, nice warm unit radio & kettle on the home of RB Conversions

A nice warm unit, radio and kettle.....I like the sound of that

It beats building a substation on a wind farm with a -5 windchill in January......and only a flask of luke warm tea

Hope to catch up soon

 

[Wildbill]

this is the thread of the year brilliant
bill

 

[UK Pete]

Great work ralph, keep the pictures coming,
pete

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[StitchesnFluff]

Fantastic work, well done!

 

[PORKSTER]

Lots of people dream of doing this me included, lots think they could do it easy. But your doing it and your doing it bloody well as some work

 

[Popeye]

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished article........cracking job. Griff

 

[Terry]

I am just back from stopping Ralph working for half hour while we had coffee and he showed me there van
I would like to say what a good job he is making but after seeing it in the flesh so to speak I am afraid I cannot say that Photos do not do this van justice he is not just making a good job IT'S A CRACKING JOB SUPERB I know he and Bev are very proud OF THE WORK HE HAS DONE AND THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE I'll SAY IT AGAIN SUPERB NOT BAD FOR A BRICKIE in fact Bloody good
terry

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

I am just back from stopping Ralph working for half hour while we had coffee and he showed me there van
I would like to say what a good job he is making but after seeing it in the flesh so to speak I am afraid I cannot say that Photos do not do this van justice he is not just making a good job IT'S A CRACKING JOB SUPERB I know he and Bev are very proud OF THE WORK HE HAS DONE AND THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE I'll SAY IT AGAIN SUPERB NOT BAD FOR A BRICKIE in fact Bloody good
terry

Thanks Terry

I never expected the Camper Van building inspector on a Sunday
Glad you like it anyway

Thanks also for bringing us round two lovely foam mattresses for Goth weekend
Catch up on Friday night Terry

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

Well just in time for Goth weekend, ive finally made the two bed bases to sleep on

I worked out today , that i have worked every day , for just over three months
I am talking work and converting the van .....That explains the one and a half stone lost

Things have just come together this weekend, two beds to sleep on, locker space created under the beds and the back top locker finished
The back doors are now only used to access the under bed storage.
I must have been in and out of them a few hundred times by now.....Bit sad to see them go

Anyway, out with the old and in with the new side door from now on

Here is a few pictures from this weekends work ...

Thanks for looking.....Ralph
Ps for all the eagle eyes...
Note the Honda. In the boot.
Used once. Had it 4 years. We might be taking it to Whitby.
Just to get the van warmed up with the leccie heater. Once it's warm it should stay that way. With all the insulation I've put in!. It's forecast 4 deg on Sat night. Once we are set up with the new battery solar, and inverter. The gennie will be back in its box.
Honest.

 

[weekenders]

View attachment 59655 View attachment 59656 View attachment 59657 View attachment 59658 View attachment 59659 View attachment 59660 Well just in time for Goth weekend, ive finally made the two bed bases to sleep on

I worked out today , that i have worked every day , for just over three months
I am talking work and converting the van .....That explains the one and a half stone lost

Things have just come together this weekend, two beds to sleep on, locker space created under the beds and the back top locker finished
The back doors are now only used to access the under bed storage.
I must have been in and out of them a few hundred times by now.....Bit sad to see them go

Anyway, out with the old and in with the new side door from now on

Here is a few pictures from this weekends work ...

Thanks for looking.....Ralph
Ps for all the eagle eyes...
Note the Honda. In the boot.
Used once. Had it 4 years. We might be taking it to Whitby.
Just to get the van warmed up with the leccie heater. Once it's warm it should stay that way. With all the insulation I've put in!. It's forecast 4 deg on Sat night. Once we are set up with the new battery solar, and inverter. The gennie will be back in its box.
Honest.

Can't wait to see Pug at Whitby, it will be back to basic till you have finished all the kitchen and bathroom areas, but at least you will be able to sleep in her/him, you can call at ours for a cuppa

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Can't wait to see Pug at Whitby, it will be back to basic till you have finished all the kitchen and bathroom areas, but at least you will be able to sleep in her/him, you can call at ours for a cuppa

Hi Val, yes we're looking forward to coming. Our first outing in him.
As for finishing .... I'm sure by the time we go to Regal Furnishings for the upholstery doing( 19th May) we should be done. Should be.......Fingers crossed.
The work surface has arrived , we now need to find someone to cut it. Ralphs not going to , he's scared he'll make a mess of it , it was expensive.
Looking at what he's done already , I'm sure he could. But he's said he's not.
We've a toilet in but it's not yet plumbed in. We've not got the fridge , cooker or sink in the kitchen yet either, and no water. So in effect we will be a metal tent.
Its forecast cold and wet. Typical.
BUT we know , we've had rubbish forecasts for Goth before , don't we, and it's turned out lovely for us all. So fingers crossed.

