I've recently purchased a Fiat Ducato L3H2 van that, for several reasons, I would like to convert to a stealth camper.
Given that most camper vans and motorhomes have a range of vents and doors in the bodywork, is this absolutely essential?
Or could everything be arranged in such a way that the vents all exit below the vehicle through the floor, and the facilities that need doors (fresh water, waste water, etc) can be located at the rear of the van and accessed by the two rear doors?
I would say, don't underestimate the need for decent ventilation...and as warm air rises ( warm, damp air from expelled breath etc.) , any vent points really need to be high up.
A couple of decent "skylight" type vents in the roof would address the ventilation and the need for natural light...
(but if you plan on cooking on board, then maybe consider one with an inbuilt extractor?..)
We now just use a basic Toyota van and even though I've insulated and lined it out and I fitted a couple of mushroom vents ...after kipping in it with the door/window closed, any exposed metal surfaces can still run with condensation..
But as you say, there's no reason why any "services" can't be accessed via the rear doors (..although I'd want the gas bottle contained and secured in a sealed "gas locker", with drop vents).
I would say that it would be easier to make it discreet rather than completely stealthy. At minimum I think you would need a rooflight or two, after all you don't want to live inside a van that is coal-hole black on the inside!
If you are using the high top version most people would not notice skylights, solar vents, solar panels and other bits and pieces that adorn the roofs of motorcampers.
A good read is Travel Vans by John Speed and there is a Self Build Campervan group on Facebook.
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
as long as you ensure there's a drop out hole in the floor in the gas locker I don't see you having any problems, you will have the gaps on the 2 front doors and windows, the side door and the two rear doors for air to circulate in through, there's also gaps from underneath up through the 2 door pillers that carry various electrical cables for rear lights and door lights that enters in to the van, a vent in the bottom of the leisure battery housing probably wouldn't go amiss as well though not entirely necessary. fit a compressor fridge which runs off the 12v leisure battery and wont require external venting and if you fit a blown air system it exhausts under the van anyway, though any water heater will require a side vent ...
Check your insurance too. Insurance for a standard van may not be the same as insuring a campervan which is habitable. And we couldn't get Business Use insurance for our MH. You could get a Habitation Service when you think you're finished, to make sure it's safe - for example, we were told not to store stuff in the gas locker as it needs to be well vented. Have fun with your project - it sounds like it will keep you busy for some time!
Hi everyone, thank you for the fantastic responses.
Sorry for the lack of detail on my part. I forgot to add that I plan to install two Fantastic 7350 vents in the roof. Also, the sliding side door will have a window (possibly opening too) as I believe this is a legal requirement for eventual reclassification of the vehicle as a motorhome rather than a van.
Finally, in a two or three years, I plan to live in the van for the best part of 9-12 months in Iceland and want to ensure there's enough insulation so I plan on going a bit overboard in that department, too.
Similarly, to ensure I have enough power for off-grid or wild camping, I plan to install three leisure batteries rather than merely one or two. It may be overkill but I'd rather spend an extra hundred quid or so to be on the safe side rather than have no juice when I need it. I also (maybe somewhat naively) hope this may prolong the life of the batteries installed.
I had thought about solar panels but wasn't sure of the benefit somewhere as high a latitude as Iceland. With it being so cloudy and grey, it gets limited sunlight in the winter but, from the little I know about solar panels and charging batteries, cooler temperatures are better, at least for the MPPT panels. Also it seems that MPPT panels are particularly applicable to somewhere like Iceland so I may go with a 120W MPPT panel just to try to help keep the batteries topped-up. Thanks for the reminder!
We holiday in Iceland a lot, every four months, so we catch all the seasons. I think you will be surprised at the weather.
Mild winters and warm summers.
I've been going every year since 2009 and, apart from September (of all times) 2010 when the weather was amazing (15C every day), I've experienced mostly inclement weather. I don't mind as I love Iceland even in those conditions, but Dec 2013 and Dec 2014 were pretty flipping chilly. I'm heading back the weekend before Christmas (it'll be my third time this year) and I just can't get enough of the place.
We've been really lucky then. I don't mind the cold up there, it's a fresh cold rather than the damp rubbish we get here!
We like to see the peace tower lit too. Yoko pays for all the ferries etc. A great experience.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Van To (Stealth) Camper Conversion
