The dispatch camper.

[Mike]

Though this might be of interest to some. I have been converting our Citroën Dispatch into a weekend camper.

I set a deadline of the Silverstone F1 to get it done. Might get there...

Well it was ply lined when we bought it and I carpeted it and put some speakers in, it's been like this for 3 odd years now and when I've gone camping in it I've just put a air bed down. Decided to make it more official now.

Started off sketching some stuff out and taking some measurements.

This is how it started, carpeted.

It's pretty pic heavy from this point! Ha!

This is all joined in, hinges are hidden under and the top section lifts back.

 

[Mike]

This is the bed section being assemble onto the frame. we then cut all the section in one go. This worked out in some respects but we had to change the height of the back and the middle to correct the seat back height.

Chiseling the hinges in.

Test fit!

Seat test fold.

As the wheel box is only thin ply and most of the bed hinges on the rear bay we put two of these in to share the load.

Next up was the leisure battery... this was literally the only place and ironically it was perfect! If anyone want to do this to a scudo, dispatch or a partner this is under the drivers footwell and it is next to the bonnet release!

 

[Mike]

Decided a 110ah leisure battery would be fine as I only want to run a couple of 12v power point and some lights. Put the battery behind the bulkhead, was good for a earth. I got a 15 quid set of ebay which came with the relay to hook into the battery and charge the leisure battery. They are not the same as normal batteries as they release energy lower and charge slower. unsure of how many amps they draw when charging we made sure to put in 20amp fuses to be sure.

4 point LED van light kit off ebay, superb kit fro 30 sheets! and super bright!

As a aircraft sparky by trade this will all get tidied up i promise!

Ebay fuse box attached.

This will all be trimmed with veltrim or whatever its called but heres the lighting.

There is noway this box is staying as it looks dump but for now it makes light!

The bulkhead will be carpeted and the box knocked up to cover the battery to!

I have the 12v battery monitor (looks like a gizmo boost gauge and some power sockets on order praying the turn up before wednesday when we leave for the Grand Prix! Oh! have a memory foam bed topped that will be cut onto the bed/seat panels and then will stretch material over the top!

Hopefully this will work out good, i'm in search of a door from a taxi or similar with a window in to let in more light. When you consider a VW t4 cost a couple of hundred to put in glass to a door you can get a WHOLE door with glass for one of these vans for 60 quid. Plus on of the best engines the french have made!

Anyway i'll keep you all updated!

 

[meddler]

As a aircraft sparky by trade this will all get tidied up i promise!

As a fellow A/C sparky, I will keep you to that! Love your work.

 

[Mike]

More horrendous wiring for you Meddler!


With only 48 hour till its time to leave it's getting a bit squeaky bum time!

These arrived today.

A friend gave me a old memory foam mattress topper. It's to good to use as a bed/seat so I used it anyway and it will get covered eventually but with no time thumb tacs saved the day and turned it into a Chesterfield!

Launched the plugs and voltage meter into a crude box. Fit for purpose but it will get sorted. Eventually!

One more evening to finish... yikes.

 

[S15_SAM]

Fair play mike! That's alot of effort for one weekend!!! Will be a great one though! You should bring it to goodwood next year, I'm planning on camping!

 

[slider200]

Have to have a s15 Goodwood meet haven't been for 2 years. Usually cap in my uncles back garden.

 

[S15_SAM]

Now there's an idea! Wander if we can get a stall! Lol.

 

[Mike]

Cheers guy! Just packed the van up!

 

[slider200]

Were do u live mike? Van is good work. Def have a stall at Goodwood lol

 

[Mike]

In the big smoke of Yeovil matey. Heart of a town mind of a City! Ha!

 

[slider200]

Lol I thought it was from the pics.
Often use cineworld