Hawkins Fitting a Camper Van Interior

1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-1-84797-606-2
Verlag: Crowood
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 160 Seiten

Fitting a Camper Van Interior is a definitive guide to modifying or upgrading a van interior at home. This book offers guidance and advice on how to maximise the interior space, style and functionality of any camper van model. The book breaks down each task with step-by-step photography and instructions, from the initial design stages, right through to expanding the camper van with awnings and elevating roofs. With safety tips throughout, the book covers: considerations when purchasing your camper van (classic or new model?); how to assess an existing interior and determine what you need from your camper van; designing and planning a camper van interior - ideas and suggestions to help decide what you need to include inside a camper van; preparation - how to strip the inside of a camper van and prepare it for a new interior, including fitting insulation, sound proofing, rust protection, flooring and panelling; seats and sleeping - how to make your own seats and fit them, restore a rock and roll bed and fit a hammock; kitchen equipment - step-by-step instructions on making your own kitchen units and fitting equipment such as a fridge and stove; camper van electrics - hooking up at a campsite, running a leisure battery and other ideas for operating electrical equipment; expanding a camper van - how to make a canopy and fit an elevating roof. Illustrated throughout with 753 step-by-step photographs.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hawkins, Rob

Leseproben

2

safety issues

This is probably the one chapter that most readers skip through or bypass. It covers the subjects whose consequences you don’t really want to suffer, whether it’s a fire, an accident or injury either during the creation of your camper van’s interior or whilst camping. However, the best way of preventing such catastrophes is, first of all, to read this chapter and, second, to be proactive. So this chapter outlines many of the best ways of working to avoid disasters and what you can incorporate in your camper van to help prevent fires and accidents.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG?

There are a number of potential disasters that can occur during the creation of your camper van’s interior, whilst you are driving the vehicle and using it for camping. The more you are aware of these possible problems, the better equipped you will be to avoid them. Many of the potential problems require knowledge of how your camper van is constructed and how particular components work. You may not have that knowledge, but the necessary information can always be found.

Electrics

A camper van’s electrics can be extremely complicated or very simple, but in all cases, you need to have at least a basic understanding of how equipment is operated and where the fuses, relay switches and wiring are located should a problem occur.

The biggest problem with a camper van’s electrics concerns fires, which is covered in greater detail later in this chapter. However, there are other less disastrous problems, such as blown fuses and equipment that doesn’t work.

Find out where all of the fuses are located and make sure you have a range of spares.

A good starting point for electrics when it comes to a camper van is to know where the fuse box or boxes are located. Most camper vans usually have them located in the engine bay or underneath the dashboard. When you have found them, look for any diagrams that help identify the fuses and make sure you have the correct spares. Fuses are rated according to amps, so they are usually labelled with a number, such as 10 that represents 10 amps.

Problems concerning dodgy wiring, poor earths and faulty equipment can often start with a blown fuse, so it’s essential to know where the fuses are and how to change them. Tracing these problems can often take time, so ensure you have some knowledge of your camper van’s wiring and how components should be correctly connected, especially if they are using power from the vehicle’s battery or a leisure battery. Equipment such as a multimeter and socket tester can help to identify problems concerning wiring where, for example, there’s no supply of voltage to a switch because the wire to it has broken down.

If you intend to complete the wiring in your camper van to be able to connect to main electricity, for instance, and use a leisure battery, then make sure you have a thorough knowledge of how components need to be fitted and correctly wired. Fuses are essential to reduce the risk of melted wires and burnt-out equipment. Similarly, relay switches must be fitted in most situations where equipment draws a large amount of current, but requires a manual switch to turn it on and off. If you are at all unsure about how camper van electrics should be correctly fitted, seek professional advice.

A gas bottle must be securely stored and adequately ventilated. Some countries stipulate that it must be stored in a fireproof cabinet.

This portable gas stove is a popular camping accessory and uses a disposable canister, which must be detached when not in use.

Gas and Gases

There are a number of safety rules to adhere to when it comes to fitting gas appliances. Most camper vans use butane for gas cookers, fridges, heaters and hot water. The gas is stored in a bottle, which must be securely located inside the camper van to help prevent the risk of it moving in the event of an accident and causing injury or damage. The area in which the gas bottle is secured must be ventilated to ensure the gas can leave the van if it leaks out of the gas bottle. Most camper vans have a vent hole in the floor, as butane is heavier than air, so it will sink.

