Bad Conversions - Poor Quality and DANGEROUS Camper Vans
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2022
- Bad Conversions - Poor Quality and DANGEROUS Camper Vans
Converting your VW Transporter is expensive, make sure you spend your money wisely and deal with a reputable converter.
Speak to other owners, find them on Facebook groups and see examples of the companies work before handing over your cash.
There are many poor examples around and I will document more if people will allow me to use their bad experiences.
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Whether you have a T5, VW T5.1, T6, T6.1 or even an older T2, T2.5, T4, the VW Vanlife scene is amazing, with so much help and assistance available for whatever project you wish to attempt. Panel van, Kombi, Converted Camper or VW California Beach or Ocean, enjoy the freedom van life brings.
The @Staycation Lifestyle van conversion is coming along nicely.
I bought a VW Transporter T6 Kombi Highline van 140bhp diesel SWB with tailgate.
Slowly turning it into a camper van / day van with bed. I will also need something for cooking, cooling, sleeping, drinking ?? Choices to be made.
I have lots more to do though, I have a new electrical system, using Victron components and a Lithium LIFEPO4 battery, so I obviously need to install some power devices. I have a new sound system, with Focal speakers and ibus 2.1 amp, Playstation PS4, which will be removable, TV's on headrests.
Lots for me to look forward too and it would be nice to take you on the journey.
Please do let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions.
Vanlife for me is just beginning, it's a great adventure and I'm loving it. 😍
There are many great camper adventures to come
Thanks must go to the following:
titantransporters.co.uk - Sourcing my van, providing advice and soon a paint correction and detail
tamarcaravancentre.co.uk - Advising me with many of my leisure equipment purchases, including my Thetford toilet
www.dream-ice.co.uk - Quality advise on my sound system upgrade
plyworxuk.co.uk - Suppliers of my Halo roof and ply products
www.batteriesandsolar.co.uk - 1st class advice and guidance on my electrical system install
stitchesandsteel.com - Seat covers, carpet, roof straps, changing mat
Transporter HQ for my tailgate struts
Kiravans for my Swivel Seats
If your looking for some free places to stay, have a look at the Britstops book www.britstops.com
Many choices of places to park up overnight and stay in their carparks including pubs, restaurants, adventure centres and even vineyards and breweries.
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Im a member of Devon & Cornwall Transporters. Have a look at the Facebook group and come along to meet the other friendly members
#vanlife #vanlifeuk #campervan #transporter #vwbus #adventure #rv #rvlife #camper #vwcamper #camper #staycation #wildcamping #offgrid #travel - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Thank you for another great video highlighting some critical points. I bought my VW as a new conversion from a new converter. I researched him first on line - he ran a building company and started to convert VWs during lockdown to keep himself busy. I met him at his house and followed him to his workshop, where the vehicle was. We went round the vehicle and he explained everything, then we went for a test drive. On return to his workshop he took me and my friend round the workshop where he was working on his next vehicle, which he had had stripped down to bare metal and the build just started. He showed us the vehicle, then everything he was going to put in it and explained what he had chosen for the build and why. He spent a good 2 hours with us first, picking up each item for the build - confirming it was the same as the one he was selling - and showed us all the paperwork and invoices. This gave me an enormous amount of confidence about the van I was buying - and when I did buy it he gave me a folder containing all the details - I even know what flooring is down in it. The wiring is excellent -and he had a specialist automotive electrical engineer come and install it. He was then in contact for some time after, checking things were still ok. I’ve since had a split relay (I think that’s what it’s called ) added which lets me charge up both my leisure battery and car battery in the winter by hooking up to mains in the house. This has been a huge boon. Unfortunately he has now stopped the conversions which is a huge pity, as he did a superb job.
I had a conversion from Holbrook dubs. Poor customer service blamed me for problems. The electrics had slices through them where they cut to deep, earthed through the carpet and didn't secure the battery and other stuff regarding the van too many to mention.
Wow, that sounds horrendous. Unfortunately it does seem an issue that’s far too common.
