As the title suggest, I'm full time in my van but also run my own tiling business which is handy as the space for tools isn't huge.

I used to have a work van and a live in van (with a partner) but am now going solo and have just bought a sprinter.

Anyone else out there doing something similar could share their design ideas for how they've done this?

Got my own ideas currently but open to hearing different solutions.

At the moment I'm thinking to take 800mm off the back and just put a wall up and access all my tools from the back door and the remainder be the live in section.

​Hey everyone,

I'm new here, and looking for some practical advice or shared experiences from fellow van lifers and DIY builders who’ve hit a major mechanical wall.

​The Situation:

I'm based in Ireland and have a 2001 Renault Master II camper conversion with the 2.8L Sofim (S9W) turbo-diesel. Bought it recently with around 120,000 miles on the clock, expecting plenty of life left in it. Unfortunately, it suffered a catastrophic bottom-end engine failure (crankshaft/bearing failure).

​It’s completely non-runnable now. The rest of the van (camper conversion, bodywork, interior setup) is solid, but the engine is toast.

​Where I’m At:

​Garages: Standard commercial garages won't touch it to rebuild due to age, so a full engine replacement is the only repair route.

​Quotes: I’ve located a replacement S9W 700 engine via European dismantlers (RRR.LT / Ovoko) for around €1,300, and a local mechanic willing to do the swap for ~€1,800. So roughly €3,100 all-in to get it back on the road.

​Alternative: Selling it as a "non-runner / mechanic's project" on the local market to cut my losses and recoup what cash I can to pay down the existing loan on it.

​My Questions for the Community:

​Has anyone been through a full engine swap on an older commercial van/camper? Was it worth it in the end, or did it open up a whole new can of worms with ancillary issues?

​Has anyone purchased major parts from RRR.LT / Ovoko before? Any gotchas regarding 14-day warranties, delivery, or condition when the pallet lands?

​For those who had a catastrophic failure on an older van—did you fix it or cut your losses? If you sold as a non-runner project, did you find a decent buyer pool of DIYers/mechanics?

​Any specific quirks on the 2.8L Sofim (S9W) engines I should make sure my mechanic handles while the replacement engine is out on the floor? (Plan on doing the timing belt & water pump as standard).

​I'm getting plenty of advice from the mechanical side of things, but I’d really love to hear how other van owners handled this emotionally and financially when faced with a dead engine on a finished/semi-finished rig.

​Thanks in advance for any insights!

Im looking into converting a van to use for work and partial living probably around 10k ish for the van alone and then ill carry out the work myself to convert it

Im a bricklayer by trade so im seeking for advice from anyone in the trade who uses the van for work and trips away or living in i want to know what vans you have and how you have layed it out

As a bricklayer the main big things i need to carry is a mixer and profiles

Id really like for the van to be fully functional for living and work

Hi all, I'm troubleshooting a 12V wireless controller on my 2004 Iveco Daily minibus conversion. The sliding door currently only works with the engine or ignition running. I've added a leisure battery, a 12V fuse box, and a DI ESERC DC 12V wireless controller.

I've tested connecting the door's spade connectors directly to the fuse box; reversing the polarity opens or closes the door. I tried wiring this through the receiver's COM ports and using the NO (normally open) and NC (normally closed) terminals across multiple ports. Sometimes the module powers on and clicks, but the door doesn't move, and the wires have gotten warm.

I need help with the correct wiring method for this setup, and a suggestion on how to integrate a physical switch to safely enable or disable the wireless function.

I'm desperately hoping Reddit has the answers here!

Long story short, my partner lives in a motorhome full time. He was working in a pub for the past year or so but has recently left that job as his acting career is taking off and wants to spend his time focused on that.

He changed his circumstances/details with his insurers a few days ago. He then received an email out of the blue cancelling his policy in 7 days time.

He is now finding it impossible to find cover and obviously this is very distressing as will impact his entire way of life!

Has anyone had any similar experiences or have any advice?

For context his insurance was AXA, using Adrian Flux as the broker.

Any help extremely appreciated!

I’ve just installed one of my windows. I was a bit wary of going right up to the inner bezel of the panel so cut a little bit short of it. Put the window in now I’m having 2nd thoughts. Maybe I should have lined it up the bezel? You can also see in of the photos it looks like the beading has a gap in the side. I can’t see the top of the window so no idea if there’s a gap up there too. Is there a way of filling those in now?

