I like to take you throughout the process of making a solo traveler mini-campervan, out of my Berlingo Multispace 2012. I am still in the very beginning of the process, and looking forward to see what comes out of it all.
As a birdwatcher I wanted to travel throughout France, Spain and Portugal, making minimal use of camping/ campersites. Having no problems to adapt the mini-traveler after every adventure, while using mainly ‘used materials’. Minimalism is an important keyword in my life.
But where to start? A rather difficult discussion, and starting point. I saw many You tube video’s and so created a rather romantic way of building it. My head was getting full of the many beautiful designs, pfffffffff. Till the moment I started to discuss the idea with some very technical skilled friends. And they were the guys who (constantly) changed my working flow. It helped me tremendously.
They ask me a min list of importance. This might sounds easy, but to be honest very tough for me.
Okay my thoughts:
*I sleep 5-6 hours a night, so 18 hours left outside this area!!
**Editing work on my computer will be a main job, so a very good seat and table will be much more important then a sleeping spot.
***Cooking (shortly) three times a day, mwaahhhh……. Not so important.
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Workflow:
1.Creating a good working space, 2) Sleeping space, and 3) cooking area (in-or outside the car)
The following 1 user says Thank You to EM58 for this post:1 user says Thank You to EM58 for this post • Drummond
Looks good, have you thought about second battery, I put mine under both seats (but had diesel heater to run) its tight, but you can get a 100ah battery under, height is not a real problem, split charger to run it.
This works well with extra lighting, and the 18v charger for the laptop.
Lights I put in the tailgate door, this was for when sat under it and cooking.
Watching this for progress as thinking of doing a berlingo or dispatch myself.
Good luck.
Your Reach is further than your Grasp
The following 1 user says Thank You to jtr rhyl for this post:1 user says Thank You to jtr rhyl for this post • EM58
In case of bad weather I will spent more time in the car. Working while sitting on a bed – what you see n most mini camper van designs, was’t an option for me. I was very close in buying a swivel seat. And who knows, I will buy one in the future. Playing half an hour gave me financial more space, and spent it on REAL important matters.
Spending and sleeping more in the countryside means that I have to make serious investment in a Power House (Anker 757, 1500W – 1229Wh). And of course the solar panels extra. Mathematics shows that it is possible with all my equipment.
I just decided to buy an ‘imperial’, second hands for 150 euro’s. Cleaning and painting it all over is not a problem for me. A multi-functional tool in which I can mount solar panels onto it. But to be honest I am not 100% sure if I choose for this possibility. What about a Ski box, and so buying more room? I can put the solar panels on the ground? What would you choose; Ski-box or solar panels??????
It may not be an issue for you but a box on the roof may restrict your headroom - mainly regarding car parking at random places like supermarkets if/when you need to do it as there are quite a few where I am that have a overhead barrier.
The next thing is if you do that you'll will have to keep putting out and putting back any (foldable?) solar panels, which you'll need storage for, and that will restrict the charging time, location and needing to be with them all the time they are out.
I'd really consider how much storage I'd need to be able to avoid a roof box, never mind also the fuel economy aspect which can be minimal or major depending on mileage.
Having them on the roof will maximise the charging time, have permanent connections, no mucking about trying to find a place for them in the car, no mucking about putting them out and back again, not having to connect and disconnect them, where to site them on the ground, deployable ones tend to be less efficient, no need for security when they are out and maybe other things I can't think of.
The problem as in a house when you have storage is you tend to fill it when it is often unnecessary.
Imagine the scenario of your power bank being nearly flat, you've parked up in a nice remote place to go bird watching, but then you can't because you need to put out your panels............
That all depends though if you want to connect the power bank to the alternator, but then you need to have a run the car or leave the engine running.
Just my preference that's all.
Now a 2019 K9 1.2 petrol.
Before a 2010 B9 1.6 HDi diesel.
The following 1 user says Thank You to Mark604 for this post:1 user says Thank You to Mark604 for this post • EM58
It’s amazing to find out that friends are willing to help. Much more qualified technicians, than I am. In daily life this means dependency. Waiting till they have time to create the idea. I choose that path from the beginning. After weeks of hardly any progress, it now starts to be moving forwards.
So, the bed is made of pieces of wood meant to be thrown away. I like that idea a lot, also because the idea is changing the design after each journey to a more functional version. As a pensionado, I have to time, and it is simply fun.
Feel free to advise or shoot at the concept. Right now my main goal is to start travelling to Spain (and back); 4500 km. (maybe more). Thanks all.
From work I took an old cupboard with me, which fits in rather well in the back. The idea is making a small kitchen out of it. Sunday was the day a friend and I did the job. A rather small stainless steel ‘food bowl feeder manger’, which I already had, was the starting point. The other material cost me less than 20 euro’s. Now I need to buy a submersible pump (15 euro) and a cold water tap (with microswitch (30 euro’s). Two jerrycan’s, make the investment less than 100 euro’s. The pump will be connected to my Anker 757 powerhouse.