It would be much better if the industry was regulated
As an autoelectrician i can only back up your findings - all the vans i get called out to are shocking!
& as you say some of them are from conversion establishments… trading standards need to get involved .
It’s frightening, especially when people have paid for the work to be done. I gathered some really bad examples, but wasn’t allowed to use them, one had a fire after getting back from converter 😟
I changed my setup 3 times just when you think you get it sorted you goout use it and more to change or re arrange 😥😥
Good advice!
Just a word of caution on your wording about cables. Just to avoid confusion, multi strand (or fine strand) cable is what you should be using not multi core. They are different things. I am an electrician and have seen easily confused when buying cable. Keep up the good work!
Thank you. Well spotted, “strand” was the word I was looking for. At least you could tell what I meant, from how I explained it 😳 It’s frightening how some installers are using incorrect cables. I did mine myself, but made sure it was professionally checked prior to turning it on
Tri rated?
This just solidifies why I would much rather convert my van myself might not be the cheapest way but at least I know it's going to be done properly and safely.
There are good conversion companies, you just need to find them. It doesn’t help when there are people stating ‘high spec vans’ and they really aren’t.
@@StaycationLifestyle tbh I planned to build my own all along but I looked at buying one done and was shocked at the price for the sort of quality that was being delivered.
Doing your own you know exactly what has been done, what’s behind the surface, components used and it’s been done properly 👍
So if we were lucky enough to win this book we would head to one of the stops in North Devon to relax after my second hip replacement, will be going anyway even if we don’t get lucky but love this very good informative channel so thanks anyway
Looking to buy my first camper, yesterday viewed on with the electric hook up in the engine bay, next to the battery, I'm assuming this isn't normal, or safe?
The one i always pick up is lighting- they have 6+ led lights on a single circuit that you either can operate when in bed or that all come on when you open a door . Instantly blinding you & the whole campsite 👍
They so are bright 🤣 Could you give a better answer the the comment here from Gary regarding the camping electrics. I was told they aren’t suitable, as it can make the van live
230v?
Needs to be grounded to the body of the van for rcd protection.
& i use 2.5mm arctic cable
230v?
Needs to be grounded to the body of the van for rcd protection.
& i use 2.5mm arctic cable
Perfect, thank you 👍
The bit that boils my blood is seeing wires running through bulkheads and panels with no grommets stopping them rubbing through just fit grommets they are stupidly cheap
Hello, thanks for the channel, some great stuff on here. 1 question, the connector block with a built in RCD/MCB that can only or should only be used in a tent, why should this not be used in a van?
Thank you. The design of these devices is for tents, awnings etc which aren’t a metal box. A fault could lead to the van becoming live. This would not trip the device. The reasons why was explained to me by an electrician.
So am I correct in thinking that the land side earth should be connected to a chassis earth? Thanks, @Matt Quinn for the word ‘Float’ it cleared things up in my head.
12:05 can you elaborate on what that thing is please? What should we have in its place?
This is the “camping” lead which was designed for use in tents.
They cannot be just placed in a van as a fault can make the van itself live.
A properly installed electrical system should be used that has been earthed correctly
I had a van from Big Wave Campers, absolutely shocking. Poor bodywork, really bad messy electrics. Cheap nasty kitchen and bed. But worst of all no gas dropouts even though it had been signed off as safe. Absolutely terrible.
That sounds terrible and dangerous. No doubt it would have been expensive too
As an owner of a Big Wave Camper van I very doubt that this is true. We are on our second BWC and know of several people who also own one and can confirm that on every van there is a round dropout on the right hand side rear of the gas locker. Ok they are not the best, a few loose screws etc. however they do not charge £60-70 thousand for vans that are not worth the money
OK so I'm new on the VW transporter scene. I am looking for someone to convert my T5 to my specs. I have no idea about materials brands and electrical components. How am I to know if the company is using good components or not. If i end up doing so much research on every little component which will most probably take me a year, I would mist probably have become an expert myself. By this time I may as well as convert the thing myself. I've been watching so many videos on dodgy companies that it's putting me off the whole idea. Thanks all the same.