 

[Baycott]

Have a great time at the Goth weekend you deserve it.
Enjoy staying in Pug. It will be a small taster for you.
Great job Ralph
Thanks for keeping us posted

 

[Minxy]

I'm intrigued by the high level brake light housing you've put on ... I assume it has a built in camera?

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

You assume right Mel.
Ralph got it as an optional extra , along with some other bits n bobs .

The vans colour is a very light Gold colour and in Metallic which is one of the many upgrades we have chosen.
Here is a list of the other upgrades......

Cruise Control / Speed Limiter
Reversing Camera linked to central radio system screen
Satellite Navigation
Bluetooth Radio
Cab Air Con
Uprated Alternator 180A
Reinforced Battery
Engine under-Tray Protection
Front and Rear Mudflaps
Uprated Tyres 16" Four Season
Alloys
LED day running lights
Rear Suspension Upgrade
.

 

[Cal54]

Just love following the progress on this van. Bev you are very lucky having such a talented partner. Can't wait to see more photos and hopefully in the flesh at sometime.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Carol I am lucky, I know. He's a good un.

Well Ralphs been hard at it in Pug. He's finished off the wetroom. It's all plumbed wired sealed and ready to use now.
It just needs a door.
In fact we need to order some doors , wardrobe and drawer fronts for the kitchen area.
We are having some made up for us in cream high gloss we think, with a beveled edge. Keeping the bathroom door and lounge overhead lockers in walnut. Ih do it , and we liked how it separated the areas.

He's well into the electrics now. Fuse box , inverter, battery, lights etc. All the plastic tubes he put in he voids have cables in now. As he says , it's all coming together.
He's been taking photos as he goes along and will update once he has a spare hour. His knees are killing him . Working in confined spaces.

He's also been having to catch up on his invoices , to keep the money coming in ! He got behind , working on Pug.
I'd post the update for him with the pics but I havnt a clue what picture is what.

I'm quite excited as we are taking a trip to Regal Furnishings tomorrow . I want to make sure they have the right colour and type of leather , to match our fabric.
Before our booked in day 19th May.
I've gone off the idea of cream , Due to people saying it shows dirt in any cracks , that occur, or stains with denim etc.
We dont think we fancy dark brown as it may be too dark, so we're hoping there's a mushroom or taupe colour to tone with our velvet/canvas striped fabric, it's by Next. Very hard wearing upholstery fabric.
It's got chocolate beige taupe cream and grey stripes.
That actually sounds nasty , but it's not !
We can also tell them about the bumper bars and pelmet things were wanting too . The more we can get out of the way tomorrow, the more time they can have on the 19th to do it.
Fingers crossed they've got the colour we want.

 

[Cal54]

Hope you enjoy your trip to Regal. My sister had a makeover by them some years ago and she was well pleased. Such a selection, it took nearly as long for her to make a decision as it did for Regal to do the work!!!

Looking forward to the next set of pics Bev.

 

[Terry]

Thanks for the update Bev I went back up to Durham yesterday to pick up some plastic sheet to face my doors with and going back to Magnums today for some windows and loo with a few other bits and bobs then I think I have everything
terry

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

Thanks for the update Bev I went back up to Durham yesterday to pick up some plastic sheet to face my doors with and going back to Magnums today for some windows and loo with a few other bits and bobs then I think I have everything
terry

Hope you manage to get all your bits and bobs Terry, don't go getting carried away !

Hope you enjoy your trip to Regal. My sister had a makeover by them some years ago and she was well pleased. Such a selection, it took nearly as long for her to make a decision as it did for Regal to do the work!!!

Looking forward to the next set of pics Bev.

We've already got the fabric from Next. So at least we don't have to look for that. It's just the leather we need for the knee rolls and tops of the back rests.
Below is a picture of the fabric , we have bought. It's only a small slither.
The veltrim on the walls and the walnut board used for furniture.
A leather sample we have already, and repair strip for the Corian work top.

I'm thinking to go for the darker beige the leather is pointing at, but we also like the greyer tone too. Decisions decisions.......
Ralphs just got back so we're off once he's been in the shower.

 

[cruiser]

I have been waiting for my wife to chose a colour for the bathroom . for nearly 3 months.

 

[Wombles]

Just read the whole lot (should have been busy elsewhere ) but once started had to read it all! Very inspirational & well done. Thank you for all the detailed info. about products & suppliers as should be very helpful for anyone considering this

 

[Abacist]

Just read the whole lot (should have been busy elsewhere ) but once started had to read it all! Very inspirational & well done. Thank you for all the detailed info. about products & suppliers as should be very helpful for anyone considering this

And me - excellent!

 

[Cal54]

Love your colour scheme Bev. Can't wait to see the finished photos and hopefully the MH in the flesh at a rally sometime.

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