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General Camper plans for my new ( to me ) Doblo..

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General Camper plans for my new ( to me ) Doblo..

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Minniesmum

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Hi guys-I posted on the Newbie thread a week ago but figured out no-one replies so thought Id get involved here !

Last Monday picked up my 2002 Doblo-1.9 DT. Dark red.....mmmm Im in lurvvv LOL.:D
Anyway my current plans ( and progress ) for a camper conversion are:

- tinted windows- this Friday

- rear seats out and investigate floor condition/space

- buy chair/bed-spotted a great one in Ikea yesterday-single folding- space underneath and can be put down the middle of the van until I work out how to make best use of space near those metal wheel arch thingies

- awning- not totally decided which one but Royal Traveller tunnel appeals- need to get some kind of pole fitted to roof rack studs for fixing

- got an elec. hook-up for using on serviced caravan sites so I can plug things in like chargers etc-eventually will get a leisure battery to be more
independent.( got a small oil-filled radiator for heat;))

-will get a 2-burner butane/propane gas stove for basic cooking/heating water.

- want to get an elevating roof installed eventually so that I can stand up and use the van for getting changed for body-boarding but need to source that and save up.

Really excited about this project- last time I camped was in a one-man tent and travelled by bicycle so this will be sheer luxury;)

Any suggestions and/or comments will be very welcome:)

Cath





-
 
Hi

A couple of suggestions, if you're new to motorhoming - John Wickersham's The MotorCaravan Manual has lots of good tips. I'm sure there's a Self-Builders' Club out there, and MMM (Motorhome Motorcaravan Monthly) has lots of useful info, both technical and layout. www.motorhomefacts.com and www.outandaboutlive.com are useful forums. Finally, it might be looking at the layout Danbury have made on the Doblo, for comparison purposes.

A couple of points to watch out for - your new motorhome may need insuring as such, and you always need to bear in mind how much payload you have available - the difference between its empty weight and its maximum weight on the road.

Good luck!

Brom
 
Thanks ! The only " permanent" mod to the car will be the pop-up roof. Everything else will be lightweight and removable.In fact the rear seats which Im removing probably weigh more than the gear that Ill be carrying with me on my camping trips.(y)
Ive looked at the Danbury conversions also thanks. The good thing about having everything removeable is that I can change things around until Im comfortable.

Cath
 
Hi
I'm in the same situation. Just bought my doblo and wish to convert it somehow. Like you I'm looking for layout options. Be interested to find out how you get on.

Pete
 
If I were you I would certainly make storage/cupboard place for a portable loo. (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=91)

Also for a fridge/cooler box.

Items such as these, although small, have to be considered from the outset.

Also the leisure battery, or alternative power supply. One problem with using the vehicles battery is that it is ever so easy to drain the starting ability of the battery without realising it.

A separate leisure battery with simple isolation switch (closed whilst driving, off when camping) will a) give you an auxilary power source & b) not leave you stranded with a flat vehicle battery. Installing a self switching charging/isolation control using is easy but costs a little more.
 
False floor.

Storage space is a real issue in any vehicle. Depending on required headroom then having a false floor with liftable floor tiles/panels and rear/side and side sliding door side entry panels/flaps will actually give you massive amounts of additional storage. Just a 3 inch depth will allow many of those fiddly small items to be tucked away out of site.

Expanding on this idea then you could have fully removable 'floor plinth' made from quality marine ply. All the other units (loo boxes, seats, kitchen unit etc) are themselves removable. The unit to plinth is secure by strong/industrial strenght latches (like tose used on heavy rock music equipments.

Going very modular like this will mean that you can completely dismantle and remove your campervan conversions and restore the vehicle 'normal'.

Another advantage is that this type of mod as such a "temporary" fully reversible change and I would suspect that most insurance companies will not be too bothered.

There is a person here on the forum who has created a removeable plywood box for his Fiat Croma which he loads with building materials etc. etc. No insurance issues that I'm aware of.
 
The floor plinth could be made in two or more sections for easy removal.

Safety wise the important thing to consider is if the floor plinth itself needs securing to the floor/sides of the Doblo, or the total weigth of the total floor and unit assembly gives it sufficient mass to remain solidly placed and located.
 
Hi There, I also bought my Doblo for the size and the idea of converting it to a camper! As i travel all over europe a professtional kayaker! I made a bed box which fits in the boot of the car and with the seats folded over you then fold out the other half of the bed! I have a super nice mattress and all my gear stored in two draw under the box. I have to say this is the best way of doing it and you can leave rear seats in the car!!! If anyone is interested I can add pictures. Will
 
105Dynamic said:
Hi.

I thought about doing this.

Some pictures would be good please.
Click to expand...

Ive done a complete conversion. Electric food cooler, gas cooker, sink, water and waste tank, under floor cupboards, two inside cupboards, swing out table, interior lights, battery bank, underfloor subwoofers, toilet, double bed, curtains etc.. from outside you cant tell its camper. I ditched the ikea frame..the duvet matress itself tied to the rear hatch flap with the duvet underneath it, is way less hassle at night. Just unfold and kip in minutes.

There are better designs,feature and finish wise but this one lets you use the loo at night...AND the whole lot can be unbolted and put back to a car in half a day.

fulfills the DVLA spec and is now insured as a camper..

