Panel Van Converions

SwiftGroup

We were having a debate at Autocruise this morning about the way that people use "Camper Vans", especially the smaller ones based on mid sized vans like the VW Transporter or Renault Traffic. Of particular interest are two issues:- 1. Whether the cost and space claim of a water heater is justified, especially if vehicle does not have a washroom - is it better to just use the kettle? 2. Is a fitted water tank of 40 to 50 litres better than two x 25 litre water carriers, properly located but easily accessed? The tank can only be filled by getting close to the campsite tap or using a water carrier anyway (which the has to be stored somewhere!).

Any views on these subjects from owners of smaller camper vans would be much appreciated - just send us a p.m. Thanks,

Steve Trossell

sallytrafic · Southern Rally Co-ordinator

Well we have a shower 'room' so perhaps biased, we use our webasto diesel water heating system most days for dish and personal washing as well as heating and hot water bottle. If we are on nice site with EHU then we tend to use their shower block and boil an electric kettle. It's the only thing we always carry that justifies the use of an EHU.

When we bought we didn't have a shower high on the list but did want a washroom and diesel heating.

We have a fixed fresh tank 72 litres but no fixed waste. With the smaller vans we are out and about from the sites more so its no hardship to top up the water on leaving or returning to site.

Steamdrivenandy

Hi Steve,

I thought I'd reply on open forum rather than PM as it might help stir more of a debate and more info for you.

Our van is based on a SWB Transit, an inch under 16ft long.

As standard it doesn't have a boiler but it's brother, the Cavarno, which also has oven and shower does.

We wanted to get as close to the Cavarno spec as possible whilst keeping the rear garage/boot space that differentiates our van.

We therefore included a Propex Gas/240V boiler among the options we had fitted, it cost a little under £500 inc. VAT. We definitely wanted hot water on tap even though we have no shower.

On the waste front we have a 54 litre fresh water tank and 30 litres waste, both underslung. We do find that despite being miserly with water use (normally using site shower blocks and washing up facilities) the waste fills up surprisingly quickly, although as we travel most days it's not normally a problem to drain and refill regularly.

You might like to consider whether smaller vans are more likely to wild camp and therefore not have alternative sources/facilities for hot water and/or waste disposal.

HTH

Andy

johnandcharlie

If water tanks are built in, reliable and accurate gauges are essential. The gauges on my Bessacarr E350 are a real pain. They aren't even consistently inaccurate, and I never know where I am with water and waste. Sometimes I can roughly estimate what the level is, but at other times my usage varies and I completely lose track. A very simple low tech solution would be better than something electronic that needs regular attention.

And, if fitting a water heater, please insulate water pipes so that the heat from the hot pipe doesn't transfer to the cold pipe, so you have to waste water running the cold tap until it produces cold water.

Maybe these things don't happen on newer vans though.

Superk

In going from an RV to a less than 6-metre van I didn't want to give up a separated shower or hot water to go with it yet neither are any good without a decent water and waste. We tend to shower in the van most of the time. We have the usual Truma gas heater/water heater and the fresh water tank is 150 litres the waste 100 litres. So I don't think you have to give these things up.
Very Happy

Keith

framptoncottrell

We have a Murvi Morello (Fiat Ducato LWB 2.8 JTD) which uses an Eberspacher diesel heater for the space heating and the hot water. This means that we are independent of mains hook-up for heating/hot water which can be quite important. (We had a mains power cut on a CC site, for example, but were able to carry on regardless). We also have two decent sized fresh water tanks, and a rather smaller waste tank. So, again, we can fill up by hose when we arrive at a site and then forget about replenishing, unless we stay for more than a week, though the waste needs emptying every three or four days.
The Eberspacher allows the engine to heat the water (and van) while we are driving along so we always have hot water the moment we pitch up.
I've watched elderly campers (like us!) struggling with water containers, especially for (towed) caravans, and thanked our lucky stars for our permanent on-board tanks.

Dr (musical, not medical) Roy

smick

I'd go along with both the last two posters - but then one of them has an HRZ, so I would, wouldn't I ? In my view, I've got to the stage where I don't want to heave water carriers about, so I prefer my fresh and waste water inboard, preferably heated.

We have a Truma combi-boiler, but I would have liked the option of a diesel heater like the Murvi has, to heat hot water as you go along - that seems to me efficient use of fuel.

Excellent insulation and non-corrugated smooth bore piping would be my other requirements in a hot & cold water system.

Smick

PS - Nice to see the industry consulting before building !

CaGreg

Our Autosleepers Topaz has a Truma gas water and blown heater system. It also has water storage and grey waste tanks. It also has an integrated shower, toilet, basin bathroom.

We wildcamp in Ireland as much as possible, and have spent two weeks away without EHU. We spend a lot of time at the beach, body boarding, and therefore would use the beach shower facilities.
We would never use the water heater just for washing, or doing dishes, we would just boil a kettle, but obviously would use any hot water if the heating system had been running. Not sure if this is the most economical way to do it, but the kettle gets boiled for tea and coffee quite often anyway.
We are very miserly with water, and carry three five litre containers of tap water as well as what is in the tank. This allows us to enjoy being independent for longer periods.
The smaller van allows us to park without being too noticeable and it is the biggest advantage of its size.
I would opt for water tanks, and onboard bathroom facilities every time.

Ca

trevd01

If you are talking small camper vans, we converted Bongo owners certainly have them. Ours is like a 7/8 scale VW California. Has fresh water and waste underfloor, cooker, sink, a porta poti in a cupboard, diesel space heater but no water heating. It has never occurred to me that having hot water would be worth the effort or cost.

With these small vans it is more like tent camping, and we almost always go to the campsite washing up, as most bigger van and caravan owners seem to...

When camping on small sites with no hot water we boil a kettle - the sink only holds a couple of litres anyway.

No shower, so no hot water needed for that either, but then again we have friends with bigger motorhome and carvans who always use the campsite showers ("we have a shower but we only use it for hanging wet clothes in...")