Gas Stove

I managed to source a 2 ringed camping stove from a neighbor it was rusty and it hadn't been used in some considerable time. its amazing what a wire brush and plenty of elbow grease can do its cleaned up very well.

The stove has been fitted to the van and I have still to fit a cupboard and a galley working area and I also require a length of gas piping that will fit into the gas bottle storage area.

Our 1st outing in the van

Sunday the 9th of October we decided to take the van on its 1st outing to Troon. Before we left motherwell we decided to pop into a car boot sale that one of the local churches organise every Sunday, it's small but you never know what you can pick up and I bought a clock for a total of £1.00 for the rear of the van.

After leaving the car boot sale the van wouldn't start jeezo our day has got of to a disaster the van has let us down, no power was getting into the starter motor I thought the battery was drained but noticed everything was dead!!! Luckily enough the battery is stored under the drivers seat I gave the connections a wiggle and the van roared back into life, panicked over off to Troon we went with no other mishaps apart from the intermittent speedo which I already new about.

We found a cracking spot in Troon where I parked the van up side door opened and the 26 degree heat rays was soon beating down on our faces the weather for October is unbelievably very very good it was like a warm summers day not a ripple on the water and the vets of arran and Ailsa Craig were stunning a great day for our first trip.

As today was a learning curve for us we learned a few things what we need to take in future trips silly things that when the van is finished should all be stored in the van things like,

1. Water
2. Gas stove
3. Cups
4. Folding Chairs

Solar Panel

Managed to install my 10 watt solar panel onto the van roof,I sealed the hole that had previously been drilled with new mastic hopefully it's water tight.

The 12 volt kettle for the van arrived today myself and Joanne are having a wee day in the van tomorrow.

Van insulation and folding table

While cleaning some plastics in the cab area I had to remove the plastic panel cover from the passenger foot well and found 2 holes that were letting in water.

I do not think any welding is required as I managed to fill the holes using a couple of sheets of fiberglass with hardener resin after allowing the fiberglass to harden I sprayed the repaired area with a white primer the holes will be hidden from view when the plastic well cover is put back in place no need for further sanding or painting.

I have also fitted a DIY folding table using the topside of an old desk and attached 2 removable legs that were made from a old wardrobe pole that I had lying in the shed. I attached a wardrobe pole mount onto the van floor and attached another underneath the worktop table. It looks ok for now.

ALDI this week had on offer home insulation foil and I bought one roll that was the correct size to insulate the van roof and I also managed to source on Gumtree a roll of loft insulation that I will use to insulate the side walls of the van.

The table folded down

Table leg holders mounted to the van floor allowing the table to be folded

Solar power

This afternoon I managed to fit a 12 volt solar battery charger with that has a light switch, USB ports and digital volt meter. Eventually I will have a 100 watt solar panel mounted on the roof of the van when I can find a good mounting point and that will charge my leisure battery's and run the 600 watt power invert-er that I plan to install early next year. I maned to buy a 1500 watt inverter from Amazon review to follow 

USB Ports DVM Power Splitter and LED Light Switch

Bed and seating

I have been trying to keep the van conversion budget to a bare minimum and to build the bed I have been using recycled wood that was the original van shelving. Some wood was kindly donated by my neighbor who gave me some left over wood that he has from his kitchen upgrade.

The bed frame under construction

Completed bed frame with caravan cushions

Both side walls have to be attached once completed I should be able to fit a hammock above the seating area