Building your own interior on the cheap

Post by **rodmonty** » 01 Oct 2007, 08:50

Have decided to take the plunge and gut the interior of our tired camper and replace with a nice new living system.

Well I don't know about you but when I look at some of the prices being charged for ready made units and the price of a rock and roll bed with cushions it makes me think that there is realisitically not much change out of £1500. Or to put it another way half the value of the camper!

So, having decided that I simply can't afford that option I am now looking at building my own. I'm no carpenter but it can't be THAT difficult surely? I have decided against using MDF or anything cheap and nasty so will probably go with the marine-ply option. Maybe coupled with a rock and roll bed from Bluebird. I'm sure I can get all of this built up myself for less than £800.

Question is : can anyone here say hand on heart that they have produced their own cupboards and furniture to a standard that they are happy with?

Any tips on building?

Any plans or drafts around the internet?

cheers in advance
rod

Post by **manxman** » 01 Oct 2007, 09:03

on a bit of a tangent but I needed a staircase making for my house had quotes from a couple of carpenters cheapest being £1500 the other being a lot more

so I bought a router, stair jig and some timber made a mess of the first attempt but learnt by it and second set was fine, enjoyed doing it and saved at least £800 in the processes (inc buying the tools for the job)

timber is cheap so if you make a mess start again you'll learn along the way.

Post by **camper** » 01 Oct 2007, 09:22

Built me own interior furniture for 3 vans i had owned.Use light weight material reinforced with a wood frame.You could check out a t25 devon conversion and copy.I used 4mm ply and glued up with wood 1/2" slats.Rock&roll bed full length or 3/4 needs a good supporting frame i used second hand square tube welded .Aprox cost about £100 per van .BQ supplied the ply.Made up the Rock&roll hinges from flat iron.

Post by **jamesc76** » 01 Oct 2007, 10:23

camper you couldnt post a pic of your home made rock and roll hinges could you ?? As for making your own interior it aint that hard, you could use flat pack kitchen units (seen it done) but remeber to attach it all to the van VERY well as if you end up in an accident you dont want it comin loose and coming through the cab!!!!!!!

Post by **camper** » 01 Oct 2007, 15:14

Sorry jamesc76 the rock&roll hinges i made up was on a T4 conversion i did for the seatbed.Recently i had the pictures with a link to photobucket on here to veiw but they are now deleted.Current converted van has JK hinges carnt help you.

Post by **kevtherev** » 01 Oct 2007, 16:27

rodmonty wrote:with?

Any tips on building?

Any plans or drafts around the internet?

cheers in advance
rod

Hi rod you should contact Mariner man he's done this ...and not just his own but others too.
and very professional it looks too!
He could help with materials choice and stuff why not give him a PM?

Post by **vic20** » 01 Oct 2007, 17:07

rodmonty wrote:Have decided to take the plunge and gut the interior of our tired camper and replace with a nice new living system....Question is : can anyone here say hand on heart that they have produced their own cupboards and furniture to a standard that they are happy with?

Any tips on building?

Any plans or drafts around the internet?

cheers in advance
rod

Hi Rod

Have "amended" the interior of ours as i needed 2 proper seatbelts, ended up doing virtually all [still work in progress] If you are ever in Norwich or going to Crabfest can show/discuss. Am reasonably pleased but have also learnt for the nest one

Post by **rodmonty** » 01 Oct 2007, 19:07

thanks for all the feedback so far - will give Mariner man a PM too.

So what is the view on ready made rock and roll beds? Are the MDF versions made by JK rubbish? What about the Bluebird type? I only want a 3/4 bed.

cheers
rod

Post by **big red bus** » 01 Oct 2007, 19:20

Made mine in my garage, and got all fixture and materials from b+q. saved my self a packet and looks good. took about 2 months fom start to finish. good luck.

Post by **ELVIS** » 01 Oct 2007, 23:18

will take some full interior pics tomoz -made all by me

[IMG:800:600]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f262/ ... tia145.jpg[/img]

Post by **Bowton Lad** » 02 Oct 2007, 00:15

camper wrote: I used 4mm ply and glued up with wood 1/2" slats.Rock&roll bed full length or 3/4 needs a good supporting frame.......

All rock'n'roll beds should be the same length, it's the width that varies ie. full width or 3/4 width. 3/4 width is used when cupboards & wardrobe run down one side of the camper.

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