GAS BOTTLE REGULATIONS

The laws surrounding fitting a gas bottle inside a camper van vary from country to country. In some cases they must be fitted by a qualified professional, stored in a fireproof cabinet and regularly checked. Find out what you need to do before fitting one.

The waste gases produced by gas-operated appliances, such as a cooker, fridge or heater, also need to be properly ventilated to reduce the risk of poisonous fumes filling the interior. These gases, especially carbon monoxide, are often slightly lighter than air, but may get mixed with warm rising air. Consequently, there are different recommendations for ventilation according to the type of equipment being fitted. Gas-powered fridges, for example, often have an outside vent fitted at the height of the fridge or slightly higher. However, such equipment should have instructions on where a vent must be fitted. If equipment isn’t suitable for use in a camper van, such as a portable fridge that should only be operated on gas when the fridge is outside, do not connect it to a gas bottle when it is installed inside the camper van.

When it comes to cooking, the waste gases produced must also be removed from inside the camper van, so leaving a door or window open when cooking is essential. However, it may be tempting to warm the interior of the camper van when cooking or even lighting a gas ring on the stove to produce some heat. It generally only takes a few minutes to warm up an interior, which is usually insufficient to create an excessive amount of waste gases. Leaving a gas stove burning all night on a low heat is, however, dangerous. Similarly, placing a smouldering disposable barbecue inside the camper van to create heat throughout the night is equally dangerous.

The connections to a gas bottle must be secure and leak-free. A cut-off valve (regulator) should be fitted on top of the gas bottle to ensure you can switch off the gas. Any pipework from the gas bottle must be of the approved type, which in most cases is rubber with a diameter of 8mm. Do not use any type of pipe; it must be specifically for gas-operated camping equipment.

Make sure all fuel pipes are secure and in good condition.

This dried-up windscreen seal will undoubtedly let water through and may leak onto any electrics inside the camper van.

There are a number of gas stoves that use small and compact canisters instead of a gas bottle. These must be treated in the same manner as a large gas bottle, ensuring they are safely stored away when not in use and, if possible, isolated or detached from their appliance. The same risk of waste gases applies to these smaller stoves.

Leaks

There can be a range of fluids kept on board a camper van, which can result in a variety of problems if they escape. Fuel leaks are one of the biggest threats on older camper vans, so it’s essential to ensure all fuel pipes are in good condition. Leaking fuel can not only result in an engine fire, the fumes can fill the interior, especially in older VW camper vans where the fuel tank, pipework and engine are all in the rear of the vehicle.

Water is one of the biggest liquid-based enemies of a camper van. Even if you do not have fresh and waste water stored inside the camper van, rainwater can leak through a poorly sealed pop-top and old window seals. If the water seeps through to the electrics, it can result in blown fuses and electrical failure. Long-term trouble includes corrosion, where the water rots the metal bodywork of the camper van.

The best way to avoid water leaking into the camper van is to know where it can get in and make sure these areas are as water-tight as possible. Renew window and pop-top seals if they are old and, if this still doesn’t help, make sure any water that does get through doesn’t settle on any electrics. You may have to resort to frequently checking for water leaks and drying them, so make sure the affected areas are adequately rustproofed.

Flying objects

A camper van’s interior is designed to be packed with food, sleeping bags, clothes and people, so it’s essential all of these items can be securely contained, especially when the vehicle is moving. Cupboard doors need to have secure locking mechanisms that can withstand the impact of the objects they are concealing. A magnetic latch on a cupboard door, for example, may be useless if there are several tins of baked beans behind it. This is a similar problem on some fridges where a plastic lock will break if all the food inside pushes against the door under heavy braking or cornering.

The location of items inside a camper van is also an important consideration, especially if they escape. A battery-operated LED light, for instance, may only weigh a few grams and can seem perfectly secure stuck onto the inside of the camper van with a magnet. However, in the event of an accident, it can become extremely dangerous if it becomes airborne and could easily fly through the windscreen or, even worse, injure someone.

Locks for cupboard doors and fridges must be able to withstand the impact of the items behind them.

Lightweight items should be stored in the upper-half of the camper van to help reduce the risk of it becoming too top heavy.

Making sure everything is...