Our Low Cost VW T4 Caravelle Camper Conversion | Quick & Flexible
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- ↡ Our VW Conversion ↡
Here's a really simple conversion idea for VW Caravelle owners. We created a removable fold-out sleeping platform that fits into the boot space, allowing you to keep the ability to have seven passengers, while also having the option for sleeping in the back.
This conversion costs under £100. We spent £90 on van plywood (a lightweight alternative to plywood), plus a few pennies on hinges and screws.
We sometimes support our fold-out sleeping platform on the middle and front row of seats, but more often we use the middle row of seats and take out the front row of seats - replacing this with a stack of bouldering pads. If you wanted, you could remove all the seats and simply support the sleeping platform using additional wooden support legs - this is an adaptation we will be making this summer.
#Vanlife #Campervan #VW
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That is brilliant! I bought a 1996 SWB T4 Caravelle in January and have literally been planning the conversion tonight so this has given me an idea for a 'quick fix' (maybe) to get me through the rest of this brilliant Summer ! Thankyou so much ! Cheers dx
Seen that done before with a Caravelle and it does the job...and that's all that matters. You should take it on a proper long holiday now and really enjoy it. Camp out on the top of the Pyrenees, watch the sun come up.
thats awesome.. we have a multivan and were looking for options that were easy and simple. and this ticks all the boxes. great video
Thanks, hope it goes well :)
Doug!!!! Loving the video within the 5sec!🥇
That's a great idea for a young active couple. when younger, i often camped in tents, but the idea of getting a basic vehicle to camp in never ocurred to me! In my 50s, I now have a T25 Westfalia and in process of upgrading to a T6 California. But wish I'd thought of your option when younger.
Thanks Peter, I admit I much prefer the comfort a of van to a tent. I toured around France for two weeks with a T25 last year - loved it, they're very cool, but it wasn't very reliable!
We did a very similar Simple conversion to our T5 last year and toured the south west ...great fun .. Is that my son Tom slipping off the rock by chance ...lol ..
haha yes hi charlie, that is from our trip to fontainebleau last september
Hey Doug
Do you have a build plan for this? Would be awesome if you would share it.❤
Nice van!
Thanks! We sold it last weekend, very sad to say goodbye but there's a bigger one coming soon :)
Well hello Mr Betts... could you share the measurements of your unit. We've just bought another T4 and think this could work for us .. many thanks .. another Mr Betts!
Yes of course, I'm sorry I took long to reply.
I found these measurements I gave elsewhere.
Each part of the sleeping platform is 120cm wide, 60cm deep. The supporting box is 50cm high, 60cm deep, the bottom of the box is roughly 110cm wide.
@@NathanBetts thanks all sorted were making something similar cheers (Paul Betts)
That looks amazing, very simple and effective but I'm wondering if it's strong enough...
Plywood is very strong, and the fold out top rests on the van seating. Two years later it's still as good as ever!
@@NathanBetts That's so awesome! I'm really considering this option, thanks!
nice bass!
We have just bought a Renault Trafic and are going to copy your great idea. We have bought some 18mm ply, but it looks thicker than your ply. Is yours 12mm or is it an optical illusion? Maybe the white paint makes it look trimmer :) Thanks for the inspiration.
What measurements and did you use 18mm plywood? Cheers
very nice video guys!
Thanks, glad you liked it!
picking up from this, what thickness ply did you use for this?, I was talking to my wife the other day and she said we just need a box with everything that folds out on the top, a quick search on the web and your video came up, exactly what we need to do, so simple yet perfect. thanks for putting online.
18mm van ply - which is a lightweight plywood, made from poplar I think.
Awesome van! Really loved the editing work too. Keep going with the uploads! 😊
Thanks, that's kind! We had to sell the van last weekend - but there's a bigger one coming soon :)
Thank you for the video! We just got a 2003 Eurovan and most of the videos I watched are for converting the van, but we didn't want to take out seats and modify the van if we could avoid doing so. Did you find any methods for covering the windows without any modifications to the van itself?
Thanks!
Very exciting! No problem. We used the thermal blinds from Just Kampers - they're like internal blinds that block out light and keep it warm inside. They weren't too expensive as I got them second-hand. I'd recommend them, they stick on using suction cups.
Nice! :)
Thanks! 😄
this is ace, thanks for sharing - what are those sleeping mats you are using?
I ordered some bed foam online, they cut it to size for you. Then my mum sewed some fabric covers for them!
Nathan Betts Bouldering nice, thanks for replying
Great idea, how much space is left behind front seats once bed is in place please?
Just enough to shuffle along, but not much. It comes roughly to the end of the folded down front seats.
Thank you
hey Nathan, Gavin here from the colony in Sydney Australia. Awesome job and right in my budget range! can i please ask, the small spacers between the 3 hinged sleeping base boards, are those to allow room for the hinges to fold over? its probably a dumb question but i'm the least handy person in the world, so this'll be a big job for me and i'd like to make as few attempts as possible :-)
Big thanks for posting your handy work, l love it!
Hi Gavin. That's right, the spacers are to stop the hinges from folding all the way round, it keeps all the sleeping base boards level too. Good luck with your build!
@@NathanBetts you're a legend, BIG thanks Nathan. All the best for your adventuring and climbing...
@@NathanBetts hey Nathan, sorry to trouble u. It's done, and it's magnificent thanks. I just wonder what if any trick you have to deal with the sag in the second hinge please? Love your work BIG thanks. I'll be out camping and mountain biking this weekend 👍🏻
@@gavwhite Epic! Nice work. My van is off the road at the moment so I'm jealous! Could you explain a little more about the sag? I have a set of spacers between the first and second, and second and third sheets when folded down. I use a support underneath the second and third sheets, if you're talking about when the bed is folded out :). Usually that's my bouldering mats, but I also have a simple wooden square that I add in when not using the bouldering mats.
@@NathanBetts thanks for your fast reply Nathan. Yes, it's the sag/bend in the second and third sheets when extended to sleep on, I need a support for that!? May I ask how you've done that pls? In my van that hinge line happens over the seat but before where the board load-bare on it, so it looks tricky to resolve? Really appreciate your help :-)
i am about to start on a similar idea based on yours ,what is the new van you have got.
Awesome. I hope it goes well. We are currently saving up for a bigger one - probably will look at a lwb Transit / Sprinter.
Hello, good video! We want to make a bed like that. Could you tell me what wood you used and the size? thank you very much
Hey, thanks. It's made from van plywood, which is a type of specialist wood that weighs half as much as normal plywood. Each part of the sleeping platform is 120cm wide, 60cm deep. The supporting box is 50cm high, 60cm deep, the bottom of the box is roughly 110cm wide.
Nathan Betts thank you!!!!! 🙌🙌 and ist the plywood 20mm?
how to diy made that fold-out ?
It's basically just a box unit with central supports. Then you just use sturdy hinges to attach the fold out boards. I didn't film the making unfortunately, but it's just fixed with screws.
Ever thought of selling these?
I haven't! Maybe that's a business idea... I'm looking for a bigger van this year, so I'll have my hands full converting it fully!
Nathan Betts Bouldering no problem buddy good luck
why do you need bigger van?@@NathanBetts
1800 pounds? No way! :D
Yep - the petrol engines are much cheaper than diesel :)
@@NathanBetts how on earth did you find it this cheap?! I only see them 5k+
you are super tall
6ft 5