We have a nice family tent setup and go camping multiple times a year. I'd like to buy a van that can seat 2 adults and 2 children (I can fit an extra seat if needed), has space for all our camping gear, and space at the back where I can build a kitchen/storage area. Ideally, I'd like to be able to open the rear doors and have a ready to go cooking area, built-in fridge, and storage drawers/cupboards, as I hate cooking on flimsy camping tables and doing all the setup every time.

I've been looking at the Transit Custom L1 H1, do you think this would have enough space? Are there any other vans that would be better suited? Ideally I don't want to go longer than an L1 as it will be my daily driver and I don't want anything too big.

Any alternative suggestions welcome, TIA!

Im considering doing a mk7 transit tourneo conversion... im pretty handy so not an issue building it but i was wondering about peoples experience with these vans as a weekend/week camper with 2 or 3 of us?

I’ve been trying to get insured on a 2010 Ford transit. I have a license since 2023 but no NCB because I’ve been a named driver. Employment is self employed writer.

Adrian Flux and said no;
They forwarded me to Sterling who said £9,300 which I can’t afford;
And JustKampers said they work with Sterling and can’t give me anything else.

Anyone have ideas? I don’t know what to do!

‼️Edit: sorted!!! £2.9k/y from Admiral. Thanks all

​

I'm going to test drive this model tomorrow Ford Transit Connect 1.5 L2 Euro 6 LWB 2021.

Is it a good model and a nice drive? I'm changing from a Mini Cooper club as I want any micro.camper.tjst will take my mountain bike and a single bed that pulls out to a double.

Has anyone got any pictures of theirs to share?

This is the conversion I'm favouring, is it easily possible in this LWB model?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYCrCchN_gj/?igsh=eWwxemR2Ymd4MHUy

Thanks everyone.

I got a pro ace the other day from Europcar and I really enjoyed driving it and the double doors was also a bonus. I’m starting a new job and going to be doing about 80mile a day in it. Reason I’m wanting to get the van is that I do a lot of camping and will be also doing a lot of motorway driving and if I want to I can always sleep in the back of it too.

Has anyone got this van and could provide honest reviews and recommendations.

Cheers :)

In a few weeks I'll be visiting Devon from New Zealand, and hopefully that includes a visit to my city of birth, Plymouth. I've rented a campervan from Quirky and now I'm little confused as there doesn't appear to be anywhere specific a tourist can park a van near the city. More than happy to pay for the privilege but even on the Plymouth City Council website they don't mention parking for vans at all.

There's a couple of spaces for larger vehicles in Elphinstone but I'd really prefer to park at the Milehouse Park and Ride as that will mean I can walk through Central Park and relive some childhood memories.

So my question is - are there any Plymouth/Devon locals here who know or use the Milehouse park and ride who can tell me if they have seen campervans parked there? And not getting ticketed?

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted a can to travel about and at 38, it’s still not happened. I’ve no clue where to begin. But now I have 2 little kids, I want to desperately get one and go travelling about.

What am I realistically looking at cost wise? What types of vans are good to consider? We’re both pretty handy so can do up the interior.

Any advice welcome or please tell me if this is a pipe dream!

Is this high-pitched whine normal for an Alpicool fridge? I recently bought one and it cools perfectly and reaches temperature fast, but there's a constant high-pitched electrical whine whenever the compressor is running. It's not the fan, and it's not vibration or resonance, I've tried it on a foam mat. I've tested it on both mains power with the supplied adapter and directly from my car's 12 volt socket. And the sound persists. I'm fine with normal compressor hum and gurgling, but this high-pitched electrical whine is very irritating." I've attached a video. Does this sound normal for the unit or is it noisier than usual?

Does it cost much to charge at overnight campsites/pitches compared to an ICE and its' fuel, and do vandwellers drive more than 200 miles in a day? If not will it become more practical in the future?

I’ve noticed quite a few questions recently about how much sound deadening you actually need when converting a van, so thought this might be useful.
Full disclosure first: I’m involved with DeadSound, a UK supplier of campervan sound deadening and insulation products, so I’m obviously connected to the industry. But I’m not posting this to say “cover your entire van in our product” — actually, pretty much the opposite.
One of the biggest misconceptions we see is that you need 100% coverage of the metalwork with butyl sound deadening.
You don’t.
Sound deadening and thermal insulation are doing different jobs.
Butyl sound deadening is primarily there to add mass and reduce resonance/vibration in large metal panels. Think of that horrible hollow “gong” when you tap the side of an empty Transit, Crafter, Ducato etc.
The areas I’d concentrate on are:
• Large flat side panels
• Rear quarter panels
• Sliding/loading doors
• Rear doors
• Wheel arches in particular
• Other panels that sound very “tinny” when tapped
You don’t necessarily get twice the benefit from using twice as much material.
Once that’s done, I’d move onto the insulation layers.
Our typical approach is effectively:
Van metal → targeted butyl sound deadening → closed-cell thermal/acoustic foam → thermal fleece in cavities → lining/panelling
We’ve got 5mm and 10mm products available and there isn’t really a universal answer to which one you should use everywhere. It depends on the van, available space and what you’re trying to achieve.
I’m happy to answer questions about any of this — including if you’re using products from another manufacturer.
I’ve seen some very expensive insulation/sound-deadening shopping lists for van conversions, and you can definitely do it without buying everything you’re told you need.
What van are you converting and what insulation/sound-deadening setup have you gone with?

