Stealth Campervan or Full VW Conversion?
February 2, 2008 by admin
Filed under Stealth, VW Conversion Considerations
Before I plan the interior, I need to consider the finished campervan’s exterior, as that will also dictate the layout to some degree.
And to plan the exterior, I need to consider how I intend to use the van after it’s been converted. Since I may want to ‘sleep for free’ from time to time when I’m travelling through Europe in it – ie possibly in car parks or other quiet off road areas not necessarily designated as campgrounds – I don’t want my campervan to attract any unwanted attention during those times.
I need the campervan to be as inconspicuous (or as inconspicuous as a large white VW van ever could be), which means implementing as few external modifications as I can get away with.
Ultimately, I reckon if I throw a large dollop of creativity at the interior modifications, I won’t have to sacrifice much comfort by leaving the outside of the van well alone.
In addition, not only will free up more cash to put toward improving the interior, it should save me a few quid after the build, too. Possibly enough to pay the fines for camping in prohibited areas…
So, stealth camper it is then.
But what are YOUR thoughts on this?
Do you feel this is the right decision?
What would you choose and why?
i think stealth is best after living in a camper for a few years travelling europe and spending time down dorset its not worht atracting attention to ya self im going stealth in july to greece when i get the money to get a new van dont know which one yet might get a volks or a transit hightop want to get a logburner fitted in by a pro got too cold skiing in swiss
Hi mate,
just want to ask how are thinks going with your campervan? I’m considering the same – to customize VW and travel around Europe. Well, I’m realy in the begining of the process and I find your website inspirational and useful. Thanks, good luck with conversion and on your journeys!
Martin
Wesley – I think you’re spot on with the stealth option – its just so much more versatile. Weighing up the slight loss of ‘comfort’ to the gain in freedom i think its definitely worthwhile goign down that route, too.
on the logburner: I remember one time when i was surfing in cornwall there was a guy living in a converted bedforn and he had fitted his own little pot belly log burner in the back right corner. the van was so warm it was untrue. He fitted 2 paving tiles between the bulkheads and the log burner so he didnt warp the metal work or blister the paint due to the extreme heat it kicked out and ran his own flu up and out of the roof, sealing it with some kind of mastick. It worked a treat! I think you need a bigger van than a transporter for that though as even though it was a small stove it still took up a fair bit of space and needed a little gap all around it so not to do any damage because of the heat. I guess if you could pick the right one you could cook on it too. That may be worth looking into…
Hi Martin, I’m afraid i haven’t been able to get cracking on it yet as work and everything else have had to take priority. Its a shame but thats just the way it is i guess. It looks like ill have to put the big trip back a bit, but without a doubt it will still happen! And as i convert the van it will all be documented here!
I think travel in a van to somewhere like europe where it is so expensive is the way ahead too, which is why the project is still going ahead albeit a little later than first planned. I think summer 2008 was always optimistic, but with a slight posponement itll give me a chance to test drive it more thouroughly locally first before I hit the european mainland.
Thanks for your comments guys, and check back from time to time for the updates. Good luck,
Nath