Van conversion

[hannahsophie]

Hi, has anyone converted a MWB Citroen dispatch? I need a van suitable to drive on the daily but big enough to convert in to a mini camper for weekend trips and long trips abroad. Struggling to decide if I need to go bigger or not! Any advice would be great

 

[PeterCarole29]

You have to make a list of priorities of what you need and budget first. There are small van conversions done to the dispatch.

 

[Manic]

Worth checking out these
Broken Link Removed
and check out YouTube

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Gosh they are a bit too small imo.
Maybe as a day van at a push. But weekend/long trips abroad ? I think you will wish, after spending all the time and money on converting it, you’d gone bigger. I’m 5’11” and Ralph’s just a bit smaller and I don’t think I’d even be able to sit up straight at those tables on the link.
Welcome the the forum btw

 

[Jamesh]

What do you need in it?

How long do you intend staying in it?

If weekending with basic cooking facilities then fine.

If a week with washing / toilet cubicle then no way!!

What's your budget?

Cheers James

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[EML]

Haven't done it, but I would say that it's common to convert HiAces in NZ and Australia. Some googling shows discussion on Dispatch vs HiAce conversion. I've done 3 weeks in Tasmania by myself in a HiAce and it was exactly right for the job. But... it did have a pop top. You'd probably go crazy pretty quickly in the UK on a rainy weekend if you couldn't stand up. And it would be cosy for two.

Cooking: the HiAce had a two-ring spirit stove. I managed to find one last year for my own (gas-free) big Transit, but they're next to impossible to find now.

 

[CamperJack]

When I was semi full time I was chatting to a guy who had converted a small van. Not sure what it was but it was a postie type red van.

He'd taken out the passenger seat and made a bed that stretched the entire length of the van, including the space where the seat used to be.

Looked ace for a weekend! I was very impressed he'd managed to fit in a sink and two burner hob and a porta pottie in a draw.

But I'd want to be able to stand up if on longer trips myself.

And I couldn't possibly take the misses and the dog in it. (Pros and cons, not saying which this would be. )

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[pjay]

Always fancied one as a day van or weekender if we didn't have a pvc. Would be ok for longer trips as long as you are going somewhere hot.

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Turn your Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter, VW Transporter or Volkswagen Caddy into a camper with a boot jump or conversion kit from Amdro - 01286 650612.

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There are quite a few others out there

Pete

 

[mitzimad]

i remember Terry having a small van at a meet one year never saw it again he didnt stop moaning about it

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[mitzimad]

for me anything you cant stand up in is to small but if your young and supple not so much of a problem .i think it wouldbe better to find a higher van no difference with driving

 

[Minxy]

scotzsue perhaps you can advise seeing you have a small one, albeit with a bit higher ceiling.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Some campsites are not allowing Van Conversions in that are not fully converted. I.e Transits and Sprinters with no Windows. nSo just be advised

 

[Terry]

i remember Terry having a small van at a meet one year never saw it again he didnt stop moaning about it

It was a VW caddy like you say in your second post ok when young and supple (which I am not) We ended up pulling all the furniture out and using it as Paul's work van.Also converted a vauxhall vivaro,Merc Vito and of course VW s t 25 and t 5s

 

[scotzsue]

As well as the coachbuilt we have, i have a fiat doblo conversion, registered as a motor caravan. I can just stand up in it, but I am a 5 footer and shrinking.
It has a bench seat at the side which opens out over the whole of the back of the van to make a reasonable sized double. Have only ever used it solo. Has a single burner hob/sink combined, compressor fridge and a thetford under the bed, i still have to make a door to get it out. I also have an, as yet, unused by me awning it came with the van and has seen some use can be put up by one, I tried it in the garden we have a practice rail on the side of the garage.

Pros: no need to take a jump box out and in, still got a fair bit of usable space, compact, reasonable storage Easy to drive.
Cons:for me the seat in the back is a bit high when the bed is out as a double thee is no standing space, am no longer agile enough to get from the front to the back without going outside.
could I use it for long trips away, yes if well organised, and using some sites with shower facilities
It is a high top, converted from a disability vehicle, despite that it is about an inch too high to go under many height barriers, know one near us is because roads has been resurfaced.
if i was buying one knowing i would be using it abrold or for longish trips i would buy a slightly larger vehicle,
There is a thriving doblo group on FB and a decent number use their vans for long trips, there used to be one man and his doblo on here but havent seen him for a while.

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[busby]

Would not want to go any smaller than our Symbol, 5.2 Mtrs but really good headroom.,,2 Mtrs.Also could not manage without cassette toilet and shower in there own ( SMALL) room..BUSBY.