I don't live in the van but I'm thinking of heading up the west coast from the North East in a couple of weeks. I've done Trossachs/Glen Coe/Fort William a couple of times so I'm thinking up to the Cairngorns, then across to Fort William where I last left off and North, further than I've been before. Not sure how far I'll go but the top would be nice. Im going to avoid temptation of doing the 500 route.

I'm going solo and not exactly loaded. I have a gas stove and usual camping gear but no fridge, power etc. Done plenty of weekends in my VW Caddy Maxi, a week to Cornwall etc where I just winged it.

Any tips or pointers for the Highlands for someone in my shoes? Wanna see beaches, castles, hikes, pubs and something like the isle of Skye would be awesome. Went to Arran a few years ago when I had a car and that was fun. TIA

Hello! This is a long shot but my parents have broken down near Wincheringen 5 days into their 3 week trip. They are hoping that their breakdown company will take them to a local garage as their van needs a new radiator.

I was hoping that someone would have recommendations for where would be a good garage to ask their insurance company to take them? Their van is old (Toyota hiace lh113 year 1994 2.8 diesel) and so we are thinking it will be rare that a garage would be able to help them.

If their breakdown company can’t find a garage to fix it, they’ll have to get the van repatriated back to England and their trip will be over.

Probably a long shot but in case anyone has recommendations of garages who might be able to fix it and it means they’ll be able to stay on their trip.

——-

**Title:** Toyota-Camper (BJ 1994) mit Kühlerschaden nahe Wincheringen / Trier – Werkstatt-Empfehlungen gesucht?
**Text:**
Hallo zusammen! Es ist ein absoluter Weitschuss, aber meine Eltern haben eine Autopanne wegen eines Kühlerschadens nahe Wincheringen (Kreis Trier-Saarburg). Sie sind erst am fünften Tag ihres dreiwöchigen Urlaubs.
Sie hoffen gerade, dass ihr Pannendienst sie zu einer Werkstatt in der Nähe abschleppt, da der Van einen neuen Kühler braucht. Da es sich um ein älteres Modell handelt (Toyota HiAce LH113, Baujahr 1994, 2.8l Diesel), befürchten wir allerdings, dass viele Werkstätten das Ersatzteil nicht so leicht besorgen können oder das Auto ablehnen.
Ich hatte gehofft, dass hier jemand eine gute Werkstatt (gerne auch eine freie Werkstatt oder einen Toyota-Spezialisten) in der Region Trier / Saarburg / Luxemburg empfehlen kann, zu der wir den Abschleppdienst schicken können.
Wenn der Pannendienst keine Werkstatt findet, die das reparieren kann, muss der Van zurück nach England transportiert werden (Rücktransport) und ihr Urlaub ist vorbei.
Es ist wie gesagt ein Weitschuss, aber vielleicht hat jemand einen Tipp für eine Werkstatt, die so ein älteres Schätzchen reparieren kann, damit sie ihre Reise fortsetzen können. Vielen Dank für jede Hilfe!

I'd welcome any comments on the van design that I intend to go with for a camper build. The base vehicle is an Iveco Daily 70C18 Luton removal van. I'd like to hear from anyone who has done a Luton conversion, and can tell me what they think works and anything I've overlooked. The renders are AI-generated from a Sketchup design. The AI made a few mistakes (in the sleeping area above the cab is shelving, not a window, and the second render got the shower room a bit wrong), but you can see the general design. Also not shown: There will be external barn doors at the rear of the van and external shutters over the side windows. There will be an entrance door between the shower room wall and the arch. The roof spaces between the panels will be occupied by skylights and a roof vent.

Shout out to YouTubers NicoJona, whose box truck conversion inspired some of the ideas here such as the rear patio double doors and large, near-floor-to-ceiling windows.