building your own horsebox livings

[Stinkbomb]

I seem to be getting quite obsessed with the horsebox thing recently!!! LOL!!!

Just wonddered whether anyone on here had fitted their own living in their boxes and how easy/expensive it was????

We are considering getting a box where we would do it ourselves ( hob, sink, fridge, grill, seating etc.. ) and i am just getting abit panicky about how easy/hard it would be to do.

Pics if possible please!!!

 

[lisan]

I bought mine with absoutely nothing in the living, bought all the bits and bobs myself and my friends hubby fitted it for me. The units came from B&Q!
I still have a couple of things to finish off, will probably do it in the summer

#

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b38/L154xxx/Leyland%20Horsebox/

 

[Tangaroo]

Cant do picks

mainly cos i havent taken any. We bought our first lorry 10 months ago, it is a leyland daf with unfitted living, previously used just for hunting.
The walls were carpeted and there was a bench seat that lifted up for storage. I made cushions for the seat, curtains for the cut through, a blind for the window and my OH made a cupboard which has a hob in the top and a sink, with storage underneath for plates etc.
We also put a wardrobe in it.
I bought the sink, tap, hob, curtains and wardrobe off ebay, very cheap

It was sooo easy especially with a useful OH like mine, and i now have everything i need, just the way i wanted it.

 

[rema]

Hello.I dont have a lorry but my friend bought a caravan that had damp problems but the interior was perfect and the same size as a lorry living would be and fitted it all in the lorry.Benches,fridge,hob,cushions,units and she only paid £200 for the caravan.

 

[cp1980]

I'm a member of the Self Build Motorcaravan Club. They have a handy forum, useful links and info pages on their website (the photo section is very good):

www.sbmcc.co.uk

There are a few good books on fitting out your own motorhome (which is exatly the same principle for fitting out a horesbox living, basically), such as this:

Also, I quite like these websites of people who have kept a blog on how they did their conversion from scratch:

http://www.greyreef.co.uk/Alcyone/index.htm
http://www.unimog.org.uk/mymog/
http://www.loftsites.co.uk/jj.html

There are a few places around the country who strip down old or accident damaged caravans and sell parts to the public. Theses caravan breakers/savalage yards are useful for many pars, but like Rema suggests you can buy and old caravan and strip it yourself.

Read up as much as you can. Don't forget to insulte the living area - it keeps out cold in the night, and heat in the day, and decreased condensation.

Best of luck and keep us posted

 

[1275gta]

Just one word of caution, watch how much weight you are adding. My oh has just built one from scratch and has had to calculate weight of every component used to make sure we have enough capacity to carry horses.

 

[cp1980]

That's a good point. Many motorhome people use special lightweight plywood. It's expensive, but essential.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

As has been mentioned one of the cheaspest ways of fitting out living is to buy an old caravan. They are very cheap, specially if they have a damp problem. You will be able to salvage all cupboards. seats & upholstery, sink, water pump, fridge, hob, oven, lights & possibly even the mains electrics. The cupboards would also have catches on to stop them opening as you go along. If you actually add up how much all this lot woud cost you to buy seperately it is an immence saving. Good Luck.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Thanks everyone, great info as usual!!!