Ideal vans for conversion

[PurplePickle]

Ive sold my lorry and going to buy a van for conversion, looking at movanos and masters, are there any others that would make a good box?

Also id love to see any conversions youve done , ideas welcome.

 

[Deltic Blue]

I've seen 3.5t conversions done with the Nissan Interstar, but I'd stick with the Movano or Master.
I'm picking up my newly converted Renault Master in 3 weeks time, very much looking forward to it
Feels like a lifetime ago that I ordered it!

 

[PurplePickle]

ooo exciting , how long did it take for them to do it

 

[DirectorFury]

Movanos and Masters seem to be the popular ones, it will depend on whether you're having a coachbuilt or van conversion - for the former you'll want a chassis cab and the latter needs a LWB with extra high roof (or you can cut the roof off and make it extra high but it's extra effort).

We're currently looking at ex-fleet vehicles as you can usually guarantee an amount or servicing and care.

 

[PurplePickle]

Will be a an lwb high roof, yes hubby just said about ex fleet as well.

 

[PaddyMonty]

You can also get suitable box vans (ex fleet) which is what I did. Ex Cannon hygiene van that had ali body. Made for a very nice conversion with a good payload due to low weight of the ali body.
Basic van

During construction

All done

Total cost to build = £7500, value once built £20,000
Blood sweat and tears to build it = priceless.

 

[Jaymarie]

One of my hubby's very good friends owns a certain well known horsebox company and I believe that movano and masters (essentially the same van) are chosen more than any other reason due to the ramp specs.

 

[ycbm]

Renault Master, Nissan NV400 and Vauxhall Movano are, my van dealer tells me, the same van. They are chosen for the low floor pan, which means a short light ramp.

Be careful of you are buying newish. Since 2013 the panel vans have been monocoque construction, meaning the strength of the vehicle is partly in the body shell, and there will be a limit to the size and number of holes you can safely cut in it.

Headroom is the problem for me. I can't get more than seven feet in a 3.5 van and that's not enough for my upstanding 16.2

 

[PurplePickle]

great thanks all, has anyone done the build themselves? Im going to have paint job and ramp done professionally and have a chap that does the other jobs on it.

Ive got minis and 1 14.3hh so height isnt an issue. Will be looking up to 2009 so hopefully wont be an issue regarding the construction side of things.

Where would I find parts, ie the ramp? and internal partitions etc?

 

[PurplePickle]

You can also get suitable box vans (ex fleet) which is what I did. Ex Cannon hygiene van that had ali body. Made for a very nice conversion with a good payload due to low weight of the ali body.
Basic van
.

What model is this ? thanks

 

[Jaymarie]

I was under the impression you have to fabricate the ramp and the partitions? The main thing I would worry about is reinforcing the bulk head.

 

[OWLIE185]

If you want a solid and safe form of transport get a good Renault Master chassis pan cab where the entire container can be unbolted and removed from the chassis leaving the cab and chassis and then build a new solid container with a good floor and bulk head.

 

[PaddyMonty]

What model is this ? thanks

Movano 2.5 CDTI

I was under the impression you have to fabricate the ramp and the partitions? The main thing I would worry about is reinforcing the bulk head.

Mine is completely home built. Bulkhead is 18mm glassonite fixed to rear of cab area at multiple points (20) plus a metal framework bolted to this and chassis then stockboard over the top.

 

[PurplePickle]

Ive just sold one on a chasis, coach built, only really having minis that will use it i really wanted a van instead, Ive had advice on safety re partitions from my vet and done a lot of research , my husband also works in health and safety lol so Im not worried about that side of things. More which is the best vehicle and where I get things from.

Ive seen ramps for the master for sale for £750 already made up, not for the others though. I think Ill probably have to but the van first because companies arent really willing to quote even a vague idea until they see it.

 

[PurplePickle]

thanks Paddy Monty, must admit it does look nice. I think the Movano is going to be the one but im going to look into that one.

reinforcing Bulkhead yes, is one of the jobs, I think im more excited about building something we know from the ground up than just going out and buying a ready made that might have problems or might not have been done properly.

What did you use for the flooring PaddyMonty?

 

[Jaymarie]

Paddymonty your box is lovely and seems you've done it so well. In my job I see so many home made death traps.

 

[PurplePickle]

Paddymonty your box is lovely and seems you've done it so well. In my job I see so many home made death traps.

Slightly OT but i remember looking at a trailer once, being told how wonderful it was and that it was in daily use. I looked underneath and there was leaf spring missing!

It amazes me how unsafe some people are happy to be. Ignorance is bliss I think is the term.

 

[Jaymarie]

Ignorance is bliss indeed! My hubby is a mechanic and specialises in horseboxes, the sheer quantity of boxes/trailers he gets in that have been tarted up but lethal and the owners are oblivious.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Paddymonty your box is lovely and seems you've done it so well. In my job I see so many home made death traps.

Thankyou.It does seem to get a lot of attention when ever my wife goes out competing. We also saw a lot of poorly designed or constructed horseboxes (not always home made) before we decided I would build one instead.
Doing it this way we could create exactly what we wanted and remove a lot of the issues with 3.5t boxes. Wider ramp, ali body, full partition, wider groom door, all screws/bolts counter sunk to avoid possible snags etc.
My previous project was to rebuild a glider that had been written off. Test flying something you have pretty much built does tend to focus the mind on quality of work.
I'm pleased to say the box is almost 4 years old now and has not required any remedial work despite regular use.

 

[PurplePickle]

Thankyou.It does seem to get a lot of attention when ever my wife goes out competing. We also saw a lot of poorly designed or constructed horseboxes (not always home made) before we decided I would build one instead.
Doing it this way we could create exactly what we wanted and remove a lot of the issues with 3.5t boxes. Wider ramp, ali body, full partition, wider groom door, all screws/bolts counter sunk to avoid possible snags etc.
My previous project was to rebuild a glider that had been written off. Test flying something you have pretty much built does tend to focus the mind on quality of work.
I'm pleased to say the box is almost 4 years old now and has not required any remedial work despite regular use.

Can I ask how you insured it while it was being converted, everywhere ive tried wont cover the build time only whilst its a van or a horse box? thanks

 

[PaddyMonty]

IIRC we didn't insure it until it was at a sufficient stage to get an MOT. Only needed the MOT before completion as I needed to move it to small factory unit a friend had spare so I could do the spray job on it. The rest of the build was done on my drive at home.

 

[PurplePickle]

thank you