The journey begins - LWB TGE to two berth camper.

[rod_vw]

Our new LWB TGE was delivered early November 2022, it was a bespoke order with Aquila Trucks @ Tipton who served us well despite setbacks with Covid, the Ukraine conflict, incorrect build etc. Here it is on collection day from the dealer and the specification of it as ordered.

The conversion plan with this was never to be a 'Selfbuild' unlike my past five campers as my age and the complexity of a larger vehicle preclude such an undertaking. During the waiting period between order and delivery of the van we researched many build threads and commercial products and eventually used the Knaus Boxdrive as a very vague basis for our conversion.

Some will have read a couple of threads relating to some preparation work that I have done prior to the vehicle going to our chosen conversion workshop. These are...

• Sliding door access grab handle for the less agile.
• Glove box cooling - DIY fitment
• Cab roof insulation, carried out with the creation of a tool to remove the difficult retaining clips and a link to a very helpful description of removing the headlining.
• I have also added a couple of wires to extend the front footwell light circuit to add one for the sliding door step as and when that is appropriate during conversion.

Yesterday morning the van was delivered to our chosen convertor, Andy James at Buckettz Bubz in Telford. Time alone will tell how this all works out but with Andy's help it should be good. I will endeavour to keep you all posted on the progress.

Here it is before the it left home yesterday.

The double seat is to be located in a similar position to where it is strapped for transport and the long boxes house the Lippert electrically raiseable bed for the rear.

 

[TonyL]

Fingers crossed, and hopefully exciting times ahead.

I see you have snow!

I have headed south in my van to avoid the snow, currently in Sussex.

 

[Grubscrew]

Spend spend spend, that’s the fun bit looking online for stuff to buy..
Enjoy the build.

 

[Oldrat]

Looking forward to hearing all about the build Rod.

 

[Littlemissvw]

Nice Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[Jack T]

Great looking base van with all the right bits.

 

[rod_vw]

Horrex sliding door fly-screen to be ordered.

 

[rod_vw]

Progress in the workshop, the plan is to have glass in all of each side but with the centre portion as a false glass panel. There will be window aperture with blind in the rear section.



Black vinyl to hide the reflection of the silver reflecting through the false window.



Rear window aperture trimmed before the glass is fitted.



New look outside, ignore the funny reflection of a strip light above the door track.



Interior sound deadening in place.

 

[Oldrat]

Lovely

You’ll have to get used to folks wandering up and putting their nose against the privacy glass to peek inside. They usually rush away when they see a pair of eyes staring them right back!!

It’s a fun game!

 

[TonyL]

So true, I was sat in my van yesterday when a couple came right up to the van to look at it. No idea I was inside.

 

[rod_vw]

No new pictures today but the Maxxair is installed in the front portion of the habitation area roof and the similarly sized vent is in the rear portion.

The gas tank is also mounted under the floor just in front of the rear suspension but obviously not yet plumbed.

 

[rod_vw]

Progress is being made, not too obvious but it is happening!

Solar panels are fitted so is the awning. Toilet / shower cubical vent is in the roof.
Internally the floor is now insulated and fixed down as is the frame for the double seat in the rear with its raised floor area adjacent to bring that area of the floor up to similar to that in the cab.
Much wiring is hanging from various locations in readiness for the next fit-out stage, likewise plumbing is under the floor where needed.
Not visible but also underway are the water tank fitments and the electric bed frame which is already assembled to enable the roof hanging brackets to be fabricated. Some of the internal side panels are cut to shape ready for trimming.

Progress is limited by the fact that my converter is doing two vans at the same time and lots of other small jobs in between.

 

[rod_vw]

More progress yesterday, insulation now installed in most of the sides and roof.



Don't ask about a vapour barrier, I don't believe in it!
In my opinion air at whatever humidity will always be present in the cavities and the best way to dry that out when ambient humidity drops is to allow as much ventilation as possible. Sealing it up will only retain moisture!

 

[rod_vw]

The Horrex fly screen for the sliding door has been delivered, watch this space for the final fitment. Yes they do make one for a left sliding door in a Crafter/TGE, don't ask the cost!!

 

[gavandi]

Ball Park figure??

The Horrex fly screen for the sliding door has been delivered, watch this space for the final fitment. Yes they do make one for a left sliding door in a Crafter/TGE, don't ask the cost!!

 

[rod_vw]

Ball Park figure??

I've not seen the eventual figure but think in the £600 region plus fitting. Will update when I have the figures.

 

[Oldrat]

Looking forward to hearing about these Rod. Especially at £600

I can’t match the quality of purpose built commercial stuff, but I made my own anti-midge curtains for the slider for when I’m next in Scotlandshire.

Not used them in anger yet though and I’d not expect them to be quite so convenient or fitted as
shop stuff.

They consist of two curtain wires across the top of the door opening- inside.

This allows for two 3/4 width curtain nets to be amply draped down so that they have considerable overlap. Each side has Velcro keeping them in place.

I bought the material from a ‘Midge net’ specialist shop in Scotland, because midges are such tiny bu66ers that the ‘holes’ need to be minute, normal insect curtain netting isn’t good enough- Dont ask be how I know!! I just needed to cut to size and run the hems.


These are the white nylon mounting points above the door when not in use. The curtain wires just stretch between them.



One last point, don’t forget the other insect egress points.. your Maxxfans etc and your bathroom fan.

 

[rod_vw]

Looking forward to hearing about these Rod. Especially at £600

I can’t match the quality of purpose built commercial stuff, but I made my own anti-midge curtains for the slider for when I’m next in Scotlandshire.

Not used them in anger yet though and I’d not expect them to be quite so convenient or fitted as
shop stuff.

They consist of two curtain wires across the top of the door opening- inside.

This allows for two 3/4 width curtain nets to be amply draped down so that they have considerable overlap. Each side has Velcro keeping them in place.

I bought the material from a ‘Midge net’ specialist shop in Scotland, because midges are such tiny bu66ers that the ‘holes’ need to be minute, normal insect curtain netting isn’t good enough- Dont ask be how I know!! I just needed to cut to size and run the hems.


These are the white nylon mounting points above the door when not in use. The curtain wires just stretch between them.

View attachment 462View attachment 463

One last point, don’t forget the other insect egress points.. your Maxxfans etc and your bathroom fan.

I believe the Horrex sliding screen is the same as the one fitted (optional extra) on a Knaus Boxdrive. Perhaps someone with a Boxdrive can post pictures as I believe there is no makers name on their screen.

 

[TonyL]

Don’t know if it is the same as the Sven Hedin. I’ll post some pictures.

 

[TonyL]

Screen fitted by Westfalia to Sven Hedin