This shows how it was done..

http://sprinklekamper.blogspot.com/

its been upgraded finish wise since then. Design is solid. and nothing comes loose in years. been to france in it.

You need to build one floor that bolts to the the doblos floor bolts, then bolt another frame on top of that (as seen in the cad picture at start of blog) to get over the seat well hump.



Also a roof box is must for extra storage

Image026.jpg
 
Last edited:
Minniesmum said:
Hi guys-I posted on the Newbie thread a week ago but figured out no-one replies so thought Id get involved here !

Last Monday picked up my 2002 Doblo-1.9 DT. Dark red.....mmmm Im in lurvvv LOL.:D
Anyway my current plans ( and progress ) for a camper conversion are:

- tinted windows- this Friday

- rear seats out and investigate floor condition/space

- buy chair/bed-spotted a great one in Ikea yesterday-single folding- space underneath and can be put down the middle of the van until I work out how to make best use of space near those metal wheel arch thingies

- awning- not totally decided which one but Royal Traveller tunnel appeals- need to get some kind of pole fitted to roof rack studs for fixing

- got an elec. hook-up for using on serviced caravan sites so I can plug things in like chargers etc-eventually will get a leisure battery to be more
independent.( got a small oil-filled radiator for heat;))

-will get a 2-burner butane/propane gas stove for basic cooking/heating water.

- want to get an elevating roof installed eventually so that I can stand up and use the van for getting changed for body-boarding but need to source that and save up.

Really excited about this project- last time I camped was in a one-man tent and travelled by bicycle so this will be sheer luxury;)

Any suggestions and/or comments will be very welcome:)

Cath





-
Click to expand...
hi check our web site for doblo elevating roofs an conversions just done one on our 2010 lwb maxi doblo
the regards
 
Minniesmum said:
Thanks ! The only " permanent" mod to the car will be the pop-up roof. Everything else will be lightweight and removable.In fact the rear seats which Im removing probably weigh more than the gear that Ill be carrying with me on my camping trips.(y)
Ive looked at the Danbury conversions also thanks. The good thing about having everything removeable is that I can change things around until Im comfortable.

Cath
Click to expand...

hi check our web site for doblo elevating roofs an conversions just done one on our 2010 lwb maxi doblo
 
Minniesmum said:
Hi guys-I posted on the Newbie thread a week ago but figured out no-one replies so thought Id get involved here !

Last Monday picked up my 2002 Doblo-1.9 DT. Dark red.....mmmm Im in lurvvv LOL.:D
Anyway my current plans ( and progress ) for a camper conversion are:

- tinted windows- this Friday

- rear seats out and investigate floor condition/space

- buy chair/bed-spotted a great one in Ikea yesterday-single folding- space underneath and can be put down the middle of the van until I work out how to make best use of space near those metal wheel arch thingies

- awning- not totally decided which one but Royal Traveller tunnel appeals- need to get some kind of pole fitted to roof rack studs for fixing

- got an elec. hook-up for using on serviced caravan sites so I can plug things in like chargers etc-eventually will get a leisure battery to be more
independent.( got a small oil-filled radiator for heat;))

-will get a 2-burner butane/propane gas stove for basic cooking/heating water.

- want to get an elevating roof installed eventually so that I can stand up and use the van for getting changed for body-boarding but need to source that and save up.

Really excited about this project- last time I camped was in a one-man tent and travelled by bicycle so this will be sheer luxury;)

Any suggestions and/or comments will be very welcome:)

Cath





-
Click to expand...

hi check our web site for doblo elevating roofs an conversions just done one on our 2010 lwb maxi doblo
see our add on ebay for elevating roofs for doblo there is a link on there to our web site
 
Minniesmum said:
Hi guys-I posted on the Newbie thread a week ago but figured out no-one replies so thought Id get involved here !

Last Monday picked up my 2002 Doblo-1.9 DT. Dark red.....mmmm Im in lurvvv LOL.:D
Anyway my current plans ( and progress ) for a camper conversion are:

- tinted windows- this Friday

- rear seats out and investigate floor condition/space

- buy chair/bed-spotted a great one in Ikea yesterday-single folding- space underneath and can be put down the middle of the van until I work out how to make best use of space near those metal wheel arch thingies

- awning- not totally decided which one but Royal Traveller tunnel appeals- need to get some kind of pole fitted to roof rack studs for fixing

- got an elec. hook-up for using on serviced caravan sites so I can plug things in like chargers etc-eventually will get a leisure battery to be more
independent.( got a small oil-filled radiator for heat;))

-will get a 2-burner butane/propane gas stove for basic cooking/heating water.

- want to get an elevating roof installed eventually so that I can stand up and use the van for getting changed for body-boarding but need to source that and save up.

Really excited about this project- last time I camped was in a one-man tent and travelled by bicycle so this will be sheer luxury;)

Any suggestions and/or comments will be very welcome:)

Cath


hi cath this is my web site it shows the popup roofs/elevating roofs www.fiatdoblocampers.co.uk or www.teardroptrailerhire.co.uk


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Click to expand...
hi cath this is my web site it shows the popup roofs/elevating roofs www.fiatdoblocampers.co.uk or www.teardroptrailerhire.co.uk
 
Will I really really want to see this conversion. I have the exact plan and really need help. I'm too putting in a box so I don't have to reclassify and have duel use for the car. Any plans and photos would be extremely appreciated

John
 
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