Any tips on insulating and converting high top wth bed?

[stevewright76]

I'm planning to convert the high top of my van - have some great easy-fit Lewmar opening portlight windows so happy about putting them in.

Thing is I want to insulate the van, and put a bed in the high top - taking it from looking like the pic here http://nessiesbigadventure.blogspot.com/

TO something a bit more like the picture above it (snailspace's 'upstairs')

Tips and ideas very welcome.

I'm thinking:
1/ Screw 3 slightly-shaped (i.e. planed) wooden batons across roof - shaped to fit snug and then screwed into the crossbeams.
2/ Glue batons onto high top.
3/ Cut to shape ultra-thin ply, cover and put insulation behind it, then screw to batons.
4/ Cut sheet of thick chipboard to fit up into van, cover and screw down to batons.
5/ Build up existing rails around standing area to support a pull-out bed extension.
6/ Cut chip board to make a bed extension to pull out and rest on rails.

That *looks* like how the other one was made but not sure - obviously easier to do this with the high top off but no real desire to remove and re-fit (BIG! job I guess)

So any tips/critiques/ideas/you don't wanto to do it like that you want to do it like this/on all of the above (including best insulation materials to go behind panels etc. very very very welcome!

[Mocki]

Biggest tip: DO NOT USE CHIPBOARD, its heavey and breaks down with vibration and moisture, turning to weetabix, as any devon owner will tell you.......

other than that you sound like you have the right plan.....

[stevewright76]

Interesting - thought that miself, but snaiolspaces was chipbaord so figured dfine - thick ply?

Now, thoise interior coverings are the next bit - LOADS of threads on here... Any clear winners yet?

[Mocki]

mostly that industrial cord carpeting, cheap, easy to stick and warm.......

well thats what mr leisuredrive used on mine 22 years ago, and its still there!

[andyj]

personnally I'd be tempted to use Marine grade ply wood.... alot more water resistant than normal chipboard.

Going to have the fun of sorting mine out if/when I get it !!!

[dbroada]

my top floor is a bit of thick ply and the sides are carpeted. I have now fitted a door to the top area as niether of us are sprightly enough to get up there. The storage space is more useful than a bed for us! Mine came with 2 large planks that formed the foot of the bed rather than a single piece. Remember that you may well have things piled on the bed when you have to move it around.

Also my van came with a chipboard floor and it had disintegrated with the water AND rusted the floor. Don't do it!

[F1camper]

Do the ply bases for the high beds need any reinforcement or will a piece of ply across the opening work ?

Anyone got any pics of a functioning set up ?

[VeeDubster]

Hello stevewright76!

We met at VW Festival at Harewood House on Sunday, you had a look at our hightop in the carpark.
Just wanted to say hello, and wish you luck in sorting your windows and insulation out.
Make sure that you post some photos when it's done.

It was nice talking to another van owner!

cheers

Rich

[stevewright76]

Hi Rich,

Cool to mee you there - and have a poke about.

And for everyone else converting a van there's some fine pics, tips, links (all distributors/stockists listed, whcih is AWESOME!!!) and tricks on converting another fine piece of german machinery here:

http://www.xor.org.uk/unimog/mymog.htm

I'm getting X-Trem boards as insulation + that double foil covered bubble wrap stuff to do it all with. Will post pics and blog it all - come disaster or superbness at:

http://nessiesbigadventure.blogspot.com

[stevewright76]

THis tuff ROCKS - well easy to weork with cut and fit - as used by unimog guy.

Cuts witha stanley knife and super warm.

Available from http://www.conceptmulti-car.co.uk/

My van is soooo warm

Anyone know how to get this up onto the wiki as a link/supplier/recommendation?

Pics up soon