Both jerrycan’s will be small, maximum 5 ltr. The -can I must see the water level so that I can refill it. The water outlet need to be completely closed. I expect this will be big enough for one person, while refilling/ emptying it, daily?
Rough structure of the bed and kitchen are done now. This feels great already. But the question remains; ‘Will it be functional enough’? I have no clue yet because it is my very first mini-camper. Further I accept that the working plan wasn’t water tight, ahhhhh so be it.
Just measured the space underneath the bed, only 28 cm. Is the height big enough for the common storage boxes? Mwaahhhhh, eventually searching better for these boxes in stores, such as the ACTION. I can always change that for trip 2…………..
Today I spent hours of working with sandpaper. Get the dust out and than adding two layers of clear lacquer. I finished half way the bed. Tomorrow I will continue. My goal is Sunday evening finishing it, including the addition of the cold water tap. Than I take a few days of hobbying due to motor revision.
My Berlingo Multispace 2012 is going Monday to the garage. An important job has to be done because the usage of oil was far too much, no leaking but burning it away through the piston rings. They will replace these piston rings for really good ones (better than the standard versions), and honing the cylinders (?). The result will be that of a brand new motor, hardly any usage of oil, and a better functioning catalyst.
It will cost me a rib, but hey a good car is a treasure too. Yeah, looking forward when it’s finished.. I accept that and can look forward to travelling throughout Europe.
Working space in the car, with a fine and pleasant sitting seat, and a ‘semi’ versatile table (kind of Lagun table) will be essential in the car. In fact, more important than a bed for me. As usual it is an art to keep the costs as low as possible. With same technical specialistic brains around me, we managed to realize it for NOTHING! Is it good enough? Is it perfect? I’ll come back to that after my first trip to Spain (soon).
A pensioned carpenter had some old machinery in his garage. In between an old instrument, we used as a base (see foto). From there we searched for steel pipes, and then the pieces of the puzzle created a nice picture. It always can be better, and will be. For now the first concept product has been realized. From here we will start making new tweaking's to improve.
A Lagun table should have cost me 300 euro’s. A lot of money, to be honest. And I almost bought also the plate for a ‘swivel seat’ (from the UK), another 300 euro’s. I guess they will be worth ever penny but for now I need to made a different priority because I have a restricted budget. It’s a sport to bring investment to a minimal.
I was able to change position of the passengers seat with only fur screws. It cost me 20 minutes to realize, that's all. Because I am travelling on my own, worth the free investment. Then the table. From old parts we created a table. Please feel free to advise and comment. I would advise to look around yourself, be creative and just do it. Safe some money and see if it works. You always can buy (expensive) equipment.
Next time I will show you the table in correct height, and passenger seat turned too.
(09-03-2024, 07:57 AM)EM58 Wrote: Working space in the car, with a fine and pleasant sitting seat, and a ‘semi’ versatile table (kind of Lagun table) will be essential in the car. In fact, more important than a bed for me. As usual it is an art to keep the costs as low as possible. With same technical specialistic brains around me, we managed to realize it for NOTHING! Is it good enough? Is it perfect? I’ll come back to that after my first trip to Spain (soon).
A pensioned carpenter had some old machinery in his garage. In between an old instrument, we used as a base (see foto). From there we searched for steel pipes, and then the pieces of the puzzle created a nice picture. It always can be better, and will be. For now the first concept product has been realized. From here we will start making new tweaking's to improve.
A Lagun table should have cost me 300 euro’s. A lot of money, to be honest. And I almost bought also the plate for a ‘swivel seat’ (from the UK), another 300 euro’s. I guess they will be worth ever penny but for now I need to made a different priority because I have a restricted budget. It’s a sport to bring investment to a minimal.
I was able to change position of the passengers seat with only fur screws. It cost me 20 minutes to realize, that's all. Because I am travelling on my own, worth the free investment. Then the table. From old parts we created a table. Please feel free to advise and comment. I would advise to look around yourself, be creative and just do it. Safe some money and see if it works. You always can buy (expensive) equipment.
Next time I will show you the table in correct height, and passenger seat turned too.
I'm enjoying your posts as they show how much fun you're having thinking through and solving these issues. happiness is a warm brain!
Today’s reply is not about the ‘rough building’ but about the Dometic Mobicool MCG15, I bought for 289 euro’s.
It is a compression cooling system (35 Watt usage), so I am pleased with that. The moment it did arrived my advisor sent me this link: (please watch it)
My expression was; “Wowwwwwwwww, yeah that’s what I want too!!!!!!!
So opening the machine and trying to answer some of the questions technicians want to know? 12 Volt, 0,23 A end 9 x 9 x 3 cm format. Still one more question I needs to find out, before he will upgrade my brand new machine. It is what the man in the clip said, why does Dometic NOT directly use soundless fan’s?????
For 14 euro I can surely sleep a bit easier…..
Further I bought a second hands army sleeping bag, 75 euro’s. Friends gave me a matras, so when the motor revision is done, I can start working on localizing and way’s to storage. Looking forward to that. Thank you for following this thread. Always feel free to gave advises, like the above link, it can make life so much easier. Bye.
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