It’s not easy and there are a lot of ‘sales’ people out there. There are many choices to be made and various different options. Find a well respected company and take their advice. Find a local Transporter in your area and ask for recommendations
Hi, any ideas for conversions in Manchester. I’ll try and get on some
Forums too. Thanks jeff
Are you looking at buying new or converting an existing van?
Are you looking at buying new or converting an existing van?
Can you explain in more detail why you cannot use the camping extension cord in a campervan. I have a VW type 2 without electric so use the maypole camping lead with the built in Circuit breaker. This lead is kept up high in the pop top??
I was told that those devices are not designed to be used in a metal box as any stray wire could make the chassis live. They said the van needs a specific consumer unit for utilising 240v.
Not an electrician but I believe going by regulation consumer units should be 'grounded' to the van chassis.
I thought a car was a faraday cage, and if struck by lightning would protect the occupants because of this. Therefore if the car became live you wouldn’t get a belt from it?
@@chrispalmer8782 Not if lightning strikes and you touch the metal work 😳
Sure you could use one if you ran an adequate earth cable from the unit to an earth point on the van
BMC transporters in Plymouth Gary miller keep away be very aware
If you need any pictures of a bad conversion company I got a lot from my van
Thanks Mark. It’s a common issue, I was speaking to a converter yesterday and they were saying they are being asked more and more to fix poor conversions. The industry needs regulation
There is a camper van on sale on e,bay at the moment and the fridge flue is run in a flexible flue that runs touching pipes and wires and then goes down hill as it exits the van. Dangerous.
We’re looking for a reputable converter at the moment.
Seems every man and his dog is doing camper conversions!
Best advise is to ask around locally from online groups and see who they have used. Look at the work done and make a decision. It’s a minefield at the moment 👍
Hi,give vanlife kapers at yaxley a call,they're a small professional team with over 30 years experience between them
I had a conversation done by Leisuredrive
Over priced and bad quality workmanship
And a attitude of we don’t care about customers
And they been in business for over 25 years
And I did my research and not the first campervan I’ve owned
The worst thing was the under slung water tank came loose and took out my brake pipe that right no brakes at 60mph
Wow that sounds frightening. Hope they took responsibility and rectified the issue. Quality checking and the correct sign off is important before they leave the workshop
Tell me why the first thing you mention as a bad thing, the use of rock wool. I have converted 3 vans and kept them for long periods of time without any issues. I use rockwool only in the lower hollow sections silver thinsulate in ceilings and floors, boarded and carpeted, in order to maintain head height and wall carpet only the rear "window" recesses to maximise interior space. My van is as warm/cool as others I have been in.
The second thing you mention is gluing seats in which seems to be really stupid.
You are using the wrong terminology with regards the the wiring, a multicore is typically 2 or 3 conductors, LN, or LNE, what you mean is "stranded" as opposed to a "solid" cable.
Rockwool holds moisture and degrades when wet. Seen many conversions with this that have rusted due to this. Only becomes apparent when they are stripped back.
You are correct, I did get my terminology wrong with the cable 😳
@@StaycationLifestyle how does the moisture get in. Never had a rust problem.
@@pauldavies7251 I know what condensation is and how it is created. The insulation is covered with ply and and wall carpet, so where does this moisture come from? It can't come from the occupants? Plus some of the steel is not protected by insulation and that doesn't rust...and all the steel is painted, this is complete nonsense. A few weeks ago I took part of my roof lining down to modify the lighting, I converted the van 7 years ago and have spent 150+ nights in it with my wife and dog and it is exactly as when I bought the van. Now one thing that was a problem the screws holding the roof panels in went rusty, caused by condensation, so I replaced them with stainless. Put that in the list instead instead of this rubbish.
First wooohoooooo 😅
Ok now that I've watched the video, I can actually comment 🤣
Bloody great info and great video again fella! I've just received a momentary switch that I'll be installing in the inside of the tailgate as a switch to open it from inside rather than getting out and walking around etc.. quite excited to install it 🎉